Cotter Bend is one of the small reserves located where Paddys River, the Cotter River and the Murrumbidgee River meet just downstream from the Cotter Dam. There is a short walk from the main reserve along a trail, then a fire road to the Cotter Caves. These were naturally-formed caves in the area that were previously open to the public. However, the continued tours through the caves were damaging them and the people visiting the caves scared off a colony of Eastern Bent-Wing Bats in the caves. In recent times the caves were closed to the public via the means of a steel gate. This decision was prompted by the unstable cave geology as well as in an attempt to encourage the bats to return. The Sunday morning of my visit was cold and overcast, with even a brief, light rain squall. I did see some birds but they were hard to photograph in the low light of the morning. Fortunately, later in my walk a large flock of Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoos flew into the area, a bird that I am always happy to see. There are not many pictures below but I hope you like them.
Cotter Caves are closed to the public for safety reasons, although people can climb to the viewing platform
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 400, 400mm, f/8.0 and 1/125 SEC])
The Cotter River at Cotter Bend, with Paddys River flowing into it, with a few rain drops falling on the water surface
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 400, 400mm, f/8.0 and 1/30 SEC])
A sizeable flock of Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoos (Calyptorhynchus funereus) flew in from the west before doubling back to land in some eucalyptus trees. I had heard them for most of the time I had been at Cotter Bend but I had not seen them. My first sighting of them was in the ridge to the north-east of Cotter Dam. I am not sure how many birds there were but at least 20 would be a reasonable estimate. They were moving between trees, calling as they progressed.
Part of the flock of Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoos in a tree
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 400, 176mm, f/8.0 and 1/320 SEC])
The flock in another tree
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 400, 400mm, f/8.0 and 1/125 SEC])
Common or European Carp (Cyprinus carpio) are a common pest in the Murrumbidgee River, so it was not surprising seeing three of them in the water at Cotter River. The first one swam away from the bank with a loud “plop” sound after I unintentionally startled it because I was not aware it was there. I then saw three carp further out from the bank facing up-stream in the Cotter River, slowly swimming against the flow of the river but drifting gradually back. The fish I photographed appeared to be eating bottom matter. The fish sometimes twisted its body while its mouth stayed on the bottom. The local Europeans first introduced carp to the Murrumbidgee River in 1876. While these fish have not survived in other parts of Australia they have thrived in eastern Australia, including in the river systems around Canberra. The carp in this area apparently also have some koi interbreeding in them.
A Common Carp feeding on the bottom of the Cotter River
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 400, 400mm, f/8.0 and 1/20 SEC])