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.

The tide times and weather were just right for a visit to Reef Island today. Reef Island is a small rocky island in Coronet Bay (near Philip Island) which can be reached by walking out over a rocky natural causeway at low tide. The closest access point is from the car park at the end of Bluff Road, Bass. The island is cut off from the mainland at high tide so we checked the tide times before visiting to make sure we arrived before low tide to give us maximum time on the island. We had been warned not to attempt crossing by wading over on the rising tide as several drownings have occurred this way. We arrived by 10am and although low tide was at 11.55 am the causeway to the island was already completely exposed so we headed straight out.

The access to the island is located about 100 meters along the beach south of the car park. One of the first birds we noticed on the beach was a Kelp Gull. Also along the beach and and in the water were Black Swan, Great Egret, Royal Spoonbill and Eastern Curlew. We crossed the causeway and headed for the emerging mudflats on the southern side of the island, in the distance we could see hundreds of waders out on the mud. They were too distant to see with our binoculars and we were disappointed that we had decided not to bring the scope. After edging closer we managed to distinguish, Grey-tailed Tattlers, Ruddy Turnstones, Red-necked Stints and a flying view of a Greenshank as it flew out to a rocky islet.

We decided to head inland along the sandbar and mangroves in the higher central part of the island, this gave us a view of both sides of the island and we could see that most of the waders were located on the southern side. Further out we were able to skirt the mangroves and get closer to the waders. Here we saw at least five Pacific Golden Plover, a few Grey-tailed Tattlers, Ruddy Turnstone, Sharp-tailed Sandpiper, Curlew Sandpiper and Red-necked Stint. There were various terns and cormorants further out on a small islet but they were a bit far away to distinguish. Also out on the mudflats were Great Egret, White-faced Heron, many ducks, Ibis and hundreds of swans feeding out in the bay.

We decided to head back for lunch about 12.45 but could have stayed a lot longer as there was no sign of the tide coming in. Next time we visit we will bring the scope to allow better views of the distant birds.

Reef Island Bird List

We packed up our camping gear and headed for East Gippsland to spend the weekend exploring Fairy Dell, Deptford and the Mitchell River National Park in East Gippsland. The Bureau of Meteorology was predicting thunderstorms along with high UV so we weren't quite sure what type of weather to expect.

Our first stop was the rainforest at Fairy Dell Flora Reserve just out of Bruthen on Deep Creek Road. On this occasion we took the Eleven Mile Road turnoff from the Great Alpine road which was fortunate as a temporary roadside sign warned the road was closed at the Deep Creek Bridge, just after Fairy Dell so there is currently no access from the other end of Deep Creek Road.

As soon as we arrived in the car park Sacred Kingfisher was heard calling. After a brief look around we spotted Varied Sitella, Brown Headed Honeyeater, King Parrot and Wonga Pigeon. We took the left fork of the path which heads up over a small ridge and allows a view down into the rainforest gully on one side and the dry forest higher up on the other side. It wasn't long before we heard a Cicadabird calling. We scanned the tree tops for it and while looking heard another Cicadabird on the other side of the path. They were both calling intermittently so it was difficult to get a location and we eventually got tired of looking and headed up the path.

In the drier sections of the forest we saw New Holland Honeyeater, White-throated Treecreeper, White-naped Honeyeater, Thornbills, Eastern Yellow Robin and Rufous Whistler.

We followed the path down wards into the rainforest in the hope of seeing a Monarch. It was moist and humid under the canopy with mosses, ferns, and creepers growing luxuriantly. The path was very overgrown in places, we brushed our hands on a stinging plant which gave us a few moments of discomfort but luckily there were no leeches. We heard a Superb Lyrebird making an alarm call before seeing it dash across our path. Along the path we also saw Brown Gerygone, Large Billed Scrubwren and Golden Whistler.

Rain, which had been threatening for most of the day, started to fall once we reached the 'Fairydell' so we sat under the rainforest canopy for a while, which kept us dry. While waiting for the rain to stop we heard a Black-faced Monarch calling from within the denser foliage, not far away. We caught sight of two Rufous Fantails as they were passing through and finally a Black-faced Monarch approached us closely to check us out while we were sitting still watching it. After deciding we were of no interest it disappeared into the bush.

When the rain stopped we returned back down the path, keeping an ear out for Cicadabird, but we did not hear them calling again. We did see a beautiful pair of Rose Robins feeding two chicks huddled in the bushes.

Fairy Dell Trip List

After leaving Fairydell we stopped at the newly opened Bullant Brewery in Bruthen for coffee. We marked this down as a good option for lunch and a beer for future trips.

Next stop was to check out the Deptford camping ground. It was about 5pm by the time we arrived, the rain had set in so we had a look around this pretty camping site next to the Nicholson River before we bailed out and headed back to Bairnsdale for motel accommodation.

The next morning we drove to the Mitchell River National Park. Our first stop was the Den of Nargun. When we arrived in the carpark Brush Cuckoo and Rufous Whistler were calling. The day was warm and humid, heading down into the warm temperate rainforest in the river gorge was like stepping into a lost world, with steep cliff faces festooned with overgrown jungle like vegetation. It was difficult to search for birds while navigating the steep slippery steps which led to a waterfall and rock pool behind which lies the Den of Nargun, said to be the home of a mythical beast half human half stone. However, we did see a Satin Bowerbird, Brown Gerygone, Yellow Robin and Silvereye.

