Notes and some photos only. Narrative to come.
Our first "campfire" coffee, early in the morning
Our first camping Brekkie
A visitor (Raven)
Peter enjoying his cooking
Birdwatching on Mamukala Wetlands
Again with a little help from another birdwatcher, we Ided Plumed Whistling Duck, Royal Spoonbill, Jabiru (stork), Little Pied Heron, Whiskered Tern, Burdekin Duck, Black-winged Stilt, Glossy Ibis, Masked Lapwing (Plover), Little Pied Cormorant and on our own more Brolga Cranes. Also, saw thousands of Pelicans in feeding frenzy.
Took ill-advised walk with too little water and without having checked for the length or route, turned back half way through.
Saw thousands of Magpie Geese, Egrets (Great, Intermediate, and Little), and Pelicans on mud flats
and Ided a Rainbow Bee Eater and a Varied Triller in the woods.
Drove to Bowali Visitor Center where we bought a piece of Binninj/Mungguy artwork ( Rainbow Serpent and Mimi Spirits acrylic on paper) from the Marrawuddi Gallery. Had it shipped back to the states along with some aboriginal designed gifts.
Checked in and ate lunch at our camp ground at the Kakadu Lodge near the Aborigine town of Jabiru. The camp site is filled with screeching Little Corellas (a type of Cockatoo). Drove into Jabiru for gas and did a bit more food (and water!) shopping.
Took Aboriginal-led Guluyambi Boat cruise on East Alligator River (misnamed by British explorer who mistook Saltwater Crocodiles, “Salties,” for Alligators he’d seen in Florida). Saw a number of salties and learned from Sean (our guide) the myriad uses aborigines make of various trees, bushes etc. Also, saw how they made and used hunting weapons and basketry. Learned a bit about Aborigine family relations, skin names, etc. Saw Nankeen (Russet) Night Heron and Little Corellas.
BBQed steak and sausages and met a very friendly self-described “surfer” family from Melbourne (Michael, Sue and children Declan, Oliver, and Chloe). Also met a dutchman who was taking a similarly long trip throughout Australia and NZ as we were. (We were to meet up with both the Aussie family and the Flying Dutchman several more times over the next several days at various campsites and natural attractions in Kakadu and beyond).
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