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CLEANSKIN GORGE |
LEE CREEK |
WALLABY GORGE |
CAMPSITE 2 |
UPPER KACHANA CREEK |
LOWER KACHANA CREEK |
UPPER WEANER CREEK |
CENTRAL WEANER CREEK |
SPECIES LIST |
The first morning when our expedition began, I made some observations at a lush patch of trees, where I had seen: White-Gaped Honeyeater, and the beautiful singing Hooded Robin, Restless Flycatcher and the remarkably small, Weebill. when we had packed our lunch and some snacks and left on a Monday morning about half past seven and pointed to "Cleanskin gorge" to take the first sample of "Western Rainbow Fish". Straight after I had written my dairy I searched for some interesting animals and had observed:
"CLEANSKIN GORGE"After a short amount of time we got packed and headed to "Lee Creek" but along the way we came across a pool with a Kimberly Mongurnda in it. Over the next hill a large line of shrubbery appeared. We followed that until Lee Creek appeared. That was where our second sample took place, the creek was quite narrow, so we had troubles catching the fish. Once the fish were emptied in the liquid nitrogen can, so later in the Perth lab, the fish would keep the same colour as it used to. Later on, Ryan and I had a snorkel for a couple of minutes. Ryan had also taken water samples to study how the rainbow fish changed colour.
"LEE CREEK"After lunch our party headed to "Rock Wallaby gorge" this small waterhole had a beautiful monsoon rainforest behind it. It was abundant with Northern Fantail calling beautifully with out stoping. Ground water was also coming out of three separate holes witch made great drinking water. Once Andrew and Ryan pulled the net up there was a load of Kimberly Mongurnda flipping out.
"WALLABY GORGE"We headed through the rainforest up a dried waterfall to the highlights of Kachana station area, the upper Cleanskin Creek. The walk up the hill was really tiering. But the habitats were absolutely magic. Lots of monsoon pockets ranged in shape and size through the fall. Over the top of the hill, a huge Spinifex grassland filled with calling Honeyeaters and Birds-of-Prey. After a hot walk in the sun a spectacular scene of the massive sandstone cliffs with water rampaging down to the clear rock pools at the bottom. As quick as I could I used all my time snorkelling in the pools, but to my surprise not one fish was seen, not even a rainbow fish… the only amazement was the Freshwater Crocodile witch had last been seen in Cleanskin gorge two years ago. And to my surprise I could just see a tail off what could have been from a Lace Monitor. It was big disappointment to leave with no fish. Then the walking became VERY difficult, especially a cliff that we had to go down with all the accessories supplied. A load of more tricky passes occurred. When we finally reached the bottom Lee showed us to a tiny hot spring just behind the Cleanskin waterhole were we took the first samples from.
The next morning had come. This was when we had to go to "Bob's camp" this miniature camp was placed next to a beautiful billabong with boab and melaleuca trees surrounding it. The long walk took us a while, although it was worth it. The billabong supplied an abundant amount of fish. It was also packed with wildlife and plants. I was strait into exploring a vine scrub on top of this hill for any bizarre species that occurred in the area, while I was in there I heard a rattle in the leaf litter, I looked everywhere, until I caught sight of a snake sliding through a hole in the rock but I never knew what species it was. Soon after I sat by the billabongs edge and wrote down any animal I saw.
"CAMPSITE 2"Day three came to show, upper and lower Catina Creek were our stops. I was a big problem with prickles… I was slowing the team down a lot… until we reached the gorge, while Lee, Andrew and Ryan went higher up I stay back pulling prickles out and observing stuff.
"UPPER KACHANA CREEK"One hour past, and they got back from the higher creek to net the fish where I was. I also learnt that they dry the fish because if they put the fish in wet, it would come out as an ice block. Another stop appeared to be further down stream "lower Catina Creek". This upside down Y linked two creeks to one. The round up for rainbow fish here was no worries, because it was a small indent in between the two creeks.
"LOWER KACHANA CREEK"On the road back Lee showed us to a tree with indents in it, she told us that Aborigines had done this so that they could get some boab nuts to carve into. Home finally had arrived and dinner was a special thing in our minds.
