Wednesday 9th October 2019. 0910-1015

No rain. Hot sunny day without a cloud in the sky. Little or no breeze. Track dry.

Full team out today and before my camera was prepared for action saw a Rail crossing a driveway on the Creek side of Bunya Street. Fortunately it stopped to check us out and proved to be a Buff-banded Rail. The gnarly old Eastern Water Dragon was in a more accessible spot today and posing nicely. Feel he could probably do with a new coat. Two Platypuses were present in Snodgrass’s Pool and circled each other warily without coming close. I suspect that they were both males. The water was extremely calm and amused myself by photographing Water Striders at Platypus Bend. The same old and battered Green Ringtail Possum was perched on a River Oak (casuarina) branch where it traverses the canopy of a neighbouring tree. This is a very typical location which they appear to actively select to the point where I look for this situation when seeking GRPs. It was a bit early for Turtles this morning and none were seen. Birds were again active in the Bottle Brushes and I photographed a Brown Honeyeater. Came upon another Platypus on the upstream side of Picnic Peninsula and tracked him until the start of The Narrows but he resolutely stuck to the far bank until turning back. Possibly having a bad hair day. Finally I was delighted to find the Pair of Bush Stone-curlews, with their family still intact, back near the logs behind the Car Park.

Buff-banded Rail. Gallirallus philippensis

Snap shot while crossing drive. Some of you will recognise this.
Checking us out from the shelter of the bushes
Usually seen darting across the road with characteristic posture but very attractive bird at close quarters

Eastern Water Dragon. Physignathus lesueurii

In need of a new suit and someone has had a piece of is tail!
Still a handsome beast!

Platypus. Ornithorhynchus anatinus.

Platypus at Snodgrass’s Pool.
At the downstream end of the Narrows where Side Bridge crosses a tributary.

Water Strider. Family Gerridae

32 species of these in Australia living on the surface tension at the water surface where they hunt and scavenge for food.

Green Ringtail Possum. Pseudochirax archeri

Lots of ticks or blood filled mosquitoes on his battered ears. I think I interrupted his morning pedicure.

Brown Honeyeater. Lichmera indistincta

Many of these around and feeding on nectar at present.

Bush Stone-curlew. Burhinus grallarius.

The family back home behind the Car Park. Dad appears to be half asleep on watch! Or perhaps the sun was too bright.