Lake Cowal, New South Wales

Lake Cowal North, or Nerang Cowal, 43 klms N.W. of West Wyalong, inland N.S.W., had been drought-stricken for nine years.  It reached capacity again in March 2011. These photos were taken early May, this year.

According to Lake Cowal Foundation it is also known as New South Wales largest 'natural' inland lake, approximately 21 km long and 9.5 km wide, with an average depth of around 2.5m, and covering an area of 13,000 hectares when full.

 you can see where the water 'had' been, right across the road

barricades had prevented drivers proceeding any further beyond this point

how dry?

 it had been part of the lake?

with backs to the wind, birders doing what birders do best ...

over in the reeds to the left

swallows were pushing hard against the wind

you can just see the glistening water in the background

and a lone Reed Warbler sits for a moment

the sun shone on the water; it was early-mid afternoon

Sightings noted (advantages to having digi-scope on hand), in the following birders newsletter, related to large numbers of Grey Teal, Red-necked Avocet, Black-winged Stilts, Shovelers, Pink-ears, Pelicans and Silver Gulls.

Natalie Lowrey has written a very informative article, (complete with fly-over Lake Cowal video earlier this year), relating to the continued battles raised by Wiradjuri and environmentalists against Barrick Gold, the worlds largest gold miner, at this location.