Gannets swooped and soared around Lawrence Rocks and skimmed the water off capes Nelson and Bridgewater. But they weren't at Point Danger. They had been in November but now the chicks had fledged and everyone was out at sea.
In the absence of anything to guard, the maremmas loafed in the sun. I loafed a bit too. It was that sort of day.
Point Danger and its gannet colony are part of a 500 ha reserve that surrounds Alcoa's aluminium smelter, the "smelter in the park". The land is owned and maintained by the company. The coastal heathland supports all the usual plant and animal suspects, including a good population of rare rufous bristlebirds. Not that I saw any. But I think you probably guessed that. Next time it's gannets and bristlebirds, for sure.
The view from the Great South West Way as it crosses the reserve.
Cape Nelson (top) and the smelter (bottom).
Cape Nelson (top) and the smelter (bottom).