Early risers prefaced our March outing with a pre-outing to the Skeleton Creek Boardwalk in Sanctuary Lakes.
The 7.30am start attracted 14 eager pairs of eyes to enjoy a picture-perfect sunrise over the city. The birds appreciated the keen interest and also turned up for dawn.
Striated Fieldwren – Steven Waller
Many of the smaller drainage channels and salt pans of the former saltworks in the Cheetham Wetlands were dry, but Skeleton Creek and the spillway still had plenty of water. The elevated boardwalk with its high walls on both sides creates an extended hide and superb viewing platform for birding.
Buff-banded Rail – Karen Morley
First up, a Buff-banded Rail and an Australian Spotted Crake were sighted foraging along pond edges, while Fairy Martins and Welcome Swallows foraged up above on the wing.
Australian Spotted Crake – Peter Bennet
Pied Stilts, Masked Lapwings and many Chestnut and Grey Teals just stood around preening in the sun. A Royal Spoonbill also put in an appearance, along with moorhens and swamphens – but strangely no coots.
On the overhead telegraph wires, many Little Black Cormorants and Rock Doves perched precariously, watching us watching them. Pied, Little Pied and Great Cormorants were also seen nearby, along with an Australasian Darter.
A Little Black Cormorant and Pied Cormorants – Phil Marley
A White-faced Heron fished a little further away, while three Nankeen Night Herons decided to fly further up Skeleton Creek to fish in private.
Across the boardwalk, the shrubs along the water’s edge provided good sightings of Singing, New Holland and White-plumed Honeyeaters, as well as Superb Fairywrens. The reeds, on the other hand, provided only fleeting glimpses of Australian Reed Warblers and Little Grassbirds.
Little Grassbird – Larissa Hill
After an hour of dodging joggers and cyclists on the boardwalk, the group retreated to cars to motor over to Point Cook Homestead, with 43 species already recorded.
With the group now swelled to 23, we headed off on a clockwise circuit from the Homestead carpark.
Walking to the Tower – Anthea Fleming
Along the track to the Cheetham Wetlands Observation Tower, we were entertained by a juvenile Black-shouldered Kite with a mouse. Flying past a few times, it finally settled on a fence post to rip its breakfast apart and eat it, entrails and all – yum. Several adults were also seen on fence posts and in the sky.
Black-shouldered Kite – Caroline Paterson
Another fence post provided a perch for an Australian Hobby, which took off on our approach to find its own breakfast.
Australian Hobby – John Van Doorn
Across the dried-out wetlands to the tower, Golden-headed Cisticolas and Singing Honeyeaters were spotted. Several White-faced Herons flew over.
Katrina Jorna – Superb Fairy-wren
From the top of the Observation Tower – a monument to migrations and aspirations – the lack of water in the Cheetham wetlands was all too clear. The most exciting sighting was a tiger snake, snoozing in the sun next to the tower’s legs down below. Fortunately, our way down avoided that tower leg.
Tiger Snake – John Van Doorn
Walking down the coastal track to Point Cook and around the point towards the Homestead, we found many shorebirds. Silver Gulls, Crested Terns, Silver Gulls, Little Cormorants, Silver Gulls, Pied Stilts, Silver Gulls, Australian Pelicans, Silver Gulls, Pacific Gulls – and even some Silver Gulls.
Pied Stilts – Phil Marley
Austalasian Gannets were seen diving off-shore, while many Grey Fantails frequented the trees in from the shoreline.
Back at the carpark, we decided to have lunch at the picnic tables under the shade there rather than an Apex Park in the sun. A good time to review the 42 species seen at Point Cook.
Little Black Cormorant – Larissa Hill
So onward to our final spot for the day, Apex Park and the Doug Grant Reserve along the mouth of the Laverton Creek. The creek offered a number of Common Greenshanks and a few Red-necked Stints and Sharp-tailed Sandpipers, as well as many Pied Stilts and both teals.
