Wednesday 26th February 2020. 0710 – 0815

65 mm of rain in gauge. Overcast with watery sun, clearing from NW with high cloud. No breeze. Track wet with muddy puddles. One or two ephemeral streams crossing track and water damage to downhill sections. Path under Highway Bridge has been submerged and is more slippery than usual. Alternative access to the Walk from behind safety barrier on the north side of the highway definitely safer.
Interested to observe condition of Walk and Creek after yesterdays heavy rain.
Creek water level is high with Stepping Stones completely under. ALL low lying areas have been submerged and covered with more than 10 mm of very sticky red mud. Advise use of gumboots or similar if you wish to access these area.

The chocolate Brushtail Possum was sound asleep in her Mistletoe clump at Allumbah Pocket.
No sign of Green Ringtail Possums this morning. I have noticed that White Spot usually goes elsewhere following heavy rain.
A Platypus was seen at the Memorial Bench and followed me along the Creek to Platypus Bend. It kept it’s distance in the main but was observed “hovering” against the strong current.
Took numerous photos of water damage, mostly temporary, along the banks and Flood Tide Island had been completely submerged.
Another Platypus was seen at the base of Log Jam Peninsula and got some better photos.
At the Log Jam, the tip of the Peninsula had been under water as had the large rock opposite and an Eastern Water Dragon was lying on top of the vegetation and debris.
Another Platypus was foraging on the downstream side of Picnic Peninsula around a mat of floating debris held stationary by a waterside bush. She stayed with me for several minutes and some good images resulted.
The water had been up above the path under Highway Bridge depositing a large branch which I returned to the water. The path has been left slippery as noted above.
A mixture of White and Straw-necked Ibis were browsing in the Paddock viewed from the Walk entrance.
The usual mob of Bush Stone-curlews were surrounding the rocky outcrops in the paddock adjoining the Car Park, where the regular pair of Curlews were hanging out.