Peter Gallagher Dot Net

Black Swan with reflection, Victoria — A Black Swan reflected in the glass-like surface of the treatment ponds

Waste water ponds birdlife

Avian life at the wetlands near Melbourne, July 2026

First published: 9 Jul 2026

A mid-winter excursion to the expansive waste water treatment ponds just outside Melbourne yielded a remarkable variety of birdlife despite the absence of the migratory species that are wintering in warmer climates.

White-faced Herons (Pair foraging)

Little Grassbird

White-faced Heron

Brolga

Brolga (Profile)

Australasian Pipit (On wire fence)

Australasian Pipit (On fence post)

Great Egret

Great Egrets (Group foraging)

Black Swan

Black Swan (Preening)

Nankeen Kestrel

European Goldfinches

Cape Barren Geese

Black Kite (In flight)

Black Kites (Pair in flight)

Golden-headed Cisticolas (Pair on reeds)

Golden-headed Cisticola (Displaying)

Superb Fairywren (Female/Eclipse Male)

White-browed Scrubwren (In dense cover)

White-browed Scrubwren (Showing yellowish belly)

White-browed Scrubwren (Perched on open branch)

White-browed Scrubwren (In shrubbery)