Get lost with Russ and Margy: At Hann's Crossing

It took us a while to find site 2 at Hann’s but we were very pleased – it was large and right on the river with a good boat launch slope into the river. Russ went downstream to where the river ended but didn’t get any bites, although he did see a big croc. The afternoon was windy and we kept getting big gusts of dust around the van. We both went fishing late afternoon and trolled upstream to the waterfall and downstream nearly to suicide waterhole, and sadly we didn’t get any bites but did see a croc stealthily moving in the water and then quietly going underwater. We had a careful dip above the waterfall and it was immensely cooling. The surrounding water was shallow and we could see the bottom. After no bites, Russ decided to put the boat away.

Next morning (12^th July) we packed up to drive to various other waterholes and lagoons and sites on the NP map. Before we got going, we stopped at the toilet and I did a quick bit of birdwatching. Russ then joined me with the big camera and we ended up walking upstream above the waterfall for about 2-3km and seeing loads of birds

Striated heron

Egrets – large, intermediate

Ibis – straw necked and Australian white

Kingfishers – little and sacred

Honeyeaters – yellow, graceful

Little friarbird

Finches – double barred, masked, black throated

Black fronted dotterel

Kites – whistling, brahminy

Wedgetailed eagle – russ got up close and thought he was a young one with not quite fully developed feathers

Archer fish

Sand goanna

Radjah shelduck

Royal spoonbill

White necked stork

Mistletoe bird

Frogmouth – not sure whether it was marbled or Papuan – but not a tawny

Bee eaters

We decided that we’d had a great morning of birding and that as we were doubtful about seeing much in other sites, based on driving through the NP already, we returned to the van for some morning tea. After a few big dusty gusts, we decided to move on.

Our camp site at Hann's Crossing