Urban Birder

Victoria

Laverton Creek Mouth

Salt MarshSalt Marsh

We went to look for the Hudsonian Godwit today, which according to Birdline reports, is frequently seen feeding at the mouth of the Laverton Creek in Altona.

We parked our car in the car park off Maidstone Street and walked along the pathway running alongside the foreshore, when we arrived at the creek mouth we were surprised at the profusion of birdlife feeding around the sandbars at low tide. There were hundreds of ducks mixed Chestnut and Grey Teal, a Royal Spoonbill, a Great Egret and many Black-winged Stilts present. Out on the sandbar a single godwit was feeding, we wondered if this was the Hudsonian but after checking with another more experienced birdo who was also out for the morning to see the Hudsonian Godwit we discovered that this was a Bar-tailed Godwit. Accompanying the godwit were many Red-capped Plovers.

We decided to go for a walk out to the sandbar while waiting for the hudsonian to show. To get out nearer to the sandbar and beach we walked along the north side of the Laverton River to the foot bridge that crossed the river, on the way we saw a Little Eagle and Nankeen Kestrel soaring overhead and other smaller birds were in the bushes including, Yellow-rumped Thornbill, Yellow Thornbill and Silvereye.

After crossing the bridge we headed out to the salt marsh, navigating this area proved to be a bit tricky as there were lots of little rivulets and soggy areas to cross which meant our feet got wet (we wished wed brought our gumboots). Raptors were stirring up the birds out on the sand dunes, a couple of Whistling Kites flew over head and landed on the waters edge, as we looked we saw five Whistling Kites sitting out the beach. On another section of the beach was a flock of around 100 Little Black Cormorants huddled near the shoreline. On our return we walked along the cyclone fence bordering Cheetham Wetlands and saw a couple of Striated Fieldwren through the fence.

Heading back to the creek mouth we could still see the Bar-tailed Godwit feeding but unfortunately no Hudsonian Godwit for us today.

Laverton Creek Mouth Trip List

Laverton Creek Mouth

Little Black CormorantsLittle Black Cormorants

Muckleford Nature Conservation Reserve

Swift MothSwift 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 ReserveMuckleford Nature Conservation Reserve

Mount Eccles - Lake Surprise

Lake SurpriseLake Surprise

Lake Surprise is a large lake formed by three craters on the edge of Mount Eccles National Park. This area of the park can be reached via the township of Macarthur. Several walks lead around the lake, we decided to take the 'lake rim walk' to enable us a close look at the lake and also the forest within the crater. We took the many stairs that lead down from the picnic ground inside the crater to the lakes edge. In the lake were Musk Duck, Grey Teal, and Australian Shelduck, also coots and cormorants. The forest here is a thick Manna Gum woodland with Cherry Balart, Blackwood and bracken, all of the usual bush birds were present including Yellow-faced Honeyeater, Eastern Yellow Robin, Golden Whistler, Whit-throated Treecreeper and Crimson Rosella. Long-billed Corella and Sulphur-crested Cockatoos wheeled around overhead.

At this point on our walk it started to rain heavily so we cut our walk short and doubled back along the edge of the lake to take a peak at what was in the other end before heading back to the car park. To my surprise four Spotless Crakes were foraging around the sandy exposed banks of the Northern end of the lake. Once we arrived back in the car park the rain cleared so we took a walk around the picnic ground to see which other birds were around. We could hear Spotted Pardalote and a White-naped Honeyeater nearby. Suddenly two Wedge Tailed Eagles could be seen through a clearing in the trees, we watched them thermaling around for a few minutes. Near the picnic tables a large flock of Red-browed Finches were foraging.

This is a beautiful area worth spending more time at when the weather is better.

Bird List for Mount Eccles

Cape Nelson State Park

Cape NelsonCape Nelson

Cape Nelson State Park is a coastal park near Portland. As we were driving up toward the light station there were many interesting looking paths leading off into the coastal heath but as we had come to look for seabirds we didn't have time to explore these. When we arrived at the light station we were surprised to find Isabella's Cafe which is housed in the old light station stables so we were tempted into lunch and a cup of hot coffee before heading for the sea cliffs.

After finishing our smoked salmon, cream cheese and caper baguettes we took our scope out to the nearby blustery sea cliffs. Almost immediately we saw an albatross wheeling around on the ocean. We set up the scope and after some inspection and consulting our field guides we decided it must be a Black-browed Albatross. A short time afterwards we also identified a Shy Albatross, flocks of Short-tailed Shearwaters were also visible in the scope. Gannets are plentiful here and later we found out about a nearby Gannet rookery at Point Danger. There were also a couple of seals frolicking in the waves at the base of the cliffs.

This is a great spot to look for seabirds and also a good spot for lunch.

Cape Nelson Bird List

Fitzroy River Estuary

Fitzroy River EstuaryFitzroy River Estuary

The Fitzroy River Estuary can be reached by Thompsons Road, off the Great Ocean Road near Tyrendarra. Take the road to the end where you will find a boat ramp and picnic ground. A path leads from the picnic ground through coastal dunes, a 15 to 20 minute walk will take you to the mouth of the Fitzroy River. Ducks, Cormorants and other water birds were seen in the river, a group of around 30 Masked Lapwings were huddled together in the sand dunes, its unusual to see such a large group together. Looking out onto the open beach from the sand dunes it appeared there were no birds present, however we noticed a few plovers fly up from the beach. On giving them TracksTracksa closer look we could then see what looked like hundreds of Red-capped and Double-banded Plovers huddling behind clumps of seaweed sheltering from the wind.

This area is definately worth a look with the type of habitat some really interesting birds might turn up in.

Trip list for Fitzroy River Estuary