Lake Burley Griffin is an artificial lake located in the middle of Canberra city. For some people in the city it is an unofficial division between the north and south of the city. While the lake was part of the original design of Canberra financial decisions taken at the creation of Canberra meant that the lake was only completed about five decades after the rest of the city. However, now, it is an integral part of the urban life-style of so many Canberrans, whether they play on it, around it or just enjoy a passing glimpse as they commute near it. The lake is a place I enjoy greatly, whether I am in my kayak paddling on it or on my bike cycling around it. It is also a location that attracts a lot of wildlife, especially birds.
This post sort of fell together when I realised that I had a number of photographs related to the lake and the waterways connected to it. I therefore decided to do a large post to include all those photos together. The post is an eclectic mix but I hope that you like the photographs below.
Double rainbows over Lake Burley Griffin
(Canon EOS 6D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 250, 104mm, f/14 and 1/160 SEC])
Before getting into the main photographs I thought that I would introduce my kayak because it was key to my taking most of the pictures that are displayed in this post. There was nothing particularly special about my kayak, other than I thoroughly enjoyed my paddling in it. I gradually become confident in taking photographs while I was sitting in the kayak on the water. I had a waterproof bag that I attached to the front deck for my DSLR while I used a dry bag that I stowed between my legs inside the kayak for my drone. You can also see the compartment hatches, in the photograph below, where I could store other things if I wad doing a longer trip. The kayak itself was a Riot Brittany 16.5 kayak that I bought at a closing down sale because it was a good price and the kayak was the right size. As I said above, I thoroughly enjoyed paddling this kayak and I am looking forward to where else it may take me.
Me in my kayak on the lake
DJI Mavic Air 2 [ISO 800, 4.5mm, f/2.8 and 1/200 SEC]
Near Scrivener Dam
DJI Mavic Air 2 [ISO 100, 4.5mm, f/2.8 and 1/240 SEC]
My kayak’s bow, trying an artistic shot
(Canon EOS 6D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 400, 400mm, f/8.0 and 1/200 SEC])
A bird species that I often saw over the summer was the Australian Pelican (Pelecanus conspicillatus). Pelicans seemed to migrate to Canberra in the warmer months although there may be some that stick around for the whole year but this may be linked more to the existence of other water bodies that the pelicans move to rather than temperature. They seemed to like the area where I launched from at Yarralumla, where I would often see them on or near the swimming pontoons. In the early morning, around the dawn, I would see pelicans resting on the pontoons. I would rarely see them swimming but the first photograph below does show a morning that I was lucky enough to see two pelicans swimming at a steady pace through the placid water. Unfortunately, the sun had not risen so I had to use a high ISO value to have a fast enough shutter speed.
This is the only species of the seven global species that exists in Australia. These birds eat a wide variety of food and normally pursue fish in groups so that they can ‘herd’ their prey to a convenient location. That said, numbers on the lake tend to be low, often only individuals so while they may eat fish they may also be consuming other sources of food.
Two Australian Pelicans swimming in the half-light of dawn
(Canon EOS 6D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 2000, 400mm, f/6.3 and 1/250 SEC])
Moat likely the same two, a while later, the birds do like these swimming pontoons
(Canon EOS 6D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 100, 400mm, f/8.0 and 1/400 SEC])
A different morning found an Australian Pelican on the swimming pontoon
(Canon EOS 6D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 100, 400mm, f/8.0 and 1/800 SEC])
Australian Pelican from a different angle
DJI Mavic Air 2 [ISO 100, 4.5mm, f/2.8 and 1/2000 SEC]
Black Swans (Cygnus atratus) were common on the lake with a number of individuals wearing bands on their legs, probably indicating a degree of monitoring was occurring. Swans with cygnets were also a common sight around the lake over summer, with some birds frequenting areas of high-human activity. The birds did not seem to mind the attention paid to them and their brood, and people tended to give them space rather than crowd them for photographs.
These swans were beautiful birds with their pure black plumage and rich, red beaks. They would feed on vegetation and many a time I would paddle by a swan with its head deep underwater, with its neck staining to go deeper and the swan had no concerns about my presence.
This family, seen in the photograph, was at the western end of the lake and was crossing a number of permanently marked lanes where rowers were powering up and down. Everybody seemed to get on with their respective lives without incident between swan or rower.
