Kakadu - Whohoo! - Day 2

Our second outing on day 2 From Cooinda Lodge Caravan Park was on the Sunrise cruise on Yellow Waters. This was a breathtaking experience commencing at 6.00am. Breakfast was to follow in the lodge on our return. The sunrise was exquisite and the bird and wildlife just followed on in a magnificent way.

What a glorious sunrise.

Still surprising us with reflections and sunrise.

The boat ahead is the fishing boat, more about
 that tomorrow. 

Yellow Waters are part of the South Alligator River. This has its origins in the Van Dieman Gulf, Timor Sea, between Australia and Indonesia and Papua New Guinea, sheltered by the Tiwi Islands. An English bloke who had been to America explored the NT and named the series of Alligator rivers not realising he was seeing Australian Crocodiles. No one ever corrected his naming so it remains. The waters are home to the Waradjan Aboriginal people who now manage that area. 

It was not long before we spotted the first Croc!

Crocs are renowned to be where the Barramundi are.

They just glide effortlessly through the water.

From here on in it was wild life. Surprisingly, some of the first was wild brumbies out in the wetlands!! What a great feed they would make with one incorrect step. A little later on our trip we read of an explorer's horse stepping on a crocodile. It was reported that both the croc and horse got such a shock they both retreated in haste with nothing lost!

Wild brumbies grazing in the wet lands

The yellow Waters Fishing trip underway as the
sunrise cruise occurs.

Whistling ducks take flight

 We were very lucky to have an Aboriginal guide who not only knew his birds and crocs but also told many stories about the value of the wetlands to the aboriginal people and their culture. The whistling ducks were one of their favorite birds to hunt. Their culture and tribal laws only allowed them to take what they needed for food and not to waste any wild life.
They knew they could catch the Barramundi where the crocs lived. They could also get many other fish species in amongst the Pandanas trees and their roots.

Whistling ducks watch tourist pass by.

Pandanas trees thrive in the wetlands but also
 provide a good source hides for fish.

A Brolga foraging on the wet grass lands

Brolga

A Little Egret

Another big crocodile on the move

A Pied Heron

An Intermediate Egret

A Darter drying off

The Little King Fisher

A Comb Crested Jacana

Also known as the "Jesus" bird for its ability to
appear to walk on water.

Another croc sunbaking this time.

The Jabiru

The Jabiru in reflection

Great Water Lillies

A Sea Eagle keeping watch

Another Comb Crested Jacana

What a great morning out on the water in the safety of a big Tinnie! And with such an informative tour guide. Now for breakfast back at the Cooinda lodge.