Tie me (tree) kangaroo down, sport

Yes, I know, one shouldn't do or say anything favourable about Rolf Harris.  But I'm in the State where Pauline Hanson was preferred to the Brick with Eyes so anything goes.  (In case you wonder why there isn't a link for Pauline, its because those I thought suitable would be actionable!  Use your imagination.)  Thus I will disregard political correctness and tip my cap to the song Tie me Kangaroo down even though the macropods in question were - as will be shown later - up in trees.

Having got that out of the way (and I wish I could get Pauline out of the way) let us get to today's doings.  We started with a dog walk in Northern Yungaburra.  A notable garden plant in this area is Calandria, which is usually bright red.  Today I spotted a few white forms.

When in Capri many years ago the famous "Cave canem" sign from Pompei was common, but one house added "encore il padrone" together with a photo of a large handgun.  A similar attitude seems to underlie this place.

The view was confirmed by the flag in the front yard.

The full text on the flag reads "Kill them all.  Let God sort it out."  See preamble to this post for a context!

Meanwhile back in the main street the usual Sunday gathering of motorcyclists had happened.

As most of the bikes were rice-burners rather than Harleys it is probably OK under the anti-consorting laws.  (Incidentally, if you follow the link you will be astonished to find that rice-burner is considered to be racist.  That is the sort of thinking that gives Pauline traction: how comments about a motor bike (or a crop) can be considered a racial slur bewilders me).

An ultralight aircraft, apparently burning something other than rice, flew noisily overhead.  I was thinking about going to Mulgrave for a chat with the flag-owner to seek his assistance in resolving the matter, but then the aircraft went away.

On the topic of flying things a Red-banded Jezabel (Delias mysis) was in the Garden.  That makes two Jezabels for the list.

I had also seen a Ulysses Swallowtail (Papillio ulysses) float by when this huge butterfly settled.  It is a Varied Eggfly (Hypolimnas bolina).

I'm pretty sure this is a Grass-dart (Taractrocera sp.) as it seemed to perch initially with hindwings down and forewings up.Trying to get the species is well beyond me

Going for a prowl down Mather Rd produced no exciting birds but a pretty bean.

Also an interesting view of a banana palm.

The pine trees were well decorated with Ibis.

Back home the palm fruit was very well decorated with Figbirds and Olive-backed Orioles.  At the peak there were 10 Figbirds and 2 Orioles at one time.

Most of the Figbirds flew away but a Metallic Starling came in.  This was Bird of the Day.

In the afternoon we went to explore Lakeside, a suburb towards the Lake (if a village can have a suburb).  The garden centre had a good letterbox, and after we had been, one sack less of scoria gravel - intended as mulch for some stuff back home!

A relative of Tinnaroo man was watering something!

The excitement of the day came after dark when I went on an extended Nocturnal outing led by Alan Gillanders.  The other e-word that applies is excellent.  As we drove to start the formal tour we saw 2 Northern Brown Bandicoots beside the road.  On getting to the meeting point there was a brief delay as one car full of clients were delayed.  That meant we found a Striped Possum in a tree.  Alan heard a Lesser Sooty Owl but it didn't call again or come closer so I can't count it.

Migrating to an area towards Herberton a Rose Gum (Eucalyptus grandis - called Flooded Gum in NSW) was host to a Sugar Glider, a tiny Feather-tailed Glider and this Yellow-bellied Glider.

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Alan spotted a joey sticking its head out of the pouch so it was a female.

Getting back to the road (where we spotlighted along the shoulder causing a number of vehicles to check on our well being) we found a lot of Lemurine Ringtail Possums (probably 8 animals in total).

The big score for the night - for me at least - was Lumholtz Tree Kangaroo.  The first sighting was of a mother and out of pouch joey and then this male.

I have outlined, with yellow dots, the animal in this image.  It emphasises the length of the tail.

• Bird of the day: Metallic Starling.  Australian Figbird gets the flock tick.
• Vegetation of the day:  Rose Gum, for hosting the gliders!
• Memorable moment:  Seeing the Tree-kangaroos.
• Comment of the day: "We're all good."  response to enquiries by concerned motorists.
• Pie of the day:A large item acquired at the market meat stall and eaten for evening meal.  Very tasty.  About half was left for 'ron (ie lateron).
• Troppo moment of the day. Troppo isn't restricted to humans!  A small (even smaller than Tammy) chihuahua at the Garden Centre gets an award for trotting up to her, snarling at her and then - sensibly, as she might have decided it was a bad-tempered rodent - running away.

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