KRM Branch, 23 April 2023

The April excursion was to Goegrup Lake (Greenfields, Mandurah), and a fine turnout of 17 members and visitors were treated to a beautiful autumn morning.

The walk started at the Riverside Gardens car park on the Serpentine Riverbank. Up in the canopy of a tall Eucalypt at the car park, we spotted three Nankeen Night Herons roosting after spending the night hunting in the nearby wetland, a nice start to the morning’s walk. We spotted Pacific Black Ducks, Australian Wood Ducks, Little Pied Cormorants and Grey Teal on the river, while Australian Ringnecks, Galahs, Little Corellas and Magpies were also found near the car park.

We made our way along the footpath to a boardwalk that would take us out onto the Samphire wetland that makes up the margins of Goegrup Lake. At the start of the boardwalk, we were greeted by a pair of Ospreys perched in a dead tree just above the boardwalk while surveying the wetland. They did not move as we slowly walked past beneath their perch; they were obviously used to walkers passing their favourite tree. A short time later, one took off and was spotted carrying a fish to the top of a nearby steel tower.

Our bird list continued to grow as we slowly made our way along the boardwalk out onto the edge of the lake with a Yellow-billed Spoonbill, Australian White Ibis and Australasian Darter spotted flying in; Welcome Swallows and Tree Martins were hunting insects above the Samphire, and Splendid Fairy Wrens and Silvereyes were seen foraging in the shrubs. Grey Fantails and Willie Wagtails were also busy hunting insects.

The water level in the wetland was fairly high, so none of the smaller waders were spotted, but a number of White-faced Herons, Little Egrets and a Great Egret were seen foraging.

Over the lake, we saw Silver Gulls and immature Caspian Terns flying around and frequently diving after prey. Australian Shelduck and Australian Pelicans were frequently spotted flying. At the end of the boardwalk, a Little Grassbird sat on the top of the Samphire long enough to allow a rare sighting of a bird that is often heard calling but usually spotted only as it moves from one spot to another. A Peregrine Falcon was spotted some distance away in a tree from this location, thanks to Gillian’s spotting scope.

Making our way off the boardwalk, we walked back towards the car park along the footpath, looking for woodland birds amongst the trees and shrubs. Here Red Wattlebirds, Weebill and Western Gerygone were added to our bird list. Daniel put our butterfly nets to good use along this stretch. He was rewarded by finding a Yellow-headed Leafhopper (Brunotartessus fulvus) and a tiny (2mm) Big-headed Fly (Family Pipunculidae – Latin for little pumpkin). In a tree near the footpath, we found the second Osprey had also caught a fish and was busily enjoying a meal.

We arrived back at the car park just in time to see a small pod of Dolphins pass by; the tail slaps and splashing they made suggested they may have been following a school of fish. We then sat around, enjoyed a well-earned cuppa and snacks, and reflected on a great walk in a lovely location with a total of 35 bird species spotted. It was a great way to end our walk. It had been an enjoyable morning.

Colin Prickett