Driving into Canberra from the north along the Federal Highway the road skirts past Lake George in what is still New South Wales. Most people may be confused when driving past the “lake” as it is more often not there. The lake is not fed by any major river, rather it is filled by rain water that has trouble penetrating the sub-strata beneath the lake. I wanted to have a closer look at the area to see what animal life I could find. I was also interested to photograph the escarpment to the west of the lake as it dominates the drive alongside the lake. I was excited to find an Australian Jewel Spider very soon after arriving. I was even more thrilled when a group of Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoos made an appearance. It was just a lovely morning getting close to an iconic location, even if I never actually saw the “lake”. I hope you enjoy the photographs below.
Looking along a rock embankment to the Lake George escarpment
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF-S 18-55mm f3.5-5.6 IS STM [ISO 200, 29mm, f/22 and 1/40 SEC])
Looking across a dry Lake George to a wind farm in the distance
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF-S 18-55mm f3.5-5.6 IS STM [ISO 200, 35mm, f/22 and 1/20 SEC])
A dead tree in front of trees with their autumn foliage
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF-S 18-55mm f3.5-5.6 IS STM [ISO 200, 26mm, f/22 and 1/50 SEC])
Below Weereewa Lookout with a dead-looking pond in the foreground
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF-S 18-55mm f3.5-5.6 IS STM [ISO 200, 26mm, f/22 and 1/50 SEC])
An Eastern Grey Kangaroo standing on, what in times of heavy rain, was the lake floor
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 200, 400mm, f/22 and 1/40 SEC])
I did not really find a concentration of birdlife until I arrived at the middle part of the lake below the Weereewa Lookout. That little patch of vegetation, beside a very discoloured pond, had the usual small birds. The birds I was first able to photograph were some Superb Fairy-wrens (Malurus cyaneus). There was at least a male and a female, although the male had lost his breeding plumage. They moved between shrubs in the are as well as hopping along the slope through the rocky area.
Two Superb Fairy-wrens safe in the bramble
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 250, 321mm, f/11 and 1/1000 SEC])
There were also a group of Yellow-rumped Thornbills (Acanthiza chrysorrhoa), possibly up to four. They were also moving between the shrubs and small plants.
Yellow-rumped Thornbill
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 400, 321mm, f/9.0 and 1/1250 SEC])
I could hear the unmistakable call of these Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoos (Calyptorhynchus funereus) for possibly ten minutes but it seemed to be coming from the dried expanses of the lake, yet there were no trees and these birds did not appear to be on the ground. Eventually, the calls became louder and these four lovely looking cockatoos flew across the lake from the east. They were flying slowly, four abreast. They flew to the tops of the conifers at the Anderson VC Rest Stop where I was able to get more photographs of them. They stayed in the tree for about ten minutes, possibly eating pine cones, alhthough one shot I had showed one bird with a mass of pine needles in its beak. They then flew west again, over the area of Weereewa Lookout.
A group of Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoos flyings across Lake George
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 400, 400mm, f/9.0 and 1/1250 SEC])
Two of the cockatoos in the top of a conifer
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 400, 400mm, f/8.0 and 1/1250 SEC])
My first stop was at the Badcoe VC Rest Stop where I climbed down the rock wall to the tall grass below. Walking through that area I suddenly came across an Australian Jewel Spider (Austracantha minax) with its web strung between some of the tall reed-like plants. It was sitting in the middle, waiting. I was able to get pictures of both sides of the spider. Unfortunately, I bumped the web while moving around the web and the spider rushed to the top. I decided to leave before I caused more problems.
The beautiful top side of an Australian Jewel Spider
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF-S 18-55mm f3.5-5.6 IS STM [ISO 400, 55mm, f/10 and 1/125 SEC])
The underside is also colourful
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF-S 18-55mm f3.5-5.6 IS STM [ISO 320, 55mm, f/9.0 and 1/250 SEC])