Ilparpa

About ten minutes from home, a few kilometers outside of town, the Ilparpa Swamp Wildlife Protected Area holds water longer than most parts around here due to the hard claypan soil. I've been going out there early mornings this last week.

Thanks to the persistently HOT weather we're having and the somewhat higher humidity,

my sunscreen was sticky,

my hat was sweaty,

my glasses fogged up,

the mozzies (mosquitoes) were biting,

pesky flies were persistent,

my skin was burning,

my shirt was wet with sweat,

the camera gear was hot and heavy

and I had the best time!!!


 

I've spent enough time out there to see the water as glass...

and rippled in the wind...

The rainfall has been a boon for the Buffel Grass, a non-native species intentionally introduced from Europe and now despised...

 
I call this one "Walking on the Edge." 
 

Can anyone tell me what type of animal made these tracks?

My opportunity to make these images is short-lived; the color changes in the sand show just two days' worth of evaporation.

As you can see, I was not the first to enjoy the 4WD fun here!

This is why I've been getting up at 5am.

In case I haven't mentioned it before, I love it here, in spite of the flies, mozzies and locusts.