Day 24, Mildura to Goolwa
The predicted cold front arrived in Mildura overnight and we had clear skies but cold temperatures with the sort of wind chill that is unheard of for this time of year… most of us were wishing we’d packed warmer jackets (except Heath, our frost hardy observer from Victoria).
Photo: River Murray channel downstream of Mildura
Survey details
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Date
Tuesday 4th November 2025
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Author
John Porter
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Project
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Observers
John Porter (NSW DCCEEW), Richard Kingsford (UNSW), Heath Dunstan (Vic GMA), Shelley Thompson (MDBA)
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Pilot
Thomas Martin
We worked out way down the Murray floodplain, criss-crossing the floodplain to count numerous billabongs, lakes and waterholes. We found moderate numbers of waterbirds – mainly Grey Teal, Black Duck, Wood Duck, cormorants, Pelicans and Darters. Many of these sites were dry or drying back. Some that did have water (including Lakes Limbra and Merreti) had large numbers of birds - mainly Grey Teal, Pelicans, Black Duck, Coot and Black Swans.
Photo: The River Murray channel west of Mildura
Soon after crossing the New South Wales/South Australian border we surveyed the flooded Coombool Swamp.
Coombool Swamp with thousands of Coot on an island
Coombool Swamp
West of Waikerie is Stockyard Plains disposal basin, a large (500 ha) saline wetland created from groundwater extraction. It can support tens of thousands of waterbirds but today it had moderate numbers of Black Swans, Coot, Grey Teal, Hardhead and terns.
Our final destination for the day were Lakes Alexandrina and Albert, two very large freshwater lakes that are filled by the River Murray before it makes its way to the Pacific Ocean. The westerly wind was blowing strongly which made the counting more challenging than usual. There were moderate numbers of waterbirds – mainly Pelicans, cormorants, Grey Teal, Black Duck, Mountain Duck, ibis and terns.
There were a few rookeries with thousands of Straw-necked Ibis and also Royal Spoonbill and White Ibis nesting side by side.
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