Australia Ramsar wetland
Forrestdale Lake
168 bird species recorded; the most from October to January.
Calistemon · CC BY-SA 4.0
This month here
129 species in January.92 species in February.98 species in March.104 species in April.76 species in May.88 species in June.101 species in July.100 species in August.95 species in September.129 species in October.120 species in November.130 species in December.
The birds you are most likely to see in the month you choose, those that come for the season first. It opens on today's month.





































































































































































































































NT



VU



























NT



- Resident all year
- Summer visitor comes to breed
- Winter visitor comes for the winter
- Passage migrant in spring and autumn
In numbers
168 species, counted.
Our own rating, from the records only: species (50 points), threatened species (20), migrants (20) and protected status — Ramsar, IBA, SPA, observatory (10).
- 168Speciesrecorded more than once
- 61Migrantssummer, winter or passage visitors
- 5ThreatenedVulnerable, Endangered or Critically Endangered (IUCN)
- 17,727Recordsopen records within 6 km
- 15Raptors
- 2Owls
- 20Waders
- 5Gulls & seabirds
- 11Ducks & geese
- 20Herons, ibises & grebes
- 52Songbirds
- 43Other birds
From open records (eBird and others, through GBIF, licensed for any use). More birdwatchers mean more records: a quiet place may have more birds than it shows.
The checklist
All 168 species.
By group, with the year in twelve cells: the darker the cell, the more often the bird is recorded that month.
Raptors15 species
- Swamp HarrierCircus approximans
- Whistling KiteHaliastur sphenurus
- Nankeen KestrelFalco cenchroides
- Wedge-tailed EagleAquila audax
- Black-shouldered KiteElanus axillaris
- Australian hobbyFalco longipennis
- Little EagleHieraaetus morphnoides
- Square-tailed KiteLophoictinia isura
- White-bellied Sea-EagleHaliaeetus leucogaster
- Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinus
- Collared SparrowhawkAccipiter cirrocephalus
- OspreyPandion haliaetus
- Brown FalconFalco berigora
- Brown GoshawkAccipiter fasciatus
- Eastern OspreyPandion cristatus
Owls2 species
- Southern BoobookNinox boobook
- Eastern Barn OwlTyto javanica
Waders20 species
- Pied StiltHimantopus leucocephalus
- Red-necked StintCalidris ruficollisNT
- Sharp-tailed SandpiperCalidris acuminataVU
- Common GreenshankTringa nebularia
- Long-toed StintCalidris subminuta
- Common SandpiperActitis hypoleucos
- Curlew SandpiperCalidris ferrugineaVU
- Banded StiltCladorhynchus leucocephalus
- Australian Red-necked AvocetRecurvirostra novaehollandiae
- Red-capped PloverCharadrius ruficapillus
- Red-kneed DotterelErythrogonys cinctus
- Pectoral SandpiperCalidris melanotos
- Black-winged StiltHimantopus himantopus
- Banded LapwingVanellus tricolor
- RuffCalidris pugnax
- Black-fronted DotterelElseyornis melanops
- Red KnotCalidris canutusNT
- Pacific Golden PloverPluvialis fulva
- Wood SandpiperTringa glareola
- Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaVU
Gulls & seabirds5 species
- Silver GullChroicocephalus novaehollandiae
- Caspian TernHydroprogne caspia
- Whiskered TernChlidonias hybrida
- Australian TernGelochelidon macrotarsa
- Kerguelen PetrelAphrodroma brevirostris
Ducks & geese11 species
- Pacific Black DuckAnas superciliosa
- Australian ShelduckTadorna tadornoides
- Black swanCygnus atratus
- Maned DuckChenonetta jubata
- Grey TealAnas gracilis
- Musk DuckBiziura lobata
- HardheadAythya australis
- Australasian ShovelerSpatula rhynchotis
- MallardAnas platyrhynchos
- Pink-eared DuckMalacorhynchus membranaceus
- Blue-billed DuckOxyura australis
Herons, ibises & grebes20 species
- Australian White IbisThreskiornis molucca
- White-faced HeronEgretta novaehollandiae
- Straw-necked IbisThreskiornis spinicollis
- Little Pied CormorantMicrocarbo melanoleucos
- Yellow-billed SpoonbillPlatalea flavipes
- White-necked HeronArdea pacifica
- Little Black CormorantPhalacrocorax sulcirostris
- Australian PelicanPelecanus conspicillatus
- Great White EgretArdea alba
- Australasian DarterAnhinga novaehollandiae
- Australasian GrebeTachybaptus novaehollandiae
- Glossy IbisPlegadis falcinellus
- Hoary-headed GrebePoliocephalus poliocephalus
- Nankeen Night HeronNycticorax caledonicus
- Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carbo
- Pied CormorantPhalacrocorax varius
- Little EgretEgretta garzetta
- Great Crested GrebePodiceps cristatus
- Ardea modestaArdea modesta
- Australasian BitternBotaurus poiciloptilusVU
Songbirds52 species
- Australian RavenCorvus coronoides
- Australian MagpieGymnorhina tibicen
