After night-long rain we expected the dams to flood over, racing through to the swamp between us and the lagoon. There was so much rain, over 200ml (8 inches) so both overflows were working! A huge storm cell hung over us all day, and rain continued the next night. We did manage to get out in short break and wade through the swollen creeks and flooded track to see Mullimburra ICOLL had broken through to the sea.
Black sand from the lagoon, created over many cycles of seaweeds coming and decomposing, was ripped out of the lagoon bottom, and uncovered in layers of cleaner sand, to be washed in to the sea. The ocean turned frothy brown, with winds blowing the froth into balls that rolled along the beach. How exciting to witness these times of change!
We walked the beach, but it was quite hazardous crossing the lagoon, as the stony bottom (usually covered by sand) was hard on our feet and visibility was poor. A pair of pied oystercatchers, and our home magpies, were checking the debris for something edible. We picked up a few bits of plastic rubbish, thrown up by the big seas, bravely recrossed the lagoon, and made our way home. Lichens on the casuarinas were glowing, vibrant in the wet conditions.
Today the birds are rejoicing, flying and calling in large groups, feeding on all the insects that are out after the rain … my next post.
For another look at changes along our beaches try this one http://morselsandscraps.wordpress.com/2014/03/28/rain/
dadirridreaming 
Thank you for sharing with your readers. You made me quite homesick, because I now live in suburbia and miss the land,the animals and the birds. Your wash-aways remind me of parts of Moreton and Fraser Islands after storms. I look forward to more photos.
I hope you see some birds after the rain Maureen 🙂
What exciting storm tossed images – I’m not surprised you had to much rain – from the radar images I saw it looked as though you were going to be in for it! We had lots of lovely rain all day and most of the night, but missed out on the damaging stuff that hit our (and the Gold Coast’s) hinterland regions. Love the roos, and of course the lichen – you can almost see it absorbing the moisture! 🙂
so glad to hear you did not have the worst of it! It is lovely to snuggle indoors wile the rain falls on the roof isn’t it? the lichen is amazing isn’t it … it seems to double in size with the rain 🙂 Raining again now, but gently …
I think you needed that rain, just hope it knows when to stop. I’m fascinated by the tree that’s exposed, it was totally covered before?
yes Gilly, we have seen it several times but the sand soon covers it up completely … as you can see there is still some clean sand on top of it!
On Fri, Mar 28, 2014 at 5:53 PM, dadirridreaming wrote:
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adoro la natura selvaggia in cui vivi
buona giornata, Cristina
Hail stones here yesterday, Christine. The North Sea was “all of a churn!” Just when you think you’re ‘out of the woods’. Nature’s having a lot of fun just lately 🙂
wow, hope you are all safe Jo, it seems wild weather is all around the globe!
Wow! I enjoyed looking at the photos – so interesting. Hope the water level lowers soon.
it is going down quickly Colline 🙂
Good to hear.
What an exciting walk! Lemme dig my sandals and shorts out of storage…
Who’s the large bird in the photo marked “Opportunist”?
aha! the white-faced heron, perched just where she can snap up the fish being washed out of the lagoon, or the fish coming in from the sea with intentions to do the same 🙂 look here for a close-up https://dadirridreaming.wordpress.com/2012/04/10/white-faced-herons/
On Fri, Mar 28, 2014 at 11:58 PM, dadirridreaming wrote:
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What a magnificent rain fall Christine, we are rejoicing with 200mm+ over 3 days, but feel sorry for some caught again in floods
Gorgeous pics, Christine. The lichen really does glow. 🙂
Looks quite a storm cell was over you…but it must be fine to have ample water.