Lake Lorne via Blue Rocks

 

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Ok, so Blue Rocks isn't really on the way to Lake Lorne - from anywhere. But I was on a bit of a road trip with my birding friends Richard and Hank. We had left Geelong and gone to Airey's Inlet to find the Rufous Bristlebird. Another new bird for me and 498th for the year. We then worked our way back along the coast, stopping to look for waders and the Hooded Plover. With no luck, we tried the Blue Rocks Beach (no blue rocks in sight). 

We were walking down the beach and walked straight past a pair of plovers! Catching ourselves, we stood still and then moved away so we could watch them. They didn't leave the area so we thought they might have a chick with them. We sat and had lunch and waited but there were lots of people around (thankfully no dogs) and the birds, while content to sit where they were, did not round up any chicks. We left them to it. I was very pleased to see them (only the second time) and even more now that my count is 499.

Hooded Plover (Thinornis cucullatus)

We moved on to Lorne Lake, near Drysdale and unlike other bodies of water I have seen in Geelong, this one was full of water birds. Firstly, we saw Royal Spoonbill working the edge of the lake. They are so interesting. If you look closely a the markings on the bill, they almost look prehistoric.

Royal Spoonbill (Platalea regia)

The water was so high that it lapped the grassy areas and the ducks and grebes were swimming really close by. I saw a Hoary-headed Grebe with stunning plumage. I was taken by it that I didn't even realise it had a chick with it until I saw the blurred images on the photos!

Hoary-headed Grebe (Poliocephalus poliocephalus)

We were hoping to see Freckled Duck here which would be my number 500, but no luck. I did like the look of this Little Pied Cormorant, resting on a branch over the water.

Little Pied Cormorant (Microcarbo melanoleucos)

Still looking for the 500th but no disappointment here. A fabulous day.

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You Yangs Regional Park

 

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The You Yangs Regional Park is north of Serendip Sanctuary and I went there looking for my 500th bird species of 2022. It was New Year's Eve so really my last chance. The park is on a slope and the view back down to the south coast of Victoria was breathtaking, particularly in the early morning light. As I arrived, there was a large, male kangaroo grazing next to the car park. He was so big, I actually thought for a second he was a cow! I cannot get over being able to get so close to these huge animals.

Around the car park were areas to picnic and a track leading to a lookout. I could already hear people screaming and yelling down there so I headed up the hill. Crimson and Eastern Rosellas were zipping around with their distinctive pinging calls. 

My first find were some thornbill chattering away. I was hoping to see the Buff-rumped as that would count for number 500 but there was no sign. I saw Brown, Yellow and Yellow-rumped Thornbill here, although they were difficult to photograph.

Yellow Thornbill (Acanthiza nana)

Yellow-rumped Thornbill (Acanthiza chrysorrhoa)

Sitting high up were a few New Holland Honeyeaters. They are very common throughout this whole area but you can't get bored of their bright eyes and striking plumage.

New Holland Honeyeater (Phylidonyris novaehollandiae)

I found a spot near the track where there was a lot of activity. A family of Scarlet Robins zoomed about, squabbling furiously, the rosellas called from high up and Silvereye sang away from the foliage. I was moving around all the time, trying to pin down what I was seeing. I was moving from dark leaves to bright sky and after a while it was all abit blurry. Then I saw something land and as I moved my lens towards it, I just knew I had hit the jackpot. Not a great photo - I only had one viable out of 10 I snapped. There were 3 of them and after stopping for about 10 seconds, they disappeared and I didn't see them again.

Not to worry - I had my 500th. And best of all, it was the rather rare Speckled Warbler. Fantastic.

Speckled Warbler (Pyrrholaemus sagittatus)

Home for a cup of tea!

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Avalon Coastal Reserves

 

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Avalon Beach is on the coastline between Geelong and Melbourne. When I got there it was foggy and gloomy but the sun burned it off quickly and the heat arrived. It was a very pretty area with lots of pools of water and walkways inbetween. Parts of it had been ruined though, with lots of rubbish in the water. Why come to somewhere so beautiful and chuck empty beer bottles around? I'll never get it.

Anyway, I was looking for the elusive waders that should be all along this coast at this time of year. No immediate sign of them but once I had got past the rubbish and into the reserves, it was really lovely. Skylarks were singing high in the air, an occasional pelican flew past and the fairywren were chuckling away in the shrubbery. 

First up were some White-browed Scrubwren. I was hoping for fieldwren or heathwren but I soon learned there were only scrubwren here, easily identifiable by their distinctive buzzing from low down. 

White-browed Scrubwren (Sericornis frontalis)

Also chattering away were the White-fronted Chats who, most obligingly, will sit on fence wire for you fairly frequently. The female is duller than the male but they are both very pretty little birds.

White-fronted Chat (Epthianura albifrons)

There were lots of raptors around this morning. I saw 2 enormous Wedge-tailed Eagles sitting stop pylons. They wouldn't tolerate me even stopping half a kilometer away. I also saw Black-shouldered Kite, Australian Kestrel, Collared Sparrowhawk and Brown Falcon.

Brown Falcon (Falco berigora)

Australian Kestrel (Falco cenchroides)

As I was getting a drink from the van, a pair of European Goldfinch landed right in front of me. Such gorgeous plumage and a lovely song too.

European Goldfinch (Carduelis carduelis)

Around one of the bigger pools of water, I could hear grassbirds and more fairywren and on top of that were the distinctive peeps of small waders. Not the most exotic shorebirds but I'm always pleased to see these little birds.

