Nightwalk Sightings Summary Jan - March 05 for Mason’s Tours

The sightings have been very good during the last three months.

Snake sightings have been excellent, more so during March.
We have seen numerous Amethystine Pythons, some as long as three metres. These friendly and handsome snakes are common at Cape Tribulation. They get their name from the shirring amethyst colour they display under light. These are constrictors, and are not venomous at all. The biggest one ever recorded was 8.6m long. Mason’s Tours have several times seen 5m plus individuals on their trails.

Boyd’s Forest Dragon sightings have been regular. These lizards are often found on tree trunks at eye level, which makes for great viewing. Boyd’s Forest Dragons are only found in the wet tropics from Townsville to Cooktown and are a special thing to see here.
Eastern Water Dragons have also been seen most nights. Mason’s have a large permanent stream central to their trails, and thus we see more Water Dragons than other operators. Male Water dragons are harem forming, and much larger than females. We have seen them up to 1.5m long. (Note reptile books measure lizards snout to anus and thus the tail length is left off)
Leaf tailed Geckos have not been seen much. We usually see more of these around May. Their camouflage is really amazing. They are often seen on tree trunks facing downwards, presumably hunting for insects. Once found, they are seen sometimes for several nights on the same tree.
Frog sightings have been excellent, as we are in wet season, we are still seeing Lace Lids regularly and also Stony Creek Frogs when it rains. White Lipped Green Tree Frogs have been very active, and we have seen many other species as well. Frog sightings will decline as it gets drier.
Some Striped Possums have been seen, on all areas of the tracks. There are still lots of dead trees around after the 99 cyclone, and this means there are many larvae to be found, which Stripey Possums love. We often here the noisy little fellows before we see them, as they make a real racket searching for food.
Croc sightings have been good; the Crocs have been seen on well over 50% of the walks. The are still three crocs are still in Myall Creek, and we have seen two in a night on occasion. People have also reported seeing crocs on the bank of Myall Creek during the day.

Native rats have been active; the lack of really heavy rains means their numbers have been staying high. In particular there are lots of Melomys about, and we usually find these by listening for the chewing sound as they use their sharp teeth to open seeds. These same sharp teeth can wreak havoc in your house, and Melomys are fond of moving in with locals!!!
We have also been seeing Bandicoots regularly, and there seems to still be a healthy population of Northern Brown Bandicoots in the valley. Long Nosed Bandicoots have also been seen a bit.
Hope to see you on a Nightwalk in April May or