Kakadu Day 3

We started our day with a swim in the great pool at Cooinda. It is a lovely pool with lots of depth variations and options for little kids. We decided to then go to Mirrai Lookout and Sandy Billabong. When we got to the lookout, the walk which was listed in the guide as being a moderately steep 2km return was signposted as a steep 1.6km one way. As it was around lunchtime and the day was warming up, and not knowing which length description was correct, we decided to err on the side of caution and go to Sandy Billabong. I am so glad we did. It is beautiful. I felt slightly antsy the whole time as there is no walkway or path, you just make your way as close to the water's edge as you feel comfortable with. We stayed back far enough for me to feel OK and just soaked in the wonder of this billabong. It looked like very few people go there and it was so quiet and calm and beautiful. This too is a bird haven, with so much variety to birdlife. We saw our first Jabiru across the water. The Jabiru is another bird I have wanted to see ever since I won a storybook when I was in primary school that starred a Jabiru, some 30 odd years ago. It's amazing to think that after all this time, I still wanted to see one in the wild and I finally did!

 Sandy Billabong (above and below) 

We went on a Yellow River Sunset Cruise and I have to say to anyone considering it, just do it. You won't be disappointed. You get to explore Yellow River Billabong and the South Alligator River. We saw around 15 corocodiles, all salties. The majority were females but we got very close to a big male lying on the river bank. Our boat captain/tour guide pointed out crocodile slides and we got so close to many crocodiles just floating in the river. Sometime all you saw was the eyes and nostrils and other times you could see their whole length. They see to barely move, even as they cruise along, with just a slight undulation of their body. They leave no ripple or wake as they swim. The only time I saw ripples was when one sunk into the water as the boat approached, and even that was so calm and almost invisible. It is hard to imagine just how explosive their power must be as they seek to bring down their prey. The thrill of seeing them didn't subside and I enjoyed seeing the last one every bit as much as the first one. And I have to say, my fear of crocodiles began to subside: not enough for me to go swimming with them or walk along the edge of a creek or billabong but I guess I started to get a bit desensitised, which takes away that complete “freak out” feeling I had been experiencing.

We also saw a big male water buffalo right up close. He kept a close eye on us too. Our tour guide told us that one day when he was doing one of the cruises, he saw a buffalo head into the water to cross and three crocodiles began to converge. The buffalo made it across safely but it would have been an amazing sight.

Our cruise had quite a few 'twitchers' (crazy bird lovers... OK,, not crazy just very passionate bird lovers) on board and so we were treated to an incredible bird watching spectacle too! Our boat operator had everyone on board pointing out the birds they saw and then these were identified and lots of opportunities for photos ensued. There were some stunning birds. Tilda made a whole bunch of people's day when she spotted the Azure Kingfisher. She also spotted a Rainbow Bee-eater (my favourite bird since we identified them at Longreach Waterhole) and the Nankeen Night Heron (that she had found and identified at Bitter Springs). I told her I might have to disown her if she becomes a crazy twitcher, but I'm pretty sure she knows I was kidding. As the sunset we got to watch a Jabiru hunt. This is a most incredible sight.. too hard to put into words how amazing and graceful they are. At first it was standing stock still, staring intently into the water and then it saw some prey and it began a “dance”, wings outstretched, legs lifting high as it danced and ran through the shallow water following its prey. With the sun setting behind, it was a truly magical sight.

 Rainbow Bee-eater

Azure Kingfisher (above and below)

Two Jabiru

Male and female brolgas building a nest

Plumed Whistling Ducks (I really liked these guys)

Sea Eagle

Baby Jacana (these were soooo small and cute)

Jabiru

Jabiru hunting

Spoonbill

The water is glassy, so the reflections are beautiful and so clear. It is hard to describe just how stunning the Kakadu wetlands are, so hopefully the pictures do it some justice. We got to watch the sun set over the water of the billabong.