Chestnut Teal – John Van Doorn
But with the sun now beating down and the heat building up, we called it a day. An excellent species tally of 62 for the day was worthy of an ice cream on the way home.
Our thanks once again to Peter Bennet and John Van Doorn for coordinating the outing and chaperoning the group on the day.
Our fresh season of outings kicked off in the Basin, on the lower slopes of the Dandenongs. The scorching sun and heat of mid-summer fortunately stayed away and our morning was met with gentle, overcast conditions The birds too had a gentle start.
Eastern Yellow Robin – Stephanie Lim
We met first at Wicks Reserve. The reserve was once part of a large property, given to the local Council in 1942, and was named in memory of the Wicks family who settled there in 1877. Though small, at 4.2 hectares, it offers a rich and varied habitat with swamp, woodland, herb-rich lowland forest and wet heath. It also includes a boardwalk and many tracks.
Our group of 30 immediately split up and headed off from the picnic area in various directions. Most went east to the smallest quadrant of the reserve, in search of Rufous Fantails that had been seen by early arrivers.
Golden Whistler – Peter Bennet
The woods echoed to the raucous sound of half a dozen Laughing Kookaburras that circled the picnic area en masse – no doubt waiting for our lunch break. Grey Currawongs, Grey Butcherbirds, Australian Magpies and Sulphur-crested Cockatoos added their voices to the soundscape, trying to outdo the many Rainbow Lorikeets overhead.
A solitary Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoo flying over tried to join in but was a little drowned out.
In the thick undergrowth, numerous Grey Fantails flitted about, as did some Eastern Yellow Robins. Their movements distracted us from our primary target species.
Juvenile Grey Fantail – Ruth Ault
The eastern woods offered up a pleasing selection of other species – Golden Whistlers, White-browed Scrubwrens, Brown Thornbills, Red-browed Finches, Lewin’s and Yellow-faced Honeyeaters and White-throated Treecreepers.
White-throated Treecreeper – Phil Marley
Oh, and many glimpsed the sought-after Rufous Fantails. Mission accomplished!
Australian Rufous Fantail – Rodger Scott
Some went further north-east, crossing the Basin-Olinda Road and finding Satin Bowerbirds in manicured gardens of neighbouring properties. Others went south-east to the Wicks East Nature Reserve and found more Rufous Fantails and Yellow-faced Honeyeaters. And the local donkeys who contributed their own “calls” to the local orchestra.
Australian Rufous Fantail– John Bosworth
The boardwalk west of the picnic area offered up Silvereyes, Crimson Rosellas and lots more Grey Fantails.
Crimson Rosella – Phil Marley
Reconvening at the excellent picnic ground for lunch at midday, the group compared notes on the different sightings from the sub-sections of the small reserve. We were very happy with over 40 species under our belt for the morning, though a bit more sun would have livened up the birds and made photography a little easier.
Mid-morning, a small sub-group motored off five minutes away to Pavitt Lane for an hour. They were rewarded with sightings of Leaden and Satin Flycatchers and Scarlet Honeyeaters.
Satin Flycatcher – Larissa Hill
The Kookaburras seemed a bit disappointed with our lunches.
Laughing Kookaburra – Rob Parker
After lunch, as the sun came out, we motored the five minutes to the Liverpool Rd Retarding Basin.
The retarding basin collects water from Dandenong Creek and provides space for it to form a large lake after heavy rain, reducing the risk of downstream flooding. It includes the main lake and adjacent ornamental wetland, as well as open parkland and meadows. It is a popular park, with locals walking their dogs, strolling with kids or jogging.
The lake and wetlands are a site of Biodiversity Significance and provided a new habitat for the day and a new selection of species.
First up were a couple of Nankeen Night Herons, who posed nicely for lots of photos.
Nankeen Night-heron – John Van Doorn
Dusky Moorhens, Eurasian Coots and Australasian Swamphens were on the water or the mudflats nearby. A couple of dozen Australian Wood Ducks floated on the lake, accompanied by a single Australian Shelduck. A couple of Pacific Black Ducks and a Grey Teal were also spotted.
