Swift Moth

Muckleford is known for its populations of Swift Parrots during winter, this was one of the birds we hoped to see today. What we didn't expect to see was a Swift Moth. We found this incredible large moth on one of the tracks today, busily on the move climbing over the leaf litter to who knows where. This photo does not do it justice, it was around 12 cm in length, larger than some of the birds seen today.

The forest appeared quiet as we first set off for our walk until a large bird was flushed from the ground near the path, it settled in a tree above, it was an Owlet Nightjar the second one we have ever seen. Soon afterwards two Common Bronzewings were startled out of the undergrowth. Suddenly alarm calls rang out from the trees, a Brown Falcon darted through the trees. Looking upwards we could see the Brown Flacon circling and another raptor was also present, a Whistling Kite.

Further on down the path we saw a mixed flock of Weebill, Yellow Tufted Honeyeater, White Naped Honeyeater and a White-throated Treecreeper. A pair of Scarlet Robins appeared and on the track, and leaping over ground were a flock of Chestnut-rumped Thornbill.

We heard a kangaroo thump through the trees, this appeared to startle a bird which gave us a brief view of a Swift Parrot darting overhead.

We returned to the car and on the way we saw a pair of Hooded Robin sitting in some low trees. While eating lunch back at the car we watched some Scarlet Robins, a Brown Treecreeper hopped across the ground and a flock of Varied Sitella slowly made their way up and down some tree branches.

Muckleford Nature Conservation Reserve can be accessed by Pullmans Road which runs of the Maldon Castlemaine Road. A number of tracks run of Pullans Road into the reserve.

Muckleford Nature Conservation Reserve Trip List

Map of Muckleford Area

Muckleford Nature Conservation Reserve

We started our day in the Toolangi State Forest at 8.30am at the Wirrawilla Rainforest walk (off Sylvia Creek Road), this however may have been a mistake. The Wirrawilla walk takes you along a boardwalk through a cool temperate rainforest of Myrtle Beaches. The pathway is lined with giant tree ferns with a myriad of tiny mosses growing under the boardwalk, a couple of small bridges take you over the Sylvia creeks rushing waters.

Early morning on the Wirrawilla Boardwalk

Our idea was to get there early before the day trippers arrived. It was a sunny day, but little sun penetrates the thick foliage here. On arrival at the car park a couple of Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoos sailed overhead. Many birds such as White-throated Treecreeper, White-browed Scrubwren and Brown Thornbill could be heard but they were up in the canopy where the sunshine was and not a bird could be seen. About halfway around the track we turned right down quarry track. This lead to a higher more open area where we saw Grey Fantail, Golden Whistler, Rufous Fantail, Crescent Honeyeater and King Parrot. A Superb Lyrebird could be heard calling further down the slope. Returning by Wirrawilla to the car we saw a Lewins Honeyeater and Laughing Kookaburra in the rainforest.

We drove further along the Sylvia Creek Road to the Tanglefoot car park where we were greeted by the creaky door call of Gang Gang cockatoos, one lovely male settled in the trees above the picnic ground where we watched if for a while. Bassian Thrush, Brown Thornbill and Crimson Rosella were seen and Eastern Whipbird and Superb Lyrebirds could be heard calling from the forest.

Tanglefoot TrackAfter morning tea we took a walk up the Tanglefoot Track. Crescent Honeyeaters, Grey Fantail, Rufous Fantail, Golden Whistler and Grey Shrike Thrush were seen along the track, we also came across a Female Rose Robin hopping along the path. About 800m along the track we heard Pilotbirds melodiously calling from either side of the track, we stopped to look carefully into the undergrowth and saw at least three, after a few minutes a couple dashed across the path and into the bush. Returning to the car park we saw Eastern Spinebill.

Driving back along Sylvia Creek road a Wonga Pigeon crossed the road in front of the car. A very unusual bird for this part of the state.

Mangalore Flora Reserve is a great place to stop off if you are heading up the Hume or Goulburn Valley highways. Although the Flora Reserve runs along the highway access is only via Mangalore Road. It's a fairly small reserve but contains a number of interesting birds. Many cockatoos and parrots can be seen along the roadsides leading to the reserve. On the day we visited (January 09) on entering the reserve the first interesting bird we came across was a White-backed Swallow sitting in a dead tree. There were many White-browed Woodswallow, Dusky and Masked Woodswallows were also present. Other interesting birds in the reserve on the day we visited were, a White-bellied Cuckoo Shrike, White-browed Babbler, White-throated Needletail, Brown Treecreeper, Crested-shrike Tit and White-winged Chough.
Swift Parrots have been seen here in winter, also look out for cuckoos, Rainbow Bea-eaters, Tawny Frogmouth and Black-chinned Honeyeater.

Map of Mangalore Flora Reserve

Mangalore Flora Reserve Trip List

Mangalore Flora Reserve

The Long Bridge

Why not indulge in two or three of the most pleasant pastimes at the same venue. At Tahbilk Wetlands and Wildlife reserve you can taste the wine, eat a delicious meal at the cafe and complete the day by spending a few hours bird watching on the wetlands. The cost is $5 to walk in or $10 to take a boat trip but this money goes towards continuing the rehabilitation of the wetland which was commenced in 1995.

Waterlilly flower

Take the long bridge across the picturesque wetland filled with the indigenous Watersheild Lilly to the riverine woodland on the opposite bank. In the bushes around the edges of the bridge are Superb Fairywren, White-browed Scrubwren and Red-browed Finch. On our trip here in February 2008 we spotted a Dollar Bird near the southern end of the Long Bridge. Along the billabongs look out for Black Swan, Pelican, Cormorants and an array of other water birds. Whistling Kite and Swamp Harrier can be seen flying overhead. The forest near landing number 4 is more mature and contains some more interesting birds such as Crested Shrike-tit, Brown Treecreeper, Common Bronzewing and Little Lorikeets. In summer look out for Sacred Kingfishers all along the river.

The reserve is also home to other animals, on our last visit we spotted an Eastern Grey Kangaroo, a Swamp Wallaby and a Koala in a large eucalypt outside the cafe.

The Wetland

Tahbilk is located just south of Nagambie. More information on the wetlands can be found on the Tahbilk Website.

Map of Tahbilk Wetlands

This recording was made early in 2008 at Whroo on the same trip as the frog recording I posted previously. It's one of the few recordings I made with the MKH416 shotgun mic prior to selling it , and sounds quite good. The racket this flock of feeding Musk Lorikeets were making masks the relatively high self noise of the '416 fairly well.
Grass trees in the forest at Whroo