gone fishing..

..at Anbangbang billabong, where a magnificent 2.5km walk wanders around what must surely be a quintessential top end billabong.

Another magnificent day in the top end and a special morning in the 'Nourlangie Region' with rock art galleries and the world's oldest 'kitchen' with wet season occupation dating back at least 20,000 years. Just mind boggling and wonderfully guided by a very passionate Balanda (white fella) Andrew who made the history and prehistory of this remarkable place come alive.

After the climbing and rock walls, a stroll around the billabong, ringed by paperbarks and grasses and dotted with white lilies.
A twitcher's paradise with magpie geese (in their millions at this time of year and excellent 'tucker'), a trio of pelicans, jacanas doing the water walking trick (hence their other name of Jesus birds!), kingfishers, whistling ducks and these elegant and solitary egrets fishing with a pointed beak.
Signs all along the way indicated that crocs have been spotted VERY close to the footpath so to be on the lookout..alrighty then...and having thought this far from the coast it would only be freshwater crocs (not so bitey), have since learned that 'salties' are just as happy in freshwater, so definitely look out!

Tomorrow we have an early start for Darwin. A and E are heading off to Brisbane for the next chapter of their ever adventurous life.
I will be in D for a few extra days and tomorrow off to spend a little time with turtles on a beach by full moonlight.
Won't be back 'til the wee small hours :)