Thursday 27th June 2013 – Windjana Gorge

After breakfast we set out to walk up the gorge (7km return).

There were lots of crocodiles sunning themselves on the sandbanks – it looked like hundreds but later in the day the Ranger told us there were around 120.  They were very relaxed and you could get quite close to them.  Even though they are freshwater crocodiles I wouldn’t like to get too close.

In the information shelter there is a picture of a crocodile bite on someone’s foot.  It was quite a mess.  Apparently once they grasp something they shake their head from side to side – and while their teeth might not be that large they are very sharp.

Further up the gorge we saw flying foxes and quite a lot of birds – egrets, cormorants, azure kingfisher, double bar finches, rainbow bee eater.  We even saw some Archer Fish on our way back.

Arrived back around 11 o’clock and had pancakes and coffee before the rain set in.  It continued to rain on and off for the rest of the day.  Fortunately the soil is fairly sandy so it’s not too bad underfoot.

We have quite a few bower birds (Great Bower Bird – also saw them at Fitzroy River Lodge) in the camping area and right in the middle of us all one of the male birds has constructed his bower.  Lots of white and green objects inside.  It’s entertaining just watching the antics.

As with most places we’ve been in Western Australia we also have lots of kites flying about.  More entertaining watching them soar overhead.  At one time we had them perched in a nearby tree drying their wings – must have thought they were cormorants.

Dinner was Nachos with guacamole (in a tube from Woolies) and ‘sour cream’ (made from silken tofu, lemon juice, oil and salt).

Not much sun today so the showers are cold – still nice to have a shower in a National Park and we’re having trouble keeping the fridges going – switched over to the battery in the camper but it’s running pretty low too.