Family of Black Swans
(Canon EOS 6D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 640, 400mm, f/8.0 and 1/250 SEC])
Australasian Darter were also numerous around the lake. However, I realised that so many of the photographs that I took were of females or juveniles; I had none of males. The problem that I found with darters was that they were skittish so would often swim off if they thought that I was approaching. They would go from having their wings outstretched drying to closing their wings. They would start bobbing on their perch and looking from side to side rapidly. They would often defecate as well. They would make a few moves like they were preparing to dive into the water before dropping into the water to swim-off submerged and out of my sight. I would try to avoid scaring the birds but sometimes my kayak would keep drifting towards them or my paddle movement to slow my advance would scare them. Other times, no matter how far away I was from the bird, the fact that I was even pointing in their direction was enough for them to flee.
Males stood out from females and juveniles because the male plumage was almost all black, with an obvious chestnut brown patch where the nick kinks. Females and juveniles had white to greyish necks and chests. These birds were normally solitary. only forming pairs when they were going to breed. So while I may see a female, it would not mean a male was about.
The juvenile in the first picture was in some sunken trees along the foreshore at Weston Park. While I was happy photographing the females and juveniles, I really wanted to photograph a male as well. So I became obsessed with getting a decent photo of a male darter.
One day I saw the tell-tale snake-like all black neck above the water near Scrivener Dam. The darter quickly noticed me and slowly started swimming to the line of buoys that marked the prohibited area for water craft and swimmers near the dam. The bird climbed up on a connecting rod between buoys, while I stayed at a distance. Eventually, it decided that I was too close and dropped into the water on the other side of the line of buoys.
On another day, I was paddling up the quiet Sullivans Creek that led to the Australian National University (ANU). I saw a male darter on the opposite side of the creek from where I was paddling. It seemed that my movement to get my DSLR out of the waterproof bag was enough to send the bird fleeing, although this one decided to fly whereas most of the other times the birds swam away.
Yet another male was around the lake another time but again it was not prepared to let me get close.
Finally, one morning, I was paddling down near the Governor General’s official residence when I saw a male darter drying its wings on a sunken, dead tree, photpgraph five below. The bird was aware of me but not trying to flee. I slowed the kayak and prepared my camera. The bird was shuffling its position but not fleeing, so I was starting to get excited.. Unhelpfully I was on in shadow cast by the trees as the morning sun slowly arose to light the far bank on the other side of the lake. I had to increase the ISO but the bird was still calm, it even spread its wings again. It kept looking at me but at no stage did it attempt to flee. I was elated, I felt that I had finally had a chance to get a decent shot of a male Australasian Darter. He was a beautiful example of this species and as happy as I was I knew that I was now hooked on getting a still better shot.
The next chance I had was when I was paddling up the Molonglo River, that flows into Lake Burley Griffin. Again, it was early in the morning so the light was not great. While I was paddling I saw a male darter on a sign warning about the danger of an underwater cable. I let the kayak drift closer to the bird while I tested my settings because the sun was rising behind this black bird, confusing the camera’s in-built lighting metre. Happily, I was able to get some shots without scaring the bird, I even managed to turn the kayak away before I got too close and the bird flew away. I really liked the composition but I wished the lighting had been from the other side to light the bird better.
Australasian Darter juvenile
(Canon EOS 6D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 400, 400mm, f/8.0 and 1/400 SEC])
Australasian Darter male swimming near Scrivener Dam
(Canon EOS 6D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 1000, 400mm, f/8.0 and 1/200 SEC])
This male at Sullivans Creek did not feel like sticking about for a photograph
(Canon EOS 6D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 1600, 400mm, f/7.1 and 1/400 SEC])
Still looking for that shot
(Canon EOS 6D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 250, 400mm, f/8.0 and 1/400 SEC])
Finally happy with a picture of a male darter
(Canon EOS 6D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 800, 400mm, f/8.0 and 1/200 SEC])
I also liked this photograph of an Australasian Darter but for different reasons
(Canon EOS 6D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 320, 400mm, f/8.0 and 1/250 SEC])
The time that I was photographing the male Australasian Darter near Scrivener Dam I also took a few shots of this Dusky Moorhen (Gallinula tenebrosa). This moorhen was walking through the rocks to the water, where it preened itself.
These birds eat plants, both aquatic and terrestrial, as well as small invertebrates and have also been recorded as eating carrion.
