No rain. Cloudy with sunny periods. Cold gusty southerly wind. Track remains dry.

Accompanied only by the stalwart Thomas today and saw Saw-shelled turtle on usual rock close to Doreen Child’s memorial bench. No Water Dragons of Green Ringtail Possums on show today and saw only one Platypus at Platy’s Pool. Started under the grass at the feet of a visitor and myself but then decided to show off. Birds also thin on the ground but did see a Rufous (formerly Little) Shrike Thrush. Even the Whistling-ducks have moved elsewhere.

Saw-shelled Turtle. Elseya latisternum

In Memory of Doreen Child

Platypus. Ornithorhynchus anatinus

Rufous Shrike-thrush. Colluricincla megarhyncha

No rain. Bright sunny day. Track dry.

Early start today with Jennifer and both hounds in charge. No dragons at home today as not yet warm enough. Tree Roo moved on to make room for regular Green Ringtail Possum in tree opposite Snodgrass’s Pool. Showed her to a keen photographer and partner before moving on to photo session of Platypus Patrol. Three Platypus seen today, 2 downstream of Log Jam and another in Platypus Viewing Pool where there was also a moderate sized Turtle on the bank. Mother Green Ringtail Possum and joey in favourite spot at Overhanging bushes. Plumed Whistling-ducks in usual spot upstream of Highway Bridge.

Platypus Patrol.

Green Ringtail Possums. Pseudochirax archeri

Platypus. Ornithorhynchus anatinus

Saw-toothed Turtle. Elseya latisternum

Plumed Whistling-ducks. Dendrocygna eytoni

No Rain. Scattered cloud with sunny periods. Fresh breeze from SE this afternoon. Track dry.

Thomas led the way this afternoon and we saw the first of 3 platypus in front of the memorial seat as a Turtle splashed into the water. The larger of the Eastern Water Dragons was in the same spot but leapt immediately into the rocks. He was kind enough however to stick his head out for a look around. The day was made by spotting a Lumholtz’s Tree Kangaroo in the group of trees across the track from Snodgrass’s Pool where I often see Green Ringtail Possums. Obtained some satisfactory views and was able to show a local family group and describe the location to several groups of tourists. A picnic day for Saw-shelled Turtles with 12 basking on the Log Jam and another 2 watching from the water. Clambering over each other was part of the fun and there were 3 babies present. Finished the walk with 2 platypus in the Viewing Pool, one at long range but the other right in front of the platform. A successful patrol.

Eastern Water Dragon. Physignathus lesueurii

Lumholtz’s Tree-kangaroo. Dendrolagus lumholtzi

Saw-shelled Turtle. Elseya latisternum

Platypus. Ornithorhynchus anatinus

No rain. Bright and sunny. Light breeze. Track dry.

Walked down the hill towards the memorial seat with 2 dogs leading the way. A moderately large Saw-shelled Turtle was enjoying the sun while an Australian Brushturkey stood on the bank. A few yards further on was the seasons first Eastern Water Dragon on one of the rock piles. A smaller Dragon was on the next rock pile. A friendly Platypus came to inspect me at Platypus Bend . A solitary Turtle was on the Log Jam . A second Platypus remained on the far side of Platys Pool and another couple of Turtles were on the far bank.

Saw-shelled Turtle. Elseya latisternum

Australian Brush Turkey. Alectura lathami

Eastern Water Dragon. Physignathus lesueurii

Platypus. Ornithorhynchus anatinus

No rain. Scattered cloud with sunny periods. Light breeze. Track dry.

Full team again today and found solitary Green Ringtail Possum in her favourite tree opposite Snodgrass’s Pool. She was enjoying a good scratch. A Platypus was seen almost immediately but remained close to the far bank. Two more Platypuses were one on either side of Picnic Peninsula and both again favoured the far bank although the upstream one was a little more considerate. Both were entertaining tourists. My final Platypus of the day I had to myself at the Narrows in very shallow water and obtained some good shots including a series of him surfacing.

Green Ringtail Possum. Pseudochirops archeri

Platypus 1. Ornithorhynchus anatinus.

Platypus 2.

Platypus 3.

Platypus 4.

No rain. Light cloud but bright and sunny. Little or no wind. Track dry.

