I went to Suffolk Lake with my older cousin, Lola, and, trust me, this place has a lot of birds.

We arrived at the lake and were greeted by Scaly-breasted Lorikeets with their emerald plumage and Sulphur Crested Cockatoos.

We kept walking and saw a Pacific Black Duck and some Dusky Moorhens.

Australasian Grebes ducked and dived under the water and Restless Flycatchers chirped overhead, but this was just the beginning.

The reason birders come here is because the island in the middle of the lake is home to multiple breeding species. We saw many Australian Ibis and were excited to see chicks going around happily in the colony.

Most people think of Ibis as pests, but they are one of the only Australian birds to have figured out how to eat cane toads – pretty handy.

Pied Cormorants were abundant, and Eurasian Coots were common on the island. I do so love their white lobes and big feet!

A few Royal Spoonbills sat quietly in the middle of the island. These are one of my favourite birds, with their unusual beak and beautiful white plumes.

Little Black Cormorants sat on dead logs and a pair of Little Corellas nested in the dead tree on the island. After a while, we noticed a Spangled Drongo in a tree near us, its metallic hues glinting.

We saw a pair of ducks on the island, hiding under a bush. I took a photo and exclaimed in delight! Plumed Whistling Ducks! These beauties are uncommon in Northern NSW (more common in the north of the country) and have beautiful plumes that always look pristine. This was my second time seeing them and my first time photographing them. They came out into the sunlight, and I got the desired pics. 

White Browed Scrubwrens chattered and laughed at my excitement.

We certainly weren’t disappointed!