Wildlife of Peacehaven Lake, Highfields

23 May 2016

PEACEHAVEN LAKE - PEACEHAVEN BOTANIC GARDENS - HIGHFIELDS QLD

I visited Peacehaven Lake on the north western side of Peacehaven Botanical Gardens at Highfields mid-morning to try and get a glimpse of the resident native Water Rat,and to research and observe more of the over-feeding of wildlife at the lake by well-meaning visitors to the area.  

During my morning visit I witnessed the following waterbirds and animals all utilizing this small lake and was pleasantly surprised to see a lone Australasian Little Grebe in winter plumage cruising the lake on this cold morning.  I did get a quick glimpse of the water rat, but wasn't fast enough to get a photograph. 

This lake is a lovely little area and alive with wildlife, even heading into winter.  It is an important man-made habitat for local native wildlife.  Hopefully visitors will heed the advice given by council on installed signage to refrain from feeding wildlife, so everyone can enjoy to view such animals here in good health in the future.

• Pacific Black Duck (Anas superciliosa)
• Australian Wood Ducks (Chenonetta jubata)
• Australasian Little Grebe (Tachybaptus novaehollandiae)
• Dwarf Tree Frog (Eastern Sedgefrog) (Litoria fallax)
• Short-necked Turtle (Emydura macquarii)
• Blue Damselfly (i.d. unknown)
• Water Rat (Hydromys chrysogaster)
• Welcome Swallow (Hirundo neoxena)

J.G.

Observation deck at Peacehaven Lake 23/05/16

Lake Signage, Peacehaven, 23/05/16

Pacific Black Duck on Peacehaven Lake, Highfields 23/05/16

Australia Wood Ducks, Peacehaven Lake 23/05/16

Short-necked Turtle, Peacehaven Lake, 23/05/16

Beautiful reed reflections on the water, Peacehaven Lake, Highfields, 23/05/16

Australasian Little Grebe with winter plumage at Peacehaven Lake, Highelds 23/05/16

Australasian Little Grebe with winter plumage at Peacehaven Lake, Highelds 23/05/16

Very tiny Dwarf Tree Frog (aka Eastern Sedgefrog) about 1cm long in the reeds on the edge of
Peacehaven Lake, 23/05/16

Very tiny Dwarf Tree Frogs (aka Eastern Sedgefrog) about 1cm long in the reeds on the edge of 
Peacehaven Lake, 23/05/16

View of Peacehaven Lake from the observation deck, Highfields 23/05/16

Lakeside grasses at Peacehaven Lake 23/05/16

Flowering Bottlebrush on the edges of Peacehaven Lake, 23/05/16