Frogging at Mapleton Falls National Park

After having been turned back the night before by a flooded road, my friend Connor and I tried our second attempt to enter a section of Mapleton Falls National Park – with success. Conditions were perfect – perhaps a little too perfect as several large parts of the walking track were still covered in water. Nonetheless we still found what I came looking for, Litoria chloris (Southern Orange-eyed Treefrogs). These frogs are very cool creatures and hence very photogenic. I would have liked to have found a L. brevipalmata (Green-Thighed Frog) since conditions appeared perfect for them, but with no luck. Mixophyes fasciolatus (Great Barred Frogs) were out in full force, more so than last time.

Mixophyes fasciolatus
Mixophyes fasciolatus (Great Barred Frog)

Unfortunately we only found one M. iteratus (Giant Barred Frog), an endangered species. But that’s not to say he was the only one in the entire national park.

Mixophyes iteratus
Mixophyes iteratus (Giant Barred Frog)

Then we came across three calling Litoria chloris (Southern Orange-eyed Treefrogs).

Litoria chloris
Litoria chloris (Southern Orange-eyed Treefrog)
Litoria chloris
Litoria chloris (Southern Orange-eyed Treefrog) calling.
Litoria chloris
Litoria chloris (Southern Orange-eyed Treefrog)
Litoria chloris
Litoria chloris (Southern Orange-eyed Treefrog)
Litoria chloris
Litoria chloris (Southern Orange-eyed Treefrog) calling.

Ex-tropical cyclone ‘Oswald’ which brought flooding rains and gale-force winds to many parts of the Queensland coast and inland is now long gone. For the most part, where I live, it’s been more of a blessing than not (despite losing electricity for a day or so).

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