After visiting the den we returned by the Mitchell River walk. Along the river we heard a Brush Cuckoo calling, a group of agitated thornbill gave away its location and we were able to see it high in a tree. After crossing the river, the path heads back up the gorge to the car park. At the top we stopped for a while to watch a Peregrine Falcon glide along the cliff top and also noticed a flock of White-throated Needletail to high up to be seen with the naked eye.

Back in the car park a small flock of Musk Lorikeet passed through.

We drove around to the Billy Goat bend campground, from the campground a path leads out to a spectacular view of the Mitchell River. By this time a strong wind had blown up and heavy dark clouds were threatening so we reluctantly made the decision to return to Melbourne.

Mitchell River Trip List

24 October to 2 November see South Australia

3 November

We decided to spend our last night back at Hattah-Kulkyne to catch up with a couple of birds we didn’t have time for on our way up. We drove around the Mournpall, Bitterang and Boolungal tracks looking for Chestnut-crowned Babbler and found them on the Boolungal Track.

Back in the Mornpall Campground at lunchtime a couple of Regent Parrots flew in to rest during the heat of the day in the trees above our campsite. Two Pink cockatoos also came in the rest. The usual parrots could also be seen around the campground Little Corella, Yellow Rosella and Mallee Ringneck.

4 November

We wanted to see a Mallee Emu Wren on our last morning and settled on searching an area about 300m past the entrance sign on the main access road to the park, we read they had been seen here recently. The site looked promising with lots of mature Triodia under Mallee. It is an easy site to access and being near a road it is difficult to get lost, the telephone wires and sound of traffic make it easy to find the way back to the road.

We searched for some time, listening for high pitched calls; although there was lots of bird activity no emu-wren could be heard. We saw Rufous Songlark, Horsfield’s Bronze Cuckoo, White Winged Triller, White-fronted Honeyeater and one of the bluest male Splendid Fairywren I’ve ever seen. When heading back to the car to try another area we heard emu-wren calling from close range and managed to catch sight of a male and female as they skirted around us.

We decided to end our trip with this highlight and packed up camp to head down the Calder Hwy to home. We couldn’t resist a final stop at the intriguing Sea Lake and were rewarded with a Victorian sighting of Black-faced Woodswallow and also a small party of Rufous Fieldwren. No time to search for Orange Chats though so we reluctantly climbed back in the car and headed home.

Hattah Trip List

Flinders Ranges Trip Report 22 October to 4 November 2011

22 October

Our first stop on our journey northward was lunch beside the Avoca River at the Charlton rest stop just off the hwy in the centre of town. Birds riverside were Sacred Kingfisher, Little Friarbird, and Rufous Songlark.

Heading up the Calder Hwy we noticed some Eremophila flowering on the roadside and decided to make a short detour to a small ‘known’ patch of bush land at Gama on the Sunraysia Hwy in the hope of finding Black Honeyeater. Initially the bush seemed quiet, after searching around for a bit we found some Eremophila flowering and heard the calls of Black Honeyeater, it took some searching to find these tiny flighty birds but we finally had a good look at a male and female. While searching we were surprised by a flock of around 50 budgies. Another surprise was a Brown Quail heard calling from the undergrowth. Other interesting birds present were White-fronted Honeyeater, Rainbow Bee-eater (these were seen at almost every stop as we travelled northwards), White-winged Triller and Masked and White-browed Woodswallow.

Gama Trip List

The first night we camped beside Lake Mournpall at Hattah-Kulkyne NP. There is plenty of water in the lakes at the moment, we managed to spy a White-necked Heron on the lake and around the lakes edge groups of Black-tailed Native Hen were nervously feeding. It was difficult to see many other birds on the lake as it was obscured by a thick layer of River Red Gum saplings growing around the edge of the lake. There seems to be an eruption of Native hens at the moment, many groups were seen beside the road from Lake Mournpall to the park entrance. Each time we visit there is always an Emu hanging round the camp at Lake Mournpall and it didn’t disappoint us this time either. Other interesting birds at the campground were a Sacred Kingfisher calling constantly from the saplings around the lake, Rainbow Bee-eater, a flock of around 10 Regent Parrots and a Barn Owl heard calling on the wing at night.

23 October

The next day we took an early morning drive along the Konardin and Nowingi tracks. The Mallee is thriving at the moment, a big difference from our visits a few years ago during drought. Some sections of the Mallee were flowering which had attracted Yellow-plumed and White-fronted Honeyeaters. Birds were flying up out of the bush in front of us, there were small flocks of budgies in a few areas and we had a great view of a Crested Bellbird perched in a tree. Cockatiel gave us fleeting glimpses while flying over along the top section of the Nowingi Track and Pink Cockatoo were heard flying over.

After leaving Hattah we headed up the Calder Hwy to our next stop Yarrara Flora and Fauna Reserve. Just after Ouyen Paul cleverly spotted our first Red-backed Kingfisher for the trip, sitting in a tree at the side of the road.

By the time we arrived at Yarrara it was the middle of the day and very hot so we did some drive by birding, slowly driving along some of the tracks and stopping where we heard birds calling. Few birds could be seen but we caught a view of a Splendid Fairywren in full breeding plumage and finally saw a couple of White-browed Treecreepers which are a feature of this reserve.

We spent the night at Renmark to give us time to stock up on fresh food. We stayed at an overpriced caravan park next to the river but the bed was good so it was sort of worth it.

Hattah Trip List

24 October to 2 November see South Australia