Sunday 8 February 2015

Hamilton Freeway Interchange Lakes 1 and 2

Just west of the Graham Farmer Freeway tunnel is a pair of lakes called Hamilton Freeway Interchange Lakes 1 and 2. I've driven past this place a hundred times and so have most Perthites but I had no idea what was there until this weekend.

Dusky Moorhens

A colleague who is a member of the Claise Brook Catchment Group asked me to come along to one of their weeding mornings to do a bird count for them. Of course I agreed.

Although the site is managed by Main Roads, this small group of volunteers has made a substantial impact on the area through their rehabilitation work. An understory of native plants is now established supporting a variety of birds as well as providing shelter for some of Perth's homeless people. When going to the site, especially early in the morning, it is wise to be mindful of who you may be disturbing.

Dusky Moorhen with chick

Hardhead Ducks and an Australasian Grebe

The water quality in the lakes is improving although the catchment is still affected by pollution. Lake 1 is home to numerous water birds: Pacific Black Ducks, the rarer Hardheads (White-eyes), a Little Pied Cormorant, a Little Black Cormorant, a Darter and an Australasian Grebe, as well as breeding groups of Dusky Moorhens and Eurasian Coots. I'm told Black Swans also breed there although I only saw a pair of adults.

Black Swan

Eurasian Coot with chicks

Little Black Cormorant



There is a large population of Red Wattlebirds in the trees around the lakes and a good number of Singing Honeyeaters as well as a couple of Willie Wagtails. There are also plenty of Silvereyes around Lake 2. This lake has a large bed of reeds in it but few water birds, perhaps due to the water quality. As yet, there hasn't been any rehabilitation work carried out around Lake 2.


Singing Honeyeater

Little Black and Little Pied Cormorants

Red Wattlebird

Fleeting glimpse of a male Darter

One of the two Dusky Moorhens at Lake 2

Lake 1

A couple of introduced species were also present: Spotted Doves and Rainbow Lorikeets.

I'm sure there were other birds that I didn't see - at one point I glimpsed a large white bird taking off from the treetops which may have been an egret or an ibis.

It is remarkable to see this quiet little oasis in between the huge concrete freeways supporting life, all thanks to a group of volunteers who care enough to make a difference.







Carnaby's Cockatoos in Kelmscott

One of our neighbours has some macadamia trees that seem to be untended except for the annual attentions of a small flock of the endangered, endemic Carnaby's Cockatoos. Yesterday I chanced on them having a feast of these bush nuts for their breakfast.

Macadamias are tough nuts to crack so the beaks of these cockies must be incredibly strong. Happily, I was never bitten when I did rehabilitation work with them. It's great to see them up close in the wilds - even the wilds of suburban Kelmscott.