A dreadful thing had come; the portable liquid nitrogen cylinder was over loading in fish, so Andrew and Lee had to go all the way back to the car to put the load in the large cylinder before we could load any more fish in the smaller container. As they left Ryan had thought of going up stream to check out some wildlife at the top. So we took a rough route, on top of a hill. It was hard to find a safe spot to land. All tracks were very steep. Once the bottom was under our feet, massive melaleuca trees were towering over us. You could also hear the Grey Butcherbird crying short distinctive call that could be heard echoing off the rock walls. Tall scrubs grew all around the waters edge swaying to the wind. At the furthest we could go, a large rock stood in the middle of a rockhole viewing all the fish indicated.
"UPPER WEANER CREEK"Once Ryan had enough we set off to camp this time and took the route along the creek instead of the hill. While slashing through the scrub, Ryan had caught sight of the Golden-Headed Crisocola popping in-and-out of the scrub cheeping at the same time. Camp arrived and nobody was there, so for our own time we spent it mostly on snorkelling. The others arrived two hours later. Than soon after their come back we thought of going to "Central Weaner Creek" to look for some fish there. Ryan and me took up the same track. The creek we stoped at was a nice clear pool with a declining amount of rainbow fish.
"CENTRAL WEANER CREEK"While I was snorkelling, a school of up to fifty Hytls Tidan sped to a cave under the wall of rocks, after they were caught by surprise (when Ryan came up for a closer look) and sooty grunters were also packed up and fighting at any edible food source insight. Andrew put the net in his bag to get ready to go up to another creek not far from lower Catina Creek. This hole had a large pack of crunching Sooty Gunters that tear at anything that looks like toes.
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FISHAs the net dried, a beautiful mixed-up chorus of the Brown Honeyeater prepared the sunset upon the horizon. Dinner was a delightful
two-minute noodles and peas.
The next day was time to leave back to Lee's camp, then the next day to Kachana station. The car had appeared at the airstrip it was already about four thirty in the afternoon. The car back was a real repayment for all that walking. Day five held the big walk of all, to Kachana. Loaded with habitats of many kinds; it was quite exciting to think of. Once the 4WD was loaded, Lee dropped Ryan and me off at a creek beside the track. We had to follow this until we reached a road. After about five kilometres we then stop at a sandy creek, and waited there so Lee and Andrew could catch up. Along the road we were caught by surprise by a flock of Brown Quails squeaking while the flutter. Later a snake of trees had appeared on the road as we went trough so we stop there. I decided I'd look under some leaves for fish eventually I became lucky. A Kimberly Mongurnda came fleeing out. Also some sort of fresh water shrimp came out of one leaf as well.
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FISHFinally they had come. And finally we could go off again. When the creek had passed it stared to get very hilly in terrain. Also nearby one creek Lee discovered a hole of the Bird-Eating Spider, the hole was rounded up with its web along the walls. This was quite spectacular. Along after that lots of creeks and gorges had passed. Eventually we stopped at a last paperbark swamp. It was the closest to Kachana. Two big hills were the last. The next was the station. Bobby and Rebecca welcomed us for lunch. Spaghetti bolognaise was on the menu. That night I slept like a stone… until… COCKADOODOODLEDOO!
The rooster woke up… on the day before bobby asked if I wanted to go fishing at five sharp, so I said yes. I was ready to go due to the rooster. I went with Bobby to wake up Ryan and Andrew. They had planed to go to a waterhole one hundred meters to walk. The water was rather freezing for a swim. We had to use buckets to take live fish to the big cylinder because the little can wasn't generating enough liquid nitrogen. So Andrew took the buckets to the large cylinder while the rest of us went further down stream. We came across a hole so we decided to take samples with the remaining buckets. With the remaining time Bobby and I tried to catch some grunters but we didn't accomplish the task. Bobby showed us a short cut to the house. Everyone was having breakfast already. I took all the energy I needed for the last trip I was going to do. Down the same way we went in the morning, to a direction where a small stream is upwards. The hole was tiny! But there were no problems for fish. Straight after the net was dry, we took off. While walking, we passed what Bobby says once had a three legged croc in it. And soon after that the next stop appeared. This time Bobby and I netted the fish. And then after the net, the buckets were full so a deal was made: Andrew and Ryan go and empty the buckets as Bobby and I meet them at another hole further up. Once the other two disappeared, we went in search of a hole with a load of grunters. But we ended up at the hole so we would meet the others. So we fished for fun until they came. After spending a lot of time trying to catch a big fish we got a call. COOOWEEEEE! So we met them at a hole under the shadow of a big rock. This was another decline of fish… but it was accomplished at the end. Next stop the station.
SPECIES LISTAll the Birds
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All the Fish
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All the Reptiles
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All the Invertebrates
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