- New Holland HoneyeaterPhylidonyris novaehollandiae
- Willie-wagtailRhipidura leucophrys
- Red WattlebirdAnthochaera carunculata
- SilvereyeZosterops lateralis
- Magpie larkGrallina cyanoleuca
- Splendid FairywrenMalurus splendens
- Brown HoneyeaterLichmera indistincta
- Singing HoneyeaterGavicalis virescens
- Welcome SwallowHirundo neoxena
- Western GerygoneGerygone fusca
- Rhipidura albiscapaRhipidura albiscapa
- Grey ButcherbirdCracticus torquatus
- Tree MartinPetrochelidon nigricans
- Rufous WhistlerPachycephala rufiventris
- Black-faced CuckooshrikeCoracina novaehollandiae
- Striated PardalotePardalotus striatus
- Yellow-rumped ThornbillAcanthiza chrysorrhoa
- Little WattlebirdAnthochaera lunulata
- WeebillSmicrornis brevirostris
- Australian Reed-WarblerAcrocephalus australis
- Spotted ScrubwrenSericornis maculatus
- Black-faced WoodswallowArtamus cinereus
- Grey ShrikethrushColluricincla harmonica
- Little GrassbirdMegalurus gramineus
- Australian PipitAnthus australis
- Inland ThornbillAcanthiza apicalis
- White-cheeked HoneyeaterPhylidonyris niger
- Scarlet RobinPetroica boodang
- Yellow-throated MinerManorina flavigula
- Western SpinebillAcanthorhynchus superciliosus
- Australian Golden WhistlerPachycephala pectoralis
- Australian White-winged TrillerLalage tricolor
- White-fronted ChatEpthianura albifrons
- Western ThornbillAcanthiza inornata
- Spotted PardalotePardalotus punctatus
- Tawny-crowned HoneyeaterGliciphila melanops
- Dusky WoodswallowArtamus cyanopterus
- MistletoebirdDicaeum hirundinaceum
- Red-capped RobinPetroica goodenovii
- Varied SittellaDaphoenositta chrysoptera
- Grey CurrawongStrepera versicolor
- Australasian PipitAnthus novaeseelandiae
- Gilbert's HoneyeaterMelithreptus chloropsis
- White-browed ScrubwrenSericornis frontalis
- Eurasian BlackbirdTurdus merula
- European GoldfinchCarduelis carduelis
- Rufous SonglarkMegalurus mathewsi
- Fairy MartinPetrochelidon ariel
- Brown-headed HoneyeaterMelithreptus brevirostris
- White-fronted HoneyeaterPurnella albifrons
Other birds43 species
- Coconut LorikeetTrichoglossus haematodus
- GalahEolophus roseicapilla
- Red-capped ParrotPurpureicephalus spurius
- Australian RingneckBarnardius zonarius
- Common BronzewingPhaps chalcoptera
- Red-tailed Black CockatooCalyptorhynchus banksii
- Crested PigeonOcyphaps lophotes
- Australasian SwamphenPorphyrio melanotus
- Eastern Spotted DoveSpilopelia chinensis
- Laughing DoveSpilopelia senegalensis
- CootFulica atra
- Rock DoveColumba livia
- Rainbow Bee-eaterMerops ornatus
- Carnaby's Black CockatooZanda latirostris
- Little CorellaCacatua sanguinea
- Dusky MoorhenGallinula tenebrosa
- Brown QuailSynoicus ypsilophorus
- Elegant ParrotNeophema elegans
- Shining cuckooChrysococcyx lucidus
- KookaburraDacelo novaeguineae
- Buff-banded RailGallirallus philippensis
- Sacred KingfisherTodiramphus sanctus
- Long-billed CorellaCacatua tenuirostris
- Baudin's Black CockatooZanda baudiniiCR
- Spotless CrakePorzana tabuensis
- Western SwamphenPorphyrio porphyrio
- BudgerigarMelopsittacus undulatus
- Fan-tailed CuckooCacomantis flabelliformis
- Regent ParrotPolytelis anthopeplus
- Horsfield's Bronze CuckooChrysococcyx basalis
- Australian CrakePorzana fluminea
- Painted ButtonquailTurnix varius
- Black-tailed NativehenGallinula ventralis
- Tawny FrogmouthPodargus strigoides
- Western RosellaPlatycercus icterotis
- Stubble QuailCoturnix pectoralis
- Baillon's CrakePorzana pusilla
- Baudin's Black CockatooCalyptorhynchus baudinii
- Carnaby's Black CockatooCalyptorhynchus latirostris
- EmuDromaius novaehollandiae
- Spotted NightjarEurostopodus argus
- Pallid cuckooCuculus pallidus
- Indian PeafowlPavo cristatus
Monthly presence relative to all bird records that month, so a busy month does not inflate every species.
When to go
The most species from October to January.
Species recorded in each month, with the usual temperature and rain.
- Jan34°/16°22 mm
- Feb33°/17°16 mm
- Mar30°/15°20 mm
- Apr25°/12°32 mm
- May21°/9°74 mm
- Jun17°/7°95 mm
- Jul16°/6°114 mm
- Aug16°/6°99 mm
- Sep18°/7°68 mm
- Oct23°/9°34 mm
- Nov28°/12°24 mm
- Dec32°/14°13 mm
- Bar: species recorded that month.
- Temperature: average maximum / minimum (NASA, 1991–2020).
- Rain: monthly total.
The place
Forrestdale Lake.
Lake within Forrestdale Lake Nature Reserve in the south of Perth, Western Australia
Forrestdale Lake is a wetland of international importance (Ramsar) in Australia.
168 bird species have been recorded here more than once, in 17,727 open records.
The most recorded are the Australian Raven, the Australian Magpie and the New Holland Honeyeater.
47 species come for the summer, 13 for the winter and 1 only pass through.
5 are threatened worldwide, including Sharp-tailed Sandpiper, Curlew Sandpiper and Baudin's Black Cockatoo.
The most species are recorded from October to January.

