Beach cusps on NSW far south coast mystify photographers and specialists

An uncommon geometric sand sample noticed on a NSW far south coast seashore is delighting locals and photographers alike.

The scallop-shaped sand formations stretch for a whole bunch of metres alongside Wallaga Beach, between Bermagui and Mystery Bay.

Local photographer David Rogers has seen comparable patterns in bays additional north, however was excited to see them “by chance” additional south earlier this week.

“I’d seen this phenomenon before at a couple of places like Pearl Beach up in Sydney and Hyams Beach at Jervis Bay.”

Mr Rogers first noticed the sand patterns from a close-by headland, earlier than he used a drone to get a greater look and seen how the light waves formed the shoreline.

“From above, it looks a lot more stunning than from on the ground,” he mentioned.

“I feel it is simply the repetitive nature and the formation of the cups.

The fascinating sand formation is not the only thing catching the eye of photographers in the area.

Terry and Kim Dixon managed to film migrating humpback whales three days in a row at nearby Tathra, at the regulated 100-metre distance.

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Mr Rogers also spotted whales breaching on Wednesday near Kianniny Bay.

“We had a incredible present for about half an hour,” he mentioned.

“That’s nature for you.”

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Beach cusps have been well studied, but exactly why they occur remains something of a mystery.

Emeritus professor at the University of Sydney, Bruce Thom, has been studying the beaches of the NSW far south coast for more than 50 years. 

Professor Thom said that for beach cusps to form, steady, low waves, also known as “incident waves” were required, along with medium to coarse sand, which stays in place after a swash.

“So these preconditions are working, however that does not reply why they kind within the first place,” he mentioned.

Along with Sydney and Jervis Bay, beach cusps have been previously documented at Shoal Bay in Port Stephens, Bengello Beach near Moruya, and McKenzies Beach south of Batemans Bay.

“They are being studied to demise,” Professor Thom mentioned.

“All that provides to a reasonably complicated scientific story that has fascinated seashore scientists for nicely over 100 years.”

A different type of sand movement is occurring at nearby Haywards Beach, which has resulted in damage to a well-known walking track.

The erosion was something Professor Thom was keeping an eye on, as he continued to study sand deposits on the far south coast.

“In 1974, the large storms got here and worn out a big part of the highway, so it turned a strolling observe,” he mentioned.

“In the 80s, we had plenty of sand come again from the close to shore … however the more moderen storms have began to reverse that pattern.

“At Haywards, we’re really seeing a dramatic switch back to erosion.”