Australian Shelduck – John Bosworth
With over 50 species recorded for the day, and several lifers for some of our group, the first outing of the year was a great success. It was also terrific to see new faces joining the group for the first time. We look forward to seeing them again soon.
Thanks to Peter Bennet and John Van Doorn for coordinating the outing and doing the recces, and for introducing many of us to these new birding locations.
As 2023 drew to a close, it was wonderful to gather and share highlights from another year.
And what a year it was. A full calendar of expeditions duly delivered. No bushfires or floods to derail the program. Lots of birds spotted and photographed. And many outings shared together. It was a good year.
Tradition has it that we start in the pub. So we dutifully assembled at our regular venue, the Terminus Hotel in North Fitzroy, to sup and sip. And, perched on bar stools, the tall tales began.
Two hours later, we reconvened at Fitzroy High School to continue, with a slide show providing visual evidence to support the tales. And what stories we were told.
We heard about wrens – the Striated Field, the Superb Fairy and the Rufous Grass.
We had parrots – Double-eyed Fig, Rock and Scarlet-chested.
We had birds with lunch – a caterpillar for a Fan-tailed Cuckoo, a fish for a Little Pied Cormorant, a Restless Flycatcher anticipating its catch and a Spotted Pardalote with a Brown Goshawk (guess which was lunch).
We had the foreigners – a Black Guillemot, a Greater Whitethroat and a Rock Pipit (all from the UK).
We swallowed tales about Woodswallows – Little, Masked, White-breasted and White-browed.
We were threatened – by the fierce eyes of a Brown Falcon and a Blue-winged Kookaburra, by an aggressive Bell Miner attacking a Sacred Kingfisher, by the psychotic expression of a Rufous Owl.
We revelled in photogenic favourites – the Emu, Laughing Kookaburra, Common Bronzewing, Little Raven, Silvereye, Yellow Spoonbill, Little Raven, White-plumed Honeyeater, Australian White Ibis.
And we envied the exotics and the hard to see – the Western Whipbird, the Red-lored Whistler, the Red-browed Treecreeper, the Short-tailed Shearwater.
We took flights of fancy – with an Australasian Darter and a Welcome Swallow – and were distracted by a Red-capped Plover protecting its patch.
We were delighted by the cute – Tawny Frogmouths with their goofy faces, a Musk Duck with chick.
And enchanted by the artistic – a White-faced Heron fading to white, a Rufous Whistler and a Scarlet Robin beautifully toned in, three Red-kneed Dotterels all in a row, a flight of Red-necked Avocets mirrored in water, a Red-capped Plover in a two-winged stretch.
Through it all, we loved the photos, heard the tall tales, enjoyed the lifers and shared in the experiences. It was indeed a good year.
Thanks once again to Peter Bennet for coordinating the evening, arranging the venues and presenting the slide show. And thanks to everyone for being part of the group and for presenting their photos and the stories behind them for us all to enjoy.
Fan-tailed Cuckoo – Steve HoptroffTawny Frogmouth – Anthea FlemingDouble-eyed Fig-parrot – Ben AdlerWestern Whipbird – Catherine NooneYellow-billed Spoonbill – Gaynor RobsonGreater Whitethroat – John Van DoornAustralasian Darter – John YoungRock Pipit – Meryl FindlayRufous Owl – Peter BennetBlue-winged Kookaburra – Phil MarleySilvereye – Rodger ScottTawny Frogmouth – Ruth AultStriated Grasswren – Steve WallerRed-necked Avocet – Stephen GarthWhite-faced Heron – Sylvia Pump
Sustained torrential rain, collapsing dams, a metre of water in the main street. Well, that was last year’s attempt at a weekend in Wedderburn. This year, things went rather better!!
Fri 17 Nov
We met mid-morning at Bells Swamp NCR on the Bridgewater-Maldon Rd. The sun was up, the sky clear and the breeze gentle. Recent sightings of elusive Painted Snipes had pulses racing. Expectations were high.
