Friday 17 May 2024 Wallagoot Lake

 Sadly D'd, for whom this paddle had been planned, had to cry off at the last minute. As the boats were already loaded and the morning being so fine L and I decided we would still head out for a jaunt upon the water.

Driving out we discussed changing destination and decided to stick with the original plan.  We were so happy we did; upon reaching Wallagoot we discovered the lake to be the fullest we have ever seen it. At last we would be able to explore in full the lagoons at the mouth of the lake.

Whilst unloading the boats our eyes were continually drawn to the pretty sight of this little wooden sailing dingy

Setting off from beside the submerged boat ramp at 10.45am we

headed down the lake to

an opening on the spit with plenty of water for the kayaks.

The lagoons ahead were packed with swans,

in every direction.

Heading left 

we soon caused more swans to take flight.

The lagoon was teeming with fingerlings - from schools of teeny 1cm ones to schools 10cm fish interspersed with small groups of larger fish. We hugged the northern shoreline and

poked about among the reeds.

The way opened up and invited us onward.

Are we nearing the end of this arm? We pause; with the water now glassy

it was time to lose oneself in reflections.....

Approaching the end

a way is discovered.

Through an old fence line and close to the seaward dune.

Appreciating the autumnal colours we paddled on

until we reached the limit a stone's throw from Wallagoot Gap. We could hear the slap of the waves and see hikers looking down into the Gap.

Retracing our step back through the fenceline

and then following the southern shoreline of this lagoon

'til we found a gap and headed east, landing on a little beach opposite the closed mouth at 12 noon, disturbing a Sooty Oyster Catcher as we made landfall.

An hour later, after a leisurely lunch and a quick up and down with the drone we continued on our circumnavigation.

Crossing the shallow waters at the mouth

we spied a small group of little birds of which this was the closest. Having spent hours trying to identify it since arriving home have I had any success?

NO.  At first I thought a Little Ringed Plover until I read further and discovered it migrates from Eurasia and is a rare visitor to Aus and then mainly to the Top End.  More study ... was it a Ringed Plover, an equally rare visitor to Aus and from even further away - at least it has been spotted on the far south coast. Last choice is a Double Banded Plover but the colours don't seem quite right and it seems a bit large. The Little Ringed Plover is about the right size :( :( :(   I would be very grateful to be enlightened..... Anyone?

Continuing to hug the shore

Now under blue sky it was quite toasty.

Poddling along we

turned into the narrow back water that is usually too shallow for exploration. Reaching the end.

New growth springs forth

Finding a crossing in the spit we returned to the main lake and continued south for awhile before

turning and heading back across the lake to the boat ramp. Out in the lake there were masses, a profusion, a plague of jelly fish from tiny ones the size of a 5cent piece to ones with heads of 20cm or more. In the dark water they showed up white and clear with pretty markings.

This delightful and interesting outing ended at 2.05pm when we pulled up on the submerged beach at the picnic ground. There ensued a lengthy chat with an old gentleman - 78. He is battling cancer and now finds his plastic sit on top to heavy to lift and carry on his own and spotting some fellow oldies he came over to enquire about our kayaks.

And now what you've all been waiting for - the drone footage. With the lake so full I very much regretted not taking the GoPro.

Trip Notes:

Put In/Take Out:  Wallagoot Lake Boat Club

7.48kms

Lake closed and very full.

Thursday 9 May 2024 Bermagui River

 It was way overdue for a paddle and yesterday provided a window of opportunity between wet weather, continued clean up after the bushfire, building bonfires, burning them and dealing with tradespeople.

We set off 9.05am on slack water. The first thing we noticed was a flock of swans - we don't seem them below the bridge very often.

Next was a group of pelicans busily preening,

some terns and 

another flock of swans - all before heading under the bridge!

Heading up the inside of the Oyster lease.

More birds - Little Egrets.

With a high tide of only 1.5m (9.15am) we had to back track and hunt for passage between the oyster bommes to get back to the river (L discovered a couple too late and shredded some more plastic from his boat).

Nearing Rose Bay we could hear lots of splashing. Rounding the corner we came upon a large mixed flock of Cormorants hunting a school of approx 12cm silvery fish, chasing them across the river in front of us and pinning their quarry along the far bank. There upon a feeding frenzy took place. Fascinated, we sat and watched. The hunting took two forms - there were cormorants that hunted the fish and cormorants that waited and hunted the cormorant that caught the fish. Flashing silvery fish were disappearing down gullets faster than we could count.

The not so successful cormorants still chasing the school as we continued on.  It was turning out to be a more of a bird watching than paddling outing.

Yet more birds.

The last of the hunting cormorants, now sated, overtake us as they returned to their resting spot;

the oyster bed poles making a perfect perch.

Pulling into the campground for morning tea.  The only thing that marred this most soothing and restorative paddle was discovering the yobs had been back to the campground leaving the usual - broken bottles, drink cans and toilet paper. 

