A warm and sunny winter's morning. a lot of weather like this lately.
I drove around looking for a surf but no luck. The tide was too high but the beaches looked pretty.
I stopped at Tuggerah Lake on the way back home and wandered around the lake edge in the wind sheltered area behind the islands. There were a lot of birds congregated here. I had a nice time watching and photographing them.
The water level was low so it was a bit tricky keeping to deep enough water. The water was the clearest I have ever seen it. Even in the mudflat area the water was clear.
There were a few birds around - pelicans, swamp hens, gulls and cormorants - and out of the wind the reflections were so pretty.
The wind was light but looked like it was on the increase. I decided on a kayak to Pelican Island in Tuggerah Lake and then a paddle/play in The Entrance channel.
Pelican Island is part of Wyrrabalong National Park. This national park runs along the coastline in sections then covers the islands in Tuggerah Lake. It must be difficult to manage!
The paddle out was a bit bumpy due to a slightly increasing wind but drop off when I reached the sheltered side of the island. I was planning a walk but the vegetation was too thick and where it was sparser there were a lot of birds that I didn't want to disturb.
Back to the channel I followed the southern side and had a fun time passing sightseers and fishermen.
One fellow pointed out that there was a large sting ray just ahead of me. Thanks, I got some nice underwater shots of it.
In the centre of the channel are a number of sand banks where birds tend to congregate.
It is officially Autumn but the weather is still hot and will remain so for a while. A beautiful sunny day again. Sometimes, it becomes a worry when there are so many days without rain.
I drove to the Woy Woy channel and launched the kayak off a small sandy beach into clear calm water.
It was only a short paddle across the channel to Pelican Island but it was a world apart from the manicured urban other side of the channel. With in a short time, I came across an ibis foraging in the mangrove shallows for food.
A little further along the island is spilt in two by a narrow channel which enters into a shallow and wide bay. I paddled through and across the bay with pelicans, cormorants and ducks on the water and large flocks of sulphur cockatoos flying overhead.
I paddled around the island close to shore where there was water deep enough to navigate. In addition, a short distance from the shore the island is surrounded by oyster farms.
Towards the end, There was a small beach on the channel apex of the island. there were a number of birds here and the water was very clear. A speed boat passing by caused waves which broke on the shallow sand banks of the beach giving off a nice surfing wave type effect.
Back to the van and feeling good though a little sore on the rump from the 3.44 km paddle.
Afterwards, I drove to Terrigal Haven for a swim and a paddle on my new surfboard.
A beautiful sunny morning with the temperature going up.
I launched near the fishing area just over The Entrance bridge at North Entrance.
There was little wind and it was a fun paddle. The kayak cut cleanly over the water causing small ripples, the sun reflected off the water in a twinkling effect, fish occasionally breeched the water, swirls of sand in the water indicated escaping fish or stingrays, the birds were slowly fossicking amongst the reeds in the shallows with black swans in the distance, the distant mountains were fog shrouded, everyone I passed was friendly and commented on what a great morning it was...
Back on shore, I drove to Toowoon Bay for a refreshing swim in the ocean and a cup of coffee.
It was a brilliant, sunny Sunday so the beach was crowded and the water was crowded with swimmers, sups, boats, fishermen, snorkelers and divers.
Still the water looked inviting and no one was out near the point.
The water visibility was poor inshore but improved further out. There were schools of small colourful fish and some larger fishes which blended in with the sand, rocks or weed.
As I was coming into shore, a pelican did a skid landing on the boat ramp. I thought it looked pretty cool.
It's been awhile since my last snorkel so it was enjoyable.
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