Victoria

Bastion PointThe Mallacoota Walking track is a great walk to do if you don't have a lot of time in Mallacoota, the walk is around 6-7 km and has 5 different sections passing through different habitats. You can start at any point or just do a small section if you like. We have walked most of the sections twice in the last couple of years and seen some great birds.

The Casuarina walk passes through a forest of black she oak a favorite of the Glossy Black Cockatoo which we saw here in April 2006, after passing through the she oak the path dips down into a fern gully which was alive with bush birds last time we visited in November 2008, including Sacred Kingfisher, Shining Bronze-Cuckoo, Rufous Fantail, Olive- Backed Oriole and Satin Bowerbird.

Coastal scrubOn the heathland walk we were lucky enough to find Southern Emu-wren and last time we were here we saw a Tawny-crowned Honeyeater. It may also be possible to see Ground Parrot here. The heathland leads out onto Betka Beach where we have seen a Black Bittern just casually feeding out on the sand flats at the mouth of the Betka River, Hooded Plover, Red-capped Plover, Godwits and Eastern Curlew are also here.
On the Pittosporum walk we have seen Bassian Thrush and Wonga Pigeon.

You can find more information on the walk here http://www.mallacoota.com/scenery/walks/mc_walking_track.html

Thurra River from Drummer WalkThere are a couple of rainforest walks off the Princess Hwy in East Gippsland that can provide some interesting birding. The first is Drummer Rainforest Walk which can be accessed via Drummer Road. Drummer Road is situated 10 Km east of Cann River off the Princess Hwy. The walk is only about 1 km long and takes you through warm temperate rainforest passing the Thurra River at a couple of points. Interesting birds that may be seen on this walk are Rose Robin, Large-billed Scrubwren, Brown Gerygone and Black-faced Monarch (in summer).

Another short, warm temperate rainforest walk can be found on the McKenzie River, to find the walk turn off the Princess Hwy 300m east of the McKenzie River bridge. The day we visited this walk it was cold and wet and few birds could be seen however the walk through the forest was very beautiful in particular passing over the river on the swing bridges.

Another walk worth visiting is the Cabbage Tree Palms walk. This walk features the southern most stand of Cabbage Fan Palms. We took a quick walk though this area as there were swarms of mosquitoes, don't forget to bring your insect repellant if you don't want to be eaten alive here. Interesting birds frequently seen in the area are Brown Gerygone, Rose Robin, Topknot Pigeon (summer) and Black-faced Monarch (summer). Other interesting birds could include Olive Whistler, Azure Kingfisher and Pilot Bird.
Cabbage Tree Palms

I've always wanted to visit McLeod's Morass on account of it's interesting name. So we took the opportunity to stop by for a while on the way from Lakes Entrance to Melbourne. To access the morass turn right off the Princess Hwy near Bairnsdale onto Forges Creek Road, the Morass is at the end of Bosworth Road. You can park outside the entrance and walk down to the boardwalk.

When we visited there was little water in the area near the boardwalk but a number of Australian Spotted Crakes could be seen from the bird hide. Also present was a Red-kneed Dotterel, a White Bellied Sea-Eagle flew overhead and many Golden Headed Cisticola, Australian Reed-warblers and Superb Fairywren could be seen amongst the reeds.

Another bird hide, situated off the main track facing north, revealed Little -black Cormorant and Chestnut Teal. It's also worth checking for birds in the trees on the walkway down to the hides where we saw Rufous Whistler, Yellow Thornbills and Yellow-faced Honeyeater.

McLeod's Morass

Edithvale-Seaford wetlands are all that remains of the Carrum Carrum swamp that once stretched from Mordialloc to Frankston. The wetlands are a Ramsar wetland because they support a large population of the migratory Sharp-tailed Sandpiper and also birds of state significance such as the Australian Bittern.

The Edithvale Birdhide is located on Edithvale Road, Edithvale and is currently opened between 1-7 pm Saturday and Sunday and also between 6pm to 7.30pm on Wednesday this will continue until the wetlands dry out. The hide, which is two stories high, is manned by volunteers and contains all sorts of interesting displays and information including a range of nests and eggs. If the bird hide is closed you can also get a good look at the wetlands from a platform situated in the car park next to the hide.

On the day we visited the wetlands were covered in birds, on the water were many families of swans with their fluffy grey signets, also present were Chestnut Teal, Black-winged Stilt and Yellow-billed and Royal Spoonbills, a group of Australasian Shovelor flew in as we watched. Whiskered Terns were fishing over the wetland and on one occasion a Swamp Harrier flew in flushing many of the birds on the wetland. Of particular interest was the Australian Painted-Snipe near the bird hide, some Spotted Crakes were also visible from the hide and feeding on the mudflats. Superb Fairy-wren could be seen in the bushes bordering the car park.

For more information on the wetlands go to http://www.melbournewater.com.au/content/rivers_and_creeks/the_rivers_an...

If you feel like an urban adventure - but in the bush, you might like to visit the Galada Tamboore area, it’s a little known quiet and beautiful area located mostly behind an industrial and housing estate in Campbellfield. Cryptic KangarooSituated on a 93 hectare floodplain the Merri Creek meanders through it past sedimentary and basalt escarpments and gullies containing remnant river red gums. At the top of the escarpments are indigenous shrublands and grasslands. The area is regionally significant for its reptiles (particularly snakes!!), geology and aboriginal archeological sites. You can access the area via the end of Somerset Drive or Hatty Court, Campbellfield.

There are two beautiful areas next to the Merri Creek that can be accessed by the pathways. If you enter through the Hatty Court Reserve and take the path heading south about 350 meters, look to the left and you will find a beautiful little gully called Yellow Box Gully, named this for the trees growing in the gully beside the creek. This is one of the best spots in the area to see little birds on one visit we found Brown-headed Honeyeaters in the flowering Yellow Box, Spotted Pardalote, White-browed Scrubwren, Grey Fantail, Superb Fairywren, Brown Thornbills and Horsfield's Bronze-cuckoo have also been seen in this area.

After you are finished here you can cross the creek and head north on the other side. Take the pathway heading through the grasslands, look out for European Skylark and Australasian Pipits. Galada TambooreContinue on passing the turnoff to the left. You will then come to another turnoff take the path to the right which will lead down to the creek. Here you will find the creek running under a rocky escarpment with tall Eucalypts growing beside the creek. You can rock hop across the creek to the grasslands on the other side where you may find Brown Quail or a mob of Eastern Grey Kangaroos. Look out for the Brown Falcon which likes to rest in the trees here or it may be hunting along the cliffs. You will probably see or hear Australian Reed Warblers and Golden Headed Cisticola.

When you are finished take one of the pathways back up the west bank both which lead to Hatty Court.