Tuesday 25th January 2022. 0740 – 0925

Weather

No rain in the gauge. Sunny with scattered cloud. No significant breeze. Track damp with small areas of wet mud. Water level steady. Moon phase. Last Quarter tonight.

Wildlife Report

On arriving at Allumbah Pocket I immediately found “Mrs Green” the Green Ringtail Possum in her regular tree fork to the left of the main entrance.
In the very next tree another Green Ringtail was sitting on a branch while hugging the slim trunk and did not appear to be in any hurry to move. I have often seen possums in this posture when about to start climbing but never resting in this position!
While photographing these two I also sighted a pair of Eastern Whipbirds which I have heard in this location several times in the past. Unfortunately they would not stay still enough for me to get a photo.
In one of the trees in front of the Picnic Shelter a solitary Lumholtz’s tree Kangaroo was hiding in the foliage and could only be photographed with some difficulty.
Fortunately “Popeye”, the Green Ringtail who regularly occupies the tree next to the Suspension Bridge, was much more cooperative.
The Spotted Catbird could not be seen on the nest today but an Eastern Yellow Robin was waiting nearby to greet me.
A small Eastern Water Dragon was on the skyline of Horseshoe Rocks and a larger specimen was on the rocks alongside the path to the Upper Level but went into hiding on my approach.
“Whitespot”, another of my Green Ringtail Possum friends, was again doing her best to hide in one of the trees at Snodgrass’s Pool.
As I continued towards Platypus Bend a pair of Pacific Black Ducks were swimming up the Creek at a speed which made images difficult in the early morning light.
I did manage to photograph a Saw-shelled Turtle taking a breath in this location.
Cicadas were again making quite a racket and I looked to see if I could spot any new species. As there are more than 200 species of Cicadas in Australia it is not easy to identify them.
There were no cicadas on the grass stems today bit I did Photograph a Blue Triangle butterfly in the grass.
At the Log Jam it was rather early for Turtles to be sunning themselves but a Water Dragon was peering at me from behind one of the logs.
At the Overhanging Bushes I again photographed the large Golden Orb-weaver Spider.
I was a little disappointed not to find another Green Ringtail Possum today.
From the base of Picnic Peninsula I saw a Platypus heading towards me at a rate of knots and hastened down to water level in the hopes that he would approach. He actually swam right up to me before diving and appeared to be foraging so I anticipated that he would need a minute of two on the surface to masticate his catch. Unfortunately this was not the case and he immediately made his speedy way downstream.
I saw nothing more until the Car Park from where I spotted a Bush Stone-curlew at Nick’s Camping Area and as I headed towards the pair I watched them see off a Brush Turkey which had the effrontery invade their patch! When I arrived they were getting their breath and smartening up and I photographed this activity.
Crossing the Highway I checked out the Yungaburra bank of the Creek where the second Spotted Catbird was in residence.
I also located a Lumholtz’s Tree Kangaroo when it was unwise enough to move some branches and revealed it’s position. I had not been able to see it from Dowling’s Corridor and found a place where I could see it only with some difficulty.
I next checked out the Overhanging figtree and found a Coppery Brushtail Possum in residence and just for a change showing me a very good view of it’s bottom!
The Magpie Lark was not on the nest this morning but several Australasian Figbirds were in the tree.