JANUARY 2011: FRASER ISLAND'S SLIPPERIEST CHARACTERS STEAL THE SHOW!
Those balmy mid-summer nights we’ve experienced over the last few weeks have provided us with almost perfect conditions for spotting our native nocturnal wildlife in and around Kingfisher Bay Resort.

Over the last month, our Wallum heath has teamed with amphibian and reptile life – and all the usual frog species were spotted.  However, we have to say that it was our beautiful snake species that stole the show this month.   We know that they’re not everyone’s cup-of-tea, but snakes are vital in maintaining functioning ecosystems and their amazing physiology and lifestyle must surely earn them an honourable mention?

The good news is that we don’t often encounter snakes on our guided night walks (much to the disappointment of the resort’s Rangers) and the most common ones we see are our shy, docile, non-venomous Pythons.

The wonderfully graceful Carpet Python can sense temperature differences of 1/30th of a degree using sensory pits in their lower and sometimes upper lips. They also exhibit a style of parental care that is unique amongst Australian snakes - the attentive (and ever patient) female coils around her eggs to guard them until they hatch.

Some of the smaller Pythonidae counterparts that Rangers spotted this month include the pleasantly named Children’s Python - named after its discoverer rather than its affinity to children.  A Bandy Bandy was also seen despite their very reclusive nature. They are not pythons and instead burrow underground feeding exclusively on other snake species!

Our skies were filled with a familiar sound this month as our Grey-headed Flying Fox – who occasionally like to grace us with their presence – returned to Fraser Island. The arrival of these protected creatures is unmistakable as they take to the trees and bicker with each other over blossoms and fruit.

While the marine life viewing from the Jetty was amazing as always, one January night our attention was diverted from the delights of the Great Sandy Strait and we were lucky enough to see one of Fraser Island’s most well-known icons meandering down the beach. That’s right a purebred Dingo was spotted looking for food on Fraser’s western beach!

At this time of year they tend to be more active at night in an attempt to avoid the warm summer sun. Much to the delight of our night walkers, this captivating canine stayed around for a while, sniffing the air, the sand and everything in between, before continuing on his path north, disappearing into the night.

Hooroo until next time!

DECEMBER 2011: A MAGNFICENT MONTH OF MARINE MAGIC
Kingfisher Bay Resort’s Jetty has been a popular hangout with fisher folk after the ‘catch of the day’ and with resort guests wandering down to watch mango-coloured sunsets over the Great Sandy Strait.  And with December’s the gorgeous weather – it was also popular feature on our Ranger-guided night walk trail.

The jetty’s infrastructure creates the perfect platform for viewing the intertidal zone – or the seafloor exposed by the low tide - and the creatures that normally lurk beneath the surface.  Our guests continue to be fascinated by the moving wave of hundreds upon hundreds of Solider Crabs and Ghost Crabs swarming the area looking for food.

These animals are prime examples of the many organisms that have adapted to this extreme environment.  Whilst it’s great for fishermen and the guests that paddle the water’s edge, for marine creatures it represents a combination of voluminous nutrients from the sea, saline and fresh water from Dundonga Creek, and harsh sunlight conditions during tidal changes.

Guests delighted when we spotted Bottlenose Dolphins on numerous occasions.  Working as a team, they glided through the water in rings, flipping fish out of the air and catching them swiftly in their mouth.  It was magical to be just a stone’s throw from the resort, but so close to the action and we hope to see them continue their fun in the coming months.

Other marine life capturing our attention included some particularly large Stingrays, Loggerhead Sea Turtles - which can also be spotted on our guided creek canoe paddles – and ruby-coloured Squid. Deep sea squid are generally this dark red colour because the red wavelength doesn’t penetrate into the deep sea, making them nearly invisible.

Around the rest of the resort, scattered December rain brought our Wallum area to life with a number of species of frogs competing with one another for the loudest croak. The fresh water lakes around Kingfisher’s grounds are naturally acidic and create a special habitat for a lot of these vulnerable acid frog species such as the Wallum Rocket Frogs and Striped Rocket Frog – which are often spotted from the boardwalks. Large Green Tree Frogs and the comparatively smaller Cooloola Sedge Frog were also heard within the chorus.

