On an overcast day over 20 excited birders met at Lake Lorne at Drysdale, to let local expert Ian Smissen lead the group to some of his favourite places in the Bellarine Peninsula.
Little Black and Little Pied Cormorants – Phil Marley
The day started well at Lake Lorne where a good selection of waterfowl including a large flock of Freckled Ducks were resting in and around the Lake.
Yellow-tailed Black-cockatoo – Ian Wilson
After a lap of the lake, it was over to the nearby Macleod’s Waterholes. Heavy drizzle set in, making it hard to take good photos for those not keeping dry out out in the open and even harder for those still in their cars. Still, there were some interesting birds with at least another 40 freckled ducks taking it easy.
Galah – Stephen Garth
By now the hunger pangs were setting in so we set off to a park in Queenscliff where there would be shelter from the drizzle. Of course the drizzle had stopped by the time we’d arrived. Nothing too exciting was expected here, but a big flock of Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoos arriving got the cameras clicking.
Yellow-tailed Black-cockatoo – Emmy Silvius
After lunch a quick stop by the Discovery centre before we finished the day at Swan Bay jetty, where a good selection of waterbirds were present including Little Egret.
Cormorants – John Bosworth
Thank you to Ian for showing some of his favourite Bellarine locations.
BirdLife Melbourne Outings Proforma Bellarine 20160416
Pelicans – Peter Bennet
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