Victoria

Cape 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

Griffiths Island

Griffiths Island is a small island reached by a causeway from the township of Port Fairy . The island is famous for its colony of Short-tailed Shearwaters which nest on the island and can be seen returning each night to feed their chicks during the breeding season from September to April. It takes around one hour to complete the walk around the island.

Crossing the causeway Black Swan, Pied Oystercatcher, White-faced Heron and Chestnut Teal could be seen in the shallows. The island was covered in shearwater burrows and the occasional calling chick could be heard from within, singing Honeyeaters flitted out from the low shrubs.

On the ocean side there was a Pacific Gull and Crested Tern on the beach. Walking out onto the Moyne River breakwater gave us a view back onto one of the sandy beaches of the island, from here we could see a flock of Sanderling running back and forth on the waters edge with ebb and flow of the sea.

Trip List for Port Fairy

More information on Port Fairy shearwaters

Lighthouse

Curdies Estuary

Curdies Estuary is a large estuary near the township of Peterborough on the Great Ocean Road. Most of the surrounding land is privately owned but the estuary can be accessed in a few places.

On our visit we were able to get reasonable views of the estuary (with a scope) from the corner of Antares St and Halladale Road off the Old Peterborough Road, however it looks as if the land here will soon be sold for private residences so the views may be built out soon. Black Swan are abundant on the estuary, also on the water were Musk Duck, pelicans and coots. Great Egret, White-faced Heron and cormorants could be seen around the margins and in the grasses and low trees were goldfinch, White-fronted Chat, New Holland and Singing Honeyeaters. A small group of Blue-winged Parrots flew by, then perched on a fence, which allowed us to look at them with the scope. A Black-shouldered Kite hovered over the grassland.

The estuary can also be access near a boat ramp on Dorey Street, which is north of the Great Ocean Road or south of the Great Ocean Road on Irvine Street. We parked our car near a picnic ground on Irvine Street and followed a path towards the water which allowed us a good view of the sandbar near the entrance of the estuary. As we were setting up the scope a Rufous Bristlebird hopped out of the bushes, we froze and watched it for a minute of two while it also froze and regarded us. It plucked up the courage to inch past us carefully and once past it scooted along for around 30 meters or so until it reached the bushes on the other side of the picnic ground. On the exposed sandbar Red-capped Plover, Double-banded Plover and Sanderling were feeding.

This is quite and interesting site with a variety of birds, definately worth the stop.

Trip List for Curdies Estuary

View Larger Map