Dusky Moorhen
(Canon EOS 6D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 1600, 400mm, f/7.1 and 1/400 SEC])
One morning I noticed that a group of Little Black Cormorants (Phalacrocorax sulcirostris) had taken up position on one of the swimming platforms that I often photographed. I had seen one or two of this species at these pontoons but never a group like this. One of them was in the water but climbed onto the pontoon. There was a reaction from some birds when a Silver Gull came to land but once it was on the pontoon there was no further interaction.
Little Black Cormorants on a swimming pontoon
(Canon EOS 6D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 400, 400mm, f/10 and 1/320 SEC])
Silver Gulls (Chroicocephalus novaehollandiae) are probably the most common waterbird in Australia and the bird most people along the coast are familiar with. They are also plentiful around Lake Burley Griffin. There was always a group of them at the small beach that I launched my kayak from. Although they were common birds I don’t mind photographing them. I even used my drone to photograph them a couple of tines. The second photograph was from an inlet in the north-west part of the lake where the larger device toward the bottom of the post was located. I believed the triangular platform was connected with that device because there were two platforms near the device, separated by about the width of the device. There was a gull perched at the top right of the platform, although the bird is a bit hard to see in the photograph against the wood. The bottom picture was of a group of gulls on one of the swimming pontoons that I liked to photograph. I really enjoyed seeing the birds from the vertical angle, especially with the shadows from the standing birds and the one bird flying off. Even though I had my drone over the pontoon for a while, at various heights, the gulls did not show much reaction to it.
Silver Gull on a post
(Canon EOS 6D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 400, 220mm, f/10 and 1/320 SEC])
Silver Gull on the top right part of this small structure - note also the evidence of the birds use of this structure
DJI Mavic Air 2 [ISO 120, 4.5mm, f/2.8 and 1/15 SEC]
A group of Silver Gulls on what is becoming one of my favourite backdrops, a swimming pontoon
DJI Mavic Air 2 [ISO 100, 4.5mm, f/2.8 and 1/500 SEC]
I was also happy that I saw a number of Great Cormorants (Phalacrocorax carbo) because I enjoyed photographing cormorants just like I enjoyed photographing darters. The bird in the first photograph was the same bird seen in the photograph at the top of this post. It was on the top of one of the pylons in Yarralumla Bay. I was getting towards the end of my paddle and I had gone closer to the southern side of that part of the lake than I usually do when I noticed this cormorant on the pylon. I realised that I had a good photographic opportunity because if I paddled past the pylon before turning towards it again, I would have the sun directly behind me illuminating the cormorant and the slight wind would continue to blow me towards the bird. So I described a wide arc to avoid worrying the bird then lined up the kayak towards the bird before letting the wind blow me. I kept photographing as the kayak moved closer. The bird was showing a bit of agitation but was holding firm to its position. I was so caught up photographing one of my favourite birds that it was only when I could not fit the bird into frame of my camera did I realise how close I was getting. At that point I gently used my paddle to ensure that my kayak started to curve away from the pylon. The cormorant regarded me with quiet interest while I drifted past but did not seem that worried about me. I was happy with the photos I was able to get, especially the one that heads up this post.
The second shot was of two cormorants that were on the usual swimming pontoon. They were very aware of the drone above them and started to mover towards the edge as seen in the photograph. That was when I flew the drone back to me because I did not want to disturb the birds any more than I had.
Great Cormorant on a navigation warning pylon
(Canon EOS 6D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 100, 400mm, f/8.0 and 1/400 SEC])
Two Great Cormorants on a swimming pontoon
DJI Mavic Air 2 [ISO 400, 4.5mm, f/2.8 and 1/500 SEC]
One morning, while paddling down the Molonglo River, near where it would meet the lake, I saw a Sacred Kingfisher (Todiramphus sanctus) on a dead tree. I had heard it calling as well. The bird did not stay long on the branch and because the morning was still dark, I had to bump up my ISO to get a photograph.
Despite its name, this species does not actually eat many fish, instead it mainly eats land animals. Their shimmering aqua blue plumage is beautiful to see in the sunlight and they are a spectacular warmer-weather migrant to Canberra. I am always happy when I come across one of these wonderfully coloured birds.