As we sat enjoying the sunshine a Blue Wren family kept us company foraging around our feet and in the nearby shrubbery. We spent a happy 40 mins, basking in the sunshine before returning to the water to catch a lazy ride back on the now outgoing tide.

An Australasian Darter spotted on the way back.

The cormorants were still on the oyster pole perches, wings dried, most of them were snoozing. Further on we spotted the Sea Eagles flying high overhead.

Feeling relaxed and peaceful we mooched slowly back, letting the current do most of the work. 

Being all packed up at 1.15pm we debated whether to have lunch in town or go straight home. Settling for neither we stopped for a gelati instead :) :)  

  

Trail Camera 5 March - 18 April 2024

 Disturbingly, feral animals triggered the camera during this period. However making its debut on camera is a sugar glider - very exciting.

This time I've left out all the usual pics and footage of Kangas and Wallabies.

First off we have a Brush Tailed Possum

A female Satin Bowerbird comes for a drink and is disturbed by a White Naped Honeyeater quickly followed by a water bombing Sacred Kingfisher.

Is this a Grey Shrike Thrush?

A frog in the pond!

Definitely a Grey Shrike Thrush this time - one of our favourite garden visitors

The Bandicoot

Oh no, a rabbit, hopefully just passing through, They are in the region, but so far none have taken up residence on the property. I suppose its too much too hope it is a hare!

Grey Fantail and unidentified bobbing bird, so dubbed because it looks at reflection in the window and with tail up and head lowered it bobs up and down singing madly (song a bit like the Grey Shrike Thrush). Can anyone identify?

Not one but two Bandicoots

Red Wattlebird

And making its debut, the Sugar Glider

But then, also making its debut on camera, a long dreaded fox,

checking things out

At least one of the Bandicoots survived the fox visit

And the other feral - Rattus Rattus. You may remember when we found a Diamond Python in the engine bay of our car in December last year.  Well, I am happy to report that the rats, as of a couple of weeks ago, have not yet returned to resume residence in said engine bay. However we continue the running battle with them in the LC's engine bay. How I hope some pythons return one day.

On another night, there goes the little bugger up the tree

Couldn't help myself, love the Swampies

And lastly, a flock of Red Browed finches come for a drink. Note the regeneration following the fires - a lot of it weeds. The pic below is taken 6 weeks after the fire.

The Red Browed Finches

Sunday 31 March 2024 Cuttagee Creek

The water level in the lake has risen some more since our last paddle and today was our first opportunity to see how much further we could get up the creek.

Having met up with our fellow paddlers in Little Cuttagee we set of on glassy waters. The fish were jumping and the birdlife abundant.  In addition to the usual suspects we saw one of the resident Sea Eagles that didn't budge as we paddled quietly passed. In the entrance of the creek we spotted a lone Spoon Bill and a little further on two immature Sea Eagles, presumably last years offspring. It was a delight to see them. We had feared they may not have fledged when the bushfire of October 3 2023 completely destroyed their nesting tree. 

We saw a couple of kangaroos bounding along the silt jetty and had to wait while a Swamp Wallaby swam across the creek. We had 3 or 4 Azure Kingfisher sightings and that annoyingly elusive bird that never lets us get quite close enough for identification - I think it's either a Striated Heron or Black Bittern.

On the way back we spotted a Great Egret and, to top off a wonderful paddle, the resident Sea Eagles.

We made it nearly a kilometre further up the creek.  It was sobering to see the bushfire damage in this formerly beautiful stretch, and sad to know that we will never again see it as it once was.  Only a few of the Pencil Cedars remain. At the end of the blog I've included a few pre fire pics showing this stretch as it once was.

11.3kms

Tuesday 12 March 2024 Cuttagee Lake

 The entrance to Cuttagee closed over in the middle of last week and over the weekend the 1.9 to 2.0m high tides washed over the sand plug not only raising the height of the plug but raising the water level in the lake also. We can paddle Cuttagee again. Yipee. 

We last paddled the lake on the 28 October, 3 1/2 weeks after the fire; it was going to be interesting to see the changes at the top of the lake.

R, back from her jaunt OS was able to join us as was our neighbour N, paddling the trusty Bluey.

Getting ready to paddle. 

We launched, onto glassy water, a  little after 8.00am

The Video is only short - however if you compare this video with that of the 28th October you can see the changes in the flora in only 5 months, due in large part to the unusually regular rainfall we have had since the bushfire.

Enjoy. We certainly did.

for trip notes see earlier entries for Cuttagee Lake.

Trail Camera 9 February - 3 March 2024

 Little to report. Tho' there is some interesting footage of a male Red Necked Wallaby behaving strangely at the pond. Can he smell a female?  Still not many small birds around since the bushfire last October. 

This time we have combined the stills and video.