Box Cowal, Nygan, NSW

As we drove along towards Nyngan, our destination for the day, we saw an interesting water body. There were some tracks winding down to the water so we drove over to check it out.

Later research found the water to be called Bix Cowal. Suspecting Cowal to be descriptive we found that a cowal is a shallow lake or depression that supports vegetation. Fairly recent rain has the water in a magnificent state.

There are a few birds here but as usual after rain they tend to spread out. At the moment there are grebes, little fly catchers and honey eaters. As the day gets later there may be other visitors.

When we arrived there was a crab shell on the ground. These freshwater species are common in the inland rivers and billabong. They survive up to six years drought by digging up to a meter into the muddy banks. The burrow is sealed and they remain dormant until the water returns to the waterholes.Read more