Rain yesterday and overnight 5.5 mm. Patchy cloud with intermittent sun. Moderate, cool, gusty breeze. Track slightly damp. Puddles dried up. Water level in Petersons Creek has risen 350 mm approx.

Tightened Thomas’s Harness before leaving home and it stayed on during Patrol! Noticed a Magpie Lark sitting on a very safe nest in the Police compound along Bunya Street. It is almost opposite the nest which fell from a tree a few weeks ago. Checked out the Golden Orb-weaver Spider who was busy wrapping a Cairns Birdwing Butterfly! The Brushtail Possum was in the same place today and deigning to show his face! No Water Dragons this morning but while looking for them photographed a Rufous Shrike-thrush and a Buff-banded Rail fossicking in the damp leaf mould. A Platypus midway between Platypus Bend and Log Jam Peninsula was being quite cooperative with 3 young ladies and myself, enabling me to take a few pics. Turtles were plentiful, 7 or 8 at the Log Jam and another in front of the Viewing Platform. A Green Ringtail Possum was roosting in the least popular of the Overhanging Bushes but doing her best to hide her face. Another Platypus was busy feeding along the upstream side of Picnic Peninsula.

Magpie Lark. Grallina cyanoleuca

Golden Orb-weaver Spider. Nephilla spp

Common Brushtail Possum. Trichosuras vulpecula

Rufous Shrike-thrush. Colluricincla megarhyncha

Buff-banded Rail. Gallirallus philippensis

Platypus. Ornithorhynchus anatinus

Saw-shelled Turtle. Elseya latisternum

Green Ringtail Possum. Pseudochirax archeri

11 mm of rain at 0700 hrs. Intermittent drizzle throughout day. Overcast. Occasional sunny periods. Light breeze. Track damp. Few small puddles.

Thomas feeling better and keen to come on Patrol. Cashed in with 3 sessions of patting from visitors. Well concealed Brushtail Possum in mistletoe clump at Allumbah Pocket. Poor photograph as face could not be seen. Only one Eastern Water Dragon behind Memorial Bench but two female Platypus feeding withing a few metres of each other at Platypus Bend. Watched for several minutes in company with a group of overseas visitors. One decided to roll on a mud bank exposing underside of her bill. Nothing to see at the Log Jam but a large Turtle swimming at Picnic Peninsula and another in shallow water in front of Viewing Platform. A few distant Bush Stone-curlews could be seen in the paddock behind the Car Park, along with a couple of Magpie Geese and Masked Lapwings.

Common Brushtail Possum. Trichosurus vulpecula

Eastern Water Dragon. Physignathus lesueurii

Platypus. Ornithorhynchus anatinus

Saw-shelled Turtle. Elseya latisternum

Magpie Goose. Anseranas semipalmata

Masked Lapwing. Vanellus miles miles

Rain forecast but nil as yet. Patchy cloud with intermittent sun. Humidity 52%. Light breeze. Track remains dry.

Large Golden Orb-weaver Spider found at Allumbah Pocket while searching for potential possum perches. Glimpsed a male Eastern Whipbird at the same location. The same two Eastern Water Dragons were seen on the Rock Piles between Memorial Bench and Snodgrass’s Pool. At the Log Jam only a minute Turtle was present but my visit was preceded by 2 excited children. I also had a brief glimpse of a large Saw-shelled Turtle at Picnic Peninsula. Two Platypus were seen at Platy’s Pool, one only a glimpse, but two more sightings were reported to me. No possums found today but the Olive-backed Sunbirds were busy building their nest at Quincan Cafe.

Golden Orb-weaver Spider. Nephila spp

Eastern Water Dragon. Physignathus lesueurii

Saw-shelled Turtle. Elseya latisternum – juvenile

Platypus. Ornithorhynchus anatinus

Olive-backed Sunbird. Cinnyris jugularis

Bright sunshine from cloud free sky. Fresh gusty breeze to 20 knots. Track dry.

For second consecutive day no canine companions and no Platypus today either!
Two Eastern Water Dragons on the rocks above Memorial Bench and next rock pile. Neither of spectacular in size but the first a long lizard! Two Turtles seen at the Log Jam and one observed while climbing onto a log. It was quite a slow and tricky process with a fall appearing imminent on several occasions so several photos were taken. Found a solitary Green Ringtail Possum at the Overhanging Bushes but not interested in communicating. Less usual was a Common Brushtail Possum showing typical red Tablelands colouration. High in the canopy of a moderately tall tree, he/she was was nonchalantly completing a face wash as the branches swayed alarmingly in the wind gusts. Like a sailor on the topmast yard in the days of sail! The family of Bush Stone-curlews were again in the paddock next to the Doctor House.

