Check my birding map for specific location.
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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