Rowes Lagoon, well worth a stop
Blue-billed Duck
Canon EOS R1 with a Canon RF 200-800mm F6.3-9 IS USM Lens [ISO 2000, 800mm, f/9.0 and 1/2500])
A Blue-billed Duck is one of the most aptly named birds in Australia, for the male at least. While I had never seen one before, when I saw a duck with a blue bill swimming at Rowes Lagoon I had a pretty good idea what bird I was looking at. There were several pairs swimming in this simple wetland just off the Federal Highway north of Lake George. There were also a number of other wonderful creatures around, all of which meant I spent more time there than I planned on my return trip to Canberra. I really enjoyed my time photographing at Rowes Lagoon and I hope that you enjoy the photos below.
Although Google Maps has it written as Edmonson VC, the actual rest stop is Edmondson VC Rest Area. Honestly, there is probably not much reason for people to pay this rest stop much attention, drivers are less than an hour away from Canberra and it is not like there is anything particularly noteworthy about this rest area, except for Rowes Lagoon. Auto-spell keeps wanting to correct it to Rose Lagoon but it is most definitely Rowes. I couldn’t find much information on this wetlands through a quick Google search, and the sign at the rest stop notes the importance of the wetlands but doesn’t provide much more information. The lagoon itself is fenced off but you can wander along the fence line for a bit of a walk. Although, I spent mosts of my time in the main part of the rest area near the fence.
Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike on its nest
Canon EOS R1 with a Canon RF 200-800mm F6.3-9 IS USM Lens [ISO 2500, 800mm, f/9.0 and 1/2500])
The Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike (Coracina novaehollandiae) was keeping very quiet. I only saw it when it was silently flying through the trees, landing just above me where its nest was. I only observed one bird and that was the one I photographed on the nest, although by this time of year there should be a pair because they both build the nest. Initially, I hadn’t noticed the nest, which was almost directly above where I was standing, until the bird landed on the branch and nestled straight onto the nest. I suspect it had become accustomed to humans moving around under the branch, which was between where cars stop and the bench and table under a roof.
Blue-billed Duck
Canon EOS R1 with a Canon RF 200-800mm F6.3-9 IS USM Lens [ISO 2000, 800mm, f/9.0 and 1/2500])
There were probably at least ten Blue-billed Ducks (Oxyura australis) among the water plants. Some were spread out but there was a core group at the northern end of the lagoon. In this species, the male has the lovely blue bill while the female has a brown bill and mottled brown plumage, almost like the brown or grey teals. The rich chestnut colour on the back and wings of the male is also part of its breeding attire. These ducks are omnivorous but prefer small aquatic invertebrates. The females, on occasions lays her eggs in other nests, including of other waterbirds. The ducklings are not like cuckoos, in that they don’t kill the competition. Indeed after about a day they are reasonably independent and can feed themselves.
Yellow-rumped Thornbill
Canon EOS R1 with a Canon RF 200-800mm F6.3-9 IS USM Lens [ISO 800, 800mm, f/9.0 and 1/1600])
A Yellow-rumped Thornbill (Acanthiza chrysorrhoa) landed on a branch near me. It wasn’t concerned about how close I was, not even when I pointed my camera at it. There were a few of them around, and they do tend to forage in small groups. They mainly eat insects and other small creatures, although they will also eat seeds.
Swamp Harrier
Canon EOS R1 with a Canon RF 200-800mm F6.3-9 IS USM Lens [ISO 2000, 800mm, f/9.0 and 1/2500])
There was at least one Swamp Harrier (Circus approximans), and possibly more, circling above the wetland while I was watching. They didn't fly that close over me mainly because I was probably on the edge of the wetlands. I didn’t see them dive at any prey but I wsan’t able to keep them under observation the whole time, and sometimes they did disappear from the my line of sight behind trees or the hills. They prefer these open wetlands where they can see prey like small ground animals, or even water birds. It was amazing to watch these birds soar with hardly any flapping of their wings.