Eastern Water Dragon. Physignathus lesueurii

Saw-shelled Turtle. Elseya latisternum

Green Ringtail Possum. Pseudochirax archeri

Common Brushtail Possum. Trichosurus vulpecula

Bush Stone-curlew. Burhinus grallarius

No rain. Thin layer of high cirrus cloud taking the sting out of the sun. No breeze however which made it seem hotter. Track remains dry.

No dogs on deck this morning after a night disturbed by a large black dog, who shall remain nameless, had eaten something noxious and required to go out 6 times during night. Father went on Patrol early to avoid falling asleep en route.
The Green Ringtail Possum was ensconced in the tree on the downstream side of Lloyds Bridge at Allumbah Pocket. Joey was still in bed however and completely inside her pouch. A turtle took to the water near the Memorial Bench and was the only one seen today. Two handsome Eastern Water Dragons were sunning themselves on the rocks on the landward side of the track between the Bench and Snodgrass’s Pool. A fleeting glimpse only of a Platypus downstream of the Log Jam and no others appeared. Found another Green Ringtail Possum on the upstream side of Picnic Peninsula in the crown of a high tree but not showing very much and seemed to be asleep. A Pacific Baza was seen while crossing the Highway Bridge and a small flock of Magpie Geese were on the bank of the tributary in the paddock behind the Car Park. A family of Olive-backed Sunbirds were in the Jacaranda Tree and starting to build a nest at Quincan Cafe. A pair of Peaceful Doves were spotted along Bunya Street.

Green Ringtail Possum. Pseudochirax archeri

Eastern Water Dragon. Physignathus lesueurii

Pacific Baza. Aviceda subcrista

Magpie Goose. Anseranas semipalmata

Olive-backed Sunbird. Cinnyris jugularis

Peaceful Dove. Geopelia placida

No rain overnight. Sky clear apart from few fair weather cumulus clouds in the West. Hot in the sun. Track dry.

Cody busy doing the ironing today. Thomas and I met up with our neighbour who volunteers with the track maintenance crew and we crossed Lloyd’s Suspension Bridge together. Spotted a Green Ringtail Possum to the left of the bridge and stopped to watch as she climbed down onto the main suspension cable and used it to complete her crossing of the creek. On reaching the main post, she crossed to the opposite side of the bridge and then down the support cable to the Milky Pine tree. By this time we had been joined by more volunteers and students from The School for Field Studies as the possum crossed this and another tree, jumping across gaps and traversing extremely thin twigs before hiding in the canopy of a larger tree. Thomas meanwhile got his fair share of pats and strokes from the students.
After this interlude we continued on to find 2 Eastern Water Dragons on the rocks between the Memorial Bench and Snodgrass’s Pool. There were no Turtles at the Log Jam although we photographed a Brush Turkey and a Varied Triller along the bank. At last sighted a solitary Platypus at the narrows but she was being quite antisocial. Managed to take a few shots when she paused on the surface for a scratch but she then hid under a fallen log for several minutes to complete her toilet. After emerging she vanished. Sighted the back of another Green Ringtail Possum just before the Highway Bridge and introduced a young couple from Germany. The only Turtle seen today was from the Platypus viewing Platform. Another pair of Bush Stone Curlews with one chick were in the paddock next to the Medical Centre.

Green Ringtail Possum. Pseudochirax archderi

Eastern Water Dragon. Physignathus lesueurii

Australian Brush Turkey. Alectura lathami

Varied Triller. Lalage leucomela

Platypus. Ornithorhynchus anatinus

Saw-shelled Turtle. Elseya latisternum

Bush Stone-curlew. Burhinus grallarius

No rain. Sky clear but hazy with some distant cirrus cloud to SW. Little or no breeze. Track Dry.

After a drive to Malanda to collect a new Queen Bee and a pause while she was introduced into our hive, both dogs, led by Cody, were anxious to be off. Our departure was delayed when I spotted a pair of mating Cairns Birdwing Butterflies on our lawn and they needed to be photographed. Two Eastern Water Dragons were on the rocks near the Memorial Bench but the large one declined to be photographed. A range of Turtles occupied the Log Jam including both Saw-shelled and Krefft’s Short-necked Turtles. No Platypus seen today. An uninspiring rear view of a Green Ringtail Possum in the crown of a tall Queensland Kauri was recorded. This is a markedly different location to that which they normally favour but I have seen them in this tree on a couple of previous occasions. A Brown Honeyeater was feeding in the Bottle Brushes at the Car Park. (Butterflies still locked together after 6 hours! )

Cairns Birdwing. Ornithoptera priamus

Eastern Water Dragon. Physignathus lesueurii

Krefft’s short-necked Turtle. Emydura krefftii

Saw-shelled Turtle. Elseya latisternum

Green Ringtail Possum. Pseudochirax archeri

Brown Honeyeater. Lichmera indistincta

Cairns Birdwing. Ornithoptera priamus

No rain. Strong sun shining from cloudless sky with no breeze. Very hot. Track dry.

