After collecting R we headed off to Brou Lake, arriving about 9.30am
As we unloaded the boats and got ready to paddle we were serenaded by a Sea Eagle pair.
After launching I paddled a little way up the shoreline and spotted them high in a tree,
and wondered if they were a breeding pair and if so, had the eggs hatched yet. The Sydney Sea Eagles Live Cam had shown the second of their eggs hatching about 4.00am this morning - the first chick having made its way into the world about 25 hours earlier.
As I paddled back L was launching, perfect timing, and we headed up the lake toward Whittaker's Creek and turned into the narrow entrance to the first bay. Sidling quietly past a pelican we entered the bay for a paddle around.
Upon returning to the narrow entrance we discovered the pelican had departed and L decided to send the drone up for a look see at this intricate water way. While we waited R and I rafted up for a cosy chat out in the creek.
Once L was back on the water we headed back down the creek and round a pelican sandspit and
crossed to the north side of the lake, seeing, in the distance large flocks of swans and cormorants. We paddled into a bay, sheltered from the breeze and at 12.00pm pulled in for lunch with the sun warming our backs as we looked across the lake to the closed entrance.
L flew the drone again and discovered the crash landing at the end of the previous session had done some damage and affected its flight :( :( ( R&I, when rafted up, had heard a loud expletive float across that water but have learned when it involves the drone, its better not to ask!)
Having taken to the water again we continued along the northern shore heading east. Nearing the entrance to the north eastern lagoons we were followed by a drone for a bit and wondered where it had come from. Unfortunately the entrance to the N.E lagoons was, at this water level, too shallow to navigate so we gave them a miss and continued along the eastern shore line where we spotted this Eastern Curlew. Presumably a recent arrival from Siberia or Manchuria unless it was one of the few that overwinter in Northern Australia.
The Curlew in flight.
Next were what L identified as a small flock of Bar Tailed Godwits also recently arrived from Siberia.
Having paddled the length of the closed entrance we found a NP's bloke flying a drone. We stopped to enquire - one of his fellow officers informed us that they were checking the birdlife for signs of the HN bird flu. Their present task is to check, once a week, all the water ways from Wallaga Lake north to I can't remember where, pretty much I full time job I should think.
Another sigthing of a Sea Eagle toward the end of our paddle topped of another excellent outing.
Here is the Go Pro and Drone footage.
An Addendum to last weeks paddle.
The weird boat at Bermagui wasn't constructed by 'tank man'. It was designed and built by Samuel McLennan from Nubeena in southern Tasmania. His boat, Heart, is made from marine debris, mainly from salmon farms. A keen environmentalist, McLennan said "... there are big issues with the salmon farms, lots of plastic, pipes... the salmon farming industry was negligent when clearing up the cutoffs that resulted from maintenance. Fines are issued only for pieces longer than two metres."
The boat having been certified, McLennan embarked on his voyage in February 2024 and has been slowy making his way up Australia's east coast, stopping frequently and for long periods along the way.
There was yet another change of plans this morning; we seem to have been doing that a lot lately. We had planned to paddle Middle Lagoon with some rellie's from the USA however they rang and cancelled so after a quick check of the tides we decided to paddle the Bermagui River instead. Calls to our paddle pals proved fruitless - at such late notice they all had other engagements so it was just L and me.
As we carried our gear down to Slipway Beach we were met by a strange sight. After launching around 11.30am we went to investigate and the question that came to mind: "is the tank man back and has he gone upmarket?" Hopefully we will find out in due course.
Having mooched through the mangroves we headed up river and stopped to chat to a friendly young man on a paddle boad. He was from Bali and nearing the end of a two year work visa. Early on he worked in Bermi, at the Oyster Farm, Tilba Dairy and the Club after which he headed inland to work in different places at a variety of jobs. He loved Bermagui so much he has returned for a holiday before heading back to Bali.
We paddled up to the campground and stopped for morning tea and a bit of drone work. We then headed back. For part of the way we listened to the resident Sea Eagle pair serenade each other and we managed to spot them sitting side by side, high in a tree. Fingers crossed they survive the bird flu.
Being under strict instructions to get more footage of the poly boat I didn't take any footage on the way back.
Footage duly taken we landed about 2.30pm, not a moment to soon as by the time we got in the car, just before three, the sun had lost its warmth and we happy but cold.
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