NE and East Victoria 2017

30/12/16 152km

We were packed and breakfasted by 7.00. Said our goodbyes to Lynne and Colin after a very relaxing 2 week break, went via The best servo in the area, The Apco servo in Geelong, though diesel was $1.18cpl, and we’ve had it cheaper than that recently. Along the freeway to Craigieburn. We had decided that Merri Ck would be flooded at the causeway after some heavy rain, so we went to the Epping side of O’Hearn’s rd only to find that the road had been claimed by the quarry and they had a no entry sign, so we went to the Craigieburn side and found that there was only a small amount of water over the causeway so we waded across. During the flood the other day it certainly had been at dangerous levels. We spent a pleasant 4hrs with Jodi and Bridget doing my old circuit of the Craigieburn grasslands. At 13.30 Bridget left us and the rest of us dangled our toes in the creek for a while. After Jodi left I rang up Andrea, and we went over to Preston for lunch. I had an almost too hot but very yummy satay chicken with equally yummy spring rolls. We decided to head over to Northlands to see the new Star Wars film Rouge 1, 6.5 out of ten for me. Andrea let us stay at her place so it was 22.00 before we got to bed.

31/12 101km

Said our goodbyes to Andrea and drove up to Summerhill Rd rail got Dusky Woodswallow here, then Kinloch Ct Kalkallo, Donnybrook cemetery, John Laffan reserve, then over to Yan Yean dam wall and got 39sp. On to Yan Yean cemetery, Godding St Whittlesea, Gingles Rd Humevale, up the hill to Humevale rd Humevale, then Smith Hill Kinglake West and got Gang Gang Cockatoo, on to O’Grady’s Rd Pheasant Creek, and stopped at Wombelano Falls Kinglake NP. Did the walk in the late afternoon and got a pair of Blue-winged Parrots.

1/1/17 123km

In the hours before dawn the cloud came down and we had a constant drip of the condensation onto the roof. So the dawn was foggy and dull, thus I didn’t add many birds. Down the dry weather road we went to Island ck picnic Kinglake NP, then back up. We decided to take a short cut up Boggy ck Tk which was a good track but then we went up Little Boggy Ck Tk which was much more of a 4wd track. We came to the creek crossing, which wasn’t too bad, but there was a heavily rutted section right next to it which took several goes to get through even with the diff lock in, it was then a very steep short climb up to a ridge, which Bev says she kept her eyes closed for, then it got easier. Break O’ Day Tk Mt Robertson SF had the first Eastern Whipbird, on to Mt Robertson rd Break O’ day. From here the track deteriorated quickly and it didn’t look like I could get out to the bitumen so we headed back through to Kinglake West and up through Flowerdale to Silver Ck Hazeldene. The track is fenced off here so it’s a nice walk along the track through the open grassy woodland. We had lunch, then over to Richards bridge King Parrot Ck , then Reid rd E of Reedy Creek, Strath Ck Clonbinane and we stopped at No 1 camp Mt Disappointment SF at 15.10. We had no sooner got the camper set up and were relaxing on a lovely sunny afternoon when the clouds came over and the afternoon went decidedly chilly, with a few spots of rain. By 18.00 it had blown over and the sun was peeking out through the clouds.

2/1 85km

Just on dark the clouds came in again last night, and there was a light drizzle all night long, this meant that we had the irregular tock on the roof as drips fell off the trees. It was 11 degrees in the morning with a chill wind. I added a few birds but still only ended with 17sp. Sunday Ck reservoir was the first stop, but it was fenced off, the creek was running and I got 8sp, Lords Ln dam had seen the fog come down to low levels. Then over to Mill Range Rd corner of Main Mt Rd, the fog obscured the view of the dam. Down the hill we finally went, to Drag Hill Rd Clonbinane as the weather began to clear. Up the freeway to Dabyminga Ck which had Crested Shrike-tit and Rufous Songlark, then back up into the hills to Gravel Pit Rd Tallarook SF, there were only a few motorbikes, we had lunch, then up to Freemans Rd Tallarook SF and since the next few surveys there was not going to be a campsite, we decided to camp here, at 13.00. The afternoon steadily improved with increasing sunshine, I managed to take my winter coat and beanie off for a few hours before having to put them back on well before sundown. There were more bugs, beetles and butterflies than birds with only 15sp by dark.

3/1 185km

It was 8.30 when we finally decamped, with only 20sp on the list. Made our way down the hill to Draytons bridge King Parrot Ck for Bell Miner, Dairy Ck Homewood, and Yea wetlands which were a bit disappointing for 19 sp with White-throated Gerygone. Did some shopping in Yea then along the Goulburn Valley Hwy to Seymour billabong for lunch. Central Vic transport depot only had 6sp, then through pleasant bitumen back roads to Old Highlands rd Switzerland ranges, and Waddell rd Caveat. Then a twisty dirt road down the hill to Hills View hs N of Molesworth for Crested Shrike-tit and Dusky Woodswallow. Parsons Ln Fawcett only had 6sp. We stopped at the Koala cherry outlet to get some cherries and a delicious cherry icecream each. A short drive up to Yark FR Terip rd to camp. We used the short 4wd track to get a relatively flat spot. There were some Hyacinth Orchids and an Imperial Hairstreak butterfly.