Red-capped Plover (Charadrius ruficapillus)

Red-necked Stint (Calidris ruficollis)

I had seen some teal and shelducks at a distance but all of a sudden the whole lot went up. I had thought there were about 20 ducks but it was more like 200. Fabulous to watch as they flew past.

Australian Shelduck (Tadorna tadornoides)

As I was on my way out, I saw a young Skylark sitting on a post. Just for once, it stayed still and the sun was right on it. The bird had a bug which it kept picking up and putting down. It didn't seem to know what to do with it. I took some photos and left it alone to figure it out.

Eurasian Skylark (Alauda arvensis)

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Bannockburn Recreation Reserve

 

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Bannockburn is about 20 minutes north west of Geelong but I didn't stop in the town, driving straight through to the reserve. I had decided that I wanted to find more bush birds and this seemed like a nice spot. I started on the southside of the main road and walked through some beautiful bush and trees. There was a lot of noise but the birds were all high up. Patience.

Honeyeaters abounded with white-eared, white-naped, new Holland, and white-plumed. They were all too busy to chat with me and I only got one. Still very nice to see them all.

White-naped Honeyeater (Melithreptus lunatus)

Rufous Whistlers and White-throated Treecreepers were calling loudly and almost as a duet. I didn't catch the treecreeper but I found a female whistler who was busy catching bugs for her young.

Rufous Whistler (Pachycephala rufiventris)

On the north side of the road I saw several groups of White-winged Chough. They have the most delicious wailing call and I love seeing them, although they are most often skulking around in the shadows.

White-winged Chough (Corcorax melanorhamphos)

My best find was a family of Jacky Winter. These birds are actually robin and are so named because it reflects their call. I have never spotted that but I will listen out next time I see any.

Jacky Winter (Microeca fascinans)

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Balyang Sanctuary Visit 2

 

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Most times when I revisit places, I am disappointed. Great birding spots are a combination of right place and right time. And that time generally only happens once. However, Geelong has now given me 2 places that I know I can visit again and again and find something new and interesting. And so it was, that on a lazy birding day I revisited Balyang Sanctuary. 

Although there is activity all around, this spot in the photo is where most of the action is. The ducks, cormorants and parrots all seem to like the tree in the top left and the water just behind it. The sun was shining on the water so it seemed like a good time to shoot some ducks.

Chestnut Teal (Anas castanea)

Grey Teal (Anas gracilis)

Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)

Maned Duck (Chenonetta jubata)

Pacific Black Duck (Anas superciliosa)

Silver Gull (Chroicocephalus novaehollandiae)

Now, I know that technically this last photo is a gull but I swear it thought it was a duck. It was the only gull present, it followed the ducks around and bathed just like a duck. 

The colony of cormorants were still busy. Some were courting, some mating and the juveniles fell off the branches into the water. Wonderful spectacle.

Little Pied Cormorant (Microcarbo melanoleucos)

I'm sure the top bird is the original model for angry birds!

The highlight of this visit was seeing a darter. I don't think I have seen one since I left Queensland! Much larger than the cormorants, they are elegant and stunning. The red patch on the neck indicates this bird is breeding.

Australian Anhinga (Anhinga novaehollandiae)

Further round the park, I found a magpie lying in the sun. I've seen them do this lots of times but they just so odd. You can understand why people think they are dead.

Australasian Magpie (Gymnorhina tibicen)

Back around the water once more, the lorikeets were screeching. I just can't get enough of these birds!

Rainbow Lorikeet (Trichoglossus moluccanus)

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Serendip Sanctuary Visit 2

 

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I revisited Serendip Sanctuary as early as I could. Instead of heading towards the lake, I went towards the exhibits. To my surprise, kangaroo and emu were roaming around. Never seen that before in a public park. As I followed the track, the big roos lying on it very graciously moved out of my way. I was fascinated by a female with a rather large tail and foot sticking out of her pouch. The joey must have been huge. Poor girl, she looked very uncomfortable.

Eastern Grey Kangaroo (Macropus giganteus)

First stop, kangaroo permitting, were the hides. The first overlooked a small pond and there were ducks and grebes right in front of the hide. I loved the grebe, in full breeding plumage. Very attractive side on but quite comical looking down the camera.

Australian Grebe (Tachybaptus novaehollandiae)

Part of the wildlife walk were some open pens where I found the incredibly cute Tasmanian Pademelon. Wandering around them were Cape Barren Geese, a rather attractive small goose.

Cape Barren Geese (Cereopsis novaehollandiae)

Tasmanian Pademelon (Thylogale billardierii)

Hanging around the lake, I found a White-faced Heron. They are much smaller than you think if you can get close. They are such pretty, elegant herons.

White-faced Heron (Egretta novaehollandiae)

Further around the lake and into the bush areas, honeyeaters darted through the canopy. The only one I could pin down were White-plumed, resting on a branch.

White-plumed Honeyeater (Ptilotula penicillata)

All around the park, feeding on the ground, were Red-rumped Parrots and after flushing about a hundred of them, I finally managed to catch a couple who would tolerate me.

Red-rumped Parrot (Psephotus haematonotus)

On my way out, I stopped at the bird hides again and after retreiving a couple of lost swallows with my hat and releasing them out the hide slots, I watched some more sunbathing. They were so funny, leaning over in a stupor.

Welcome Swallow (Hirundo neoxena)

As I reached the car park, an Emu stood in my way. I skirted around it (they are really big) but still managed to get a shot of it. Nice and easy birding. See you in visit 3!

Emu (Dromaius novaehollandiae)

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