Tuesday 09th November 2021. 1330 – 1500

Weather

No rain in the gauge. Overcast. Storm cells building in the west with frequent thunder. Threatening to rain later. Irregular gusting breeze. Track dry. Water level low. Moon – first Quarter on 11Nov.

Wildlife Report

Nothing seen along Bunya Street until reaching the last house on the Creek side where I became aware of a loud buzzing from a flowering native tree. Closer inspection revealed a number of spectacularly large native bees which were metallic blue/green in colour and were feeding from nectar in the flowers. Their rapid movements made photos difficult but I managed to get sufficient to identify them as Metallic-green Carpenter Bees.
To the left of the Allumbah Pocket entrance “Mrs Green” the Green Ringtail Possum and her joey were in their favourite tree and close by in the tree next to the Suspension Bridge “Patient Popeye” the male Possum was in attendance.
While crossing the Bridge I took some shots of a juvenile Eastern Water Dragon on one of the Stepping Stones and a Brown Cuckoo Dove who was perched on the overhead power line.
At The Other Side a male Pacific Emerald Dove checked me out as I searched the trees for Tree Roos or Possums
More Dragons were seen on Horseshoe Rocks and both rock piles following this along the track.
At Snodgrass’s Pool “Whitespot the Green Ringtail was in her regular tree but I was unable to see her joey. I am a bit concerned as she lost a joey at about this stage of parenthood last year.
At Platypus Bend a pair of Pacific Black Ducks were foraging along the bank when one decided on a bit of preening, exposing the glossy green/blue speculum under the wing.
A lone Saw-shelled Turtle was the only one in attendance at The Log Jam.
At the upstream end of the Log Jam Peninsula a Platypus was creating a mass of ripples during some intensive foraging but unfortunately too far away for decent images. She drew closer to the near bank as she approached Platys Pool and then frolicked for several minutes under the large tree on the corner. The light was unfortunately insufficient for photos until she emerged into the clear water where I grabbed a couple of shots.
While peering up into the trees along Dowling’s Corridor I chanced to glimpse a furry mass high in one of the Kauri Pines. I was unable to obtain a better view but am convinced that it was a Tree Kangaroo as they are frequently seen in this area and ravage the foliage of an Umbrella Tree which stands next to the Pine.
The final sighting of the day was the Coppery Brushtail Possum but my photo was less than adequate. I was hurrying at the time to avoid a large storm cell approaching from the South West but it unfortunately never arrived.