4/1 244km

Left the site at 7.35 with 27sp , got the first night birds for the trip being Australian Owlet Nightjar and Southern Boobook, the dawn chorus was also the best for the trip so far. The first stop was Minterns rd Kanumbra, which is a no through road, it used to have a sign at my site telling people to disregard their gps navigators, because it looks like a shortcut through the hills, and the gps’ can’t tell that it’s a no through road, there is now a no through road sign which may have mitigated that problem. On to Bonnie Doon picnic which despite having plenty of water the reservoir only had some Wood Ducks and Masked Lapwings for waterbirds. Lake Nillahcoote was full of idle fishermen with up to 6 rods in the water each, but there were no fish eating birds so I suspect the lake has been overfished. Reef Hills picnic site was quiet again, but got the first Scarlet Robin. Dams near Greta rd Winton was next, then we checked out Edi cutting camp, north of Whitfield, decided it was okay to camp there and went down to Rose River valley site for lunch, then back to Edi cutting and camped at 14.30. We found a spot where we could get right down to the King river and set up chairs to while the hours away. Bev went in for a dip but it was way too cold for me.

5/1 160km

It’s amazing the way the mind works, when I felt the river water temperature in the morning it felt warm, of course it was only in relation to the ambient air temperature, I still didn’t go into the water. Only added White-throated Gerygone and Magpie in the morning, and we headed off at 7.30, via the back roads to Myrtleford then up what used to be a narrow dirt track and is now an easy bitumen road to Stanley, through all the fruit growing areas to my site near the village centre, Stanley house. Then on to my friend’s place in Beechworth for the night.

6/1 13km

Spent a relaxing day with Bruce and Helen then drove the short distance to their farm property at Everton Hills to camp at 20.00, and watched the sun go down a fiery red with all the smoke from fires we couldn’t see.

Red and Blue Damsel

7/1 148km

Walked my old round on the property and ended with 39sp which considering how dry the area is, is pretty good with Speckled Warbler and Dusky Woodswallow. Left at 9.30 and down the hill to Myrtleford, got some supplies, stopped at Ovens river Eurobin for Glossy Ibis in the ephemeral wetland, then the slow drive up Mt Hotham. Walked the kilometre out to my site on the Razorback for 5sp with Stubble Quail as a bit of a surprise. Then down to my site at Dargo Rd King Spur Tk and stopped at 15.40. It was a very pleasant 25 degrees as we relaxed and watched the Pipits, Flame Robins and Tree Martins get as close to us as they dare in their search for food, it was a dead heat with all of them getting within a few feet at some stage. The downer here is that the track down the spur is closed off because it’s sensitive country, but some igoramic moron has shot out the sign, dragged a log out of the way and driven over the fence in order to get his childish thrills of going down a track he knows he’s not supposed to. I wish such people could be banned from coming to such places and would just stay home.

8/1 268km

Well it turned out I was wrong, the culprit turned out to be a local, they came through this morning whilst I was munching away on my Weetbix and Cheerios as nonchalant as you like and headed off down the track. So I took their rego and I’ll have a word with DSE about them. The problem with too many locals is that they think that this is their country and they can do what they like. They probably don’t do any real damage themselves, but they have opened the track up to the people who shot out the sign, and they are the ones that do significant damage with their guns and their 4wds hooning around off track. The wind got up during the early morning so I didn’t add any birds to the alpine list and we headed off down hill. Dargo Rd picnic with its dilapidated table had 9sp, Meyer’s Flat on the Dargo river had 10sp, Peels gap south of Castleton had some light rain and 5sp. Davidson rd Glenaladale was hot and windy so the poor habitat only had Magpies and Magpie-larks. Briagalong rd SF had 10sp mostly out of the forest, Websters rd Newry had 7sp. We had a late lunch in the melee of people at Cowarr weir. There was no room for any waterbirds with all the people in their weird and wonderful floatation devices, there were swans, crocodiles, doughnuts, and even a pacific island. It was 38 degrees as we headed back up into the hills away from the noisome masses and surveyed Wellington River at Breakfast Ck camp then stopped at Platypus camp Wellington river at 16.30, and plunged into the surprisingly warm water. It was on a later walkabout around the campsite that I discovered a 50ft tree with a horrible scar, some environmental vandal had set to it with an axe, and had chopped a quarter of the way through before giving up, this time I’m pretty sure its not locals.