Spotting our nocturnal flighty friends - the Tawny Frogmouths - requires keen eyes.  These gorgeous non-raptorial birds are masters of disguise and are able to perfectly mimic a part of a tree branch.

Birdy Fact: Did you know that many Aussies refer to the Tawny Frogmouth by the colloquial name of Mopoke?

While Tawny Frogmouths are often confused with Owls, they are actually more closely related to the Nightjars. Their feet are quite weak, mostly used for perching and they lack the curved talons of owls.

That's all folks - keep your eyes peeled for Ranger Kat's December bird report - its coming soon.

NOVEMBER 2011: THE WILDLIFE HAS BEEN 'TURTLELY' AWESOME THIS MONTH
With this warmer November weather, we’ve seen a change in the types of nocturnal wildlife that we’re seeing in and around Kingfisher Bay Resort. 

The Wallum is one of the many different eco-systems on Fraser Island and is characterised by floristically-rich scrubland and healthland on deep, nutrient-poor, sandy soil (thanks Wikipedia for the definition!).

At Kingfisher, you’ll find the Wallum area just in front of our main Centre Complex and hotel centre complex and some of our villas border it as well.  Guests are free to
explore the Wallum at their leisure on our timber boardwalks, which wind their way past the mirror lakes – it’s a great spot to see our local birdlife diving for insects across the purple-hued waters first thing in the morning; or where you might catch a glimpse of a carpet python sunning itself in the bush. Or you can head out on one of our many Ranger-guided eco walks.

In November, our beautiful native frog species become more active and vocal from their home in the Wallum! Of an evening the air is filled with a chorus of calls made by striking Striped Rocket Frogs, energetic Wallum Rocket Frogs and dainty Cooloola Sedge Frogs. Throughout the warmer months we marvel at the sounds made by these amazing amphibians and watch with childlike excitement as they bound across the Wallum boardwalks right in front of our eyes.  Our Junior Eco Rangers love it too.

The resort’s main road has also been a mecca of activity with the return of regular sightings of Tawny Frogmouths. These graceful nocturnal birds could be seen perched in roadside Eucalypts waiting for the streetlights to lure in a tasty insect meal... and as we reported in our bird report for last month – our Tawny Frogmouths have been seen out and about with a new chick – we’ll be following their progress closely and will keep you updated.

Bandicoots were also regularly spied rustling around under the fluffy foliage of the fox-tail sedge. These curious marsupials busily dig for crickets, worms and tubers of a night time, leaving tell-tale holes in the sandy soil around the resort.

The marine life around the jetty at Kingfisher Bay was spectacular this month as a gorgeous Green Sea Turtle was spotted several times throughout the month. This magnificent creature comes to feed and sleep under our jetty from time to time and it is always a night walk highlight to see it momentarily surface for a gulp of air.

And on Fraser Island's western sea shore thousands of Soldier Crabs have been busily feeding at the water’s edge – it really is a spectacular sight.  Catch you next time, tree huggers, Ranger Kat.

OCTOBER 2011: BERRIES, BLOSSOMS, BATS AND BALMY OCTOBER NIGHTS
October brings with it a distinctive spring peak a clear balmy evenings, a delight for our night time wildlife and our Kingfisher Bay guests on our night time nature walks in and around the resort.

An abundance of blossoms, berries kept our resident bats bedazzled for hours each evening. The beautiful Grey Headed Flying Fox was most commonly seen hanging upside down, scrambling through the masses of nectar filled blossoms, whilst the gracious, yet erratic, flight of the much smaller  Micro-bats flew silently above in search of their next meaty bug meal.

Cautiously sharing the hunting grounds of the trees are the Gliders – one of the most popular animals with our night time walkers. These small yet aerobatic possum like creatures spend their nights launching themselves off high branches, gliding up to 50m before landing, gripping and sprinting up the trunk of the tree into the cover of the food filled branches.

The most commonly seen on the western side of Fraser Island are the Sugar Glider and Squirrel Glider, which are about the size of your hand, however the smaller and more illusive Feather-tailed Gliders are the size of a match box and a spectacular sight when seen.

