Monjingup Lake Part 2

 

Check my birding map for specific location. 

I am on my way east to Melbourne and before I approach the Nullarbor Plain again, I am staying for a couple of days in the lovely Esperance. My first stop was the Monjingup Lake, which gave me wonderful photos of courting Musk Duck last time. As soon as I got out of the van, I saw more Shingle-backed Lizards. This time, they were a pale blue. I have been amazed at the range of colours these Bobtail have. I had seen this colour a couple of times but hadn't managed to shoot them. Got them.

Shingle-backed Lizard (Tiliqua rugosa)

I went down to the hide first and as before it looked initially very quiet. I spotted a family of Yellow-billed Spoonbill and Pink-eared Duck. Very cute. A swallow sat on a dead branch in front of me with a mouth full of bugs. I wondered why the juvenile wasn't coming to be fed. After realising there was a nest of expecting chicks right behind me, I left so the bird could come in and feed them.

Welcome Swallow (Hirundo neoxena)

The next day I came after lunch and expected it to be very quiet, as places often are. In front of the hide I spotted a firetail. There were several around jumping between the safety of the trees and the long grass to feed. What a stunning little bird.

Red-eared Firetail (Stagonopleura oculata)

I walked down to the boardwalk with the noise of the wattlebirds cackling in the trees. Shining Bronze and Fan-tailed Cuckoo were both calling. It was all very loud but I couldn't actually see many birds. It was the same on the boardwalk through the paperbark swamp. I had heard a reed warbler the day before and wanted to get shots today. But it was a crake that I heard calling first. The vegetation was so thick I knew I wouldn't see it. Instead I spotted the reed warbler. Good start.

Australian Reed Warbler (Acrocephalus australis)

Then it all went a bit mad. A Restless Flycatcher flew past, buzzing away, the honeyeaters started shrieking, a bronze cuckoo arrived above my head. I spotted movement in the water and saw a pair of courting Blue-billed Duck. And the wattlebirds were still cackling. Birding is often like that, you don't see much for ages and then suddenly, it all goes off. That excitement is why we love birding.

Blue-billed Duck (Oxyura australis)

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