9/1 150km

Apart from the pleasant sound of water over rocks there was silence last night, added a few species in the morning to end with 19sp. Up the mountain dodging the logging trucks coming down loaded up with bits of huge old growth forest trees heading off to market. Shaws Creek is a beautiful spot with a lovely stream and lots of flowers at this time of year, there were lots of birds with 15sp and lots of flies. Back down the mountain, through Licola and back up into the hills along the Jamieson Rd. We found N15 track and headed down it, easy going at first, but then it plunged down into the valley and I was in low range 4wd 1^st gear. As we got close to the bottom I saw a stretch I wasn’t sure I could get back up, so we parked the car on a hump and walked the last 500m or so down to Black river Alpine walking track. It’s a wonderful site amid the tall trees and the confluence of two creeks, 15sp and then the long slog back up to the car, the track back out was slow but no probs. I was glad I’d stopped when I did though as the track would have been too hard for my car along the bottom stretch. I did make one mistake, on the way down I had to run over a large rock in the middle of the track, I should have got out and moved it, because I had to run over it on the way back up too, there wasn’t enough room to go around it and it was too high for me to clear. As we got over Mt Skene the clouds came down and it got quite chilly. I had a look at Barkly river jeep track but it was a vehicle breaker, so we stopped at the top and I walked down to Rumpf saddle, which was about as far as the earlier walk. There were only 7sp here, and then it was the long slog back up to the car. Bev had decided not to come with me so I was taking my time as I was running out of energy, and had just spotted a stunning little jet black moth and was considering how to take a photo of it when there was an ominous rumble, I still hadn’t had lunch yet, but it wasn’t my tummy, so I decided that it was better to get to the car ASAP rather than get my new camera wet. I ran out of puff several times on my way to the top but I even had time to have a very late lunch and were well on our way before we got some light rain. I did make one mistake, rather than make a sharp turn to head north where the Barkly river jeep track divides I took the easy option and went left down to the main road, it was much more rutted and I scraped my underside getting back to the main road, but no damage. I had a look at the map on return and found that there is an easy road that also leads to Rumpf saddle from the Jamieson Rd, we’ll be taking that one next time. We got to Wren’s flat Mt Sunday Rd at 16.35 and the rain stopped almost immediately, so we were able to lounge in our chairs and eat dinner under only a cloudy sky.

10/1 132km

After adding a few more birds to get to 21sp it was a slow drive to Mitchell’s Creek. The birdlife was prolific, it was impossible to count them all, they were so active. We decided to retrace our steps as we didn’t know what the track was like to get out north from Mitchell’s flat. So back through Wren’s flat and up the hill to the main road which was still in cloud and back down the hill to Jamieson. The back roads lead to Wairere rd end S of Delatite and Powers rd Chapel Hill which is now closed to traffic in the winter. The campsite was at Baldy ck at TBJ (Telephone Box junction) Mt Stirling. Got Pink Robin, Crescent Honeyeater and Pilot bird as the afternoon wore on. The cloud slowly lifted revealing some patches of blue sky, but not enough to charge up my battery from the solar panels.

11/1 191km

It was 8.10 before we got away, I tried to find more birds but 19sp were all I got. Into Mansfield for some supplies, then to Howqua arm Lake Eildon, the lake water doesn’t get this far, but there was plenty of flow in the river. A Peregrine Falcon had an opportunistic go at some of the 150 Starlings but missed and flew off. The water level was high enough at Paradise Point Lake Eildon but there were only a few Wood Ducks and Masked Lapwings by the water’s edge and some Great Cormorants in the dead trees, otherwise a few bush birds were all I could find. It was then a run along the Upper Goulburn river to Flourbag Ck camp, Gaffney Ck camp for lunch, there’s no tree cover here so it was baking hot, then over the hill to Jack Scott’s reserve. There are a number of attractive camps by the river on the route, these are just a few. We then tried to find an old site put in when I didn’t have a mapping GPS, it was hoplessly out from where it should be, so we gave up on it and headed to The Oaks Upper Thomson, the abandoned town only has the street layout and tennis court left, so we found a patch in the sun on a beautiful if cool sunny afternoon and soon had my solar panels basking in the sun. The habitat here is still recovering from habitation, there has been some plantation, but a lot of the area is long grass. It was a cool 16 degrees at bed time, beanie and coat temperature.

12/1 210km

The day dawned bright and beautifully sunny and 6 degrees, ended with 16sp with 11 Gang Gang Cockatoos, I don’t think I’ve seen that many in a flock before. Not far away a logging coop was hard at work chopping down our beautiful tall trees soon after dawn. We followed a logging truck all the way down to the first site at Toorongo Rd bridge and got 18sp with Red-chested Button Quail and Leaden Flycatcher. At Loch Valley camp there were still a lot of campers and 17sp, just up the road Petshack track (Loch River Rd) & Skerry track had 11sp. Toorongo falls picnic area also still had a lot of campers and 13sp with Brown Gerygone and Cicadabird. We had lunch at Kenny Spur Tk South Fumina. Then headed west back through Noojee to Torbets rd Gilderoy for Rufous Fantail. Warburton recreation reserve Millgrove had 10sp then it was along a hidden gem of a road called Acheron Way where the Mountain Ash grow tall right next to the road, disappointingly we saw a logging coup not far off the road destroying the ambiance of the drive, onto North Creek rd Narbethong and stopped at Bev’s brother’s place for some time out.