The Great Sandy Strait is also filled with mysterious and marvellous creatures.  However night time brings the weird and wonderful to the shallows for our viewing. Torch light reveals techno-coloured Squid, which have the ability to change into a moving circus of lights, colours and patterns.

Stingrays were on the hunt for hidden crustaceans buried in the sand and are fascinating to watch from above. Using their highly developed sensory glands around their mouth they’re able to pick up even the tiniest of electrical current produced by living creatures in the balmy waters around them. Night time feeding frenzies are a sight to be seen from Kingfisher's Jetty, as schools of bait fish are targeted by larger lurking predatory fish.

This month was filled with the wonders of Fraser Island’s night life and the clear star filled sky was the cherry on top.  Stay tuned for our bird report coming soon to a blog near you – cheers Ranger Kelly.

SEPTEMBER 2011: SPRING 'DAZE' ON FRASER
The arrival of spring and the abundance of nocturnal wildlife - spotted on our nightly guided walks - made us get through September on Fraser Island with a spring in our step.  It was business as normal for our usual suspects - the Squirrel Gliders and Fruit Bats - in and around Kingfisher Bay Resort - who were seen indulging in the rich array of nectar filled blossoms.

However, it was our Fraser Island reptiles that really impressed Rangers and guests alike this month. A beautifully sound-track comprising the choruses of various native frog species provided a perfect accompaniment to our nightly wanderings... and from September 1 we were off to a fantastic start.

Notable amphibian sightings included rare Striped Rocket Frogs and the Cooloola Sedge Frog, plus additional reptile sightings of Asian Wood geckoes and a beautiful Carpet Python.

But the fun didn't just happen on land... in the calm waters of the Great Sandy Strait, a number of larger fish species were spotted off the resort's jetty stalking the shallows for prey. A sizable Barramundi and two sightings of large Barracudas left us in awe of their sheer size and grace in the water.

Two particular species of birds also made regular appearances this month. A Tawny Frogmouth, sitting silently on a Eucalypt branch, was quiet happy for us to pop in and say g'day on many a night. And on one of our Wallum walks, we stumbled across two Pacific Black Ducks quietly roosting on the shore of one of our window lakes.

The clear, Spring nights made this month's night walks truly memorable. We think it was the combination of new spring-time animal sightings, alongside our old favourites, and some spectacular clear night skies above Fraser - including one where we saw plenty of shooting stars.  Until next month, hooroo for now. Ranger Kat.

AUGUST 2011: OF MOON SNAILS, MICRO-BATS, MUD CRABS AND MELOMYS
As we neared the end of August and welcomed the warmer weather, the changes in the wildlife around Kingfisher Bay Resort and across the island became even more apparent.  Perhaps the greatest changes were observed in the abundance and diversity of marine life spotted this month in the Great Sandy Strait.

Whilst Flying-foxes weren’t as abundant as in previous months, we observed that numbers of Micro-bats were on the rise on Fraser Island. With the weather warming up we have seen an increase in insect numbers, which has in turn attracted a greater number of these small flying mammals, which prey on insects using their fascinating sonar adaptations.

We have noticed a decline in the number of nocturnal mammals we’re seeing; however several Bandicoot sightings and the glimpse of a Grassland Melomys - making a hasty retreat through the Eucalypt forest – certainly topped the nocturnal mammal sightings for August.  These mammals were a big hit with the resort’s ranger team and resort guests alike.

The oceans provided us with dozens of fish sightings with many small juvenile fish taking refuge in the safety of the shallows at high tide.

A few larger predators were also spotted including two recorded sightings of both Barramundi and Flathead. In total we observed 15 different marine species including 11 fish species, two species of elasmobranch including a Brown Stringray – and two species of crustacean including a sizeable Mud Crab and the most notable of all sightings for August – a Moon Snail.

Moon Snails are large snails that can attain a size of 5 inches and can extend a fleshy foot over 12 inches in diameter - low tides in the spring and summer are the best time to spot these critters as they come into shallow water to lay their eggs.

All in all a great August, but we’re looking forward to seeing what this September spring brings on Fraser Island.

