Beautiful sunny day and quite warm this afternoon after a 7 deg start. Track dry throughout.
Three Platypus seen but only one film star. The last was in the Viewing Pool and performing for a bus load of school children who were obviously enjoying it’s antics. A Saw-Shelled Turtle occupied his usual log and also saw a Pacific Baza at Alumbah Pocket and a Little Bronze-Cuckoo along the track.
Platypus. Ornithorhinchus actinus.
Feeding under the overhanging grasses and taking no notice of anything else.Garnished with floating water weed.
Saw-Shelled Turtle – Elseya latisternum
Turtles are usually quite anxious and return to the water is startled but this guy is getting more relaxed by the day.
Pacific Baza – Aviceda subcristata
Medium sized hawk of tropics and subtropics which feeds on large insects, frogs, lizards and nestling birds.
Little Bronze Cuckoo – Chalcites minutillus
Small iridescent cuckoo which as usual lays eggs in nests of other birds.
Temp 0700 8 deg C. Bright and sunny. Minimal breeze. Track dry.
Numerous small birds in song this morning but difficult to photograph as very active while hunting insects in foliage. Only one platypus but an enthusiastic performer. Fair number of families walking but most arriving as dogs and I were leaving pointed a few of them in the right direction.
Platypus – Ornithorhynchus anatinus
Busy feeding and took not notice of me even when less that 1 metre from dogs and I standing on bank.Even closer here and remained within 5 metres for 10 minutes or so.Shot of the day!
7 deg C at 0700 with a clear blue sky but had clouded up by the time we got under way. Fortunately little wind so felt markedly warmer than yesterday although not sufficient to satisfy the wildlife. Cody deigned to accompany us.
The only sighting was a platypus underneath Lloyd’s Suspension Bridge and even he was spending minimal time on the surface.
Platypus. Ornithorhynchus anatinus.
Different perspective because close to vertically above and leaning out over safety fence.Dived almost immediately and the shutter caught him in the process. Interesting that the bill is gaping and similar to a previous image in that respect.
Bright sunny day with hardly a cloud in the sky but temp at 0700 8 deg C. Track improves daily and puddles have all dried up.
Cody, when asked if he would like a walk, rewarded me with a withering look and snuggled under his blanket. He is after all the human equivalent of 87 years old. Thomas and I set off undaunted but it appeared that most of the wildlife agreed with Cody. Herewith my limited offering.
Golden Orb-Weaver Spider – Nephila ssp
This is a juvenile spider with a body length of about 20 mm. The site of it’s web was last year occupied by an adult of around 50 mm. I took this pic so that I am able to record how rapidly it grows.
Sarus Crane – Grus antigone
The paddock adjoining the Viewing Platform car park is normally full of assorted water birds and waders. This morning one could easily have counted the small assortment present. The cranes fortunately flew over at this moment and gave me something on which to exercise my shutter finger.
Bright sunny day with a cold wind from the southeast. Track improving daily but dog’s feet still need washing before allowed indoors.
Spotted catbird seen in tree adjoining Lloyd’s Bridge but camera not behaving well today. Owners fault no doubt. Glimpse of a platypus along the track but one of my regulars made a brief inspection near the small bridge over a side tributary. Three Sarus Cranes flew over the house as I arrived home.
Spotted Catbird – Ailuroedus melanotis
Sun behind subject but best view I have had of catbird to date. No view of back. Same problem but better view of facial marking.
Platypus – Ornithorhynchus actinus
Haven’t got to the stage yet of recognising individuals although shape of tail seems distinctive in some animals.
Sarus Crane – Grus antigone
Pair of Cranes sighted from front drive in Bunya Street.
Sunshine and scattered cloud but cold southerly wind. No rain in gauge. Track unchanged.
Glimpses of 2 platypus today, one messing about under overhanging roots and the second under the road bridge so neither suitable for photography. Green Ringtail Possums were also sheltering out of the wind so will have to make do with birds today. Saw a pair of Bush Stone-Curlews along Bunya Street but unusually timid and the Egrets are still around.
White-Cheeked Honeyeater – Phylidonyris niger
Handsome honeyeater feeding in banksia tree.