19/1 110km

We’ve had a restful few days, well I have, unfortunately Bev’s had a virus, we went to Alexandra today at the instruction of the doctor, earlier she had been in and had a blood test done just to make sure it wasn’t a Ross River virus etc, when Bev got there she found out that there was no real problem, it was just an ordinary virus that will go away with time. Now that irritates me, There was absolutely no need for us to do the 100km round trip to be told that, it was blatant income making for her at my expense, Bev could have been told over the phone when she rang up to find the results of the blood test. Anyway, on the way back I did two of my sites, Bulls Ln Rubicon SF which had some motorbike riders noisily traveling on a closed track, no surprise there, found 10sp here. Down to Cathedral Range State Park for 12sp, and back to Narbethong.

20/1 162km

In the early morning we had a brief thunderstorm and then endless rain until about 7am. Bev says she’s still too sick to travel, so I left her behind at her brother’s place, and at 8am I headed for Fernshaw picnic Black Spur. It was a beautifully dismal scene, with the old non-native masters sodden and gloomy, towering over me. Unfortunately the birds didn’t agree with me and mostly stayed hidden, I heard a few calls so got 7sp. There was still the odd shower at Theiss Woori Yallock, but the birds were active here as it was a bit warmer, 17sp. Pakenham Nth Bessie Creek Rd was back to quiet with 7sp managing to make a bit of noise for me. At NACAP Pakenham Livestock St it was just windy with 10sp. Pakenham sewage had 25sp in the roadside ponds. At Ballarto & McDonalds Rds Pakenham there were 17sp beside the channel, but just down the road at Koo-wee-rup channels Pakenham Rd where they have 5 channels to choose from I could only find 7sp around the old railway crossings. Koo Wee Rup town had 8sp mainly in the park by the bus stop, Yallock Ck Koo-Wee-Rup was too noisy with wind and traffic, so I could only find 5sp with a young Brown Goshawk enabling me to count the honeyeaters as they sent out their warning calls. Lang Lang beach was way too windy coming briskly off the bay but got 10sp with Dusky Woodswallows roosting on the road to keep out of the wind, and a Blue-winged Parrot tinkling at me as it flew overhead. Stopped at Stony point at 15.30 in the small carpark where a bit of vegetation sheltered me from the blustery southerly, but not from the still intermittent showers. slowly added birds including a sea-borne Swamp Harrier. Saw a Silver Gull with a dead Puffer Fish, it was picking it up, toying with it then dropping it into the small waves, I thought I could sense its thought processes, I want to eat this, I can’t eat this and drop it in the water, I want to eat this, pick it up, I can’t eat this and drop it in the water, etc, but after about 15mins or so it started to swallow it, only to spit it back out into the surf again. It never actually did anything to the fish just dropped it and let it roll around in the surf, but it would pick it up again and each time the fish would go further into the mouth until after about 20mins it swallowed it and flew off, this bird knew how to treat a Puffer Fish to be able to eat it, amazing!

21/1 193km

The weather had settled down overnight and dawn brought a beautiful day. Walked out to the point, and added Eastern Curlew and others to finish with 27sp, and off by 7.15. Down to the Churchill Island bridge. There is a new hide at the wetlands, but although they’ve put a wall beside it, the birds are still flushed as you approach the hide, I stood beside the hide to count the birds. There wasn’t much on the samphire flat, and the tide was in so there wasn’t much around the bridge, 31sp. Cape Woolamai Surf Life Saving Club had signs up for Hooded Plover, but I couldn’t find any in my 2ha search area which is too close to the beach access for them probably. Bourne Ck Kilcunda had 12sp, there were a lot of shearwaters well off the coast and out of range for my survey. Wonthaggi desalination plant had 11sp in regenerating bushland that is still mostly open scrubland. The paths don’t seem to be being maintained, and there was no water in any of the constructed pools. Cape Paterson had 14sp. Bunurong NP Flat rocks had 9sp. There were hardly any birds at my Leongatha station site, with a total of 6 birds, 5sp. Siding Road reserve had 8sp with the first Mistletoebird for a while. Tarwin Lower FF reserve was full of Noisy Miners, 15sp all up. Cape Liptrap had 10sp and some Australian Fur Seals loafing on the rocks with Black-faced Cormorants. Camped at Bear Gully reserve Cape Liptrap at 15.00 and enjoyed a sunny warm late afternoon. I had 26sp by sundown with some obliging Sooty Oystercatchers and an Olive Whistler, I was sitting quietly watching some big black wasps search unsuccessfully for their communal hole in the ground (they just don’t have the same homing ability as a bee) when a brown ping-pong ball with a long spindly tail flitted from one bush to another, closely followed by a second one, they disappeared without a sound, Southern Emu-wren!

