Saturday 16th October 2021. 1445 – 1555

Weather

21 mm of rain in the gauge after 11 mm on Friday. Bright and sunny with a few clouds to the West. Variable Easterly breeze. Track slightly damp. Water level up by 100 mm plus with Stepping Stones again submerged. Increased sediment in the water. Moon First Quarter + 4.

Wildlife Report

I decided on a later start as this has previously proved good for Platypus viewing but it was very hot today.
Nothing was seen along Bunya Street or at Allumbah Pocket.
As noted above the Stepping Stones were again impassable but a large Saw-shelled Turtle was sun bathing of one of the stones still high and dry.
Another was on a rock in front of the Memorial Bench.
Several Eastern Water Dragons were viewed on Horseshoe Rocks, the rocks near Snodgrass’s Pool and at the upper level and the better examples are posted.
Only two Turtles were on the sloping log and were disposed in an untidy fashion.
A Platypus soon appeared in the Pool but confined herself to the far bank which was not good for photography. A family arrived and were pleased to see her and we were soon joined by a pair of Pacific Black Ducks one of which was dabbling in a completely inverted position.
Only one Turtle was enjoying the Log Jam today.
On the upstream side of Log Jam Peninsula I joined a Korean couple now living in Cairns who were watching a female Platypus heading upstream. I saw her again at Platys Pool but when she approached me the contrasting light conditions made photography well nigh impossible.
Along the Overhanging Bushes section of the Creek I saw another female Platypus heading downstream and being pursued by a larger male at a little distance. I did not observe any close encounter.
I took more shots of the solitary Golden Orb-weaver Spider which remains just below the Highway Bridge.
A pair of Bush Stone-curlews were present at Nick’s Camping Area but they were unusually timid and not at all keen on having their photos taken.
At the Overhanging Fig Tree the Coppery Brushtail Possum had moved her pitch and was presenting her bottom on the left side of the trunk with much better view of her face, claws and tail on the opposite side. Having just reviewed the images I note that there seems to be a separate tail on each side of the tree trunk so there is most likely a joey riding on Mum’s back!
As I emerged from the path onto Bunya Street, a snake crossed the road in front of me and vanished into the garden opposite our house. I went to investigate but was unable to locate it but it looked more like a Tree Snake rather than a Python.