Royal Spoonbill, Hattah-Kulkyne National Park

Royal Spoonbill, Lake Hattah, Victoria

Our holiday in Victoria

September 2007

During our holiday in Victoria last year we visited the Hattah-Kulkyne National Park in the north west part of the state.

Over recent years this system of lakes has not had much – if any – water due to the drought. This has resulted in poor flows in the nearby River Murray, the only source of water for the lakes. This is disappointing, because when filled with water – or even partially full, the lakes are a haven for water birds in their thousands.

Last year a special partial filling of the lakes was authorised and so it was with a high level of anticipation we spent several hours in the park on our way to Mildura.

One species I have only occasionally recorded in these lakes is the Royal Spoonbill, shown in the above photo. This is always a pleasing species to encounter. In my experience the Yellow-billed Spoonbill is far more common. This one was feeding in the shallows near where we had morning tea.