Australian White Ibis
Canon EOS R1 with a Canon RF 200-800mm F6.3-9 IS USM Lens [ISO 1250, 800mm, f/9.0 and 1/3200])
A small group of Australian White Ibis (Threskiornis molucca) were walking through the reeds but something spooked them and they took off, heading to a different part of the marsh. They didn’t stay long before returning to their original location. Since the 1970s these birds have started to move into urban environments, where they have become proficient scavengers of human food scraps. So, it is always nice to see them in their natural environment.
Whistling Kites
Canon EOS R1 with a Canon RF 200-800mm F6.3-9 IS USM Lens [ISO 2000, 800mm, f/9.0 and 1/2500])
There were three Whistling Kites (Haliastur sphenurus) around the wetlands. I am not sure what interaction they had with the Swamp Harrier because at one stage it looked like they chased the harrier off but it wasn’t clear because all four birds seemed to be flying along the same direction for a while. In fact, it looked like the kites were flying off because two of them kept flying while the harrier and one kite stayed circling the wetland. Still, it was an impressive sight to see four raptors circling over the wetlands. The kites and harriers will eat similar prey, and the kites will also eat carrion when food is scarce.
Australian Shelducks, male in front and female behind
Canon EOS R1 with a Canon RF 200-800mm F6.3-9 IS USM Lens [ISO 2000, 800mm, f/9.0 and 1/2500])
Two Australian Shelducks (Tadorna tadornoides) flew over the wetlands from south to north. They are known to gather in great numbers on Lake George, just south of the wetlands, where they may have come from. The female has extra markings, with white circles around the eyes and beak. They were beautiful looking birds with their chestnut breasts.
Grey Teals in flight
Canon EOS R1 with a Canon RF 200-800mm F6.3-9 IS USM Lens [ISO 2000, 800mm, f/9.0 and 1/3200])
A small flock of Grey Teals were sporadically flying between parts of the wetlands.The slightly different tones depicted in the photo could be that the darker one is an adult, while the lighter ones are juveniles still accompanying a parent. These birds prefer shallow fresh-water with a lot of cover so I can understand why they would like the well-vegetated Rowes Lagoon. I was very happy with this photograph because it has all the birds with their wings down, giving a lovely unity across the image with a simple background that recedes into a blur.
Mainland Tiger Snake
Canon EOS R1 with a Canon RF 200-800mm F6.3-9 IS USM Lens [ISO 1250, 800mm, f/9.0 and 1/1250])
I must have initially walked past this Mainland Tiger Snake (Notechis scutatus) and only noticed it when I back tracked along the fence line to photograph the birdlife. When I first noticed the snake, it was slithering through the low plants on the edge of the wetlands. I took a few photographs of it from the other side of the fence before the snake turned towards the fence. It didn’t make a straight line for the fence but continued to meander through the plants, constantly flicking its tongue out. When it was on the same side of the fence as me, where the plants were mown so there were no obstructions between the lens and the snake, I laid down do try to take an eye-level shot of the snake. I remained still and was very happy when the snake turned towards me. The snake wasn’t aggressive and I gave it space. When I had my shots, I slowly stood up so as not to startle the snake. It simply paused, changed its direction and continued its meandering. Afterwards, I had to keep an eye on where it was because I didn’t want to accidentally stand on the poor reptile while it was on the rest area side of the fence. Eventually, the snake must have decided that there was no prey in the area and crossed back beneath the fence to the vegetation beside the wetland. Tiger snakes favour living near wetlands and small bodies of water where there is plenty of prey. They are not aggressive, preferring to flee if possible. I certainly found this individual to be docile, with no aggressive behaviour at all. For me, it was incredible to closely observe this animal moving around its environment, constantly sensing its surroundings with its tongue, and being able to take this photo really made my day.
I had always wanted to stop at Edmondson VC Rest Area to see Rowes Lagoon in spring and I am glad that I finally had the opportunity. The location was teaming with life, making the decision very rewarding. As I wrote at the start, I stayed there a lot longer than I had planned and I definitely want to return. I would certainly recommend stopping, especially during late spring and early summer, if the wetlands have plenty of water. It seems like it s a fantastic habitat for a range of animals.
