Last August I went up to Lake Goollelal in Yellagonga Regional Park and the other day while my partner was enacting her plan for total world domination in croquet I decided to visit the Park again but this time I thought I’d give the southern end of Lake Joondalup a go.

 

 

It’s a nice 4 1/2 Km walk taking in Perry’s Paddock, the southern part of the lake and Beenyup Swamp. I didn’t stick to the main paths but followed the smaller paths around as I wanted to see the local wildlife, and as it was a Sunday avoid the MAMILs thinking they’re riding the the Tour de France – more like the Tour de Farce from the look of some of them.

 

 

Near the start of the walk there are some buildings, well the remains of them. They’re not building projects waiting for tradies to finish them but they are some of the earliest buildings to have been built in Wanneroo. The field they’re in is known as Perry’s Paddock and was one of the first land grants in the area made back in 1838. This isn’t what I came for as I was hoping to see birds on and around the lake.

 

Unfortunately it’s not that easy to get to the lake side – it involves trying to creep through the thick bush on the lakeside without making any noise. One crack of dry twig and you’re rumbled and every birder miles around does a runner. The thick bush has other hazards – they’re thick with spider’s webs – really BIG webs. Where there are big spider’s webs there are BIG spiders. In this case they Golden Orb-Weaving Spiders so named as the webs have a slight gold hue to them. The webs are surprising tough and the female spiders that make them are not shy and are very visible which makes it difficult for those of a more nervous disposition not to scream when blundering through them like something out of Harry Potter. Screaming like a “girlie man” also does not help you creep up on birds unnoticed. Your fearless correspondent was undeterred as he knew that despite their size Golden Orb-Weaving Spiders are harmless unless you are an insect or a male of the species looking for an amorous liaison.

 

 

 

 

At least the corellas found my mad dance of jumping up and down and flapping my arms about while shrieking entertaining. Ah! I didn’t mean to say that! They would have if they’d have actually seen me do it – which of course they didn’t. Leaving the lake and heading down south takes you to Beenyup Swamp which provided an opportunity to see more birds and less spiders.

 

 

 

 

 

 

While walking along the Beenyup Swamp Broadwalk I did meet my first cyclist of the day who was definitely not a MAMIL and who was very apologetic for startling me. All in all a very pleasant walk and hopefully I’ll get back at a better time of year when there’ll be more bird activity.