Walker's Lake Bird Survey
Wednesday 20th Feb 2019 saw several members from St Arnaud Field Nats and Avon Plains Banyena Landcare Group leave the boat ramp for a round-the-Lake bird survey. Beautiful clear, sunny and cool weather kept any pesky insects at bay and we spent 2 1/2 hrs watching birds and listing them for Birdlife Australia's online Bird Atlas. Walker's Lake, north-west of St Arnaud, one of the waterbodies in the highly significant Avon Plains Lakes system.
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/df626c_80e5741bdd48479d8c2ec67f3cf22163~mv2.jpeg/v1/fill/w_980,h_735,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/df626c_80e5741bdd48479d8c2ec67f3cf22163~mv2.jpeg)
30 species were seen, mostly waterbirds or landbirds that are associated with wetter environments such as Magpie-larks. For first part of our walk, through Black Box Woodland to the western end of the lunette, we were accompanied by a small family of Black-fronted Dotterels, moving like little clockwork toys along the insect-laden edges of the water. Moving with the BF Dots, but staying in front of the pack was a pair of Red-kneed Dotterels. You can see the red knees in this on-the- move long telephoto shot by Prue McAllister (APBLG).
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/df626c_c93e98862b7346eb9746e524188e8977~mv2.jpeg/v1/fill/w_980,h_654,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/df626c_c93e98862b7346eb9746e524188e8977~mv2.jpeg)
Up onto the lunette( a huge sandbank, formed over thousands of years from pelleted clay blown from the lake bed during dry,cold spells) and the bird assembly changed- Welcome Swallows and White-plumed Honeyeaters foraged busily above or in the massive Redgums, Galahs and Long-billed Corellas defended their nesting areas; the Redgums are full of hollows, indicating their great age (150 year of growth before hollows begin to form). From our vantage point we spied a raft of Australasian Darters, diving and fishing in the shallow waters, almost like a choreographed water ballet- all up, then one after the other, down again! It was hard to count how many there were. Male Darter in breeding array Photo A Hughes StAFNC
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/df626c_2b503a5b786545de9c366e3034bc0426~mv2.jpeg/v1/fill/w_980,h_735,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/df626c_2b503a5b786545de9c366e3034bc0426~mv2.jpeg)
Several smallish rafts of ducks were seen a good distance away- photos later revealed Pacific Black Ducks, Grey Teal, one lonely Hardhead, the pretty little Pink-eared Ducks and wonder of wonders, a group of 4 Australasian Shovelers, a protected species during the duck shooting season, and not unlike the Pinkies in profile( strange bills) but larger and with more distinguishing marks- white patch and dark rump. This group included 3 males and one female and the very long shot was taken again, by Prue McAllister.
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/df626c_1341f24fef234e04a0deeeebc55551ee~mv2.jpeg/v1/fill/w_980,h_654,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/df626c_1341f24fef234e04a0deeeebc55551ee~mv2.jpeg)
Coming around to the inlet area, we were escorted along the shoreline by a Sacred Kingfisher, nervous of our presence but reluctant to leave us to our own devices for some reason. Photo by Anne Hughes StAFNC
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/df626c_7c661a1b8b6e45f787f053a093e8e51a~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_549,h_545,al_c,q_80,enc_auto/df626c_7c661a1b8b6e45f787f053a093e8e51a~mv2.jpg)
Moving along the southern shore, through the Redgums and Black Box, we spotted 4 White-breasted Woodswallows using the fenceposts as perches.
They were not interested in posing for the cameras but the photos were good enough for identification purposes. White-breasted Woodswallows are seen at the Lake mostly during Summer.
This pair behaved like juveniles, waiting for parents to return with a meal.
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/df626c_423b21b873434407a9debbe7a6cae41c~mv2.jpeg/v1/fill/w_425,h_416,al_c,q_80,enc_auto/df626c_423b21b873434407a9debbe7a6cae41c~mv2.jpeg)
Food was certainly on our minds as we completed the 3km walk and headed for our morning tea- the usual relaxed and enjoyable end to our outings at the lake.