Visited: Autumn
Recommendation: This is an area worthy of exploration but needs a good amount of time as the wildlife is spread across quite a range. The water level also dictates what might be seen but I would always return to the weir, just outside of town for the quiet and abundance of water birds there.
It was a bit of a mixed bag at Lake Cargelligo. The surrounding National Parks that I wanted to visit were closed due to fire and flood damage, which ruled them out. The lake itself was huge and usually that means the birds are spread out and difficult to find. Major works around the lake also cut off access to parts of it.
After seeking some local help, I scoped out some places and saw some great birds. However, they did advise me not to go to the weir, where I had planned to stay because access was difficult after recent rains. So I stayed in one of the free campsites in town but it was dull with no birds and a generic lake view.
So, against my better judgement, I headed to the weir just to have a look. The track from the main road was cut up but I finally have an idea about what the van can manage and I got through without too much trouble. And boy it was worth it. The campsite was in a forested area, right next to the river and just up from the weir itself. Immediately I saw dozens and dozens of herons and cormorants swirling around above me.
Up river from the weir, it was quiet and I sat there for a while watching the Nankeen Night Herons fishing. I have never seen so many of these gorgeous birds, it was even better than Fivebough Swamp. This is an adult bird fishing.
Nankeen Night Heron (Nycticorax caledonicus)
Most of the time, however, I sat just down from the weir. The birds were incredibly skittish and took off en masse every time I approached, even if I crawled! The good news was that they returned, slowly but I was in no rush. The herons would take position on the rocks of the weir to fish and it was wonderful to watch as they jostled for position. The little Nankeen Night Herons held their own against the larger Pacific Heron and Great Egret.
Pacific Heron (Ardea pacifica)
The Pacific Heron exhibits interesting differences in its plumage depending on the season.
During the non-breeding season, the Pacific Heron has a more subdued appearance. The head and neck are primarily white or creamy white, with some individuals showing faint streaking or mottling, particularly on the foreneck. The back, wings, and tail are a dark, sooty grey or slate grey.
As breeding season approaches, the Pacific Heron undergoes a transformation to a more striking appearance. The white on the head and neck becomes brighter and cleaner. The grey coloration on the back, wings, and tail may develop a slight greenish sheen.
A key feature of breeding plumage is the development of maroon-colored lanceolate (shaped like a pointed leaf) plumes on the back and lower neck of the adult heron. These neck plumes add a decorative touch and are displayed during courtship displays.
There were 3 species of cormorant here as well as the darter (who didn't stick around unfortunately) and I managed to catch the 2 smaller species.
Little Pied Cormorant (Microcarbo melanoleucos)
Little Black Cormorant (Phalacrocorax sulcirostris)
After a long time at the weir with stiff hands from taking so many shots, I had a look around the forested area and got some really good birds. I had to chase them around a bit but eventually got some shots.
Black Kite (Milvus migrans)
Brown Treecreeper (Climacteris picumnus)
Varied Sittella (Daphoenositta chrysoptera)
Geologists believe Lake Cargelligo is a relic of a much larger, ancient lake system that existed millions of years ago when a vast inland sea covered much of central Australia. Over time, tectonic movements and climate changes caused this inland sea to shrink and fragment into smaller lakes and basins. Lake Cargelligo is thought to be a remnant of this larger body of water. The Lachlan River, which flows near the lake today, likely played a role in shaping and filling the lake basin over time.
The lake is an important part of the Lachlan River storage control system. Because it's not very deep and can dry out during extended dry periods, Lake Cargelligo is classified as a shallow ephemeral lake. This makes it, and the surrounding water systems, an interesting place to explore and find a wide variety of birds and other animals.