Sacred Kingfisher up the Molonglo River
(Canon EOS 6D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 4000, 400mm, f/8.0 and 1/320 SEC])
This White-browed Scrubwren (Sericornis frontalis) was in a tree along Sullivans Creek on the grounds of ANU. I had paddled right up the creek to where it flowed down a cascade. On my way back I saw a small bird flying around the bank and managed to get this shot, fortunately, with the very obvious face markings of this species. The bird did not stay put long and soon it was just leaves moving on different parts of the tree as it continued its search for food further within the foliage.
White-browed Scrubwren at Sullivans Creek
(Canon EOS 6D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 320, 400mm, f/8.0 and 1/320 SEC])
Coming down the Molonglo one morning I was fortunate to encounter an Australian Reed Warbler (Acrocephalus australis) that was on some of the outer plants of the reed patch that it was in. The bird was calling and moving through this sparse group of plants. However, it did not stay long there before it flew back to a more substantial and lusher bunch of reeds.
Australian Reed Warbler
(Canon EOS 6D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 2000, 400mm, f/8.0 and 1/400 SEC])
Paddling along Sullivans Creek when the morning sun was already starting to wise and light the western side of the bank meant that there was a very good chance that I would see a number of Gippsland Water Dragons (Intellagama lesueurii howitti) out sunning themselves. Part of their defence mechanism was to stay still, which combined with their habituation to so many uni students passing them without interest meant that these reptiles were not startled easily. It was enjoyable to let the kayak drift slowly towards them with my eye glued to the view finder. I loved the colours that some of these lizards displayed.
I also came across one of these dragons in Woolshed Creek that flowed into the Molonglo River east of and upstream of the lake. The creek was very overgrown, with its banks lined with the thorn-covered invasive BlackBerry bush. I was paddling slowly down the creek having decided to see how far I could get past the obstacles to explore up the creek. On the way back I was taking it easy, watching out for sunken trees and other submerged hazards. I was ducking under some willow branches when I noticed the hollowed out stump of a long-gone tree. Something seemed a bit strange about the stump when I drifted past, before I realised that a water dragon was clinging to it, with only the lizard’s head out of the water. I was able to turn my kayak around and come past it again without disturbing the reptile. It looked at me for a while but once I was drifting it focussed forward on something that I could not see. I really liked how its head was partly reflected in the still water but its body was also partially discernible underwater.
Gippsland Water Dragon sunning itself on the bank of Sullivans Creek
(Canon EOS 6D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 250, 400mm, f/8.0 and 1/400 SEC])
Gippsland Water Dragon on a different day
(Canon EOS 6D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 320, 400mm, f/8.0 and 1/320 SEC])
Gippsland Water Dragon in a congested part of Woolshed Creek just before it flows into the Molonglo River
(Canon EOS 6D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 2000, 400mm, f/8.0 and 1/400 SEC])
I have not seen a dragonfly nymph underwater yet but I did find this casing on a weed sticking out of a sunken trunk. A photograph of the whole stump is immediately below the dragonfly nymph photo. I photographed the plant because, when I first saw it from a distance, I thought that the tree was regenerating, however, when I was closer I realised that it was a weed that had started to grow from the stump. Despite it being a weed, I still liked how nature was not wasting anything, even a dead stump almost submerged in water can provide a basis for a plant, which in turn can support other life. I am not sure how the nymph ended up in that location because the water was deeper than my paddle could find the bottom but this little insect had managed to climb the stump out of the water to this plant and then transform into the next stage of its life.
Dragonfly case
(Canon EOS 6D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 1250, 400mm, f/8.0 and 1/400 SEC])
Stump with a weed growing out of it in the Molonglo River
(Canon EOS 6D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 1250, 100mm, f/8.0 and 1/250 SEC])
I came across this fallen tree at Weston Park. I just liked the colour and the way the still lake surface was providing some reflection.
Fallen tree in the lake
(Canon EOS 6D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 250, 400mm, f/8.0 and 1/200 SEC])
As I said in the introduction, the lake has become a popular recreational location for many people in Canberra. There were normally rowers out when I was paddling and the lake had a couple of locations where rowing lanes were permanently marked.
Hot air ballooning was common in Canberra with the lake providing a lovely backdrop for that activity. One morning I had my drone up taking a photograph of a small pedestrian bridge when I realised that a balloon was coming by. I was able to gain a bit of hight with the drone to photograph the balloon against the Royal Canberra Golf Club and still get a bit of the lake’s still waters in the picture.