JULY 2011: A 'TURTLEY' AWESOME MONTH ON FRASER
As July rolled in, it was obvious that Queensland’s winter was well and truly upon us. While the nights were brisk, they were well worth braving to experience the amazing nocturnal wildlife here on Fraser Island.

As is the case throughout winter, Squirrel Gliders made appearances on most nights.  This month however we were lucky enough to be graced with rarer sightings of Sugar Gliders and even a Feather-tail Glider.

The cool night air did not slow down life in the trees with frequent sightings including several Micro Bat species and three species of Flying Fox - the Grey Headed, Black and the Little Red.  Fantastic stuff and our resort guests loved it!

An abundance of animals of a smaller scale appeared throughout the month, with a variety of spiders including the Golden Orb Weavers and Net-casting Spiders. The wonderful array of arachnids was commonly sighted on the roadside and amongst the Wallum - to the accompaniment of chirps from our wetland Rocket frogs.

Notable sightings for the month included a Tawny Frogmouth and a rare sighting of Grassland Melomys in the Wallum. A single Green Sea Turtle was spotted off the Jetty – signalling spring is not far off. We’re pleased to report greater numbers were also seen towards the end of the month – a clear sign that things are getting warmer.

The ocean provided a variety of marine life including the usual Stingrays; however a greater number of Gudgeons, Garfish, Bream, Whiting and Flathead have been spotted, which indicates the change in the weather. Long Finned Eels and a Moon Snail topped off the memorable marine sightings for July.

Look forward to chatting critters next month.
Cheers, Ranger Kat.

JUNE 2011: FRASER ISLAND - A WINTER WONDERLAND
Hey nature lovers - winter has started with near-perfect conditions for spotting some of the Fraser Island’s more elusive nocturnal animals. The still air and wonderfully clear nights have resulted in spectacular star gazing and animal spotting.

Our little furry friends in the trees have continued to put on magnificent aerial displays throughout the month, with regular sightings of Squirrel Gliders, Sugar Gliders and the occasional Feather-Tail Glider.

Once again these aerobatic marsupials have impressed with their gliding skills and territorial displays - with one Sugar Glider fiercely defending its branch of blossoms from a Grey-Headed Flying Fox.

Down on ground-level we have had a variety of animal sightings ranging from mammals, to reptiles, and amphibians to arachnids!

A rare sighting of two amphibians – the Striped Rocket Frog and the Wallum Rocket Frog – added to the excitement along with the amazing behavioural adaptations of the Net-Casting Spider.

A greater number of Bandicoots have been spotted this month, with some of these normally shy creatures seemingly undisturbed by our shining torches!

The beach once again produced the usual array of marine life for us to spot, however the notable sighting of a Green Sea Turtle topped off what was a truly magnificent month of night-walking!

Who knows what July will bring – we’ll keep you posted.
Ranger Kat and the team.

MAY 2011: WE'RE JUST BATTY ABOUT FRASER ISLAND
Hi there Tree Huggers - winter is almost upon us with cooler mornings, warmer May days and perfectly clear blue skies… this time of the year is just perfect for spotting nocturnal wildlife! Our Squirrel Glider population were the most active they’ve been all year. These adorable little creatures could be seen feasting on flowers high in the Eucalypts and sometimes squabbling amongst each other. Night walkers were delighted as they leapt from the edge of the branches and glided gracefully to the next tree! 

Yet more guests on a night walk were lucky enough to spot a large Carpet Python slowly slithering its way up a tree in the Wallum - proving we weren't the only wildlife watching the Gliders!

The various lakes around the resort grounds have been a hot spot for wildlife as Microbats, who ignored our walkers as they busily went about catching their evening meal. These tiny creatures display amazing aerobatics as they soar within millimetres of the water – skimming insects sitting on the surface.  Attracted by our night walk spotlight, they sometimes came within millimetres of our faces!

The usual suspects congregated under the jetty during May. Estuary and Blue Spotted Stingrays cruised the sandy bottom, with the occasional Shovel-Nosed Ray and Flathead fish joining in the fishy fun. Schools of Herring brought the dark waters to life, and these skittish fish jumped out of the water in all directions when exposed to the spotlight – the kids on the walks loved it... and so did the big kids. Also this month, several large Squid could be seen using cunning camouflage techniques to hunt their fish prey. 

