Thursday 24th March 2022. 1415- 1535

Weather

No rain. Sunny with some scattered high level cloud coming in from the West. Light SE breeze. Water level steady. Track drying out slowly. Very little surface water and little mud. Moon Phase – Last Quarter tomorrow 25th March.

Wildlife Report

A later start today after doing some early morning gardening.
On arrival at Allumbah Pocket I found that “Mrs Green” was not in her regular tree but I could see a Green Ringtail Possum in another tree close by and in the process of climbing higher. I founder her from the other side with some difficulty and eventually saw sufficient of her facial features to confirm that it was the lady herself.
Once again as I rounded the corner towards the Picnic Shelter the Pale-yellow Robin came to say hello but was not very helpful from the photographic point of view.
“Nosey” the other female GRP was in her regular roost and showing more of her face today.
While crossing the Bridge I photographed Saw-shelled Turtles of different sizes, one from each side, and also the Spectacled Flying Foxes who had returned to their Creek side camp in numbers.
Near the Memorial Bench a large Eastern Water Dragon was sitting on a rock at water level and inspecting me with one eye. Another Dragon who is never very receptive to visitors vanished before I could get close enough for a photo.
More Turtles were seen at Snodgrass’s Pool while “Whitespot” the Green Ringtail had returned to the Camphor Laurel trees and gave me an excellent view of herself with Joey looking over her shoulder. She was duly admired by a family of visitors from Bowen.
At the downstream end of Flood Tide Island I noted some disturbance in the weeds and a Platypus soon emerged. She continued with her normal foraging activities and fortunately spent more than the usual length of time on the surface between dives.
At The Log Jam a large Turtle was present but was on a sloping branch in deep shade making a photo pointless.
As I approached Platys Pool I took a snap of a Pacific Black Duck swimming slowly downstream and as I arrived at the Pool two Turtles and a Water Dragon jumped from a tree branch into the water to avoid me.
In No 3 of the Overhanging Bushes I photographed a very nice Green Ringtail Possum and then two Saw-shelled Turtles on a log sloping up the far bank. They were slightly unusual in that the turtle on top was facing backwards!
Near the fence strainer posts where the track bends to approach to the Footbridge, a small male GR Possum was almost completely hidden in dense foliage of the tree on the fence side of the track.
A few Large-footed Fishing Bats were again present under the Highway Bridge and these particular animals seem to be almost permanent residents.
A couple of immature Water Dragons were on the rocks below the Bridge but only one stayed for a shot.
At Nicks Camping Area both Bush Stone-curlews were together in a more natural area.
At the East Bank I spotted yet another Green Ringtail Possum, making seven for the day, in one of the trees which is used by the Tree Roos.
I again photographed the Golden Orb-weaver spider and also two Brushtail Possums, both roosting in the same tree with one showing it’s face.
In the Overhanging Fig Tree, “Tatty” the Coppery Brushtail was again exposing her face. I don’t know what has happened to change her previous reluctance but it made an attractive ending to the Patrol.