Check my birding map for specific location.
Lake Leschenaultia is close to the small town of Chidlow, where I was staying with my friend Lynette. I headed down there on a Saturday morning which was not the best timing after a few days of rain. While it was quiet when I arrived, it wasn't long before the mountain bikers, canoeists and groups of walkers arrived. I tried to stay on the opposite side of the lake from where the most noise was coming from.
The forest was, as ever, stunning and the grass trees were the biggest and healthiest I have ever seen. Looking into them was like an optical illusion, especially in the damp and weak sunlight. There were tracks into the trees and around the lake which was long and thin. As I left the car park, I followed the sound of a Rufous Treecreeper into the forest. Unfortunately, it disappeared before I could find it. The Western Gerygone, Striated Pardalote and Grey Fantail were all calling from the canopy and it was so fitting in such a beautiful place.
Apart from those birds calling, there wasn't too much I could try to photograph. I could hear the black cockatoo wailing in the distance and every now and again a cuckoo would announce its presence. It was very pleasant wandering around and as I got close to the water, I could hear a Reed Warbler singing.
When I hit the north west corner of the lake, there were small pools of water on either side of the track and dense vegetation. I heard a Western Whistler and waited to see if it was the male. Not one but two appeared.
Western Whistler (Pachycephala fuliginosa)
Once I got the whistler then it just seemed like everyone else needed to show off for me. I sat for around 30 minutes (until the noisy masses got too close) and saw and photographed the majority of the birds I saw at the lake. First I thought I had a thornbill but realised by the short, sharp call that it was a Weebill.
Weebill (Smicornis brevirostris)
As it moved away, a family of fairywren arrived. I got a glimpse of the male (the easiest way to identify the species) and waited to see if it would sit up for me. Better than that, it sang too!
Splendid Fairywren (Malurus splendens)
Behind me, I heard some chatter and turned to find Western Gerygone stripping bark for nesting material.
Western Gerygone (Gerygone fusca)
Right above it appeared a honeyeater and to my delight, it was a Gilbert's. I have seen them several times now in Western Australia but not enough. It was attacking the leaves of a gum tree and performing some acrobatics.
Gilbert's Honeyeater (Melithreptus chloropsis)
I love it when you find spots like this that are buzzing with birds. I didn't know where to look but it eventually became time to move on. I carried on the track back to the car park and cafe and just about ran straight into a male Scarlet Robin, just sitting on a fence.
Scarlet Robin (Petroica boodang)
What a fantastic place!
eBird List
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