Thursday 12th September 2019. 1100 – 1155

Dry overnight. Slight shower early afternoon. Scattered cloud. Blustery wind from East. Track dry.

Quite cool as full team set out and came across 2 platypus, one each side of Platypus Bend. Both were feeding happily but were disinclined to visit our side of the creek. A third Platypus was seen close to the Overhanging Bushes but so close to the bank that he could only be viewed from some distance with his bill well into the undergrowth. A solitary turtle observed but submerged almost instantly. Nothing else seen along the Creek although the Magpie Geese and Whistling-ducks were in the same spot and could be seen from the Car Park.

Platypus. Ornithorhynchus anatinus

Magpie Geese. Anseranus semipalmata + Plumed Whistling-duck Dendrocigna eytoni

No rain. A little warmer this morning. Scattered cloud with cold gusty wind which couldn’t make up it’s mind which way to blow from. Wished I had worn my jumper. Track remains dry.

Saw a Platypus close under the bank between the Memorial Bench and Snodgrass’s Pool. It entertained Thomas and I for a few minutes before heading for the far bank. Another Platypus was feeding on the opposite bank at Platypus Bend and ignoring the resident dog’s barking. He wasn’t interested in visiting us. Nothing else was seen along the length of the walk and even tourists were thin on the ground. A large mixed flock of Magpie Geese and Plumed Whistling-ducks were seen across the paddock behind the Car Park.

Platypus. Ornithorhynchus anatinus

Magpie Goose. Anseranas semipalmata + Plumed Whistling-duck Dendrocygna eytoni

No rain in past 24hrs. Another cold morning followed by bright sunny day. Track dry.

Full team again today and spotted a Platypus just upstream from the stepping stones from Lloyd’s suspension bridge. More Platypus seen both sides of the Log Jam and at the upstream side of Picnic Peninsula. Apart from one they were all along the far bank and none offered chances for worthwhile photography. Nothing else of note was seen.

To make up for this I will add some photos of Sarus Cranes taken along Curtain Fig Tree Rd earlier this morning.

Platypus. Ornithorhynchus anatinus

Sarus Crane. Grus antigone

Another cold morning. Hot by mid morning under cloudless sky. Fresh southerly breeze. Track remains dry. Watch for slippery gravel.

Full team out today and were found by a Brown Goshawk which flew into a bush a short distance in front of as at The Other Side. Nothing else seen until the Log Jam where there were no Turtles but a Platypus which refused to leave the shelter of the undergrowth on the far bank. No one at home in the possums favourite tree, but a very well concealed Green Ring Tail Possum was in the next tree along! Has Joey been thrown out of home? Another Platypus was busy hiding under roots where the creek emerges from under the Highway Bridge but finally revealed itself near the centre of the span. A final Platypus was active in the Viewing Pool.

Brown Goshawk. Accipiter fasciatus didimus

Green Ringtail Possum. Pseudochirax archeri

Platypus. Ornithorhynchus anatinus

No rain. Warmer this morning. Bright and sunny . Slight breeze. Track dry and cracking.

Thomas and I saw a Platypus while crossing Lloyd’s Suspension Bridge which usually bodes well for an interesting walk. A large Eastern Water Dragon was on the rocks just past the Memorial Bench and a few yards further on there was another Platypus . The tree in which we saw the Tree Kangaroos yesterday was today hosting a solitary Green Ringtail Possum. She was a little wary and decided to move, revealing an unusual view of her pouch opening. I wondered if her pouch is in fact occupied. A lonely Turtle was on guard at the Log Jam but refusing to reveal his face. The female Green Ringtail Possum and Joey were welcoming guests in their favourite tree and were introduced to several groups of visitors. A third Platypus was on the shallow mud bank opposite the Viewing Platform and seemed very busy in the mud and floating leaves. One of my shots shows his bill wide open. The flock of Plumed Whistling-ducks was back on the far bank of the tributary in the paddock behind the car park.

Platypus. Ornithorhynchus anatinus

Eastern Water Dragon. Physignathus lesueurii

Gren Ringtail Possum. Pseudochirax archeri

Plumed Whistling-duck. Dendrocygna eytoni

No rain. Another cold morning followed by a bright, warm, sunny day. Intermittent breeze. Track dry and cracking.

