De Grey River

Wednesday 5th
We awoke to no rain so we confidently started to pack up. Our 8 man/women team are now working like a well oiled machine when it comes to packing and unpacking. They don't have specific jobs, except for dishes duty, but they know what needs to be done.
As we headed out of the caravan park Tim noticed the indicator lights weren't working so we pulled over next to the high school oval. The kids started squawking about a heap of birds all lined up on the soccer goals. It was hawks/ kites, quite big , maybe 10 all lined up on these goals. It was not something I've seen very much. Normally they are on their own.

This is my attempt at capturing this. I knew as I stealthily crept closer they would see me as through binoculars, zoomed up close with their amazing eyes. So they flew off but you can see a couple in flight near the bar.
Tim was at the car trying to work this light thing out when he felt God say to him to put in a bigger fuse. Even though this could blow the light this was an quick solution and he trusted that it would be fine. After purchasing a few things from the shopping centre there we headed back out along the edge of the Great Sandy Desert. There was water lying everywhere. It wasn't on the road but in places it had been over the road. A lot of water out in various flood plains. This is the reason why they built South Hedland 20km from Port Hedland, it was the closest place that wouldn't flood, and we saw this as we left.
We reached our camping ground, De Grey River and there was about 50 caravans there at lunch time. There were very nice big trees, water flowing in the river and a lot of choice of camping spots. The kids quickly went to exploring and climbing trees.

As we were setting up this Black Kite ( I'm not a bird expert, I looked it up in my book!) kept swooping near our caravan either at the bird in our window or for something to eat on the ground. He came really close. I had Tim yelling at me from one side of the caravan and the kids from the other.

He landed in a tree that I was able to get fairly close and he just frowned at me and watched as I came closer.

Then Tim and I realised that his friend was on the ground 10m away from us. Amazing to have them so quiet and so close as the best you normally get is high in the sky.
After this excitement I looked up on the ridge and wacked Tim as about 20m away was a thin Brahman bull! He also wasn't worried about all the caravans. Everyone came flying out of the caravan to take a look at this big guy, but we kept our distance. A little while later we heard a noise, no really bellowing , more like groaning and Tim ventured up to see what it was. He came across a much better looking Brahman bull who was looking in the older ones direction. The older one eventually came over and they locked heads and had a very small tussle then the thin, older one quickly pulled out.  I didn't get a photo of these but we watched them for a long time.

We went for a walk along the river.

The kids built a cubby house and used the paper bark as a floor. They spent most of their time there doing this. There was evidence that I guess in the wet season the water there is nearly to the top of these trees.

This dark log just sitting up there along with debre from a quick flowing river.
Another bird we heard a lot, was very loud, but didn't see much was either a Blue - Winged Kookaburra or Red Backed Kingfisher. Loud like a Kookaburra. It was a very interesting place to stay but we didn't really want to come face to face with either bull in the night, or their heard.