Thursday 24th June 2021. 1430 – 1550

Weather

0.5 mm rain in gauge. Overcast with occasional light showers. Light variable breeze. Track damp. Water level steady. Moon phase First quarter + 6.

Wildlife Report

Another unaccompanied afternoon Patrol.
Spotted a solitary Bush-Stone-curlew in one of the Creekside gardens along Bunya Street.
The Chocolate Brushtail Possum was snuggled down in the Mistletoe clump which is now in flower and providing bed and breakfast, and not only for the Possum. While I was moving around in an attempt to obtain a better view, a Lewin’s Honeyeater was also enjoying the nectar.
Met a couple of visitors near the Memorial Bench and pointed them towards the Possum. They reported a Platypus sighting.
A small Saw-shelled Turtle was on a submerged rock nearby with only his head above water. A larger Turtle was on one of the logs at Snodgrass’s Pool, and another on the concrete slab at the Log Jam.
Nothing was seen then until No 1 of the Overhanging Bushes where a female Green Ringtail Possum and her Joey were perched on a branch close to each other. This provoked a spate of visitors who lined up to admire them including a large Asian Family, some of whom live in Cairns, another couple and a small English/Italian family. There were several children involved and all seemed to enjoy.
While this was going on a Platypus was frolicking on the downstream side of Picnic Peninsula and I took time out to photograph it with some success.
Along Dowling’s Corridor another female Green Ringtail Possum was doing a good job of hiding her baby.
There were fewer Golden Orb-weavers below the Highway bridge today but I photographed two of the larger specimens.
The resident Brushtail Possum was hiding half way across the bridge but looked up when I clicked my tongue and I got a very nice shot.
The family of Bush Stone-curlews were today enjoying the Beer Garden.
The Patrol was rounded off by a pair of Crested Pigeons preening on a Post & Rail fence before posing for me.