Thursday 27th February 2020. 0710 – 0805

14 mm or rain in gauge. Clear sky with some patches of high level cloud to North. Low level cumulonimbus extending slowly from SE. Little or no wind. Track wet with numerous muddy puddles and extensive mud cover over low lying areas and paths which follow waters edge. Creek level down 300 mm since yesterday. Current still strong.

Started on my own today as Thomas felt like a lie in.
Nothing to be seen at Allumbah Pocket.
White Spot the Green Ringtail Possum with her Joey were in their regular high level perch opposite the Memorial Bench this morning but with very little on show. Mum’s white ear trim with the signature white Spot can be seen at upper right in the photo. The mass immediately to the left of this appears to be Joey’s back and it would appear that he is now perching independently but very close to Mum.
At Platypus Bend sighted a Platypus on the surface but it dived rapidly, never to be seen again.
Nothing then until Platy’s Pool where I caught a small Saw-shelled Turtle taking a breath.
At The Narrows a female Brush Turkey was investigating the new layer of mud and got her photo taken to boost the numbers.
Excitement at the Viewing Platform where concentric waves were radiating from some overhanging grass suggesting the presence of another Platypus. Turned the big lens onto the area and discovered the perpetrator to be a large Saw-shelled Turtle digging in the shallows!
A Peaceful Dove perched in front of me at the Car Park and the Bush Stone-curlews were at the East side of the Park although one of them was barely visible.