When returning from a recent trip from Barmah Forest, on a 35 degree day, we stopped at the Wakiti Church to have morning tea in the shade and to look for a colony of Grey-crowned Babblers which live in the area. The church is situated near a small billabong surrounded by woodland with farmland on the other side.

There was a surprising amount of bird activity considering the heat, as soon as we arrived we could hear a Pied Butcherbird singing. While looking for it we were distracted by a number of Restless Flycatchers making zrrting and scissors grindeing calls from the billabong area. A flock of Diamond Firetail flew up out of the nearby grass to perch in the trees. We then spotted a couple of holes in a nearby sandbank which looked like Rainbow Bee-eater burrows and later saw them perched with the Diamond Firetails.

After hearing what we thought were babblers calling we accidently disturbed a flock of around 10 Nankeen Night-heron from the billabong while searching. We didn't see the babblers but as we had already seen some in Trickeys Lane, Picola a couple of days ago we weren't too disappointed.

Almost two years ago exactly we visited Terrick Terrick National Park for the first time, the weather was drizzly however once this cleared we enjoyed the campground in the shade of the native Callitris Pine trees. There was little or no ground cover and the red soils were evident. This years visit couldn't have been more different. The weather was hot and sunny, and due to the recent wet weather, the area around the campground was thick with luxuriant golden grass.

This campground is not for the arachnophobe, as at dusk we saw hundreds of colorful Orb Weaving spiders busily building webs in the trees bordering the camp. Other arthropods were also present, we spotted a scorpion hole near to where we had set up our table and in the morning found a tiny brown one, a couple of cms long, under our tent, most likely not venomous enough to cause any harm. The mosquitos were numerous and loud enough to sound like a distant Grand Prix track at dusk which meant we had to retire to our tent earlier than expected.

Many of the bird species seen last time such as Hooded Robins, Rainbow Beaeaters, Brown Treecreeper and Restless Flycatcher were still present near the camp, however there were no woodswallows, and this time we did not see a Gilbert's Whistler, although we did hear one off in the distance.

After setting up camp we decided to take a walk along the cemetery track near to the Mitiamo Cemetery to look for Diamond Firetail. Initially we didn't see many birds other than Red-rumped Parrots and a few Brown-headed Honeyeaters and a Red-capped Robin, since it was a warm afternoon that wasn't surprising. Once we got to the Cemetery Track we saw a large bird sitting high up top of a tree which was a Dollarbird, something we didn't expect to see here. A bit further along the cemetery track we flushed some Diamond Firetails out of the grass, there were many other small birds in the area, a family of three Hooded Robins including a juvenile being fed, Yellow Thornbills, Southern Whiteface and a Jacky Winter.

The next morning we visited a couple of spots along the Bendigo Creek, the most interesting spot was the small track leading to the creek opposite Allen Way. Here we saw Zebra Finch, White-fronted Chat and Rufous Songlark.

Further information on Terrick Terrick National Park can be found at these links:
Notes of Friends of Terrick Terrick

Terrick Terrick National Park

As everyone who lives in Victoria already knows it has been a very wet year this year due to the affects of a La Nina weather pattern across Eastern Australia. On a previous visit to the Terrick Terrick area of Northern Victoria two years ago, during a period of drought, it was very dry and there were no ephemeral wetlands present. However this year we visited a number of interesting ephemeral wetlands in the area.

Here is a summary of the wetlands we found and the interesting species located there.

Timms Lake, located about 5 kms north of Terrick Terrick National Park on the Sylvaterre - Timms Lake Road: There were a few water birds here including Black-winged Stilts and Red-kneed Dotteral, there was also a White-backed Swallow hawking over the wetland and a few Rainbow Beaeaters.

Swamp located on the Mount Terrick Road, between the Echuca Mitiamo Road and Highett Road: This is a thick lignum swamp, all sorts of interesting birds could be hiding in here, there was a report of an Australian Bittern seen here earlier in the week. Interesting birds that we saw included a Musk Duck, White-necked Heron and Black-tailed Native-hen.

Wetlands on Highett Road, East of Terrick Terrick NP: There were a couple of wetlands on Highett Road, one was particularly good with nesting Black-winged Stilts and Masked Lapwings, there were hundreds of stilts, Red-kneed Dotterels and Black-fronted Dotterels, a variety of ducks including seven Plumed Whistling-Duck and a couple of Hardhead. We also accidently flushed two Latham's Snipe which we were excited to see. Other interesting birds were a couple of Black-tailed Native-hens, a White-necked Heron, a Darter and some Australasian Grebes.

Gilbert's Whistler recorded New Years Eve morning at Terrick Terrick National Park, roughly 230km north of Melbourne. Conditions were somewhat windy and not especially conducive to recording.

White Cypress Pine in the campground

Terrick Terrick is a great spot for an overnight birding trip from Melbourne, although it's only a three hour drive north it feels quite remote and there are plenty of unusual birds and plants to see.

The shady camping ground is set amongst stands of White Cypress Pine near the base of Mount Terrick Terrick. It was raining lightly when we arrived but the rain soon cleared and the bird activity around the camp ground increased. There were many Willie Wagtail and Brown Treecreepers, a pair of Hooded Robin were foraging on the ground and low in the trees, Rainbow Bee-eater were hawking for insects above the trees and Grey Shrike-thrush could be hear calling from a little further away. We then spotted our first GilbertÂ?s Whistler which allowed us a quick look before it flew off. Dusky Woodswallow were near the toilet block. A little further into the Cypress Pine forest there were flocks of White-browed Woodswallow, a couple of Peaceful Dove, a Restless Flycatcher, and White-browed Babbler.

Trees on Mount Terrick Terrick

We took the short climb to the top of Mount Terrick Terrick where many purple Rock Isotome were growing in the rock crevasses along the way. On the climb up we saw Striated Pardalote and Mistletoe Bird calling from the trees at the base and Yellow Thornbill and Superb Fairywren amongst the wattle but other than that there were few other birds. However the climb was worth it for the great views of Pyramid Hill and the surrounding countryside.

Rock Isotome

Later we took a walk from the campground along a track heading toward the east boundary fence. The forest here is predominantly Yellow and Grey Box. There were many Red-rumped Parrots, Eastern Rosella and Galah here; we also saw Varied Sitella, Black-faced Cuckoo Shrike and White-browed Woodswallow. The path turned north along the east boundary fence where we saw Mallee Ringneck, Southern Whiteface and Jacky Winter. Turning west again at the next turnoff we walked along a track which led back toward the campground north of Mount Terrick Terrick, Red Rumped Parrot and Brown Treecreepers were prolific here but we also came across a small party of Black-chinned Honeyeater.

The following morning PJ awoke early to record the dawn chorus and managed a very nice recording of the GilbertÂ?s Whistler. While eating breakfast a Rufous whistler was calling from a nearby tree and a little later we were able to find the Gilberts Whistler again by its distinct call. Afterwards a Wedge-tailed Eagle soared overhead being chased by an Australian Raven.

Later we took a drive to the grassland; a little Eagle was flying overhead and Richards Pipit were on the fences by the roadside.

Pyramid Hill from Mount Terrick Terrick

The grasslands in the park are also a reliable spot to find the endangered Plains Wanderer however they can be difficult to find during the day. You may want to take a Plains Wanderer night tour to see them.