Day 15, Sydney to Broken Hill

Our first target today as we travel west along survey Band 4 is Burrendong Dam – in the shallow margins there are moderate numbers of waterbirds, mainly Wood Ducks, Pelicans and cormorants.

After a series of small wetlands (many less than 1 hectare and with very few waterbirds), we reach the lakes of the Teryaweynya and Talyawalka creeks system, which, as expected, are all dry. These shallow temporary wetlands can support large numbers of waterbirds when flooded.

Next up is the Menindee Lakes system – these have dried back considerably compared to the previous year, and Menindee Lake is less than half full. The shallow waters are productive, however, and we find moderate to large numbers of waterbirds; mostly Grey Teals, Black Ducks, Wood Ducks, Pelicans, Pied Cormorants, egrets, Caspian Terns, Gull-billed Terns, Silver Gulls, Yellow-billed Spoonbill and, Straw-necked and White Ibis.

Apart from Menindee Lake, most of the large lakes are holding water – though markedly less than last year. After several hours of solid counting, we head into Broken Hill for the evening.