Buggin with Bridgey

Buggin with Bridgey is a Monthly report of sightings from the Let’s Go Buggin Cairns Nature & Photography Tour in the Cairns Botanic Gardens.  As the months roll by, subtle changes in the seasons bring sightings of new creatures and this report aims to give people a wrap up of the current animals seen as well as provide an ongoing citizen science account of our wonderful critters that can be seen in the Wet Tropics of Queensland.

Wolf Spider (Lycosidae)

Wolf Spiders are ground dwellers with excellent vision and impressive hunting skills. Unlike most spiders, they don’t rely on webs — they roam actively at night, chasing down prey. Their stocky build, hairy legs, and reflective eye-shine make them easy to spot on the forest floor with a torch. Females are sometimes seen carrying their spiderlings on their back — a behaviour that fascinates everyone on the walk, and a wish-list opportunity for nature photographers.

Wolf Spider (Lycosidae)

White-lipped Tree Frog (Nyctimystes infrafrenatus)

Australia’s largest tree frog, growing up to 14 cm, with vivid green skin, a creamy underbelly, and a distinctive white stripe along the jawline. These White-lipped Tree Frogs are strong climbers thanks to their large toe pads and are usually found perched on leaves, windows, or tree trunks after rain. Their deep, barking call echoes through the gardens — a familiar soundtrack to our tropical nights during the wet season. They’re incredibly photogenic and often sit still for long enough to capture that perfect shot.

White-lipped Tree Frog (Nyctimystes infrafrenatus)

Pale-lipped Shadeskink (Saproscincus basiliscus)

A small but charismatic reptile. This skink is about 4–6 cm long and easy to overlook — until your torch catches the subtle flash of its pale lower lip. With smooth bronze skin and wide, dark eyes adapted for low light, the Pale-lipped Shadeskink is fast and alert. During the day, they hunt tiny insects in the leaf litter and along the bases of trees. At night they like to lay motionless on flat leaves about half a metre off the ground which makes them a great subject for photographers on the Let’s Go Buggin Night Walks.

Pale-lipped Shadeskink (Saproscincus basiliscus)

Brown Tree Snake (Boiga irregularis)

This slender, semi-arboreal snake is usually 1–2 metres long and recognised by its reddish-brown colouring, large golden eyes, and vertical pupils. It’s mildly venomous, but not dangerous to humans. These Brown Tree Snakes are excellent climbers and are often seen navigating handrails, vines, or shrubs in search of frogs, birds, and lizards. Their slow, deliberate movements and alert gaze make for a fascinating encounter during our Night Walks.

Brown Tree Snake (Boiga irregularis)

White Rainforest Snail (Leptopoma perlucidum)

Delicate and beautiful, this White Rainforest Snail is just 1–2 cm in size but stands out thanks to its pearly, semi-transparent shell. They are most active on damp nights, gliding across leaves and mossy trunks as they feed on biofilm and fungi. Their opalescent shimmer catches the torchlight just right — making them a favourite for macro photographers who like to capture the quieter forest moments.

White Rainforest Snail (Leptopoma perlucidum)

Papuan Frogmouth (Podargus papuensis)

Easily mistaken for a broken tree branch during the day, this cryptic bird comes to life at night. With its large, wide mouth and mottled plumage, the Papuan Frogmouth is a silent predator of insects, frogs, and small reptiles. Their low, rhythmic call and glowing eye-shine make them a regular highlight on our night-spotting tours. They perch low and still, offering great viewing and photo opportunities.  They look like an owl, and behave much like an owl, but they are not related and are in fact a Nightjar, a fascinating example of convergent evolution.

Papuan Frogmouth (Podargus papuensis)

Eastern Tube-nosed Bat (Nyctimene robinsoni)

A truly unique fruit bat, known for its yellow polka-dot wings and tube-shaped nostrils. These small, fluttery fliers feed on rainforest fruits and hover while feeding — more like a hummingbird than a typical bat. With a wingspan of about 30 cm, these Eastern Tube-nosed Bat are easy to miss unless you’re looking carefully. As one of the more whimsical Cairns Nocturnal Animals, its soft, slow flight is always a delight to observe — if we’re lucky enough to spot one.

Eastern Tube-nosed Bat (Nyctimene robinsoni)

Striped Possum (Dactylopsila trivirgata)

This black-and-white marsupial is a regular sight during the winter months and truly unforgettable for all who see them. It has a distinctive long tail, white racing stripes, and a specialised long finger used to tap on tree trunks and locate grubs. Once detected, it chews through bark to extract its prey. The Striped Possum is fast-moving, arboreal, and most active after dark — a real treat for wildlife lovers when it makes an appearance.

Striped Possum (Dactylopsila trivirgata)

Eastern Short-beaked Echidna (Tachyglossus aculeatus)

A spiny monotreme and a true Australian original. Echidnas are solitary and slow-moving, often found snuffling through the undergrowth for ants and termites. Their long snouts and digging claws make them excellent foragers, and their sharp spines offer protection from predators. While they’re mostly diurnal, we occasionally spot them during Night Walks — a rare and exciting encounter that highlights the surprising diversity of Cairns Nocturnal Animals and leaves everyone grinning.

Eastern Short-beaked Echidna (Tachyglossus aculeatus)