22/1 237km

A dewy morning, and didn’t add many birds, away at 7.10 with 30sp. Around to Walkerville North for 16sp, over to Shallow inlet where the farmers are losing land to the bay, and are throwing tyres in to try and stop it, ugly, 19sp. Across the narrow neck of land to Corner inlet and almost lost my boot to the smelly mud trying to get to the shoreline, still no waders for 22sp. Port Welshpool pier was off limits so a few gulls were roosting, but it was a quiet 8sp. Nooramunga reserve Ti Tree Rd had good numbers of honeyeaters and 13sp. Port Albert had 9sp with a Pacific Gull washing a dead Puffer Fish as the Silver Gull was doing the other day, interesting developments! I sure hope they know what their doing with all that poison in the fish, otherwise we’ll end up with a lot of dead gulls. Up the hill to Tarra Bulga NP picnic area, a few too many people, but I still got a Pink Robin, 13sp all up. Stopped at Jack Smith lagoon camping area at 15.15, entering via Byrnes Rd at Woodside Beach. Walked down to the beach a few times to wade shin deep in the icy surf, a very pleasant 10mins or so wading around.

23/1 195km

Added a few more species like Hobby Falcon and a lone Australasian Gannet to end with 24sp. Took the track that leads east behind the dunes to get as close as I could to South Jack Smith lake, in the end it was only a short walk, there was some water in the the lake here, though much of it was dry, 19sp.The track to McGuaran’s beach no longer exists so I had to go out onto the main road, took the Marylands and Dewar roads out. At McGuaran’s beach there is a potholed track that follows the coast for about 1km then it was about a 3km walk to my site 4km E of McGuaran’s beach Rd. Someone had gone to the trouble of carting a large rubber pool to the site to dump it, I mean come ON! 11sp with some Short-tailed Shearwaters surprisingly close to the coast. A 3km walk back along the beach was pleasant if a bit boring in the end. Prospect Rd Seaspray was ruled by Noisy Miners with only 2 other species. Lake Reeve S didn’t have much water in it, but on the edge of the shrubs was a pair of Striated Fieldwrens, the beach had 70 Crested Terns loafing on it. I’d hoped to stop at my site at Delray beach camp 8 but it was already full, so got 4sp there and headed to Netting Boundary picnic area for a late lunch and 15sp. Lake Killarney had 11sp, there was some water in the water point on the fern track, and 150 Grey Teal on the lake but nothing else. Stopped at Cricket Bat Ln Lake Coleman at 15.55 and had 25sp by dark.

24/1 92km

A cold change came through during the night, bringing a sprinkle of rain. In the morning there was a strong wind blowing from the west, despite the wind I added more species to end with 35sp. Drove in to Sale Common, the north end has a terrible weed infestation, the landscape looks like something out of Stephen Donaldson’s Lord Foul’s Bane, the wind dampened the passerine’s spirit, but I still got 39sp. Picked up supplies and some glue in Sale, did Stratford Hwy park and stopped at Moormung reserve at 12.50, did four gluing jobs on the camper, and relaxed in the shade for the arvo letting the glue dry. There’s a small water point nearby that had a steady flow of honeyeaters in the late afternoon. Dinner was at 18.00. One small non-stick frypan, some olive oil, fry a small onion and some fresh garlic until soft, add a portion of mincemeat and fry until browned add mushrooms, add thinly cut carrots, beans, small bits of broccoli and half a can of tomatoes, rinse can out with a small amount of water and add, bring to boil, then add thin slices of zucchini, as you take off the stove add a dash of Worcestershire sauce. Total time to prepare and cook 15-20min, waste is onion and garlic skin and tomato can. Once finished make sure you leave a bit of fluid in the pan, wipe with a piece of bread. Washing up, zero.

Blue Skimmer female

25/1 122km

It was an ear bitingly cold 8 degrees at sun-up. Left at 7.50 with 30sp. I had picked up my fuel yesterday in Sale at what I thought was a good price of $1.23.9cpl at one of the United servos. Today I went through Bairnsdale to find an APCO servo at $1.18.7cpl, rats, again! Up through Bruthen and to Bush drive Colquhoun SF for 11sp, then down Uncle Dr to Nyerimilang Park Kalimna for 14sp with Scarlet Honeyeater. The bird hide produced no birds using the wetland. I went in search of an old site Pile Bay picnic but couldn’t find a definitive picnic area, so chose a site as close to it as I could get at a nice spot by the inlet and got 13sp and called it Peterson Trk Toorloo arm. Toorloo arm Burnt Bridge Rd had 14sp with a lot of pinging Bell Miners. Up and around to Lonely Bay Lake Tyers and camped at 13.40 and relaxed in the shade. Walked down to the inlet in the late arvo and saw hundreds of jellyfish in the shallows.

26/1 105km

Went down to the Ferny walk and was rewarded with Rufous fantail, Black-faced Monarch and others. Left at 8.15 with 27sp. Up to through Bruthen to Dawson rd Murrindal for 14sp in the mainly farmland, then down the Orbost road to Sandy Point Snowy river, arriving at 11.00, relaxed in the only bit of shade under a young wattle tree overlooking the river. Russell and Josie arrived late in the arvo, unfortunately not long after they arrived so did some hooligans, they herved up the short 4wd track several times and played country music so that everyone else could hear it (I hate country music). As the evening set in they became obnoxious, swearing at the tops of their voices and throwing bombs onto their ginormic conflagration that they had chopped down several trees to create. They were still at it playing overly loud music well after 10pm. I managed to get off to sleep somehow.