Get there and watch
- Hillside Garden Villagecampsite · 7.6 km · 1 within 10 km
- Heritage Motelplace to stay · 8.0 km · 2 within 10 km
- Forrestdalenearest town · 0.5 km in a straight line
- Perth International Airport (PER)nearest airport with scheduled flights · 24 km in a straight lineCar hire at PER airport (Perth)Discover Cars · sponsored link↗
Plan the visit
A guided walk, a bed nearby, a car.
Some links above are affiliate links: if you book through them we may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you. It never changes what the data on this page says.
From above
The place and its surroundings.
The satellite image of the 6 × 6 km around the place, with the bird hides, towers and trails that OpenStreetMap shows.

Around, in OpenStreetMap
- 178car parks within 3 km
- 2restaurants and cafés within 3 km
- 1campsites within 10 kmHillside Garden Village
- 2places to stay within 10 kmHeritage Motel, Arafah
- bird hides within 6 km
- observation towers within 6 km
- marked trails within 4 km
- visitor centres within 6 km
- viewpoints within 5 km
Counted in OpenStreetMap, the map anyone can edit. A low number may just mean nobody has mapped it yet.
In our other atlases
Around Forrestdale Lake.
The lakes, beaches, islands, rivers and mountains around this place, and its night sky, in the family's atlases.
Figures from the sister sites' databases (Wikidata, HydroATLAS, GeoNames, OpenStreetMap). Links open when each site is online.
Photographs
The place, as people saw it.

Where these figures come from
| Name and type | Wikidata (Q5470543) · CC0 |
|---|---|
| Birds | 17,727 open bird records within 6 km (GBIF, CC0 and CC BY 4.0 only; mostly eBird, Cornell Lab of Ornithology) |
| See these records | gbif.org |
| Species | GBIF Backbone Taxonomy · CC BY 4.0; Wikidata (CC0); Wikimedia Commons |
| Altitude | Copernicus DEM GLO-30 · © DLR e.V., © Airbus Defence and Space GmbH, Copernicus/ESA |
| Temperature and rain | NASA POWER (CERES SYN1deg, 2001–2020; MERRA-2) |
| What is around | © OpenStreetMap contributors · ODbL |
| Images | EOX Sentinel-2 cloudless 2016 · CC BY 4.0; Wikimedia Commons |
| Sister atlases | Peakyas, Lakeyas, Darkskyas, Cascadyas |
Every figure is an average, an estimate or a count from a public dataset. Licences and methods: data sources.
The family
Do you prefer beaches, lakes, mountains, waterfalls, islands, rivers, canyons, caves, dark skies, viewpoints, birdwatching or forests?
Same idea, other landscapes: field atlases built on open data, in seven languages.



