Within TullyUFO
Investigating the Tully Saucer Nest Formation
Examining the circular mat of flattened reeds in the swamp and the analyses conducted on it.
On this page
- Description of the circular reed mat
- RAAF and police examination
- Skeptical and natural explanations
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Introduction
The physical trace left behind at Horseshoe Lagoon following the 19 January 1966 sighting near Tully in Far North Queensland – usually called the “saucer nest” – is the piece of evidence that transformed an isolated daytime UFO claim into one of the most debated physical‑evidence cases in Australian UFO history. The “nest” refers to a clearly defined circular mat of flattened swamp reeds discovered floating in the lagoon after banana farmer George Pedley reported seeing a strange object rise from that same location. This unusual botanical anomaly drew official attention, press coverage, and decades of speculation because the pattern, formation, and rapid browning of the reeds were not easily explained by casual observation alone. [UFO Encounters]ufoencounters.co.ukUFO Encounters The Tully Saucer NestUFO EncountersThe Tully Saucer NestJuly 19, 2013…
The Reed Mat at Horseshoe Lagoon
What Was Observed at the Site
Soon after the near‑vertical departure of the object Pedley described, he returned to the bend in the track overlooking Horseshoe Lagoon and noticed something striking: in the otherwise thick reed bed on the shallow lagoon waters, there was a large, near‑circular area where the reeds lay flattened in a spiral or radial pattern. Accounts consistently put its diameter around 30 feet (9 m), with the stems bent but not obviously broken, and the mat floating on the water surface like a raft. [UFO Encounters]ufoencounters.co.ukUFO Encounters The Tully Saucer NestUFO EncountersThe Tully Saucer NestJuly 19, 2013…
According to contemporary reporting, the direction of the flattening was described as clockwise, a detail that later entered into arguments about possible causes (natural versus mechanical) because different forces would tend to twist vegetation in different ways. [UFO Encounters]ufoencounters.co.ukUFO Encounters The Tully Saucer NestUFO EncountersThe Tully Saucer NestJuly 19, 2013… Photographs taken in the days after the event show the reeds on the surface turned brown relatively quickly and the circle remained coherent long enough to attract hundreds of spectators. [ABC News]abc.net.auABC News Tully's cane farm crop circles and an enduring 58yo UFOGeorge Pedley's UFO sighting report to police in January 1966. (Supplied: National…Read more…
Submerged Condition and Botanical Features
Initial descriptions from Pedley, his neighbour Albert Pennisi, and later investigators stressed that the reed mat was still green beneath and only browned on top, suggesting recent death, and that the water beneath was clear and free of obvious obstructions, allowing people to swim under or wade around the mat without interference. [UFO Research Queensland - Australia]uforq.orgUFO Research QueenslandAustraliaThe Tully Saucer Nest 1966 – UFO Research Queensland – AustraliaOctober 7, 2023… Contemporary press reporting highlighted that the surrounding unreeds remained green, and there were no visible tracks or mechanical disturbances in the surrounding swamp or cane scrub, making obvious hoaxing by machinery seem unlikely. [Flickr]flickr.comUnidentifiable Flying ObjectsUFO, Alien (Public Domain) 32 photos. Additional…Read more…
Reports also noted smaller, secondary flattened circles were discovered in the lagoon and nearby swamps in the weeks following the first find, though their contexts often lacked the clear eyewitness tie‑in that the original circle had. [Think About It Docs]thinkaboutitdocs.comthe 1966 tully saucer nestThink About It Docs1966: The Tully Saucer NestApril 8, 2013…
Official and Contemporary Examination
Police and RAAF Involvement
Pedley’s report was taken to local police later on the evening of the sighting, and the next day police accompanied him to the lagoon site to observe the flattened reeds. The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) – then responsible for formally recording “unusual aerial sightings” – was contacted as part of the routine sighting questionnaire and requested samples of the vegetation for analysis. [State Library of Queensland]slq.qld.gov.auState Library of Queensland The Truth Is Out ThereThe Queensland Flying…Read more…
Samples of the reed stems were subjected to submersion tests as well as visual examination. Independent accounts from the period suggest that while reeds submerged in normal conditions would take several days to die and brown, the reeds from the saucer nest exhibited rapid browning in about a day (within approximately 12 hours) despite having been submerged previously, a difference that was noted but not definitively explained by investigators at the time. [Internet Archive]archive.orgInternet ArchiveFull text of "Australian Flying Saucer Review 1966 11 no 9…The Tully “nest” reeds died and turned brown within one day…
RAAF analysis, as reported in later commentary on the files, concluded that there was no indication of radiation or exotic agent, and that the reeds had likely died from prolonged natural submersion, a mundane botanical process, rather than any unusual external energy source. Some UFO research groups disagreed with this conclusion on the basis of the timing and conditions, arguing that it would generally take longer for such submergence effects to manifest. [State Library of Queensland]slq.qld.gov.auState Library of Queensland The Truth Is Out ThereThe Queensland Flying…Read more…
Broader Physical Observations
