NB Aqualife: Thursday 23 June 2022 Cuttagee

With the rest of the CKC otherwise occupied this week L&I decided to head out onto Cuttagee once more and see how far we could get up the creek.

We started late morning to bask in the warmth of the winter sun. I have just discovered my waterproof Olympus camera records the temperature - it read 18oC.

Soon after setting off we disturbed a small flock of swans.

Again we noticed the lack of fish. At the mouth of creek we met a local kayak fisherman who was having no luck. He mentioned that the commercial fisherman had been working the lake again. (I've explained in previous posts how he nets the lake.) This conversation brought to mind the resident Sea Eagle pair - this is around the time they lay their eggs. My question is - if the lake is stripped of fish how are the Sea Eagles going to feed their young? And it isn't only Cuttagee that is commercially fished; most of the lakes and estuaries along the Far South Coast are allowed to be commercially fished.

At the big shady corner of the creek we had a wonderful sighting of a Wedge Tailed Eagle flying low across the creek just in front us. Can you spot it, flying from the right?

And it did a repeat performance a little way further on. Wondrous to watch.

Shortly thereafter the Azure Kingfisher sightings came thick and fast. Flashes of bronze and blue going this way and that. The only one that still long enough for me to take a pic.

Just after the above pic was taken we ran out of water and couldn't quite reach our usual luncheon site a little further upstream. According to my trusty little camera it was 20.7oC in the dappled sunshine - balmy.

Having discovered the drone was having 'one of those days' and not recording video, we mounted the GoPro onto L's boat for a different perspective on the way home.

We floated in the sun, enjoying the reflections; still and

moving - reflections that is.

Heading up the, now, narrow, very shallow lead into the Backwater.

Nearly missed the entrance

Reflections in the Backwater

About to rejoin the creek.

We paddled slowly toward home enjoying the afternoon sunshine and the plentiful birdlife; only stopping momentarily when we reached the branch sticking out of the water.

L asked me to use the Olympus to get the co-ordinates of this protuberance. You see, there is a story to tell.......

Back when L did his Tammie Norrie camp-out (He Done Gone and Left Me blog) the lake was closed and the water level much higher this branch was no longer protruding and the beloved Tammie Norrie ran headlong into it and became airbogged, or whatever the nautical term is - thankfully without much damage to the boat, however it did take L sometime and much effort to free himself.