For the first time in many visits to Cape Arid National Park the Pasley Track and Telegraph Track were open, allowing us to take a different route to Point Malcolm. A route that took us south from the messy Fisheries Track over an undulating kwongkan plain which occasionally featured groves of small moodjar trees (Nyutsia floribunda), through an intriguing set of salt lakes and finally to some ancient thrombolite structures next to a salt lake.
Point Malcolm itself is an intriguing rocky promontory with all kinds of formations. There’s some complex geology there which I am attempting to understand.
We camped behind a dune, away from the coast, in a grove of Rottnest island teatree (Melaleuca lanceolata) which was home to a pair of chitty-chittys building a fine nest. The chittys mostly tolerated us, but made their displeasure known when we got too close. So we waited until they were out to get a little closer and take a quick peak at the nest, perfectly constructed with spider web and plant material.
Our set up wasn’t entirely ideal for the weather we accounted – a front came through and was followed by interminable strong winds. It seems that we always encounter interesting weather when we head out that way, but it made for beautiful skies.
But as always it is the plant world that has my complete attention and it is always compelling, no matter the season.
Banksia speciosa with Mt Ragged in the background
Banksia speciosa with Moodjar (Nyutsia floribunda) in the background