Red-kneed Dotterel – Steve Waller
Our arrival was greeted by a couple of hundred Grey Teal standing motionless in the shallow waters and a couple of hundred Black Native-hens pecking away on the muddy flats. Black-fronted and Red-kneed Dotterels patrolled the water’s edge, along with Masked Lapwings, Yellow-billed Spoonbills, White-faced and White-necked Herons and a Great Egret.
Black-fronted Dotterel – Steve Waller
In the trees around the mudflats, Sacred Kingfishers, a Little Friarbird, Musk Lorikeets, Red-rumped Parrots, White-winged Choughs and a variety of bush birds kept cameras busy.
Little Friarbird – John Van Doorn
Bells Swamp is often dry for extended periods but fills after heavy rains, sometimes flooding the main road. On our visit, the water was still drying up after last year’s rains. It was hard to imagine these natural ephemeral wetlands were closed in Feb this year when an outbreak of avian botulism caused a mass bird death event killing over 700 birds.
After a couple of hours of happy snapping and 50 species under our belt, we motored on to Inglewood Botanical Gardens for lunch. Many picked up caffeine medication in Inglewood en route.
White-browed Woodswallow – Phil Marley
We then explored two areas a little to the north. The first was near Inglewood Reservoir. The hoped-for Purple-backed Fairywrens and Shy Heathwrens remained unseen, but there were good sightings of Red-capped Robins and lots of honeyeaters – Brown-headed, Yellow-tufted, White-eared and White-fronted. Several species were seen drinking together on tree roots on the edges of the reservoir.
Yellow-tufted Honeyeater – Peter Fayle
Up the road at Mallee St in the Inglewood NCR, more bush birds made for good photography. White-winged Trillers, Rufous Whistlers, Brown Treecreepers, Varied Sitellas and several types of thornbills bounced around the trees – along with lots of honeyeater species and both pardalotes.
Varied Sittella – Michiko Iida
Inglewood was established after gold was found at Thompsons Gully in 1858, less than 800m from our Mallee St birding spot. It grew to around 50,000 people by time the 70kg Welcome Stranger nugget was discovered not far away in 1869. The box-ironbark forest of the Inglewood NCR contains many ruins, remnants and relics relating to the area’s rich gold mining history. Discovery of the 27kg Hand of Faith nugget in 1980 a few kms out of town suggest the area’s prospecting history is far from over.
What a great start to the weekend. Our excited group headed on to Wedderburn for the evening, some camping at Mt Korong NCR, others staying in the caravan park or in the local motel or holiday houses.
Sat 18 Nov
An Australian Owlet-nightjar was our second species for the Saturday morning – an auspicious start to our second day and a lifer for many. Peering out from its hollow in the Mount Egbert Block of the Wychitella NCR, 20km NE of Wedderburn, it seemed undisturbed by 17 people taking pictures. Later, another Owlet-nightjar was spotted in a separate hollow of a tree 20m away.
Australian Owlet-nightjar – Phil Marley
The slopes of Mt Egbert up to the Granites comprise open dry woodlands with a mix of box-ironbark forest, acacia shrubland and larger granite outcrops. We started at Granite Creek Rd, just off Old Boort Rd, exploring the lightly wooded and more open areas up the slope towards the telecommunication tower.
In the trees, Horsfield’s Bronze-cuckoos and Peaceful Doves called. Brown Treecreepers, Galahs and both Corellas were common. Further up the slopes, Southern Whiteface showed their faces as White-browed babblers babbled to themselves as we passed. A Wedge-tailed Eagle and Little Eagle glided overhead.
After a while, we regrouped at the cars and drove further up Granite Creek Rd to the western edge of the hill next to two dry creek beds.
Heading off into the light scrub, we were observed from above by White-browed, Masked and Dusky Woodswallows and Rainbow Bee-eaters and serenaded by Rufous Songlarks. Other highlights here were Diamond Firetails, Red-capped and Hooded Robins and Painted Honeyeaters.
