A small band of six members attended our excursion to Lake McLarty on November 26 last year. It is a freshwater lake and associated nature reserve located south of Mandurah, with an area of 219ha. It is an integral part of the Peel–Yalgorup System, one of the largest and most diverse estuarine complexes in Western Australia, which includes examples of coastal saline, brackish and freshwater lakes, and marshes. It is internationally important as a habitat and refuge site for waterbirds and was included on the List of Wetlands of International Importance in 1990 (Ramsar 1990), comprising Ramsar site number 482. The southern part of Lake McLarty was added to this Ramsar listing in 2001.

Lake McLarty lies within the geographical area known as the East Asian-Australasian Flyway. Migratory species which use the site are listed under three Migratory Bird Agreements between Australia and China, Japan and the Republic of Korea respectively. Lake McLarty is included as a wetland of national significance in the Directory of Important Wetlands in Australia and is classified as a Conservation Category Wetland in the Geomorphic Wetlands Swan Coastal Plain dataset. In addition, Lake McLarty—together with Lake Mealup—was listed on the Register of the National Estate as part of the Peel-Harvey Estuarine System in May 1990, primarily for their significance to waterbirds. Lake McLarty is a regionally significant wetland and a key site in Western Australia for bird watching.

We met up at the access point on the western side of the lake. The view that greeted us was of the lake holding good water levels after the late winter and spring rainfall. Water birds were present in abundance, with large numbers of Black-winged Stilts, Black Swans with cygnets, Pacific Black Ducks, Australian Shelducks and a large flock of Straw-necked Ibis. White-faced Herons and White-necked Herons were seen foraging in the shallows at the edges of the lake.

The view into the sun was not ideal for bird identification or photography but on the opposite side of the lake we could see a large group from the Perth Branch of Birdlife Australia and rather than move around to that area we decided to remain where we were for a while. We observed the comings and goings of the birds for well over an hour. Every now and then a raptor would glide over the lake sending flocks of nervous Black-winged Stilts and Grey Teal into the air. One such visit by a White-bellied Sea Eagle sent a flock of around 20 Glossy Ibis flying past, together with a larger flock of Stilts.

An unexpected sighting was two Emus moving along the north-eastern edge of the lake. Our vantage point had benefited from past rehabilitation efforts and had good-sized shrubs and trees, together with remnant Tuarts, which provided habitat for woodland birds. This allowed us to add birds such as Western Gerygone, Splendid Fairy Wren, Inland Thornbill, Kookaburras and Regent Parrots to our species list for the day.

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Some of the flora species were in flower, including Robin Redbreast (Melaleuca lateritia), Melaleuca teretifolia (above, C Prickett)—the flowers of which appeared to come directly out of the branches—Regelia inops, Winged Lobelia (Lobelia alata) and Water Buttons (Cotula coronopipifolia).  There were also a number of escaped pasture plants such as Lupin and Red Clover. Amongst the shrubs we spotted Australian Jewel Christmas Spiders (Austracantha minax). Numerous Damsel Flies, especially the Blue Ringtail (Austrolestes annulosus) (below, C Prickett), and Dragonflies were active around the edge of the lake.

We then decided to move to the parking area off Mills Road at the southern end of the lake to find a shady area at which to have a cuppa and snack. On the way we stopped on the side of the road to view an Osprey nest in a large tree in the middle of a private property. As if right on cue, an Osprey flew in with a fish in its talons as we pulled up.

We made another stop at a parking area on the Peel-Harvey Estuary to see what birds were present. A group of Pelicans were feeding out in the middle of the estuary, remnants of a much larger group that I had seen in a very tight feeding group earlier in the day. Little Pied Cormorants, Little Black Cormorants and Australian Darters were drying out their feathers while Whistling Kites were gliding over the shallows. We then proceeded to our chosen picnic area and arrived to have a closer look at the western side of the lake just as the group from Birdlife was leaving. We had our morning tea in the shade of some Tuart and Peppermint trees. We then made our way to the southern edge of the lake itself for a last brief look at the birdlife. We were on the lookout for any migratory shorebirds amongst the Black-winged Stilts but did not see any.

We arrived back at our cars as the Birdlife group, led by Sue Abbott, was having a lunch break. We compared notes on sightings with Sue and found that our list fell well short of the 66 species that they had seen. They too had largely drawn a blank on migratory shorebirds, with only two Wood Sandpipers and a Black-tailed Godwit being seen. We chatted for a while before taking our leave and heading for home. It had been a great morning, our bird sightings totalling 37 species (see website for full list).

Black Cormorant and Little Pied Cormorant share a roost, C Prickett

As mentioned earlier the lack of migratory shorebirds was somewhat surprising, though it is a continuation of a trend over the past few years. One possible reason for this that has been put forward is the increased grassy cover since the grazing of cattle on the lake (when dry) ceased a few years ago.

Colin Prickett