Cody again declined having had claws clipped yesterday. Thomas coping better with harness after suitable adjustments. Mother Green Ringtail Possum in tree next to Lloyds Suspension Bridge at Allumbah Pocket but joey with head in pouch and not showing his finer points. A family who are staying at Malanda Falls Camping Park arrived at the perfect moment for an introduction and were kind enough to give Thomas a pat. A couple of Turtles and a show off Water Dragon could be seen from the Memorial Bench and another smaller Dragon was a few metres further along the track. Nothing then until the Log Jam where no wildlife was on view but met a delightful couple from Chile who also admired Thomas. Had a long chat and directed them towards the EWD and GRP. A bus load or tourists were encountered and those who asked were also given directions. A pair of Barred Cuckoo Shrike were seen at Picnic Peninsula and Thomas met a few more admirers before returning home. Cody now sulking although did get kitchen lickings while we were out!

Green Ringtail Possum. Pseudocheirax archeri

Saw-shelled Turtle. Elseya latisternum

Eastern Water Dragon. Physignathus lesueurii

Barred Cuckooshrike. Coracina lineata

No rain in past 24 hrs. Cloudless sky and very hot in sun. Little or no breeze. Track dry.

Cody declined today but Thomas still keen in spite of the new harness. One Easter Water Dragon in usual area near the Memorial Bench. Two juvenile Turtles on same floating log just upstream of Platypus Bend. The larger is certainly a Krefft’s but am not sure about the smaller one. Found a female Platypus at the bend before Log Jam Peninsula and was joined by an enthusiastic couple from Germany. Followed it along the bank with some close views and it then moved to the far bank where it was approached briefly by a larger male but no mating activity observed. Thomas became so bored that he managed to slide out of his harness and then lay on his back like a soppy mutt, making it as difficult as possible to put it back on! The female Platypus then returned to the near bank at the Log Jam and was revealed as the scarred girl seen at the same spot on several occasions. A number of Saw-shelled Turtles on the Logs and the large Eastern Water Dragon was again on the far bank. A couple of Pied Currawongs were observed along the track and there were several Bush Stone-curlews around the isolated trees in the paddock behind the Car Park. Wasn’t able to identify them as our original family.

Eastern Water Dragon. Physignathus lesueurii

Krefft’s Short-necked Turtle. Emydura krefftii + another

Platypus. Ornithorhynchus anatinus.

Pied Currawong. Strepera graculina

Bush Stone-curlew. Burhinus grallarius

No Rain. Scattered cloud with sunny periods. Intermittent cool breeze. Track dry.

Full crew present today though Thomas protesting about his new harness to replace his choke chain which to date has been the only thing he was unable to slip out of! I think he wanted a leather one with stainless steel spikes to promote his masculine image.
The black spotted Eastern Water Dragon was displaying himself in a more prominent position today, with a smaller Dragon less than a metre away. Then nothing until the Log Jam where there were several Saw-Shelled Turtles of assorted sizes and a Krefft’s Short-necked Turtle in prime position. A Black-faced Cuckooshrike came to check us out at Platy’s Pool and there was a large Saw-shelled Turtle is his regular spot at Picnic Peninsula. By this time we were despairing of seeing a Possum or a Platypus when I spotted a Green Ringtail Possum in a new tree near the Side Bridge over a minor tributary of the creek. She was either cuddling a white fluffy ball or has a joey in the pouch! At The Narrows we had no fewer than 5 Platypus sightings although a couple of them could have been repeats. The most exciting was where the track runs down hill towards the Highway Bridge where a Platypus climbed up the bank under a tangle of branches and roots to enter a burrow located about 1 m above the water. Have never witnessed this before. Finally we saw a pair of Bush Stone-curlews at the creek end of the paddock adjoining the Medical Centre. Only 1 chick in view and not sure if it was our regular family or not. Another highly successful Patrol!

Eastern Water Dragon. Physignathus lesueurii

Krefft’s Short-necked turtle. Emydura krefftii

Black-faced Cuckooshrike. Coracina novaehollandiae (immature)

Saw-shelled Turtle. Elseya latisternum.

Green Ringtail Possum. Pseudochirax archeri

Platypus. Ornithorhynchus anatinus

Bush Stone-curlew. Burhinus grallarius.