27/1 395km

Left at 7.35 with 27sp after saying my goodbyes for now to Russell and Josie. I took pleasure in driving by the still sleeping morons at a higher rev than I needed, they were layed out in a row sleeping right by the track side, as I roared by one sat bolt upright, I had a little smirk on my face. Across the top of the ridge of the Sandy Point track I flushed 3 Spotted Quail-thrush. My first stop was the McKenzie rainforest walk for 16sp with both Rufous Fantail and Black-faced Monarch again. Poddy creek just down the road though only had 3sp. Drummer nature walk was back to good with 18sp with you guessed it Rufous Fantail and Black-faced Momarch. Mt Genoa was back to poor with 4sp, not unexpected in the dryness near the top of the hill. Double Creek nature walk had 12sp being over-run with 30 Bell Miners. I did get a look at a tame Superb Lyrebird, but I couldn’t get my camera to take a photo of it, all day I’ve been struggling with it telling me the light is too low for the anti-shake to work. Stevenson’s point Mallacoota only had 6sp with 200 Crested terns on the sand banks. The gun club Mallacoota site only had a single White-throated Treecreeper calling. Fairhaven Rd & New Binns Trk had 9sp and it’s where I discovered the problem with the camera. I had the ISO setting fixed at 125, which really isn’t low, but when I set it to auto, bingo back to normal. Followed the New Binn track and didn’t need my new bins to see a White-throated Nightjar flush from the track. Followed the easy 4wd track towards Lake View and then along Howe Flat track to my site at Howe Flat track lower. Walked down the walking track to my site near the beach at Howe Flat walking track and waited until dark. Met up with Isaac, who having younger ears heard 2 more Ground Parrots than I did, but at least I got to hear 1. It was 9.20 when we go back to the cars, popped the top up and off to sleep after hearing an Owlet Nightjar.

28/1 271km

Ended the survey with 21sp with Rose Robin, walked a bit further along the track to Howe Flat track west and got 13sp with Wonga Pigeon and nice views of Brown Gerygone. It was a 31km drive to get out onto the main road via Maxwell’s Rd. Drove down off the main road to Womboyn Lake cemetery but it was quite warm and quiet with 5sp. Around to Green Cape lighthouse, the park now has an $8 day entry fee with pay and display. I saw quite a few cars in the car park with no tickets on display. There were some shearwaters just off the point and I managed to identify Sooty, Short-tailed and Wedge-tailed. Nullica river estuary had a Hooded Plover on the beach, but I couldn’t find any young. Pambula lake Yowaka only had 3sp. Mogareeka inlet had at least 15 adult Little Terns with at least 5 chicks of various ages all seen being fed. Picked up fuel at Tathra at $1.33.9cpl, I should have filled up at Cann river yesterday for $1.18cpl. Headed inland, the first stop was Tantawangelo river Church Ln, in the big trees there were 85 Sulphur-crested Cockatoos, 2 Dollarbirds and a Noisy Friarbird. Stopped at Tantawangelo lookout, which it isn’t really at 16.45, had a bit of a relax before cooking dinner, had 8sp by dark.

29/1 208km

Was serenaded to sleep last night by a very good Lyrebird, his imitations of birds like Golden Whistler were almost convincing. It still wasn’t busy in the morning, but I ended with 18sp. The first stop was at Black lake Bibenluke, there were mostly Coot on the lake but a few Shovelers added a bit of interest, the sparse trees were full of Little Ravens and not much else. Bombala river Bombala had a Platypus and 20sp, picked up a few more vegies in the Foodland store and went to Delegate cemetery for 9sp. It was starting to get quite warm now as I headed for Strawberry Tk E of Dellicknora and got 12sp there. Jingalalla river S of Dellicknora was lunch and 12sp with Yellow-tufted and White-naped Honeyeaters breeding as well as Dusky Woodswallows breeding. Deddick river Amboyne had 8sp, and in 38 degrees of heat even the Snowy River at McKillop’s bridge camp could only keep 6sp active enough for me to detect them. Little River falls had 7sp. The falls were barely wet, a waterfall with no water is a sadder thing to see than a pub with no beer. Seldom Seen Ck only had 3sp non of which I actually saw, even Suggan Buggan was quiet when I arrived in 36 degree heat. I propped myself in the shade and had 15sp by dark. As the sun went down behind the mountain I donned my shorts and relaxed in the warm river until my toes went all wrinkly. I had to restrain myself from gorging on the biggest juiciest blackberries I’ve seen on the trip, but I still had enough to make my tongue go purple.