Beyond the main circular mat, descriptions from period sources mention tear‑drop shaped ground marks in adjacent tilled field soil, spaced in a line from the lagoon edge; these were lost to later visitors before they could be documented by casts or measurements. [UFO Research Queensland - Australia]uforq.orgUFO Research QueenslandAustraliaThe Tully Saucer Nest 1966 – UFO Research Queensland – AustraliaOctober 7, 2023… Contemporary newspaper archives recount that a patch of adjacent couch grass had been sheared at water level, though that, too, lacked definitive analysis at the time. [Flickr]flickr.comUnidentifiable Flying ObjectsUFO, Alien (Public Domain) 32 photos. Additional…Read more…
Skeptical and Natural Explanations
Weather and Vegetation Dynamics
Sceptics and meteorologists proposed alternative, natural mechanisms for the nest formation. One commonly cited explanation was that a mini‑tornado, whirlwind or “willy‑willy” could have produced a low‑pressure swirl that pulled vegetation into a circular pattern and temporarily displaced reeds in the lagoon. However, weather records and accounts from locals note that the morning of the sighting was calm and windless, making such a vortex less plausible in the absence of other supporting meteorological conditions. [australiangeographic.com.au]australiangeographic.com.auSaucer hysteria: The case of the Tully crop circleSeptember 21, 2020 — 21 Sept 2020 — Furthermore, many of the reeds were fused together, presumably by the heat of the engine, and continu…
Other natural ideas included currents or vortex flow in the shallow lagoon water, which could conceivably clear a patch of reeds and leave a floating mat. Yet this too struggled to account for the symmetry of the pattern and the lack of adjacent water disturbance visible in photographs and reports. [UFO Encounters]ufoencounters.co.ukUFO Encounters The Tully Saucer NestUFO EncountersThe Tully Saucer NestJuly 19, 2013…
Botanical Response
The fact that the reeds actually died and browned quickly while unreeds around them stayed green lent some weight to the idea that the mat had been exposed to conditions outside their usual growth environment. Nonetheless, subsidence due to natural flooding and submersion remains a mundane process that can kill aquatic vegetation, complicating claims for extraordinary causation. [State Library of Queensland]slq.qld.gov.auState Library of Queensland The Truth Is Out ThereThe Queensland Flying…Read more…
Why the Physical Trace Matters
The Horseshoe Lagoon “saucer nest” remains significant because it was one of the earliest and most documented cases where an eyewitness UFO claim was paired with a distinct environmental anomaly that invited scientific and sceptical scrutiny rather than being dismissed as mere anecdote. [UFO Encounters]ufoencounters.co.ukUFO Encounters The Tully Saucer NestUFO EncountersThe Tully Saucer NestJuly 19, 2013… The combination of eyewitness testimony, official reporting, photographic documentation, and physical samples meant the case could be discussed on more than just verbal witness terms – even though the interpretation of the physical trace itself has never reached consensus.
Today, the saucer nest is understood both as a historical moment in UFO lore and as an example of how physical traces can be open to multiple competing interpretations, from mundane environmental dynamics to the unknown. Whatever one’s view on the cause, the Horseshoe Lagoon reeds remain a key part of why the Tully incident is still referenced in discussions of physical trace UFO cases. [State Library of Queensland]slq.qld.gov.auState Library of Queensland The Truth Is Out ThereThe Queensland Flying…Read more…
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Endnotes
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Source: uforq.org
Title: UFO Research Queensland
Link: https://uforq.org/the-tully-saucer-nest/Source snippet
AustraliaThe [Tully Saucer Nest]({{ 'tully-saucer-nest-incident-1966/' | relative_url }}) 1966 – UFO Research Queensland – AustraliaOctober 7, 2023...
Published: October 7, 2023
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Source: flickr.com
Title: Unidentifiable Flying Objects
Link: https://www.flickr.com/photos/queenslandstatearchives/50704411782Source snippet
UFO, Alien (Public Domain) 32 photos. Additional...Read more...
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Source: archive.org
Link: https://archive.org/stream/Australian_Flying_Saucer_Review_1966_11_no_9_UFOIC/Australian_Flying_Saucer_Review_1966_11_no_9_UFOIC_djvu.txtSource snippet
Internet ArchiveFull text of "Australian Flying Saucer Review 1966 11 no 9...The Tully “nest” reeds died and turned brown within one day...
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Source: australiangeographic.com.au
Title: Saucer hysteria: The case of the Tully crop circle
Link: https://www.australiangeographic.com.au/blogs/tim-the-yowie-man/2020/09/saucer-serial-hysteria-the-case-of-the-tully-crop-circle/Source snippet
September 21, 2020 — 21 Sept 2020 — Furthermore, many of the reeds were fused together, presumably by the heat of the engine, and continu...
Published: September 21, 2020
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Source: ufoencounters.co.uk
Title: UFO Encounters The Tully Saucer Nest
Link: https://www.ufoencounters.co.uk/the-tully-saucer-nest.htmlSource snippet
UFO EncountersThe Tully Saucer NestJuly 19, 2013...
Published: July 19, 2013
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Source: slq.qld.gov.au
Title: State Library of Queensland The Truth Is Out There
Link: https://www.slq.qld.gov.au/blog/truth-out-there-queensland-ufo-related-periodicalsSource snippet
The Queensland Flying...Read more...
