Fri, 24th Feb, 2017 St Marys Campground, Fitzgerald River National Park, WA (David’s birthday & exploring Point Ann)

6.30am, 23.3degrees – now that’s a lot nicer and the sky is clear. David’s birthday today so will ring him tonight in case he is at work – poor thing!!

Got going early to catch some fish up at Point Charles. The other chaps suggested we go there though it is a lot windier today. We saw tracks and assumed we were following them. It was another chap and we caught up with him when we dropped back onto the beach after going up and over the rocky headland. He wasn’t getting any fish there so he followed us up to Point Charles.

The Mamang Walk either goes through the scrub further inland or you can walk the beach then climb up the sandy track to go over Point Charles to Fitzgerald Inlet (Gnangmeip).

The wind has whipped up the waves but we gave it a go and caught a large herring each then Steve had a big Aust Salmon on and go him to the edge of the waves when the hook broke and he got away – had a good fight with him at least through the waves.

Had a cuppa then headed back to camp. All the hooded plovers have moved in.

Ate our fish with a fillet from yesterday for lunch then headed over to the lookouts on Point Ann. NP&WS have spent a lot of money here for the whale watching. The wind has a chilly bite to it too. Good view but no whales!!

This area is known for its plant so I found some with pretty flowers.

This one is interesting – looks a pine.

Good map on the info boards in the car park.

Very nice picnic area, complete with gas bbq.

Some history with great maps on the bottom in the next seating area.

Then another picnic area with more seating and there are toilets down here and up in the car park. They must get a lot of people here for whale watching.

Onto the Point Ann Heritage Trail up the hillside. Windy look over Point Ann Beach – lots of sea grass here.

Further around to another lookout.

Easy walking.

I saw something in the water below which turned out to be a seal. Just as good as seeing a whale. He was busy fishing so was diving a lot but I managed some snaps. Missed him leaping over a wave though. He continued on around the point.

So did we – Point Ann, named after the daughter of Captain Thomas, a whaler and south coast identity. Very rocky this side. This side is called Cheadanup Cliffs.

A plaque showing the names of the mountains on the other side of the bay.

Along a bit further I spotted my seal again. Got a good photo this time.

Certainly rugged coastline – wouldn’t want to fall in. Looking back to Trigelow Beach.

Continued along the track looking for the No 2 rabbit-proof fence which started at Point Ann.

Spotted a bird that hopped like a bower bird. It kept moving just in front of us then put on the broken wing act obviously trying to lure us away from it’s nest.

Found the remains of the fence. Looking back to Point Ann.

Then we found the fence and posts and lots of information. Obviously the rabbits have won as we saw a couple the other day.

Back to the car park. Steve noticed the toilet door was open so went to close it so the birds won’t nest in there and noticed there is a cat in there to keep the birds out!!

There is also an owl on the roof.

Cleaned out thongs in the boot scrubber as National Parks are trying to stop the spread of diseases. Onto the Mamang Track to another lookout.

Headed back down the beach I spotted a black snake about a metre long disappear into the bush – luckily he is more scared of us as I think that would have been a nasty Tiger snake.

As we walked back along the beach we noticed that some of the hooded plovers were bigger and had different colours. Maybe this is the nursery with a few parents to look after them.

Rang David to wish him a great birthday – he was watering his plants. They are in need of rain in Maryborough.

Worked on my blog for a bit while Steve started on a book I picked up for him with lots of short murder stories. He then went for a walk and chatted with the two chaps again who are leaving in the morning. They went fishing at Trigelow Beach and got a few!! They gave Steve a bag of pilchards they had left over (they call them muleys down here).

Still very windy and quite chilly as the sun set.