WYNDHAM, MARGLU BILLABONG AND PARRY LAGOONS

LOTS OF BIRD AND ANIMAL PICS IN THIS POST

We have previously stayed at Parry Lagoons, it's quite a nice caravan park, although the 6 or 7 Km of dirt road discourages those caravanners that wash and polish their vans at each stop and get paranoid about a little dust and dirt.

One highlight of the area is Marglu Billabong, near the beginning of the dirt. Its a transit stop for many water birds and this time we found it highly populated with Plumed and Wandering Whistling Ducks - in fact it's probably true to say absolutely infested with them.

One of the many "encampments" of Whistling Ducks at Marglu Billabong

They are a little unusual in the duck milieu in that they don't particularly like water, don't swim about and spend their days in large encampments in the very shallow water's edge and on the banks under the surrounding trees and scrub. I first saw them in their thousands at Kakadu where our guide indicated that they were visitors from Indonesia and PNG . This is not borne out by Simpson and Day in their publication 'Field Guide to Birds of Australia" they indicate that both the Plumed and Wandering Whistling Ducks are well established on Australia's coast from around Broome toVictoria.

Marlglu has always been a highlight for us and we have spent many hours in the well-constructed  bird hide / viewing area. It's comfortable and has  a metal walkway and a large seated viewing area.

Sitting there quietly with binoculars and camera  late one morning I was surprised when looking  about 25 metres across the billabong to find a 4+ metre estuarine / salt water croc basking in the sunshine.

Quite a surprise ! This  4 metre + croc has not been there in our many previous visits.

Seeing that the entrance to the hide from the car park is on the banks of the billabong and unfenced, and there is only a small vandalised sign indicating the possible presence of crocs I was quite surprised.

Later I did rind the WA Department of Sustainability and Environment and had a chat to a staff member who professed knowledge of the area and of that particular croc. He basically said that the croc comes and goes and DSE is aware. I can't imagine the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service being that relaxed - they do have a nanny state mentality ! NPWS would no doubt close the entire area ! They are quite risk averse!

At first glance this part of the billabong may seem to be an ideal area to unload your canoe or kayak and go for a leisurely paddle through the birdlife    

Looking a little more closely, and on second thoughts, probably not an especially good idea! And NO, I'm not obsessed with crocodiles!.

Wyndham seems to be coming back. When we last visited in 2011 the place was looking fairly run down. This year there is a new public wharf with very tidy surrounds. Some of the more ramshackle buildings have either fallen down or been removed and the town has a new feel of positivity.

The commercial port area has a wharf that caters for fairly large ships, including the fancy tourist ships that visit the Buccaneer Archipelago / horizontal falls etc.

There is also a fuel depot accepting fuel shipped in for subsequent distribution up and down the coast via a triple road train

Another part of the main commercial port area remains involved with the export of high grade iron ore, but in a minor way. The ore is transported by 4 trailer side-dump  road trains from a mine more than 100 Km away. I understand that there are more than 20 of these trucks running day and night.

Carrying iron ore, at least a 200 Km round trip.

The ore is dumped at a depot before being loaded on to a conveyor that loads in on to a barge. The barge then delivers it to a ship moored nearby and the ship then takes it on board by bucket loader. It must be very high grade ore to go to that much trouble and expense.

The Wyndham iron ore loading facility from the Five Rivers Lookout

The Bastion / Fiver Rivers Lookout is a great place to get a real perspective of the area. The local Lions Club has done a great deal of work as has the local government council.
From The Bastion you can see where five rivers flow into Cambridge Gulf.  The Rivers are The King, The Pentecost, The Durack, The Forest and The Ord.

Some people are put off by the size of the mud flats, but that's just the way it is in this part of the world.

From The Bastion / Five Rivers Lookout looking left towards the mouths of the King,  Pentecost and Durack Rivers (through the narrows called The Nek). Part of the port in the foreground.

Another view from The Bastion / Fiver Rivers Lookout looking down Cambridge Gulf toward the mouths of the Forest and The Ord

BACK TO MARGLU BILLABONG

A Royal Spoonbill, Pied Heron, Intermediate Egret and many Whistling Ducks

White Necked Heron and Whistling Ducks

Magpie Goose

Green Pygmy-goose

NEXT STOP HALLS CREEK THEN FITZROY CROSSING

Regards

TJ