Day Twelve: Sunday, 16th May 2021

June 06, 2021

Rose early to stroll around Bell Gorge Wilderness Lodge site for photographs, and to enjoy the quiet morning.

King Leopold Ranges at sunrise

Imintji Gorge, King Leopold Ranges

Bell Gorge Wilderness Lodge, King Leopold Ranges

Creek near to the Lodge site

A pretty grass head catches the morning light

I think this is the flower of Grevillea byrnesii which is closely related to Wickham's Grevillea, but which doesn't appear to have a common name. The whole tree is in the photo below.

Nest of the Hunting Wasp

Golden Orb-weaving Spider (Nephila edulis)

The Australian golden orb weaver is found in Australia, in both tropical and temperate regions, and in parts of New Guinea and New Caledonia. It has a large body size variability, females can reach a body length of up to 40 millimetres, males about 7 mm. The web is about one metre in diameter and protected on one or both sides by a strong "barrier" web. It breeds from February to May, and produces an average of 380 eggs. This photo of the Australian Golden Orb-weaver shown below, is taken from underneath. The second part of its name means "edible", and it is eaten in New Guinea and New Calendonia.

Golden Orb-weaving Spider (Nephila edulis)

After breakfast at 7:45 am, we set off in the bus at 9:00 am for our eventual destination at Bell Gorge. Today, we had the company of an extra Guide, named Fayth.

Milawi Range, formerly King Leopold Range

Bell Creek

Milawi Range, formerly King Leopold Range

We stopped for a photo opportunity by the roadside enjoyed expansive views of the King Leopold Ranges, but also looked down to see a variety of wildflowers.

A pea that we had seen before,

a delicate blue beauty,

a red dirt termite mound,

a Sticky Currajong (Brachychiton viscidulus)

eucalypt or acacia,

a beautiful ant nest,

another unknown plant,

and an unidentified grass,

and a petite yellow wildflower,

an Elephant Ear Wattle (Acacia Dunii)

and, a large nest in a tree.

We moved on, but soon made another stop at a roadside lookout, and took advantage of our second Guide, Fayth, to produce the group photo below.

Mount Frank (I think?) in the background

From the left: Karen; Sue; Kaylene; Helen W; Leon; Pier; Joanne; Chris; Julie; Colleen; Greg; Ray (Guide); Brian O; Brian Mc; Noreen; Angela; Helen F; Anthony; Carol; Dave; Steph.

Gibb River Road and Mount Frank (?)

Joanne & Chris

After a short drive, we turned to the north, off the Gibb River Road, and made a morning tea break beside Bell Creek.

Delightful Willie Wagtail

Double-barred Finch (Taeniopygia bichenovii)

Tawny Coster Butterfly (Acraea violae)

Fruit of the Pandanus (Orange-red when ripe)

Bell Creek

Unidentified

Empty bird nest by Bell Creek

Insect nest - unidentified

We headed off again on this easily-paced morning, heading towards Bell Gorge, but stopped for lunch beside Dog Chain Creek. I would love to known the story behind the name!

Fruit of the Burdekin Plum (Pleiogynium timoriense)

Burdekin Plum (Pleiogynium timoriense)

The Burdekin Plum is also known as Sweet Plum, and, Tulip Plum, and is a medium-sized fruit-bearing tree that occurs in the southeast Asian islands, Australia, and the Pacific Islands. It grows in rainforest and monsoon forest at elevations from sea level to 1,000 metres, and is often found along water courses. The fruits are eaten by cassowaries and great bowerbirds.

For humans, the fruit is edible but tart, although the pale greenish varieties have been found to be more palatable. Indigenous Australians are known to have buried the fruit underground to ripen. Fruit can be cooked, eaten raw, or used in jellies, jams, and preserves.

Pretty reflections - unidentified tree

Lunch by Dog Chain Creek

Foreground: Fayth (Guide); Chris (standing); Helen F. Background from left: Greg; Colleen; Carol (obscured); Julie; Leon; Brian O (obscured, in dark blue); Helen W (obscured); Pier; Angela; Karen; Sue (obscured, in light blue); Joanne (obscured, in pink); Ray (Guide); Noreen & Brian Mc (hidden behind tree).

Another Scarlet Percher

Helen F; Anthony; Fayth - lunch at Dog Chain Creek - photo by Karen

For some reason I have no photos of Bell Gorge - did we get there?

Later, we called in to the Imintji Community, and were privileged to meet some of the artists at the Art Centre, and where we watched as one painting was in process.