We look forward to seeing what sort of wildlife winter brings – see you then.

APRIL: ALL OF FRASER ISLAND'S CREATURES: GREAT AND SMALL
Autumn at Kingfisher Bay has well and truly sprung... and April has seen some boisterous behaviour around the resort with pairs of Flying Foxes - both Grey-Headed and Little Red species - regularly seen hanging in trees above.  These somewhat noisy critters have been quarrelling over the sweetly scented nectar of Swamp Mahogany blossoms and have put on quite a show during this month’s night walks.

Gliders were also regularly spotted in April and fortunately for our guests as winter approaches and the resort’s v
arious Eucalypt species begin to flower prolifically, they will become more and more abundant.  Feathertail Gliders have proven more elusive than their Squirrel Gilder mates. These minute marsupials hold the title of the smallest gliding mammal in the World and are a real delight to see in action. This month a lone Feathertail Glider was spotted scampering through a Swamp Mahogany – and we loved it!

From the small critters on Fraser to the very largest… there are just a couple of months until the start of Whale Watching season at the resort – with the season splashing down from August 1. Our friends at Air Fraser spotted the first Humpbacks of the season migrating north (in the open ocean off Fraser Island's eastern beach) just a few days ago. It’s when they begin their migration south that the magic happens.

Hervey Bay is one of only two places in the world – Hawaii is the other – where Humpbacks take time out of their migration schedule to wallow and socialise in the warm waters off Fraser Island. It’s great for the whales and great for the Bay as we serve up some of the best Whale Watching in the world!

Those same calm clear waters on the western side of Fraser proved popular with both experienced and amateur fisher folk alike over the past month. Large Flathead could be found lying in wait in the shallow water and several tasty looking Mud Crabs were also spotted around the jetty. Though perhaps more exciting was the great number of Banana Prawns around this month. These cute crustaceans could be seen frolicking in the shallow water, jumping about with legs flailing and tails fanned.

We're wild about Fraser Island - hope you are too. Until next time, this is Ranger Kat signing off.

MARCH 2011: THEY FLY THROUGH THE AIR WITH THE GREATEST OF EASE
This month we looked again to the trees for signs of life with Tawny Frogmouths and Squirrel Gliders both regularly sighted on night walks.

Frogmouths are the masters of camouflage during the day as they blend in amongst the rough bark of different tree species. At night however, they become stealthy hunters and can often be seen swooping down to the ground to snap up juicy insects.  So too, our Glider population are always entertaining as they scamper through the trees with effortless ease. Squirrel Gliders, although small, can glide up to 50 metres between trees and it's quite a sight to see!

Some of Fraser Island’s snake species made an appearance - with pythons being sighted on several night walks. These docile nocturnal creatures move unassumingly through their Wallum home, no doubt in search of a tasty amphibian meal. Carpet Pythons can grow up to four metres in length and on one particular night guests were delighted to witness not one but two of these beauties in plain view as they lay on the bitumen road – well away from human activity - absorbing the day’s residual heat. 

Off the Jetty this month Estuary Stingrays were about as usual, as were several different types of Baitfish that inhabit the clear calm waters of the Great Sandy Strait and Hervey Bay. However, it was the Eastern Shovel-nosed Rays that seemed to want to hang with us this month. These interesting creatures have the distinctive head of a Ray and the body of a Shark and, at night, can be seen gliding through the shallow waters in search of crustaceans, molluscs living under the sand.

Catch you for the April creatures of the night round-up, cheers Ranger Kat.

FEBRUARY 2011: IN THE STILL OF THE FEBRUARY NIGHT
Howdy Night Walkers and Nature Fans...  The beautiful waters of the Great Sandy Strait were the perfect place to spot some of our amazing marine life this month. Loggerhead Turtles were spotted on two different occasions from the resort jetty – which was fabulous - and on many nights Squid of varying sizes could be seen gracefully gliding through the calm clear waters.

The jetty was also the perfect place to marvel at the thousands of Soldier Crabs that emerge to feed at low tide. These small, spider-like crustaceans form impressive gatherings or ‘armies’ at the tide line and busily go about feeding on organic matter that has settled in the sand.

