Sunday 27 July 2014

South Alligator River

As we travelled east on the Arnhem Highway we were on the floodplains of several large north-flowing rivers, the Mary, the Wildman, West Alligator, South Alligator and East Alligator.

South Alligator River
The largest is the South Alligator and we stopped a while to admire it. Just up the road is a large wetland, part of the South Alligator complex, called Mamukala.

Last night on TV we happened to catch one of the Crocodile Dundee films on its umteenth rerun, and watched it with interest. It was the environment we were interested in, not the story, because we are in the middle of it right now. I was reminded of a line of conversation in the film when I saw Mamukala. You know when Dundee is in New York and when threatened with a knife says 'That's not a knife. This is a knife' and produces a large pirate-type cutlass. Well at Mamukala they have an amazing bird hide and viewing deck. It's huge. I've never seen one like it.

Part of the Mamukala viewing facility. It is a curved shape.
Part of the Mamukala observation deck.
Mamukala
Mamukala
The river, the footpath leading to the wetland as well as the wetland itself provided me with some photo opportunities.

Nesting Little Corellas
Meadow Argus butterfly. (I never even noticed the delicate little plant
 until I saw it on my computer screen.)
Swamp Tiger butterfly
Two for the price of one. A Lesser Wanderer (above) and a Swamp Tiger (below)
Whistling Kite

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