Jabiru and Mary River Park

Sunday 5th- to Tuesday 7th June

We had been told that the Jabiru caravan park was good, so we went there rather than to Merl where the mosquitoes apparently are really bad. Everywhere near water, they are bad and we have to cover up especially in the morning and then in the evening, wearing long pants and shirts and socks and shoes and still often need to use repellent as well.

A busload of year 9 and 10 boys arrived and set up their camp near us – R said that it sounded like a second gold rush, with all the hammering of tent pegs going on!

We visited the Bowali information centre that was excellent; had a look around the little town – deserted because it was a Sunday, had a swim in the pool which was lovely...it is great to be able to cool off in the middle of the day. In this climate you can really only go for walks early, and then late in the day, and a cool shower or a swim is wonderful.

It was good to be on line again, and Skyped some of the family, which was fun.

Each night and morning since we have been in Kakadu we have heard Bush Stone –curlews, with their mournful cry; also dingoes howling at Jabiru at night and one came right up to our camp.

Mamarkala wetland was one of the places we wanted to visit, and we went there the next morning.  

We passed a few pretty little creeks

As soon as we started along the track to the bird hide, we had an amazing number of birds in the bush nearby... e.g. Red-backed Wrens, bathing in some water trapped in the V shape of the Pandanus leaves; Crimson Finches, Double-barred Finches, Masked Finches and lots more!

Then at the bird hide there was a Jacana – Lotus bird- with 3 little chicks! They are called the Jesus birds because they look like they walk on water... but they have extremely long toes that can span water lily pads or stems etc. We spent a long time trying to take a photo!

There were also Green Pigmy Geese and the big Magpie Geese flew overhead.

That evening we went to Ubirr

 to see the rock art and then to view the sunset from up high on a lookout.

The rock shelters indeed were galleries of art – protected, cool and shady, with interesting art, some of which dated back thousands of years!

The view from the lookout is really magnificent – 360 degrees looking over the surrounding East Alligator river flood plains – all lush and green, with quite a lot of water still lying there.

It was quite a steep climb, and quite crowded (by our standards!) with about 150 people there, including the students from our caravan park, spread over the rocks like ants.

The sunset was really beautiful – Sally B you would love it

On the way in to Ubirr, there is one section where water is over the road – only about 150mm – but a girl on a motor-bike coming the opposite way, had fallen off, just as we approached. She had hit a hole which she couldn’t see, and got tossed off into the creek. As there is still the threat of crocodiles, it was a bit stressful, but a young man helped her up and she was quite ok.

On the walk we did before going to Ubirr, we went through some monsoonal rainforest, and saw lots of fruits on trees,

 

Crimson Finches, again, and also a Yellow-footed Scrub Fowl that builds mounds like the Mallee Fowl.

Returning the next morning to the Mamarkala wetland to do the longer walk, there were not many birds this time. The longer walk was disappointing as it passed through very recently burned country.

 (Long pants and shirt etc for mozzie protection!)

 

but we did get a photo of the Jacana chick!


On the way to Mary River Park, where we decided to stay , we had a look at the South Alligator river 5– this is fishing country!

There were quite a few fishermen & women camping there, but we didn’t hear any great success stories! The people in the caravan beside us are birdo’s – the wife photographs birds and they travel Australia, looking for birds she hasn’t found!

We spent the hotter part of the day sitting on our chairs in the shade, watching the birds ( it was listed in the book R has) – it’s a good spot, right on the river though, so we had to protect ourselves as usual!

Everywhere we go we see beautiful yellow butterflies. They are a real feature. There appear to be two different species, a large and small. I’ve tried to get some photos, but the best I can do is a pic of this wing off one of the smaller type. It is a Large Grass-yellow.

Sharing facilities – this little character was in the toilet bowl!

And there were others on the walls.