Around the window lakes this month nocturnal predators, including the Long Finned Eels, could be seen darting in and out amongst the vegetation busily hunting mosquito fish and various aquatic insects.

An unusual and, as it turned out, regular evening visitor around the resort’s lakes this month was a lone Pacific Black Duck!  This cunning creature managed to avoid the eagle-eyes of our early morning bird walkers, preferring to wander the banks of the main lake in the Wallum – much to the delight of our night guests.

This month’s night walks were also characterised by a stunning array of everyone’s favourite creepy crawlies…Spiders.  The infamous, but quite harmless, Huntsman Spiders were spotted and the group watched in awe, on night, as the spider subdued and devoured a Cicada. The impressive web building Garden Orb Weavers and ground-dwelling Wolf Spiders were also encountered.

Our usual array of furry friends were out and about this month as well. Squirrel Gliders were regularly seen feasting on the flowering Blackbutts near the resort’s round-about. Bandicoots weren’t as active this month with only a couple of sightings made and the elusive Grassland Melomys were occasionally seen darting through the dense Wallum vegetation.

A great month was had by all… and we wait with baited breath to see what critters and creatures come out to play in autumn.  Catch you soon, Ranger Kat.

JANUARY 2011: OF FISH, FROGS AND FLYING FOXES
Hi Night Walkers and Nature Lovers - what a start to the year it has been for Queensland.  The changeable weather didn’t dampen spirits of our staff or guests and has worked to compact the tracks, making for some good four-wheel-driving on Fraser Island.  We’re also pleased to reports that the sun has been shining on Fraser, Dingo mums are teaching their pups to hunt, the waterways are alive with Threadfish Salmon and Catfish and our island amphibians are enjoying being in the spotlight.

Fraser island was well and truly teeming with wonderful nightlife this month. The warmth of January nights encouraged a lovely array of animals out and about and there was no shortage of guests eager to spot them! 

The skies were filled with a familiar sound this month with the return of our occasional winged visitors - the Flying Fox. The arrival of these protected creatures was unmistakable as they took to the treetops, bickering over blossom and fruit. These boisterous bats came to Fraser to feed at night and returned to roost in Hervey Bay during the day.

Warm nights and occasional summer showers, mean the amphibian life is rich and abundant at Kingfisher Bay. Beautiful native frog species were spotted at every turn in the Wallum and their distinctive calls fill the summer night air. The always-energetic Striped Rocket Frogs were seen during most night ventures and even the delicate Cooloola Sedge Frogs and the crowd-pleasing Green Tree Frogs made an appearance this month.

The crystal-clear waters of the Great Sandy Strait provided some great opportunities for spotting the island’s amazing marine life. Estuary Stingrays and Blue Spotted Stingrays filled the shallow water under the jetty. The majestic creatures could be seen busily searching the ocean floor for crunchy crustaceans living under the sand.

A myriad of different fish species also brought the waters to life. Schools of Herring and Hardihead could be seen splashing about possibly under pursuit by much larger fish, while the occasional Garfish also graced us with its presence.

Fraser Island's famous Dingoes were also regularly sighted on the western beach. This time of year they tend to be more active at night in an attempt to avoid the warm summer sun. Much to the delight of night-walkers, the captivating canines would often stay around for a while, probably as curious of us as we were of them!

Until February - keep safe tree huggers.

DECEMBER 2010: SLITHERY SPECIMENS AND SQUIRREL GLIDERS DOMINATE
The warm December nights and higher than average rainfall last month meant our night walk sightings lists were dominated by reptiles and amphibians!

Striped Rocket Frogs and Wallum Rocket Frogs dominated the wallum night chorus, delighting guests as they hurtled themselves across the path in a seemingly directionless trajectory! Less common sightings included the delicate Cooloola Sedge Frog - easily recognisable due to its petite size and pale green skin.

Slithery specimens included a Carpet Python and a Brown Tree Snake, however the regular rainfall meant that snake sightings were not commonplace. The most delightful reptile sighting was actually of a Green Sea Turtle, which had found a place to sleep amongst the rocks supporting the boat ramp at the jetty. Their shells mimic barnacle-covered rocks so well, that on many nights identification was only possible due the beautiful creature’s flippers sticking out from its shell!

