Kwinana Rockingham Mandurah Branch, 21 April 2024

The April field excursion was to Goegrup Lake on the Serpentine River at Greenfields in Mandurah. A small group of nine members met at the Riverside Gardens car park on a fine autumn morning for the walk. Many others were also enjoying the fine conditions, and the car park proved a popular area to launch kayaks.

As we signed in, a glance into the tree canopy above our heads showed a Nankeen Night Heron settling into its daytime roost while Pacific Black Ducks, Wood Ducks and Grey Teal were spotted on the river. Galahs, Little Corellas, and Long-billed Corellas were present in the Eucalypts along the river. We then made our way along the river to the boardwalk that allows access to the lake itself with the calls of Red Wattlebirds, Australian Ringneck Parrots and, unfortunately, Rainbow Lorikeets filling the air.

Along the first stage of the boardwalk, we saw two Eastern Ospreys, one with the remnants of a fish it had captured and eaten. Getting so close to these magnificent raptors was really special, with many of the group members getting great photos using their mobile phones. Australasian Darters, Silver Gulls, a juvenile Caspian Tern, and Australian Pelicans were seen flying overhead. In the trees near the boardwalk’s first stage, we also spotted a Great Egret, White-faced Heron, and Yellow-billed Spoonbill, plus a small group of Welcome Swallows resting between foraging flights.

We then walked along the boardwalk over the samphire wetland, noting that the samphire appeared less stressed than the areas at Creery Wetland we had seen in March. A Little Grassbird was seen foraging amongst the samphire. Our bird list continued to grow with Australian Shelducks, White Ibis and Black Swans present at the lake and Little Black Cormorants flying past.

A nice sighting was a Sacred Kingfisher sitting on the stump of a dead tree out amongst the samphire.

At the lookout area at the end of the boardwalk, a pair of Welcome Swallows rested on a branch of a fallen tree just above the water a short distance from the boardwalk, unperturbed by our presence.

While on the lookout, we saw an Osprey soaring over the lake in search of fish; at one stage, a Whistling Kite and Ravens were harassing it.

We then returned to the car park via the roadside footpath to try and spot woodland birds. We saw the Grey Fantail, the Inland Thornbill and a Gilbert’s Honeyeater, which was an unexpected sighting for this location. A Magpie Lark and a Little Pied Cormorant near the car park finished off our bird list, bringing the total to 34 species. Once again, we had not spotted insects or spiders other than the midges that the Welcome Swallows were feeding on; we would normally have expected to see dragonflies, etc. We enjoyed a well-earned cuppa at the car park and reflected on another beautiful walk at this special location.

Colin Prickett

All images by Colin Prickett