Tuesday 23 July 2024 Wapengo / Bithry Inlet

 Today's plan had to undergo a quick rethink when we met up with R at the Murrah Bridge to find a long haul of the boats would be required to reach paddlable water. With little down river flow the 1.4m high tide (at the entrance) was making little impression up at the bridge.

After a quick review of our choices we jumped back in the cars and headed further south to the Wapengo Oyster sheds.

Upon our arrival we discovered the sheds to be a hive of activity. We parked in the last spots available in the car park and unloaded the boats amidst oyster harvesting in full swing.

They were a cheerful group and seemed happy to work around us as we loaded our boats and launched 

onto the placid waters of the lake at 9.20am. 

Paddling slowly against the still incoming tide we made our way down to Bithry Inlet. Paddling over school after school of fish we often found ourselves drifting back upstream as we stopped to watch the schools swim by.

L, at least managed to look up long enough to spot a Sea Eagle perched high in a tree.

Eventually we neared the mouth and for a change paddled across to the southern side of the inlet in order to take advantage of a calm backwater and to make the most of the sun.

Having landed at 10.30 R suggested it was too early for lunch so we should restrict ourselves to   morning tea and stop on the way back for lunch. And what a am tea it was - our individual Honor Bread favourites. Thank you R.

Morning tea turned into a rather lengthy affair as L took the opportunity to fly the drone for longer than usual as R and I chattered away and basked in the sun.  At 11.25am we took to the water to begin our return journey.

Having made our way back across the inlet we poddled upstream fish gazing as we went.  Lunch time arrived sooner than expected when, at 11.50am, this sandy beach and handy log was too good to pass up.  L got a little damp when exiting his boat and as you will see in the video, played the sympathy card, thinking he was in with a chance for a cushion. 

Our neighbours for lunch were an adult and two sub adult White Bellied Sea Eagles perched in a tree on the water's edge to our right. As we nattered amongst ourselves, they too intermittently had they own conversation - a mixture of chortles and quiet caws.  I didn't bother trying for a pic as it would have been into the sun.

At 12.45 we resumed our paddle and more fish gazing as we paddled slowly against the outgoing tide.

Returning to the boat ramp about 1.20pm, our exceedingly enjoyable and relaxing 6km paddle sadly over, we found the activity winding down and people starting to leave. In their place were piles of large bags of oysters awaiting pick up.

Here is the video

Trip Notes:

High tide at entrance: 9.52am 1.4ms

Trail Camera: 22 May to 4 July 2024

 There have been a few highlights not caught on camera during this period: For 5 nights when the 'Bogong' type moths were at their peak, a Southern Boobook came to feast. From its perch on a verandah post or the top of the BBQ it would swoop down,  pluck moths fluttering on the window and return to its perch to eat. It would do this 4 or 5 times then seem to have a snooze for 10 to 20mins and then start over again. Fascinating stuff. It didn't seem to be bothered by my presence on the other side of the glass.

Then, early one morning and not quite awake I heard slow footsteps along the verandah in front of the bedroom. "That's a heavy footed Wonga Pigeon" I sleepily thought. A minute later came an ear-piercing crescendo of birdsong. Louder than any alarm clock it brought us instantly upright. There was a male lyre-bird, singing its head off, under the open window, less than 3 metres away. When he finished his song he casually saunted, with the same slow footsteps, to the end of the verandah and walked back down the stairs and disappeared into the garden.

And lastly a pair of Bassian Thrushes (aka Australian Ground Thrush or White's Thrush) have taken up residence in the garden. We haven't seen any in the garden for a number of years. It is lovely to have them back.

Ok here is some pics and footage from the trail camera:

First off. Can anyone identify this bird from the grainy pic? I've hmm'd, maybeed and possiblyeed through numerous bird books before giving up.

White Eared Honeyeater

A young kanga

takes the jump!

Next up, some vid of a group of Brown Headed Honeyeaters, a Willy Wagtail and joining at the end, a White Throated Tree Creeper

Male King Parrot

Golden Whistler

The f.....ing rat - Again

Oh No - there's two of the little f....ers

To make up for it, there's still two Bandicoots :)  (and no fox caught on camera for several weeks).

Crimson Rosellas

First glimpse this year of a baby Eastern Grey Kangaroo

A small gang of immature Crimson Rosellas

Hooray - a Swamp Wallaby eating Farmer's Friend (aka Cobbler's Peg). This weed appeared after the 2019/2020 Bushfire and very quickly became unstoppable. It is exciting to see an animal giving it a try.

Eastern Spinebill - always about the garden but rarely seen at the pond.

First glimpse this year of a Swamp Wallaby baby

  Lastly, a male Superb Lyrebird. As they are territorial its probably the same one that saunted along the verandah.

Friday 12 July 2024 Cuttagee

Jamming a paddle in between the chill of the morning and the forecast wind rise in the early afternoon we met down at the lake at 10 to 10 to find the water level had risen another few inches.  L didn't join us as the insurance contractor was scheduled to arrive to rectify some of the shoddy repair work on the shed.

Far from being overcast as was forecast it was gloriously sunny and having decided upon an edge paddle we set off about 10.10

There was lots of bird life today. A pair of large birds of prey, smaller than Sea Eagles, circled low overhead. Indeed one of them accompanied us on most of the trip. We saw Pelicans, and sadly a dead one, Swans, Herons, ducks, Grebe, Cormorants and far off, the resident Sea Eagles. 

I think it was the middle of March that R was last able to join us so there was a lot of catching up to do as we paddled along.

As we stopped for lunch at 12.00 the cold breeze that had sprung up vanished and we basked in the sun as we prattled on and partook of lunch. And hour later, just as we took to the water the cold breeze swept back in and now head on. V had called for lunch at just the right time and had picked the perfect spot.

Hugging the shoreline we were mainly sheltered from the breeze and enjoyed the return paddle just as much as the outward journey and ended our outing at 1.40pm.

Only a short record of our outing - too much talking and bird watching

Lake closed

9.75kms