Dusky Woodswallow – John Van Doorn
With all-terrain vehicles, some managed to navigate the heavily water-damaged road up to the Granites for the stunning 360° views, but only Welcome Swallows and Singing Honeyeaters were there to greet them.
Welcome Swallow – Peter Bennet
By now the heat was building towards 30°C under blue skies, so we adjourned 30km north to Boort for lunch on the shores of Little Lake Boort. And more caffeine medication.
A gentle circuit around the Little Lake provided a rewarding afternoon’s birding with over 60 species seen. The water provided a striking contrast to the dry bush of the morning and a whole new bunch of birds, and some relief from the 30°C+ temperature.
White-breasted Woodswallow – Steve Waller
A flock of 50 Australian Pelicans circled overhead before opting to land on the larger Lake Boort next door. Eurasian Coots, Dusky Moorhens, Australasian Swamphens and Hoary-headed Grebes dotted the lake, together with the odd Black Swan and some Australasian Darters. Silver Gulls abounded.
Australasian Darter – Phil Marley
The lake fringes presented Little Black, Little Pied, Great and Pied Cormorants, as well as quite a few Australian Reed Warblers. Special sightings included a Purple-backed Fairywren, an Australian Spotted Crake and a Pied Butcherbird. And some Grey-crowned Babblers raised some white eyebrows.
Australian Spotted Crake – Phil Marley
Back at the carpark, we were entertained by several Musk Lorikeets with their heads embedded in Grevillea robusta flowers, their faces covered in orange pollen. And by two Little Lorikeets that did a low-level fly-pass.
Musk Lorikeet – Greg Wallace
Boort has been a significant agricultural region since the mid-1800s, with good water supplies from the lakes and the nearby Loddon River. Today it lived up to its moniker as the Northern Oasis. But exhausted by trekking for 6 hours in the heat and needing to recharge our batteries, we retreated back to Wedderburn to put our feet up. We regrouped at the Wedderburn Hotel for excellent food and drink and tall stories from the day.
Dinner Time! – Michiko Iida
With its unique surrounding ecosystems where four different bio-regions intersect, the township of Wedderburn is an ideal birding base and it knows it. Five outstanding Birds Eye View Murals by artists Jimmy Dvate, Andrew Bourke and Bryan Itch adorn local buildings – the Uniting Church, Randall’s Foodworks, Burge’s Newsagency and General Store, the Wedderburn Hotel and the Soldiers Memorial Park and Travellers Rest. The 2021 murals were supported in part by the Victorian Government’s Creative Activation Fund. There’s nothing quite like an 8m-high Blue-faced Honeyeater or 3m Diamond Firetail to inspire you for a good day out.
Bird’s Eye View – Phil Marley
Sun 19 Nov
Early risers were rewarded with a Red-backed Kingfisher, Eastern Shriketits and Hooded Robins at Mt Korong NCR. But when the rest of the group assembled 15km SE of Wedderburn at the east end of the Mt Korong Firebreak Track at 9.00am, there were many other excellent birds still to be found.
Hooded Robin – Greg Wallace
Painted and Spiny-cheeked Honeyeaters abounded, along with White-winged Trillers, Southern Whiteface, White-browed Babblers and an attention-seeking Mistletoebird. Two Wedge-tailed Eagles drifted effortlessly down from the ridge above, enjoying the thermals from the warm morning sun.
Painted Honeyeater – John Van Doorn
Fan-tailed and Pallid Cuckoos and a Horsfield’s Bronze-cuckoo were recorded and many Rufous Songlarks taunted us as we travelled round the firebreak circuit. Plenty of other honeyeaters put in appearances – White-eared, Yellow-faced, White-plumed, Singing and New Holland. A Restless Flycatcher and White-winged Choughs were also in the mix of the 55 species seen.
Mistletoebird – Peter Bennet
By late morning, the temperatures again were approaching 30°C and it was time to seek shade and consume calories – and self-medicate with caffeine. The Melville Caves Picnic Area in the Kooyoora State Park was just the ticket and its covered picnic shelter accommodated the whole group comfortably.
