NB Aqualife: Wednesday 26 August 2020 Wallagoot Lake

Wallagoot is one of the very few lakes along the far south coast not to have broken open during the recent rain events and with a good weather forecast it was looking good for a paddle this week.

Accordingly, with plans made and laid, we met up at the Wallagoot Boat ramp at 9.00am. With frost in the paddocks when we left home it was a chilly start

and there was a quick scramble to get out on the water and into the sun.

All on the water by 9.30am we first headed up the lake

and around into the estuarine/salt marsh section.

Where there was a variety of bird life to be enjoyed, although none seemed to keen to have their photo taken. Here we have a couple of Pied Oyster Catchers

Next to stay still long enough to be photographed were....

a pair of Bar Tailed Godwits (?)

We poddled our way up the left hand arm

Passing yet more birdlife

a Red Capped Plover - perhaps

Another 100 metres or so further on from this pic we ran out of water

A Greater Egret barely deigned to notice our presence

Our view as we returned down the arm

Finding no lead into the other channel deep enough to negotiate we paddled down to the biggest island. After rounding it we paddled up to the closed mouth.

We lingered for an hour enjoying the view and the warmth of the sun, sheltered from the breeze as we munched our morning tea. Returning to our boats

we paddled back down the channel.

At the end of which was this little bird,

possibly at female White Faced Chat (?)

Proceeding around the edge of the main lake we surprised a Whistling Kite (?)

Ripples in the sand

Paddling along a sunny, sandy sheltered beach it was decided such a perfect lunch spot was too good to pass by so we pulled in for lunch at 12.15. Taking to the water again at 1.05pm we discovered the breeze had increased.

And L excitedly deployed his sail

M took pics

As did R

Unfortunately the breeze refused to co-operate and soon swung round to blow across the lake so the sail was furled and we all paddled on.

Turning into the creek

meant the wind was at our backs and out came the sail again.

Unfortunately not for long as there was a hot tape across the creek and no-one felt up to trying to limbo under it. However there was an arm off to the left which looked inviting.