Lake Colac is a beautiful freshwater lake in SW Victoria, Australia. It changes shape ever so slightly through the seasons each year, where the reedbeds form and the width and shape of the 2 creek mouths that flow into the lake. It is my favourite place to spend time and my go-to when I need a break from the realities of modern life. I’ve been here almost 15 years now, taking note of all the birds and other wildlife through that time. My recorded bird count is at 167 as of 03/10/2023. Other animals I’ve seen are Eastern Grey Kangaroo, Swamp Wallaby, Brush-tailed Possum, Rakili, Swamp Rat, Echidna, Koala, Copperhead, Tiger Snake, Eastern Snake-necked Turtle, Blue-tongued Skink, Grass Skink, White’s Skink, Dreeite Skink, as well as many invertebrates and insects. 
Australasian Bittern – It was exciting to finally get this bird in Colac. I knew they were here, but they just weren’t jumping out at me. That is until November 2017 when I was lucky enough to get several viewings of 2 birds as they moved between reedbeds at the Lake and the Bird Sanctuary multiple times daily over about a month. They’re listed as Critically Endangered in Victoria and numbers globally are considered as low as 2000 birds. They are a large cryptic bird and have been suspected of the Bunyip myth.
Eastern Yellow Wagtail – This would have to be the most unusual and unexpected sighting I have had here, to say the least. Their distribution map does not include Victoria at all. When I found this bird I wasn’t even sure what it was. I’d never seen or heard one before. I rang my friend Ian who came straight away and saw it as well. I reported the sighting as soon as practical and several keen birders from across the state came in search for the wayward wagtail, but it wasn’t seen again.
Pectoral Sandpiper – Unbelievably on 16/3/2018 I saw 9 of these normally rare birds in Victoria. The most I had seen in one visit before was 4 (which is a lot) with a possible 5th one I couldn’t confirm. That was this season as well, back in January. This is one of my favourite shots of all time, showing 5 Pecs.
Black-shouldered Kite – I love watching these guys hovering around the place. Sometimes if I’m lucky one will come close enough for a decent shot, this juvenile was pretty close. I have heaps of nice photos of them.
Otway Pied Currawong – Strepera graculina ashbyi, which are only found in and around the Otway Ranges. They’re pretty special and their history shows it. They were once incorrectly considered a Grey Currawong, then marked as extinct, or lumped with ssp. nebulosa, but they’ve been here in abundance the whole time. Although they are at risk of being bred (hybridized) into extinction by the neighbouring nebulosa and their movement west.
Brown Songlark – This was my first ever Brown Songlark which was a bit of a bogey bird for me. Then on my birthday in 2015 on the west side of Lake Colac, I heard this guy calling his beautiful song. I turned around and there he was on a rock in the field with his mate, then before long, he was on the fence post for this lovely shot. And I’m still happy about it!
Little Black Cormorant – A very subtle and common bird on Lake Colac but I think they add to the peace and beauty of nature doing its thing in a picturesque, calming sort of way. Some years their numbers get up into the hundreds. They feed and roost mostly in groups and seeing a flock of 200 birds coming in to roost is something special. 
Whiskered Tern – I love it when these guys show up to town. They’re fairly migratory and usually hang around in Spring and Summer. They can get into their 1000s scattered across, but some years only a handful or even none. They hawk along the lake close to the water feeding on insects, larvae and small fish. They also get together into large flocks travelling and roosting together.
Whistling Kite – These beauties are real locals, one of the first birds I noticed when I moved here in 2007. They nest in the large pines in the gardens almost every year. They have a beautiful and distinct whistling call and as you can see from this shot, they don’t mind coming in for a close-up.
White-faced Heron – These guys are the most common herons in this area and can be found anywhere there is water. I often think when I’m out birdwatching that if I don’t have a White-faced Heron on my list yet I haven’t tried hard enough. Although common they are pretty and usually make a nice photo.
White-winged Black Tern – This bird was one of those Whoa moments for me. Very uncommon in this area, and there were 2 of them. I’m super glad I was able to get this shot because I could hardly believe my eyes. 
Golden-headed Cisticola – I have a real soft spot for these photogenic little fellas. I get a little excited when I hear their call. I find it interesting that sometimes they’re very easy to photograph, practically don’t care that you’re standing there with a camera only metres away and other times it’s impossible to get a shot at all. 
Striated Thornbill – I think I was more surprised with how long it took me to finally find these guys at Lake Colac. This is my first shot of 1 at the lake, taken in March 2018. Now I know roughly where they are, it’s not that difficult if I want to say hello. 
Rainbow Lorikeet – I swear there were hardly any of these guys when I arrived here in 2007. Now they’re everywhere, across the whole area. Good thing they’re pretty.
Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoo – Who doesn’t love the majestic Black Cocky’s. We have them travelling around this region through Spring and Summer. The last few seasons we’ve had this very special Pied Mutation Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoo visiting the pines right near the main boat ramp, just behind Jack’s Coffee Van. It has become a bit of a Celebrity.
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Colac Birder 