One of the interesting things about taking a daily walk along the same route is that you never know what you are, or are not, going to see. Today was such a day when the natural order of things seemed to be reversed and can be best summarised by – Possums 0, Dragons 0, Turtles 1, Platypus 1 (and a glimpse at that), Tree Kangaroos 2. A day when you see 2 Lumholtz’s Tree Kangaroos can never of course be descried as a bad day!

Lumholtz’s Tree Kangaroo. Dendrolagus lumholtzi

Saw-shelled Turtle. Elseya latisternum

Platypus. Ornithorhynchus anatinus

No rain. Very cold night with ice in our garden. Bright sunny day and hot at lunch time. Track dry.

Thomas and I spied a Platypus immediately on approaching Creek edge near the memorial bench. An Eastern Water Dragon was on the rocks a few yards on and solitary Green Ringtail Possum in the tree opposite Snodgrass’s Pool. A lonely Turtle on the Log Jam sun baking. Saw a second Platypus, but not until just below the Highway Bridge where he was performing for a group of visitors.

Platypus. Ornithorhynchus anatinus

Eastern Water Dragon. Physignathus lesueurii

Green Ringtail Possum. Pseudochirax archeri

No Rain. Cold morning but up to mid 20s by lunch time. Cloudless sky. Track dry.

About to set off on Patrol when discovered garden full of bees in veritable hive of activity. This settled over about 30 minutes and discovered that bees had swarmed on a small Norfolk Island Pine where they were arranged in three bunches between the branches. After getting some advice decided to wait a while and then consider attempting to catch them with a view to starting another hive although I do not really want or need one!

Eventually set off as above with both dogs, bees having settled and coast reasonable clear. Saw 4 platypus but none in cooperative frame of mind so photographs difficult to obtain. Only a couple of Turtles on the log jam and nothing else to be seen. The platypus were well spread out, with one near the Memorial Bench and another just past Platypus Bend. The final appearance was in the narrows swimming through to the Viewing Pool where another Platypus appeared to join the fun. This was much enjoyed by a couple of young children who were quite excited!

Honey Bees. Apis mellifera

Platypus. Ornithorhynchus anatinus

Saw-shelled Turtle. Elseya latisternum

Very cold start but warmed up well. Bright and sunny. Moderate gusty breeze. Track dry.

Cody could not be arsed today. Thomas and I found a Magpie Lark nesting along Bunya St but then not much until there were a few Saw-shelled Turtles trying to warm up at the Log jam. Delighted to find my girlfriend the Green Ringtail Possum at home but looking a bit down in the mouth. Joey obviously playing up a bit today. Really performing for the camera and decided to turn around on his branch. Suffered a minor slip and had to make a quick half hitch with his tail round the trunk which saved the day. Signalled that he was OK. Only one Platypus seen upstream from Picnic Peninsula and not at all interested in being photographed. Plumed Whistling-ducks back in regular spot again.

Magpie-lark. Grallina cyanoleuca

Saw-shelled Turtle. Elseya latisternum

Green Ringtail Possum. Pseudochirax archeri

Platypus. Ornithorhyncha anatinus

Plumed Whistling-duck. Dendrocygna eytoni

No rain. Bright sunny day. Blustery wind from SE. Track dry.

Late start after a busy morning in the garden. A smaller Saw-shelled Turtle occupying the favoured rock near the memorial seat. No Dragons or Possums around today. A Pacific Emerald Dove Three Platypus spotted starting with one downstream of the Log Jam which today was hosting 5 Turtles. Another platypus downstream of Picnic Peninsula followed quickly by another heading downstream towards the apex of the Peninsula. After messing around for a few minutes he turned around and heading upstream at a pace which I was scarcely able to keep up with. He paused for a scratch just before the Highway Bridge and then swam powerfully on the surface through the current in the narrow entrance to the Platypus Viewing Pool where he was seen again. The Plumed Whistling-ducks were today on the far bank of the tributary which runs across the meadows behind the Car Park.

Saw-shelled Turtle. Elseya latisternum

Pacific Emerald Dove. Chalcophaps longirostris

Platypus. Ornithorhynchus anatinus

Plumed Whistling-duck. Dendrocygna eytoni