Laverton Creek Mouth
Salt 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
Little Black Cormorants