The caves are named after the notorious bushranger Captain Melville who had been sentenced to transportation from Scotland in 1836 aged 15 for housebreaking. After time in Port Arthur, he arrived in Victoria in 1851 and became a bushranger in the Mt Macedon area. He later used the caves near Kingower as a hiding place and lookout in the mid-1800s as he preyed on gold escorts until his death in 1857.
Yellow-footed Antechinus – Stephen Garth
The afternoon heat was a little challenging – for the birds as well as us. A gentle circuit south from the picnic area along the Long Rock Walking Circuit took in rather dry treed bush. Notable catches were Red-browed Finches, Silvereyes, a Scarlet Robin and a Grey Fantail – surprisingly the first for the weekend.
Back around the picnic area we found Spiny-cheeked Honeyeaters, Rainbow Bee-eaters, Rufous Whistlers, a Sacred Kingfisher and Horsfield’s and Shining Bronze-cuckoos, as well as an Eastern Spinebill and a Grey Shrikethrush.
Rainbow Bee-eater – Peter Fayle
Time to cool off, sit back and relax, so we headed back into Wedderburn to put our feet up with a cuppa. Once refreshed, we regrouped in Jacka Park in the centre of town for a good chat and a BBQ – although everyone brought preprepared food or fish ‘n’ chips from the take-away across the road, so the BBQ was surplus to requirements. A lovely evening.
Mon 20 Nov
By the Monday, our group remained strong at 10, a great number for the 4th day and testament to the great locations, weather and birding. By now we had learned to start earlier to benefit from cooler conditions, so we headed off at 8.00am to Railway Reservoir in the Wychitella NCR, about 15km NE of Wedderburn.
Grey-crowned Babbler – Stephen Garth
After a dry flood-channel crossing that tested the nerve of non-4WD drivers, the reservoir proved to be a really fabulous location. With plenty of water still in the reservoir, the surrounding trees and bush were alive with birds.
A spectrum of honeyeaters used a common tangle of roots to perch together for a drink from the cool waters – Brown-headed, Yellow-tufted, Yellow-plumed, White-eared, White-fronted, White-plumed.
Yellow-plumed Honeyeater – Stephen Garth
The trees echoed to calls from Fan-tailed Cuckoos, Horsfield’s and Shining Bronze-cuckoos, Sacred Kingfishers, Peaceful Doves, Black-faced Cuckooshrikes and Laughing Kookaburras.
Sacred Kingfisher – Stephen Garth
Hoary-headed and Australasian Grebes were diving in the water, while a large flock of Little Pied Cormorants moved around the reservoir to find the perfect spot to float in peace.
Overhead, White-browed Woodswallows, Fairy Martins and Welcome Swallows circled constantly. A single Little Eagle perched stoically on a tree supervising everything.
Little Eagle – Michiko Iida
Mid-morning, we continued in convoy down Railway Reservoir Rd, seeing some dramatic erosion from water-courses in the woodland. We regrouped at Skinners Flat Reservoir 6km to the west for our last stop of the weekend.
Eroded Gully – Greg Wallace
A bunch of Black Native-hens caught our attention straight away, far away on the opposite shore. Then a juvenile Nankeen Night Heron in nearby treetops became a target for some unhappy Noisy Miners and demanded we focus a little closer. Further along the lake, a Yellow-billed Spoonbill perched in a tree, while Eurasian Coots, Masked Lapwings and Black-fronted Dotterels patrolled the water’s edge.
And so our weekend drew to a close and people drifted back towards the city to resume normal, mundane lives.
Red-capped Robin – Phil Marley
But what a weekend. Not a drop of rain. Clear blue skies. Warm conditions. Almost 130 species recorded in four days. Many people with lifers under their belt. Excellent company and shared experiences. Terrific organisation.
Our sincere thanks to Peter Bennet and John Van Doorn for organising and coordinating the weekend, previewing all the locations, creating the program of suggested sites and keeping the show on the road over the last 13 months to bring this weekend to magnificent fruition.
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