The bridge that I was photographing is in the shot immediately below. It was just a small bridge that joined the lake’s bike path across an inlet. The morning was still dark so the light was not the best but I do like how the white handrails contrasted against the darter background.
The next photograph shows a device the I believed had to do with the dam’s maintenance and it was quietly tucked away in an inlet that was not obvious from most vantage points. I liked the juxtaposition of the cold metal and unnaturally straight lines of the device against the plants growing around it. The picture also higtlights a regular problem that the lake has, blue-green algae. With the heat and stagnant water the lake experienced an algal outbreak that caused a ban on being in the water. The picture shows how the algae can concentrate at the end of the lake where the water flows and where the wind had blown it in that direction.
The last photo is of the location where the buoy barrier comes to shore at the western end of Scrivener Dam. This barrier was meant as an indication for recreational users not to go any closer to the dam wall due to the danger.
Rower training on the lake in the early morning
(Canon EOS 6D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 160, 400mm, f/8.0 and 1/400 SEC])
A popular place for early morning balloon tours
DJI Mavic Air 2 [ISO 400, 4.5mm, f/2.8 and 1/400 SEC]
Bridge carrying the bike path over the inlet that leads to the Royal Golf Club
DJI Mavic Air 2 [ISO 800, 4.5mm, f/2.8 and 1/400 SEC]
Equipment used to maintain the lake surrounded by water covered in blue-green algae
DJI Mavic Air 2 [ISO 120, 4.5mm, f/2.8 and 1/15 SEC]
Where the warning buoys meet the shoreline
DJI Mavic Air 2 [ISO 100, 4.5mm, f/2.8 and 1/320 SEC]
Below Scrivener Dam the Molonglo River river continued to flow, with its rate determined by the release from Lake Burley Griffin. Also, just below the dam the Molonglo was joined by Yarralumla Creek, which for much of its length was actually a rainwater drain but as it approached the Molonglo River reverted to a more natural form. I took the drone to the confluence in mid-January to take some photographs. At that time the water level was low because there had not been rain for a while. I do like photographing confluences because there are often texture differences between the rivers caused by the unequal flow rate and volume. A silt spit had formed at the confluence but even there, blue-green algae existed where the river water pooled on the spit. The blue-green algae left a clear green line lapping at the waters edge.
Confluence of the Molonglo River, on the right flowing to the top of the picture,, with Yarralumla Creek, on the left
DJI Mavic Air 2 [ISO 200, 4.5mm, f/2.8 and 1/1600 SEC]
Silt build-up at the confluence
DJI Mavic Air 2 [ISO 100, 4.5mm, f/2.8 and 1/1000 SEC]
Blue-green algae build-up on the silt
DJI Mavic Air 2 [ISO 100, 4.5mm, f/2.8 and 1/640 SEC]
I thought that it was fitting that the last picture in this post was from down river of Scrivener Dam, just as the Molonglo River flowed through Lake Burley Griffin. It gives an idea of how the Molonglo Valley looked before the dam. It is sad that this part of the Molonglo Valley has changed because of the damming of the river but if there was a plus side it is the environment that has been created. With Australia becoming drier, a permanent, inland water source was probably not a bad thing for animals that depend on a body of water.
![Looking back up the Molonglo River towards Scrivener DamDJI Mavic Air 2 [ISO 200, 4.5mm, f/2.8 and 1/1600 SEC]](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5b474d53b40b9dfc79289e98/1612681515186-AHH67L3Y2FAP7QIT133B/Scrivener_Dam_Molonglo_River_0028_20210118.jpg)
Looking back up the Molonglo River towards Scrivener Dam
DJI Mavic Air 2 [ISO 200, 4.5mm, f/2.8 and 1/1600 SEC]
I think that Canberra is fortunate to have Lake Burley Griffin, with the wildlife that it supports and the recreational opportunities the water provides. I enjoy the lake, even in the depth of winter when the water is very cold but it is still a nice place to paddle. I also enjoy the photographic opportunities, especially from my kayak and I look forward to see what I will be able to photograph in the future.
Thanks for reading this post and thanks also for looking at my photos. I hope you come back again to read more about some of the wonderful natural things that the Australian Capital Territory has on offer. All the best until the next post.