Lake Colac Bird Sanctuary

Lake Colac Bird Sanctuary

One of my favourite places to watch birds and it just happens to be 2 blocks from where I work. Quite often I’ll go down after work, before work on breaks. I’ve recorded over 100 species in this location and had some very nice and rare sightings along the way. Here are some of my favs.

 

Glossy Ibis: The only time I have seen a Glossy in the sanctuary and I feel very lucky to get this nice shot.

Freckled Duck: 23/12/2013 – When I first saw this duck (my first Freckled) I was really struggling to convince myself it was a Freckled Duck. So glad I got this pic.

Black Swan: I grew fond of this particular female swan at the sanctuary over a couple of seasons around 2018. Quite recognisable with her leucistic features. Leucism is the lack of melanin pigment in some feathers due to the absence of melanin-producing cells. Albinism is the complete lack of these pigments due to the absence of a particular enzyme (tyrosinase).

Horsefield’s Bronze-cuckoo: A seasonal visitor and usually photogenic.

Plumed Egret: Rare in Victoria with only a handful of sightings each year.  

Magpie Goose: Apparently used to be a lot more common here, but while I’ve been watching I’ve only seen them here a couple times.

Swamp Harrier: Very wary of people. This shot was taken just after he realised he was flying towards me, he took evasive action.

White-necked Heron: Non-breeding with spots on the neck

Pink-eared Duck: This would almost be the closest I’ve been to a Pink-eared Duck as they are usually very flighty. I’m glad the shutter speed was just right to get this blurred wing effect.

Cattle Egret: This is a flock coming in to roost for the night. The flocks can get up to 400 here, which is a lot for this species.

Latham’s Snipe: I wait patiently for these amazing migratory waders to return from Japan around the start of Spring each year.