Both hounds on deck this morning. Saw-shelled Turtle on the same rock as yesterday but I think a different turtle. Almost immediately first of 3 Platypus heading towards Snodgrass’s Pool but not wanting to hang around. No Possums at home today and no Turtles at the Log Jam. Pretty pair of Peaceful Doves in the Overhanging Bushes. One of my regular Platypus towards the end of Picnic Peninsula where he already had an audience. Entertained us with multiple dives and close proximity for at least 10 minutes. A slightly less cooperative platypus performed for another group of tourists at the start of the Narrows. Cody and Thomas much enjoyed attention from both sets of visitors.

Saw-shelled Turtle. Elseya latisternum

Platypus 1. Ornithorhynchus anatinus

Peaceful Doves. Geopelia placida

Platypus 2. Ornithorhynchus anatinus

Platypus 3.

No rain. Bright sunshine. Light breeze. Track dry.

Met a Pale-yellow Robin at Allumbah Pocket who vanished and then reappeared to show me what he had just caught! Looked like a good lunch! Saw-shelled Turtle was on the same rock as yesterday but more light gave a very attractive image. Numerous Turtles sunbathing at the Log Jam but very timid and performed a simultaneous dive. Male and female platypuses seen together in Platypus Pool but too busy to bother with photographs. Another platypus just downstream of the Highway Bridge and was giving a Command Performance to a visiting couple with numerous dives all within 3 metres of them! My bees having a ball at present and have found a handy Bottlebrush.

Regular viewers will be pleased to hear that yesterday’s Saw-shelled Turtle has visited vet in Cairns this morning. A full clinical examination and X Ray showed no major problem so she has been fed and watered, wormed and is now on her way back to Petersons Creek.

Pale-yellow Robin. Tregellasia capito

Saw-shelled Turtle. Elseya latisternum

Platypus. Ornithorhynchus anatinus

Honey Bee. Apis mellifera

1 mm rain to 0700. Bright and sunny. Moderate gusty wind. Track dry.

Started well with male Australian Brushturkey wating for us at The Other Side. Within a few metres there is a memorial seat just upstream of the Stepping Stones and a Platypus was feeding right in front of it. A Saw-shelled Turtle on a shady rock was ignoring the whole thing. The solitary Green Ringtail Possum was in the same spot opposite Sodgrass’s Pool but remained very difficult to see and photograph. A few metres past Platypus Bend Thomas found a moderately large Saw-shelled Turtle lying in the middle of the path in full sun. He was definitely alive when disturbed but mad no effort to escape to the water and I recalled about a week ago seeing a turtle which appeared unable to dive very close to this location. This decided me to carry it home where my next door neighbour is a Wildlife Carer. Encumbered by a struggling turtle I found it difficult to concentrate on further observations but did glimpse another platypus and 3 shy turtles at the Log Jam. Several visitors were interested to see a Dachshund and a Turtle being taken for a walk.

Australian Bushturkey. Alectura lathami

Platypus. Ornithorhinchus anatinus

Green Ringtail Possum. Pseudochirax archeri

Saw-shelled Turtle. Elseya latisternum

No rain overnight. Overcast with intermittent light showers since midday. Occasional brief sunny periods. Wind light. Track damp.

In view of weather set off with the intrepid Thomas and new Lumix weather proof camera to see how it works. Results disappointing but guess I need more practice and to modify my expectations. A Golden Orb-weaver Spider is growing rapidly near the track just before Snodgrass’s Pool . With great difficulty Saw a Green Ringtail Possum across the track but so deep within foliage that impossible to photograph. A platypus was spotted downstream from the Log Jam but the telephoto capabilities of the new camera a a lot less than my Sony 100-400mm lens!. Mother and joey GRT in their favourite spot but new camera found this difficult also.

Golden Orb-weaver Spider. Nephila ssp

Green Ringtail Possum. Pseudochirax archeri

Platypus. Ornithorhynchus anatinus

No rain. Slightly warmer this a.m. Fluffy clouds but mostly sunny. Market Day so rather noisy.

Only one Platypus seen at Snodgrass’s Pool today but showing unusual behaviour. Appeared to be swimming around as fast as possible trying to reach his tail. This is shown quite well in a couple of the images. Perhaps he had an itch? Only one Turtle seen with head just below the surface. Plumed Whistling Ducks are in same spot. A new addition is Honey Bees feeding on Tea Tree in my garden.

Platypus. Ornithorhynchus anatinus

Saw-shelled Turtle. Elseya latisternum

Plumed Whistling Duck. Dendrocygna eytoni

Honey Bee. Apis mellifera