Meet at Wajurda Point Carpark at 10am
We’ll explore the forest trails, Nelson beach and shores of Nelson Creek/Estuary.
We will kick off with a brief session on photography: how to get close to the subject; what to photograph; how to get the most from your camera. There will be plenty of time to practise this as we explore the various environments at Nelson Beach.
During our explorations, we encourage you to look for whatever animals, birds or plants interest you. Alert others to what you see, discuss the observations you make, and photograph your sightings (if possible).
You’ll be free to wander independently or in groups. Some people may be most interested in the bush, while others choose to explore the beach or estuary. Some people will choose to wander constantly, others will sit quietly, watch and wait. The choice is yours. We’ll regroup for a lunch break, and a chance to compare notes.
what to bring
your camera*, and perhaps a small notebook to record additional information about your sightings (memory alone can be a bit unreliable)
your lunch and drinks, including a water bottle you can carry with you (there is no drinking water available within the Park)
a folding chair or something else to sit on. There is no seating in the Park, and having a chair off the ground will make the lunch break more comfortable. Chairs and other lunch gear can be left with your car until needed … you won’t need to lug it around.
binoculars can be handy (and not just for birds)
a friend. If you know someone who is interested in coming along, but who hasn’t officially ‘joined’ Atlas Naturalists, that’s just fine! There will be a sign-on sheet available, and so long as they attend the preliminary briefing at 10am, they are most welcome.
anything else you like (except your dog … this is a national park)
Note: there are toilets at both carparks
what to wear
long trousers and comfortable, solid shoes are advisable. Although the tracks are quite level and open, the area is natural bushland and forest - with all the wildlife and scratchy things that go with that.
‘wet’ shoes if you are interested in wading around in the lagoon.
hat and sunscreen too, of course.
finish time
We’ll end the day at 3pm. However, if you need to leave earlier that’s fine – simply let us know.
Location of Wajurda Point and Nelson Beach
* cameras are optional, but we expect that most people will be recording their sightings for later identification and uploading to the database. We imagine that there will be a wide variety of cameras in use, from mobile phones, through small fixed lens cameras, to larger SLRs with interchangeable lenses. All are welcome!
** if you wish to swim, that’s fine, but you do so at your own risk (our insurance won’t cover you). Please take care. This is a remote beach and waterway.