Parklakes Wetland, Bli Bli, Sunshine Coast, QLD

Parklakes is a little unusual as a destination for us as it is an artificial lake and wetlands area created by the Parklands housing estate developers. It is a pleasant walk around the waterways on a concrete path with views of abundant birdlife.

Parklakes, Bli Bli 

Parklakes  is on the Yandina-Bli Bli Road. We turned into the large car park and walked across the sports field to do a circuit walk around the lake and wetlands. There were several Pipits on the sports field when we visited in July but we didn’t see any on our latest visit in November.

Australian (Richard's) Pipit

Natives have been planted around the outside of the lake which attract birds. Some of the birds we have seen include Willie Wagtails, Magpie-Larks, Butcherbirds, Red-backed Fairy Wrens, Double-barred Finches, Golden Whistlers, Rufous Whistlers and Brown Honeyeaters.

Banksia

Double-barred Finch

Golden Whistler

Brown Honeyeater

Rufous Whistler

There were lots of dragonflies about on our recent visit.

Common Glider Tramea loweii

Slender Skimmer Orthetrum sabina

This Eastern Water Skink was out in the sun near the water.

Eastern Water Skink Eulamprus quoyii,

The white form of Native Hibiscus was in flower. We love the candy stripe side view of this insect attracting flower.

Native Hibiscus Hibiscus heterophyllus

Native hibiscus Hibiscus heterophyllus

Water Lilies at Parklakes

Wetland birds are the stars at Parklakes. Below is a selection of birds that we photographed at Parklakes.

Comb-crested Jacana

Baillon's Crake

Purple Swamphen with Hatchling

Magpie Geese

Pied Cormorant

Intermediate Egret

Little Black Cormorant

White-faced Heron

Royal Spoonbill

Eurasian Coot

Hardhead

Pacific Black Duck

 Hybrid duck

There have been some sightings of interesting birds around the lakes by better birders than us. Greg Roberts from sunshinecoastbirds  http://sunshinecoastbirds.blogspot.com.au/ has posted photos of Australian Little Bittern and Spotless Crake seen at Parklakes. 

Update Feburary 2016: Unfortunately, there have been very dissapointing developments at Parklakes as reported by Greg Roberts here. After a couple of visits to Parklakes we saw a Spotted Crake there which was a "lifer" for us and we are saddened by this latest news.