Saturday 26th June 2021. 1355- 1512

Weather

2 mm of rain in the gauge. Overcast with occasional light drizzle. Variable southerly breeze. Track damp. Water level steady. Moon – Full +1

Wildlife Report

Set off from home full of enthusiasm which was well placed, as on arrival at Allumbah Pocket I immediately spotted “Piratical Pete” the elderly Green Ringtail Possum in the tree to the right of the informal path leading to the Volunteer’s storage shed.
Returning to the main entrance, I soon saw that the Chocolate Brushtail Possum was still Roosting in the Mistletoe Clump and was able to show both Possums to a Mum with two boys who were passing.
Continuing on I spotted a Black Butcherbird on the path to the Upper Level near Snodgrass’s Pool but then saw nothing until Log Jam Peninsula where I photographed a Golden Orb-weaver Spider.
A couple from Ingham were watching a Platypus on the upstream side of the Peninsula and we followed it down to the Log Jam where it put on a virtuoso performance for more than 10 minutes during which it approached us within a metre on several occasions and numerous photos were taken. We were joined by a family group from Kiama, NSW who were obviously enjoying the experience and I directed them towards the Possums.
A grumpy looking Saw-shelled Turtle was photographed on a log near the Overhanging Bushes where another male Green Ringtail Possum was in Bush No 1 at the same spot occupied by a mum and joey on my last Patrol.
A succession of visitors from Cairns, Townsville and Tasmania enjoyed this with me.
Near the Highway Bridge I took another snap of the Golden Orb Weaver and paused on the bridge to record the presence of the Brushtail Possum in his bush. I showed him to another Townsville couple who were rather ambivalent as they have frequent problems with Possums on their roof!
The family of Bush Stone-curlews were in a more attractive spot today in Nick’s Camping area.

Green Ringtail Possum. Pseudochirops archeri

P
Piratical Pete at Allumbah Pocket

Common Brushtail Possum. Trichosurus vulpecula

In the Mistletoe Clump
My regular mate on Highway Bridge

Black Butcherbird. Melloria quoyi

Near Snodgrass’s Pool

Golden Orb-weaver Spider. Nephila pilipes

Dorsal view at Log Jam Peninsula
Ventral view near Highway Bridge

Platypus. Ornithorhynchus anatinus

This was almost too close for me to focus!

Saw-shelled Turtle. Elseya latisternum

Looking particularly grumpy to me!

Bush Stone-curlew. Burhinus grallarius

At last a shot with no human detritus around them!