Southwestern Australia, around the city of Perth is my territory for nature photography -a narrow strip of land between the Indian Ocean and the central deserts of Australia.
For eleven years, I have been an avid amateur nature photographer of the bird and animals of WA’s varied arid habitats. Bibra Lake and North Lake just south of Perth, are two of my favorite birding habitats. Both locations are significant Urban Wetlands. Some of the birds that inhabit these two locations include a variety of bush and water birds.
In January of this year when I visited Bibra Lake, early in the morning, I was excited to spot a small flock of Glossy Ibis (Plegadis falcinellus) – an unusual species to see in this part of the world. To get close to the Ibis, I first crouched down and finally ended up crawling through the reeds and mud as not to spook the birds and finally laying on my stomach at eye level. This made for a shallow depth of field. I was fortunate to spot and get close to a number of sandpipers and waterbirds during
this successful adventure.. These included Wood Sandpiper Greenshank and Black winged Stilt. Bibra Lake is seasonal with the start of spring when the lake is at a higher water level for numerous nesting duck species and stilts. Some birds prefer more shallow waters and exposed mud to feed so by mid-summer it becomes a feeding frenzy for other birds including Rails and Crakes, Glossy Ibis, Yellow Spoonbills, Red necked Avocets, Sandpipers, Purple Swamp Hens and Australian Pelicans. The different bird species at the lake can vary from year to year depending on food supply and water level. Photographers and walkers do need to be vigilant as Tiger Snakes and Dugites do inhabit the wetlands so protective gear is necessary. Also, many birds of prey feed on some of the local birds.
It is nature, so birds of prey do need to feed to survive. Some of the raptors seen around these lakes include Collared Sparrow hawk, Swamp Harrier, Brown Goshawk, Black-shouldered Kite, Nankeen Kestrel, Australian Hobby, White-bellied Sea Eagle, Little Eagle, Square tailed Kite. Occasionally Wedge tailed Eagle and several vagrant species.
In January of this year when I visited Bibra Lake, early in the morning, I was excited to spot a small flock of Glossy Ibis (Plegadis falcinellus) – an unusual species to see in this part of the world. To get close to the Ibis, I first crouched down and finally ended up crawling through the reeds and mud as not to spook the birds and finally laying on my stomach at eye level. This made for a shallow depth of field. I was fortunate to spot
and get close to a number of sandpipers and waterbirds during this successful adventure..These included Wood Sandpiper, Greenshank and Black winged Stilt.
Extreme southwestern Australia is a biological hot spot for diversity, especially botanically rare and endemic species. Other locations I enjoy visiting are Herdsman Lake, Mandurah Estuary, and Woodman Point. Also, several forest habitats which include Lesmurdie, Jarrahdale and Dwellingup. This is just a small selection of the diverse habitats here in Western Australia.
Naturalists and photographers who visit southwestern Australia are always surprised and happy with our amazing biodiversity.