30/1 272km

It cooled down quickly overnight for a comfortable night’s sleep. In the morning it was 12 degrees, but the birds were rather subdued, as I finished with only 21sp in a spot that is usually bursting with birds. Went back up the spectacular drive and over to Rams Horn Tk Alpine NP where it was very quiet with only 2sp. Limestone Tk Alpine NP wasn’t much better with 6sp. Down to Benambra and Lake Omeo Church Lane, there was water in the lake courtesy of a long wet winter, 12sp, 8 of which are wetland dependent. There were some White-winged Black Terns further along the lake, but none turned up in the survey. Headed north and had lunch at Ah Sye’s camp for 12sp with Noisy Friarbird. Stacey’s Bridge Nariel Ck camp had 14sp with Little Friarbird. Bluff Ck Cudgewa North in the Burrowa Pine NP was barely flowing but it was cool in amongst the trees and shrubs and the birds were active with 14sp. Just outside the park it was blowing a hot 42 degrees northerly, advantage 1 to forest versus open farmland 0. Stopped at Neil’s Bend camp Murray river at 16.20, but here despite plenty of water the habitat was poor, being a rock strewn flood zone, so the first 2hrs of surveying only netted 10sp.

31/1 343km

Found a bit of better habitat above the flood zone and ended with 25sp on my morning round. Stopped at Burrowye west camp Murray river that is now at the top end of the Hume reservoir, it’s been quite high recently and some of the area is still under water, got 24sp in the 20min survey, so the place was pretty lively. Cottontree camp Granya SP was looking good with 12sp. Down onto the Omeo Hwy and Pigs Point camp Mitta Mitta river had 16sp. Lightning creek camp south of Mitta Mitta was looking quite pretty with a nice looking stretch of the river but it was quite warm and only had 6sp active. Through Omeo and up the Hotham road to Tolands Rd Cumbungra, the open farmland had 5sp all roosting in some large trees at the base of the survey area. Back through Omeo and down to Swifts Creek then up Jacobs Meadow track to Windy Hill Rd SF in the unnamed large state forest that stretches NE from here, found a flat spot and camped. Up here it’s coat and beanie weather, but at least the Waeco fridge turned itself off unlike last night when it kept going all night. The campgrounds and roads are now pretty quiet all the school kids and their parents have vacated the mountains, and I can hear the mountains’ collective sigh of relief as the blight of mankind is lifted from their shoulders… until Easter, mostly what’s left now are drivers with grey hair and the endless procession of logging trucks slowly pillaging our native forests, there really is no end to the blight of mankind.

1/2 319km

Found a feeding group in the morning and ended with 17sp. It took 1/2hr to get back through the 5 gates to the main road and I headed on south. Stopped at Collin’s Bridge Tambo river for 10sp then down on to the highway, picked up diesel in Bairnsdale APCO at $1.18cpl and thus to SPI Ausnet (Eastern Rd) E Traralgon, there is no access to the site now so it’s just a stroll along Eastern Rd, got 10sp with breeding Willie Wagtails. One of my difficult sites is Morwell wetlands, there is no public access so the easiest way is to do it from the freeway. I tried to get access from Marrets Rd but it was no easier, the site that I survey is now overgrown with reeds with no open water, so 12 bush species was all I got. Lake Narracan had 13sp with only 2 ducks in total and a few White-faced Herons along the southern shore. Similarly Blue Rock lake Willow Grove had a lone Wood Duck a White-faced Heron and 15 bush species. Stopped at Toorongo falls picnic, a site we’ve already done on this trip, stopped at 15.35. The birds were largely inactive on the cool cloudy afternoon, but I still managed 16sp by bed time. As I arrived the rangers were departing having cleaned up the mess left behind by the season’s campers, so the area was looking pleasant. There were a few others camped here all with their campfires. One of the things I note at these popular campsites is the lack of lizards, skinks and the like, I suspect that one of the main reasons is the corresponding lack of dead wood on the ground, it is the main reason I no longer light campfires despite their appeal, I use a gas stove to cook my meal, always.

2/2 118km

There were no night birds again last night, they have been light on all through NE and eastern Vic. Ended with 20sp with Rose Robin and Cicadabird. Redid Torbets rd Gilderoy and Warburton recreation reserve Millgrove then into the mountains once more. It’s a nice bitumen drive up to Cambarville Junction, then an easy dirt road, dodging the logging trucks down to Big River Rd camp, for 12sp, not far down the road is Stockman’s Rest (Reward), also a campground for 10sp, and just around the corner is Miner’s Flat where I camped at 11.50, The birds were active all afternoon, both calling and feeding, but not a lot of variety with 15sp.

3/2 158km

Ended with 22sp, but a real lowlight for the trip was finding that someone had deliberately defecated right in the middle of a track right on the edge of the camping area and left it out in the open with the toilet paper strewn about. Last night I had noticed while cooking and eating my dinner that I’d had a an influx of Blowflies, this morning I found them on the relatively fresh faeces, just great. I can picture the expletive deletive person’s thought processes, “I’m leaving here now and won’t be back, so I don’t care about the consequences of what I do to the environment or other people to follow”. The problem is that there are way, way, WAY to many governments, companies, farmers, travelers, you name it with this sort of cavalier attitude to the environment, too many people being part of the problem and not of the solution, and if we don’t collectively change these attitudes this will all end badly for our species let alone all the other species that inhabit this planet. Anyway I shook off my anger and headed for a busy Vans Rd with 13sp on a beautiful crisp sunny morning. I then went over the hills on the easy Eildon-Warburton Rd to it’s end and turned right to Fryer’s Creek Lake Eildon, which was also busy with 16sp in the crisp morning air. Back through Eildon and Taggerty to sites I’d already done a few weeks ago Bulls Ln Rubicon SF for 14sp. Sadly there was a dead old Wombat that looks like it’s been run over in the middle of the road, unfortunately it’s not an uncommon sight. The last survey for the trip was Cathedral Range SP for a miserly 7sp, for some reason the birds just weren’t active here today. Back to Narbethong to finish this leg of the trip.