Fan-Tailed Cuckoo – Cacomantis flabelliformis
Huge number of cuckoos in Australia. This species is new to me but have recorded several others along Petersons Creek. As with all cuckoos they leave their eggs to be hatched and reared in the nests of other birds.
Bower’s Shrike-Thrush
A member of the Shrike-Thrush family found in upland rainforest of the wet tropics above 400 metres.
I tend to avoid Friday mornings as this is when the Petersons Creek volunteers do their thing and keep the walk clean, tidy and not overgrown with vegetation. There was another 5.5 mm of rain during the night. Peace reigned once more this afternoon and the track surface was unchanged apart from wheelbarrow tracks here and there.
Only one platypus seen today, once more in front of the platform where several tourists were enjoying the view. Another sighting was reported simultaneously from Lloyd’s Bridge. Several turtles were sunning themselves on the logs but I was most excited by the view of one of my girlfriends with a joey at one of her regular bushes overhanging the track. Not unfortunately a favourable place for a good view but I was unable to resist some pics.
Saw-Shelled Turtle – Elseya latisternum
Rather a splendid specimen. The “Goofy” teeth are not teeth but I don’t know what they are and don’t possess a book about turtles. All contributions gratefully received.
Green Ringtail Possum – Pseudochirax archeri
See details under this heading for more about these delightful rare possums.
Mother with joey siting behind her. Looks a bit large to still be travelling on her back. She was busily scratching her ear giving a good view of her opposing thumb and an explanation of the Latin name, loosely pseudo hand.Best view available today but am sure more will follow.
Platypus – Ornithorhynchus actinus
In front of the Viewing Platform. Doesn’t matter how good your camera or how big the lens, you won’t get a good picture if you are too far away.
No rain in past 24 hrs. Cloudy with glimpses of sun and occasional light drizzle. Path started to dry out. Several couples on walk today but only one child in a large stroller about to attempt the steps down to walk beneath the road bridge. Mum was directed to the back way in on the other side of the road!
3 platypus were seen but not as cooperative as over the past few days and one was only a fleeting glimpse. The light was not as good. Did manage a few pics which are shown below.
Platypus 1
Near Snodgrass’s PoolUnobstructed view between dives.
Platypus 3
Spent several minutes with this chap while he foraged for breakfast.
Another 5 mm of drizzle during night leaving track muddy and slippery with a few puddles. Didn’t stop mums and holidaying kids from venturing along the track and fortunately there were some platypus to be seen.
Saw 2 myself, one up c;lose and personal the other in front of the viewing platform which I snapped from under the bridge and again from the platform. Not much in the way of bird life except the attendant egrets with Mr Dowling’s cattle.
No marsupials seen but a Green Ringtail Possum had lefts some fresh scats on the benches near Lloyd’s Bridge.
This platypus was very busy feeding and continued to dive multiple times within a couple of metres of self and dogs.Sure he is looking at me!Definitely!Caught in the act of diving. Note eye closed and bill being swept from right to left and being bent up by pressure of water. Fascinating!Final shot of viewing pool from under the road bridge.Egrets taking care of Mr Dowling’s cattle.
Late start today after morning shopping. Cody too tired to walk but Thomas keen on second outing for day. Sun shining and track drying out well. Met several groups of visitors several with children and chatted to several.
Platypus certainly more active and saw 4 today. One group reported 5 sightings. Heard Sarus Cranes honking but had travelled some distance before I spotted them over The Pinnacles. My first sighting for the season. A lot of water birds in paddock behind car park. Ibis, Purple Swamp Hens and Pacific Black Ducks and one of my regular pairs of Bush Stone-Curlews near Nick’s Restaurant.
Platypus 1
Nice closeup shot with particularly good view of eye and ear.
Platypus 2
Feeding quietly where water flow slowed by semi submerged logs.Membrane sliding up over eyes as bill start to submerge in preparation for diving.
Platypus 3
Lot of work going on under water here.And here he is.
Platypus 4
Distant view in Viewing Platform Pool .
Australian Swamphen – Porphyrio melanotus
Group of 3 in paddock behind car park.
Sarus Crane – Grus antigone
Distant view against the clouds
Bush Stone-curlew – Burhinus gralarius
Close to Nick’s Restaurant – standing still pretending that you are unable to see them!
