Eremaea Birds
A free birding atlas to which anyone can contribute.

Lake Mokoan/Winton Wetlands

Region: Australia: Victoria
Location: 36°27'06"S 146°05'46"E
Description: A former irrigation reservoir at Chesney Vale commissioned in 1970. The reservoir flooded the original wetlands of Winton Swamp and Green Swamp, and a series of smaller swamps in the complex. The lake had unacceptable losses of water through evaporation and problems with blue-green algae. So after a lengthy process was decommissioned in 2010. The site was renamed Winton Wetlands (after the original swamp) and is currently in the process of being rehabilitated to a series of shallow red gum wetlands and grassy box woodland around the edges. The site supports a wide variety of wetland and bush species.
Period: 2/7/2010
List: 56320
List Status: Published in Atlas
Observer:Michael Ramsey (Bronzewing Birding Services)
Species:60
Prepared: 9/9/2010
 
Common Names

SpeciesScientific NameCommentCount
Graylag GooseAnser anserOdd sighting. One free flying bird with Black Swans around the spit. Looked quite happy roosting and flying about with the other waterfowl.  
Freckled DuckStictonetta naevosa1, roosting on log in middle of the lake. 
Black SwanCygnus atratushundreds, many with well grown but not yet flying cygnets 
Australian ShelduckTadorna tadornoidesOnly a few grazing on the eastern shore 
Australian Wood DuckChenonetta jubatajust 1 
Pacific Black DuckAnas superciliosaonly a few 
Australasian ShovelerAnas rhynchotishundreds, second most dominant duck after Grey Teal 
Grey TealAnas gracilis2000+, still many but numbers are dropping as the water level of the lake drops 
Chestnut TealAnas castanea1 male with Grey Teal 
HardheadAythya australisonly 1 male, lake is probably too shallow to support many of this species 
Australian PelicanPelecanus conspicillatushundreds 
Little Black CormorantPhalacrocorax sulcirostris1 
White-necked HeronArdea pacificaonly 1, numbers have declined at this site over last few weeks 
Great EgretArdea alba20-30 
White-faced HeronEgretta novaehollandiae70+, most in one large flock on the southern side, many young/juvenile looking birds in the group  
Glossy IbisPlegadis falcinellus4 birds on the southern side 
Australian White IbisThreskiornis molucca10+ 
Straw-necked IbisThreskiornis spinicollis1 
Royal SpoonbillPlatalea regia1, roosting on log 
Yellow-billed SpoonbillPlatalea flavipes20+ 
Whistling KiteHaliastur sphenurus16, many overhead or feeding and scavenging around the lake shore 
Swamp HarrierCircus approximans1, over tern colony 
Wedge-tailed EagleAquila audax2, over hills to the south 
Nankeen KestrelFalco cenchroides2 
Brown FalconFalco berigora6 
Purple SwamphenPorphyrio porphyrio20+, many feeding in sparse reeds in the middle of the lake including some well grown juveniles 
Masked LapwingVanellus miles100+ 
Red-capped PloverCharadrius ruficapillus15, around the expansive mud on the northern side 
Black-fronted DotterelElseyornis melanops1, gravel by road into the lake 
Black-winged StiltHimantopus leucocephalus200+, large flock roosting in very shallow water 
Marsh SandpiperTringa stagnatilis2, probably the same birds observed here over the last few weeks 
Silver GullChroicocephalus novaehollandiae100+ 
White-winged Black TernChlidonias leucopterus1, found with the hundreds of Whiskered Terns 
Whiskered TernChlidonias hybrida400+, very common, breeding confirmed, now the water level of the lake has dropped could walk out further and see a large breeding colony with many near fledging young being fed by busy parents 
Crested PigeonGeophaps lophotes1 
GalahEolophus roseicapillaonly 2 
Little CorellaCacatua sanguinea1 
Sulphur-crested CockatooCacatua galeritahundreds 
Red-rumped ParrotPsephotus haematonotuscommon around boat ramp 
Superb Fairy-wrenMalurus cyaneus4 
White-plumed HoneyeaterLichenostomus penicillatusa few at boat ramp 
Noisy MinerManorina melanocephalasmall group at boat ramp 
Red WattlebirdAnthochaera carunculata1 
White-browed BabblerPomatostomus superciliosus6, small group in Hedge Wattles near boat ramp 
Dusky WoodswallowArtamus cyanopterus7, adults feeding 3 juveniles 
Australian MagpieGymnorhina tibicen2 
Willie WagtailRhipidura leucophrys2 
Magpie-larkGrallina cyanoleuca2 
Restless FlycatcherMyiagra inquieta1 
Australian RavenCorvus coronoides3 
Little RavenCorvus mellori16, flock drinking at dam 
Horsfield's BushlarkMirafra javanica1, singing over the grassy edge of the lake 
Welcome SwallowHirundo neoxena300+, massive flock including many young birds 
Fairy MartinPetrochelidon ariel1, Welcome Swallows 
Tree MartinPetrochelidon nigricans100+, many young birds in flock too 
Rufous SonglarkCincloramphus mathewsi1 
Golden-headed CisticolaCisticola exilis5, in rushes near boar ramp 
Common StarlingSturnus vulgaris5 
Australasian PipitAnthus novaeseelandiae2 
Diamond FiretailStagonopleura guttata1 bird heard at boat ramp 



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