Western Melbourne

Werribee grasslands with You Yangs in the distance

Some interesting birds can sometimes turn up on the roadsides of the Werribee grasslands and beyond, so when we heard that Banded Lapwings had been seen around the Bulban Road area we decided to go and have a look. We drove out along Greens Road in Mambourin and saw a large flock of Shelduck congregating in an ephemeral wetland that had developed in the middle of a paddock. Along the roadside we saw Superb Fairywren, Australasian Pipit, Skylark and an Australian Hobby on a fence post. We drove on a little further west until we saw what we were looking for on the north side of the road, there were about 20 Banded Lapwing which were fairly well camouflaged amongst the rocky paddock. On the fence nearby were White-fronted Chats.

Banded Lapwing site

We drove on further and turned left onto Edgars Road. About four kilometers down Edgars Road on the west side was a small waterhole which was close to the road. Here a small flock of Zebra finch were drinking. A Masked Lapwing, Yellow Rumped Thornbills and Galahs were also taking advantage of the water. We headed back to Melbourne via Bulban road passing the area close to Newtons Road where we had seen a Little Curlew amongst a flock of Banded Lapwing in January 2008.

On another trip in the area we drove along Sandy Creek Road, in the forest along side the Ford Proving Ground were Diamond Firetail, Brown Falcon and Collared Sparrowhawk.

Map of Werribee area

Jawbone Flora and Fauna reserve is situated in Williamstown
about 8 kms from the city and can be reached by train (closest stations is Williamstown Beach) car (park in Crofton Ave in the east or Maddox Road in the west) or by bike along the Bay Trail. The reserve consists of freshwater lakes, mangroves, saltmarsh and Kororoit Creek to the west.

You can access the reserve at the east end by Hoffman Terrace. At the east end is a boardwalk which leads out toward the beach through saltmarsh and mangroves, although you can't access the beach it's a nice place to have a look around.

As you walk west along the Bay Trail you come to a pathway, take this path to a large enclosed bird hide which looks out onto a Ibis rookery on one of the lakes. The mudflats across from the hide can be a good place to see crakes. A small party of Black-tailed Native-hens have been seen near to the hide, also keep an eye on the bushes around the hide for small birds such as New Holland Honeyeaters and Superb Fairywren.

Jawbone

Walking further west along the trail along many water birds are present on the lake including Blue-billed Ducks, Musk Ducks, Great Crested Grebe, Cormorants, Egrets, Royal Spoonbill also Australian Reed-Warbler and Little Grassbird can be seen or heard.

At the western end you come to Maddox Road this is often a good area to see raptors flying overhead such as Swamp Harrier and Brown Falcon. Walk down to the end of Maddox Road, looking out for Yellow-rumped Thornbill as you go, where you will find another bird hide. There is a chance of seeing some interesting birds from or near the hide, especially if it is low tide. On the occasions we have visited some of the birds we have seen are Eastern Curlew on the sandbar, an Arctic Jaeger flying overhead, Sooty and Pied Oystercatchers, Whiskered Tern, and Marsh Sandpiper. In the bushes nearby we have seen Yellow Thornbill and White Fronted Chat.

At the end of Maddox Road you can get back onto the trail and walk along the Kororoit Creek. The creek is lined by mangroves where you could see cryptic Sharp-tailed Sandpipers roosting in the mangroves, or Red-necked Avocet or Common Greenshank feeding along the creek. If you continue on from here you will reach the Altona Coastal Park.