Other than the slimy and the scaly residents there was the occasional sighting of a Squirrel Glider or two;; however the rain and lack of tasty blossoms meant they remained relatively quiet during December.

Micro bats were however out in force, darting above our heads stealthily locating their prey. The change in season has brought about some large Hawk Moths which would make a very substantial meal for a small bat.

With the resort's lakes already full, the warm summer temperatures and the weather, it appears that Kingfisher Bay will continue to serve as a haven for all things amphibian - and that's the way we like it. Catch you next month.

OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2010: THOSE SUMMER NIGHTS
As summer arrives, our winter critters were well and truly taking a back seat on our Ranger-guided night walks… and Fraser Island’s local reptiles and amphibians are enjoying being the centre of attention.

Nightly rainfall has kept the resort’s lakes clean, clear and full of fresh water, which our amphibians are certainly relishing. Striped Rocket Frogs, Wallum Rocket Frogs, several Sedge Frog species and the ever present Emerald Spotted Tree Frog has provided a ‘frog chorus’ of musical accompaniment on our nightly wanderings.

The resort is home to a large population of the declining Acid Frog groups – and it is great for us to see these species thriving in our surrounding environment.  And in keeping with our ‘eco philosophy’ on education – we are thrilled to be able to provide an opportunity to spread awareness about these beautiful animals. Unfortunately Cane Toads (an introduced species) were also spotted on a regular basis, but they seem to be in lower numbers than last summer, which is encouraging!

Both the Feathertail and Squirrel Gliders were seen on a regular basis, and when their Satinay and Wattle blossom supply dried up at the end of October, they made use of their razor sharp teeth, biting into the bark of the Wattle trees to extract the tasty sap.

Micro Bats were seen in their dozens around the resort using every opportunity they could to tackle a tasty Cicada for dinner. Often called the ‘sound of summer’, the constant drone of the Cicada makes them ‘sitting-ducks’ thanks to the finely-tuned echo-location techniques of the various Micro Bat species. It’s a pretty awesome sight to see and our international guests loved it.

The local waterways also put on a show during the past months, with many large species of fish - primarily Kingfish, large Flathead and the impressive Mac Tuna - taking full advantage of the massive schools of baitfish (Herring and Hardihead).  These larger fish could be clearly seen darting through the schools of fish, each vying for their own ‘catch of the day’.

The highlight of the month was the sighting of a Threadfin Salmon. We presume this appearance was due to recent rains flushing the local freshwater creek systems, and the salmon certainly put on a show making several leaps out of the water.  Threadfin Salmon have a set of brilliant white whiskers around the snout, which often results in them being confused with Catfish.

With all the above amazing sightings at the start of summer, we’re eagerly awaiting what the festive season will provide in regards to nocturnal wildlife sightings around the resort.  Watch this space!

SEPTEMBER 2010: WARM WEATHER AND WONDERFUL WILDLIFE
With warmer weather and consistent light showers, the resort's nocturnal wildlife sightings have certainly shifted from our local furry winter critters to our scaly summer time friends.

The occasional Lace Monitor was spotted along hollow logs attempting to absorb the last remnants of heat to get them through the night. These beautiful reptiles truly are a great sight to see by day and even more magical in the shine of the spotlight by night – and our guests just love to take holiday snaps of them.

Even some of our local reptilian made appearances throughout the month the Carpet Python, Children’s Python, Green Tree Snakes and Small Eyed Snakes amongst the most common species – giving our night walkers the opportunity to learn about these animals from a safe distance and to gain a better understanding and appreciation of these beautiful animals for them in their own environment.

The jetty brought about many delights with regular sightings of Dingoes on the late low tides. These iconic Fraser Island locals delighted guests with their casual behaviour as they wandered along the beachfront in search of food. With plenty of Bandicoots, native Bush Rats and loads of marine animals to choose from, the Dingoes certainly had a smorgasbord at their reach.

