Rain, sunshine, turtles, birds, snakes and platypus
17th October 2021
Rain at the suspension bridge.
My wife and I spent last Sunday at Peterson Creek at Yungaburra. We arrived there about mid afternoon and were treated to some rain and sunshine and during periods both at the same time..
A visit to Peterson Creek with my niece and her friend, August 2019.
For decades I have been visiting Peterson Creek thinking that the Platypus being there was some sort of local joke as I had never seen one.
The main lookout, March 2019.
The truth is that I just needed to look past that main lookout on the road and the platypus are there. To see the Platypus you need to walk away from the viewing platform, across the bridge and down the walking track that takes you along Peterson Creek.
Map from petersoncreek.org
Please make sure that you check out the website of the wonderful band of locals that maintain and improve the walk along the Creek.
Link: Peterson Creek Homepage
Lots of turtles on every visit.
Once you are down on the Creek path you will see lots of turtles, in the water and sun baking on logs.
Pacific Black Duck, Peterson Creek, October 2021.
On previous visits I have seen Pacific Emerald Doves and Olive-backed Sunbirds there but on this day only spotted some Pacific Black Ducks.
Sunburst after the rain.
We had made it all the way to Frawley’s Pool and had not seen a single Platypus. It started to rain so we stayed there for a while under the shelter shed. As soon as the sun came out we started to head back.
A local on the Creek path.
I think we had only walked for a minute or so from the shed and I nearly trod on this fella. I was walking in front of my wife and never spotted him. If my wife had not called out I would have stood on it.
The snake was pretty hard to see in the leaves despite being over 6 feet long. By the way it was staring at me when I finally saw it, it certainly had noticed me.
One of the first Platypus we saw that day.
About halfway back along the creek to the carpark we spotted a platypus. One of many we would see in the next hour or so.
A platypus resurfacing. Follow the bubbles.
When trying to photograph turtles in the sea it is almost impossible to know where they will resurface. With Platypus not so. After they submerge they leave a trail of air bubbles as they move around. You just watch the bubbles and wait for them to resurface.
Who is watching who?
For taking photos of platypus Tarzali Lakes would have to be my favourite location. The Lake is prettier and the light allows for much cleaner photography. That said Peterson Creek is a lot of fun and the platypus are always near a creek bank. At Tarzali they can swim out into the middle far away from your view.
Coming in for a closer look.
At times the platypus would appear to almost be checking us out as they swam towards us. By the time we decided to head home the clouds were rolling in and it was getting very dark.
Our last photo, getting very dark.
Amazing how a day can change so quickly and you never know what you will see, even whilst you are leaving. Great visit.