OMA WATERHOLE

30^th August, 2013

For the past two weeks we have been camping at Oma Waterhole on the Barcoo River a hundred kilometres south of Ilfracombe. 

Our campsite at Oma Waterhole

It’s a wonderful place to recharge one’s batteries and just get away from it all.  There are other campers here but it’s a long waterhole and our nearest neighbour is over a hundred metres away.  We spend our days relaxing, reading and doing ‘bugger all’.   Wok has been fishing

Wok taking it easy

and is often joined by a stork.

Wok at the waterhole - stork in the background near the shore

 He occasionally catches a yellow belly for dinner.

Yep - that yellowbelly is headed for the frypan

There are quite a few pelicans at the waterhole and whenever Wok catches a fish they fly in to see what is on offer.

Pelicans coming in for a landing

The pelicans are quick to seize any small fish that is undersized and not quick enough to swim away when it is released.

The pelican on the left is making a quick getaway with the fish

They also squabble over fish scraps that Wok discards after filleting his catch.

A minor disagreement about the pecking order at the pelican buffet

There are lots of other birds at the waterhole – cormorants, water hens, emus, apostle birds, crows, a myriad of small birds and kites.  There is a large kite’s nest in the top of a tree on the far bank but so far we have not seen any fledglings.  One of the more unusual birds is the bustard.

The regal bustard

This rather stately bird just wanders by seemingly oblivious to the rest of the world.  It never seems to be in a hurry and always appears to be calm and dignified.

Cattle and goats come for a drink at the waterhole along with kangaroos.  A mother kangaroo and her joey don’t seem too worried by our presence and visit with us each day.

Mother kangaroo and joey

Mother kangaroo and joey join Wok on the shore

The joey is really cute.

Just love the joey's floppy ear

It's hot work trying to keep up with mum

Our friendly stork will probably be sad to see Wok go as it has been getting a few handouts of prawns.

We have no idea if this is a stork but he/she sure has pretty markings

From here it is only a couple of days travelling and we will be back on the Sunshine Coast - time to touch base with doctors etc. before we head off again.  We really have enjoyed our two weeks at Oma Waterhole.  This is the second time we have stayed at the waterhole and it probably won’t be our last.  Who would have thought we would place a muddy waterhole at the top of our ‘places we would like to return to’ list …. !