On the western side, the marine environment didn’t disappoint with several species of sting rays spotted each night. Estuary Rays, Blue Spotted Sting Rays and the occasional Shovel-nosed Rays were often spotted demonstrating their unique feeding techniques.  This natural behaviour provided night walk guests with a first hand look at how the saucer shaped depressions on the beach front are formed.

Despite their reputation, Sting Rays are one of the gentle giants of our oceans and a remarkable sight to see gliding gracefully through the shallow, clear waters of the Great Sandy Straits.

All in all, September produced fantastic sightings of some of our local nocturnal wildlife here at Kingfisher Bay and we are all anticipating an exciting October to come.

AUGUST 2010: FRASER'S ANIMALS HAVE A SPRING IN THEIR STEP...
Howdy Tree huggers - Ranger Bec here with your night walk wrap up for August.  The cooler August nights started to disappear mid-month as we moved closer to spring... and those warmer nights certainly didn’t curb the behaviour of our local nocturnal wildlife.

With the warmer nights and occasional damp weather, spider spotting became the trick of the day. The local Golden Trapdoor spiders (these spiders are often mistaken for Funnelwebs - but their bites are not dangerous) kept groups entertained throughout the month, with females often seen sitting patiently on their funnel-shaped webs waiting for an unsuspecting insect to walk by.  Their speed and accuracy in attaining these prey items was a true spectacle to witness.

Also vying for our attention on the ground, were the ever-present local Bandicoots. These delightful creatures have the ability to hear their insect prey under the ground without having to see them - this usually makes it difficult for us to get a clear viewing.  However, the Bandicoots spotted of late seem to be more preoccupied with hunting their prey and not with the dozens of prying eyes from our fascinated guests.

Our resident Micro Bats once again took control of the sky show with several spotted on a nightly basis showing off their flight skills in amazing displays of agility and tenacity whilst chasing moths. The Squirrel and Feathertail Gliders tried hard to compete for the spotlight and after a few tremendous glides from tree to tree in full view of our guests; they certainly stole the limelight on several occasions.

All in all, the night walks seem to be getting better and better. With warmer weather on the way, we are starting to spot more of the local frog, reptile and spider species at the resort. Not to be outdone with this, the local gliders certainly are not ready to give up the limelight just yet.

And in other news - out on Fraser Island dingo whelping season has begun and will run through until November.  During this time it is important for dingoes to learn natural hunting and survival skills and to avoid habituation with humans - so stay dingo safe on Fraser!

Ranger Bec signing off - hope to see you on a night walk soon!

JULY 2010: THE BEST OF LAND AND SEA 
Ranger Bec here, just touching base after a small break from blogging to say g'day to all you tree-huggers out there.  Despite some chilly nights throughout the last month or so, our friendly locals have been making some regular appearances around the resort grounds during our nightly spotlighting walks.

The local Sugar and Squirrel Gliders have been seen performing consistently throughout the treetops - making full use of their gliding ability much to the delight of resort guests. By gliding between the canopies of surrounding forests, these cute critters ensure they keep away from the predators below. It's also a much more efficient use of their energy. Even their smaller relative the Feathertail Glider has made the odd cameo appearance since we last blogged - showing that, despite their small size, they can still be extremely acrobatic when moving about the canopy in search of food.

The main road to the resort came to life throughout July when members of our resident Microbat colony ducked and weaved in the night sky chasing insects. Not only do Microbats have the ability to detect their prey through the use of sonar, they also detect the size of their prey, the direction they are flying in and how fast they're flying - valuable information to ensure they never miss a meal!

The marine environment has also served up a treat for onlookers with several winter Whiting, Flathead, Garfish, Hardiheads and Herring spotted in the waters below our famous jetty. Regular sightings of a Green Sea Turtle around the ferry ramp also kept guests entertained in the evenings.

Fraser Island's clear winter skies have provided some great viewing for budding astrologers and astronomers - we've seen everything from the Southern Cross to the entire Milky Way. We were even lucky enough to spot Mars, Venus, Saturn and Mercury all on a single night.

July and early August bought about many fantastic sightings of the local wildlife here at Kingfisher Bay... and we eagerly await what's in store over the next month. Until next time, Ranger Bec.