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Source: abc.net.au
Title: ABC News Tully’s cane farm crop circles and an enduring 58yo UFO
Link: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-11-24/sugar-cane-farm-ufo-mystery-expanse-podcast-series-uncropped/104559256Source snippet
George Pedley's UFO sighting report to police in January 1966. (Supplied: National...Read more...
Published: January 1966
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Source: thinkaboutitdocs.com
Title: the 1966 tully saucer nest
Link: https://www.thinkaboutitdocs.com/the-1966-tully-saucer-nest/Source snippet
Think About It Docs1966: The Tully Saucer NestApril 8, 2013...
Published: April 8, 2013
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Source: alienconspiracy.podbean.com
Title: Witnesses: The primary witness was a farmer named
Link: https://alienconspiracy.podbean.com/e/the-tully-saucer-nest/Source snippet
Tully Saucer Nest | All Things StrangeSeptember 25, 2023 — Here's a detailed account of the Tully Saucer Nest UFO case: Date and Time: Th...
Published: September 25, 2023
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Source: lionsberg.wiki
Title: the tully saucer nest (1966)
Link: https://lionsberg.wiki/lionsberg_wiki_books/the_cosmic_chronicles/the_tully_saucer_nest_%281966%29Source snippet
LIØNSBERG WikiTHE TULLY SAUCER NEST (1966) Summary: The Tully Saucer Nest is a renowned UFO case that occurred in Horseshoe Lagoon near T...
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Source: facebook.com
Link: https://www.facebook.com/7NEWSCQ/posts/60-years-ago-this-month-the-worlds-attention-turned-to-tully-in-far-north-queens/1357592719727717/Source snippet
7NEWS Central QueenslandOther than being part of the “nest”, the only unusual thing about the reeds was that they turned brown in about 8...
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Source: facebook.com
Link: https://www.facebook.com/7NEWSWideBay/posts/60-years-ago-this-month-the-worlds-attention-turned-to-tully-in-far-north-queens/1430023355800531/?locale=it_ITSource snippet
7NEWS Wide BayThere was no evidence that crocodiles made the nest and analysis of the reeds from the nest showed no trace of “reed-eating...
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Source: ufocasebook.com
Link: https://ufocasebook.com/tullysaucernest.htmlSource snippet
The Tully Saucer Nest, UFO Casebook FilesImage: Tully Saucer Nest THE TULLY SAUCER NEST At 9:00 am on January 19, 1966, a calm sunny day...
Published: January 19, 1966
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Source: facebook.com
Title: in 1966 a salt of the earth banana farmer saw something he couldnt explain that
Link: https://www.facebook.com/ABCGreatSouthern/posts/in-1966-a-salt-of-the-earth-banana-farmer-saw-something-he-couldnt-explain-that-/1021570706654047/Source snippet
In 1966 a salt-of-the-earth banana farmer saw something...A salt-of-the-earth banana farmer saw something he couldn't explain that left...
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Source: ufoinsight.com
Title: Crop Circles: Mystical, Meteorological, Man-Made, Or Messages From ET?
Link: https://www.ufoinsight.com/conspiracy/unexplained/crop-circles-etSource snippet
UFO InsightDecember 30, 2016 — ‘NESTING’ UFOS IN OZ Another high-profile connection between UFOs and circles occurred a few years later...
Published: December 30, 2016
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Source: instagram.com
Title: Something landed on Albert Panisi’s cane farm near Tully. Yeah we
Link: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DTpXhS1D-Wy/?hl=en-gbSource snippet
60 years ago this month, the world's attention turned to Tully in...A peculiar nest formations caused a media sensation in nineteen sixt...
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Source: penguinrandomhouselibrary.com
Title: What Do We Know About Crop Circles?
Link: https://penguinrandomhouselibrary.com/book/?isbn=9780593386750Source snippet
Penguin Random House Library MarketingAugust 16, 2022 — EXCERPT What Do We Know About Crop Circles? In 1966, something strange happened o...
Published: August 16, 2022
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Source: xufos.com
Title: tully flying saucer nests 1966
Link: https://xufos.com/tully-flying-saucer-nests-1966.phpSource snippet
The Tully “Flying Saucer Nests”: Australia’s Classic Physical Trace Case 1996 – XUFOSTHE TULLY “FLYING SAUCER NESTS”: AUSTRALIA’S CLASSIC...
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Source: womensweekly.com.au
Link: https://www.womensweekly.com.au/news/crop-circles-australia-tully/Source snippet
Crop circles in Australia: The unsolved mystery of Tully25 Sept 2025 — In the middle of the murky water, tall reeds were now woven into a...
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Source: strangestrangestrange.com
Title: To date, the case remains
Link: https://strangestrangestrange.com/paranormal/ufo/the-1966-tully-saucer-nest/Source snippet
The 1966 Tully Saucer Nest - Strange Strange StrangeMay 26, 2023 — STRANGE STRANGE STRANGE THE 1966 TULLY SAUCER NEST UFO THE 1966 TULLY...
Published: May 26, 2023
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