Out in the rain....like a duck...or duck like creature
25th April 2021
Plumed Whistling Duck, Hastie’s Swamp, 25th April 2021.
I got an opportunity Sunday to roam. Something that I have not been able to do much of late. it was raining so my wife said no thanks. The rain does not bother me so I headed on my own to Hastie’s Swamp to spend about 4 hours with the Wandering and Plumed Whistling Ducks.
Tarzali Lakes with my wife, January 2021.
For birds in flight you need good light so with no stop in the rain I decided to head over to Tarzali Lakes and see what was happening there. I had been there a few times before to see if I could spot a platypus but with no luck. Maybe today would be different!
Article: Anticipating a good day (previous visit to Tarzali Lakes)
Tarzali Lakes on arrival, 25th April 2021. Surface vegetation moving.
When I arrived at Tarzali Lakes it was still raining and continued to do so. Other than the owners of the restaurant I was the only person there. Great!
I had something to eat and a cup of coffee and then headed down to the Lake. (food and coffee are always good there) There was nothing much going on but I did notice some of the surface vegetation on the Lake moving a little.
There are so many turtles in the water bodies up the Tablelands that at first I thought it was a turtle. If I take too many photos of them they get sick of me and cover their faces. This one was at Peterson Creek in Yungaburra back in December 2020 when we were searching for Platypus there.
Tarzali Lakes, 25th April 2021. Platypus surfaces, eyes closed.
The vegetation however was moving a bit too fast for a turtle so I kept my camera on it. Glad I did and when I first saw this platypus it’s eyes were closed.
When under water the platypus swims with its eyes and ears closed. They use receptors in the bill to detect electrical currents in the water to help them find prey.
Tarzali Lakes, 25th April 2021. Checking me out.
At this stage the platypus is about 10 to 15 feet away from me and I am in heaven. I am now very careful not to move or make a sound.
Tarzali Lakes, 25th April 2021.
I think I got about 5 minutes with the Platypus before I could start to hear loud voices as a group of about 7 people joined me. Lovely people from the UK but the platypus soon starts to move away from all the voices and movement.
It did swim back a bit towards me again but the crowd was all a bit too much for it. After the group left I stayed for another hour or so watching it swim along the bank in the distance but it never made it’s way back to me.
The Australian Platypus Park at Tarzali Lakes
If I see tourists I usually go the other way as I like peace and quiet like a platypus. That is why I have driven past Tarzali Lakes for decades until COVID. With the absence of overseas tourism now is a great time to go and support locals like The Australian Platypus Park, even if it is raining. Take a poncho for the rain because umbrellas are not allowed as the platypus think they are big birds and get scared away.
It costs about $7 IIRC and if I did not see a platypus I was told I did not have to pay….and did I mention the food is great!