The eyes of the White-faced Heron regarded me momentarily but I was at the edge of the exposed sea grass flat, too far to be a threat, especially when the heron was looking for food. The grey coloured bird went back to the vital search for food in the rich habitat where small marine creatures tried to hide under the limp sea grass strands. I could approach no closer n my kayak but it was securely resting where some water still lapped its side. This was my second trip to the Tomaga River which had some beautiful wildlife along it but the weather this time was so much nicer than the previous time. I was paddling up the river while the tide was ebbing but I did not mind, I was just enjoying the beauty of mangroves and a wonderful tidal river on the coast. I paddled as far up the river as I could, enjoying every moment and I hope that you enjoy the photographs below.
More of this story is on my blog at https://bit.ly/3DjisvC
White-faced Heron searching for food in exposed sea grass
(Canon EOS 6D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 250, 400mm, f/8.0 and 1/500 SEC])
Tomakin Beach, with remnant storm waves, and Tomaga River, at the top right
DJI Mavic Air 2 [ISO 100, 4.5mm, f/2.8 and 1/1250 SEC]
Great Egret on a private wharf near the river mouth
(Canon EOS 6D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 250, 400mm, f/11 and 1/500 SEC])
Gippsland Water Dragon male sunning itself on the river bank
(Canon EOS 6D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 250, 400mm, f/11 and 1/500 SEC])
Dead tree peppered with the holes of marine borers
(Canon EOS 6D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 250, 106mm, f/8.0 and 1/500 SEC])
Little Black Cormorant
(Canon EOS 6D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 500, 400mm, f/8.0 and 1/500 SEC])
Little Pied Cormorant clearing its throat on the top of an oyster farm marker pole
(Canon EOS 6D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 400, 400mm, f/8.0 and 1/640 SEC])
Oyster farm lease along the river side in front of mangroves
(Canon EOS 6D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 250, 100mm, f/8.0 and 1/640 SEC])
Australian Wood Duck female swimming on the river
(Canon EOS 6D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 400, 400mm, f/8.0 and 1/640 SEC])
Grey Mangrove
(Canon EOS 6D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 200, 400mm, f/8.0 and 1/250 SEC])
Semaphore Crab on the mud flat where I had a snack
(Canon EOS 6D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 640, 400mm, f/8.0 and 1/400 SEC])
White-bellied Sea-eagle staring back at me
(Canon EOS 6D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 400, 400mm, f/8.0 and 1/400 SEC])
White-faced Heron on a small patch of mangrove up the river
(Canon EOS 6D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 200, 400mm, f/7.1 and 1/400 SEC])
Semaphore Crab among the pneumatophores
(Canon EOS 6D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 200, 400mm, f/7.1 and 1/400 SEC])
Eastern Billabong female damselfly on a pneumatophore
(Canon EOS 6D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 200, 400mm, f/7.1 and 1/400 SEC])
Blue Skimmer dragonfly on a mangrove root, adding a shot of blue to the scene
(Canon EOS 6D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 200, 400mm, f/7.1and 1/400 SEC])
Striated Heron Juvenile stalking food
(Canon EOS 6D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 640, 400mm, f/8.0 and 1/500 SEC])
Great Egret hunting for fish
(Canon EOS 6D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 250, 400mm, f/8.0 and 1/500 SEC])
White-faced Heron searching for food on exposed sea grass
(Canon EOS 6D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 250, 400mm, f/8.0 and 1/500 SEC])
Australian Pelican near the river mouth on exposed sea grass opposite the boat ramp
(Canon EOS 6D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 320, 371mm, f/8.0 and 1/500 SEC])
A group getting ready to kayak on the Tomaga RIver
(Canon EOS 6D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 320, 100mm, f/8.0 and 1/500 SEC])
People fishing along the sand dune near the river mouth
(Canon EOS 6D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 320, 100mm, f/8.0 and 1/500 SEC])
Storm remnant waves were still hitting the rocks near the river mouth
DJI Mavic Air 2 [ISO 100, 4.5mm, f/2.8 and 1/1250 SEC]
Waves breaking on the rocks off Tomakin beach
(Canon EOS 6D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 500, 400mm, f/11 and 1/1000 SEC])
It had been another wonderful day at the coast and another wonderful paddle on the Tomaga River where I saw some beautifully wildlife. For the first time I had taken my kayak out to sea, which was a bit rougher then I planned but it allowed my to feel movement of the sea and gain trust in my kayak. I had also paddled up the beautiful Tomaga River as far as it was possible to go. In addition, I had seen the river at its shallowest, with the tide out, much different to last time. While the trip ended up being a long day I really felt re-energised because of those experiences. I really find having a camera in a kayak is a great way to see some of the wonderful nature that the South Coast has on offer.
Thanks for reading this post and thanks also for looking at my photos. I hope you come back again to read more about some of the wonderful natural things that the south coast of New South Wales has on offer. All the best until the next post.