Bird list for the trip. % is for the 187 surveys done. B is for breeding

• Blue-billed Duck Oxyura australis 1 (0.53%)
• Cape Barren Goose Cereopsis novaehollandiae 1 (0.53%)
• Black Swan Cygnus atratus 10 (5.35%) (B)
• Australian Shelduck Tadorna tadornoides 6 (3.21%)
• Hardhead Aythya australis 1 (0.53%)
• Australasian Shoveler Spatula rhynchotis 2 (1.07%)
• Pacific Black Duck Anas superciliosa 17 (9.09%) (B)
• Grey Teal Anas gracilis 13 (6.95%)
• Chestnut Teal Anas castanea 9 (4.81%) (B)
• Australian Wood Duck Chenonetta jubata 20 (10.70%) (B)
• Stubble Quail Coturnix pectoralis 2 (1.07%)
• Brown Quail Synoicus ypsilophora 1 (0.53%)
• Australasian Grebe Tachybaptus novaehollandiae 3 (1.60%)
• Hoary-headed Grebe Poliocephalus poliocephalus 2 (1.07%)
• Rock Dove Columba livia 2 (1.07%)
• Spotted Dove Streptopelia chinensis 7 (3.74%)
• Wonga Pigeon Leucosarcia melanoleuca 3 (1.60%)
• Common Bronzewing Phaps chalcoptera 3 (1.60%)
• Crested Pigeon Ocyphaps lophotes 11 (5.88%)
• Peaceful Dove Geopelia placida 1 (0.53%)
• Horsfield’s Bronze-Cuckoo Chalcites basalis 3 (1.60%)
• Fan-tailed Cuckoo Cacomantis flabelliformis 8 (4.28%)
• Brush Cuckoo Cacomantis variolosus 4 (2.14%)
• Pallid Cuckoo Heteroscenes pallidus 1 (0.53%)
• Tawny Frogmouth Podargus strigoides 1 (0.53%)
• White-throated Nightjar Eurostopodus mystacalis 1 (0.53%)
• Australian Owlet-nightjar Aegotheles cristatus 5 (2.67%)
• White-throated Needletail Hirundapus caudacutus 3 (1.60%)
• Purple Swamphen Porphyrio porphyrio 3 (1.60%) (B)
• Dusky Moorhen Gallinula tenebrosa 3 (1.60%) (B)
• Eurasian Coot Fulica atra 6 (3.21%)
• Australian Pied Oystercatcher Haematopus longirostris 2 (1.07%)
• Sooty Oystercatcher Haematopus fuliginosus 1 (0.53%)
• Black-winged Stilt Himantopus leucocephalus 1 (0.53%)
• Red-capped Plover Charadrius ruficapillus 2 (1.07%)
• Hooded Plover Thinornis cucullatus 1 (0.53%)
• Black-fronted Dotterel Elseyornis melanops 1 (0.53%)
• Masked Lapwing Vanellus miles 20 (10.70%)
• Eastern Curlew Numenius madagascariensis 1 (0.53%)
• Red-necked Stint Calidris ruficollis 1 (0.53%)
• Red-chested Button-quail Turnix pyrrhothorax 1 (0.53%)
• Silver Gull Chroicocephalus novaehollandiae 21 (11.23%)
• Pacific Gull Larus pacificus 8 (4.28%)
• Little Tern Sternula albifrons 1 (0.53%) (B)
• Caspian Tern Hydroprogne caspia 2 (1.07%)
• Crested Tern Thalasseus bergii 9 (4.81%)
• Wedge-tailed Shearwater Ardenna pacifica 1 (0.53%)
• Short-tailed Shearwater Ardenna tenuirostris 2 (1.07%)
• Sooty Shearwater Ardenna grisea 1 (0.53%)
• Australian Pelican Pelecanus conspicillatus 5 (2.67%)
• Great Egret Ardea alba 1 (0.53%)
• White-faced Heron Egretta novaehollandiae 27 (14.44%)
• Australian White Ibis Threskiornis moluccus 8 (4.28%)
• Straw-necked Ibis Threskiornis spinicollis 5 (2.67%)
• Yellow-billed Spoonbill Platalea flavipes 1 (0.53%)
• Royal Spoonbill Platalea regia 2 (1.07%)
• Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus 1 (0.53%)
• Australasian Gannet Morus serrator 1 (0.53%)
• Little Pied Cormorant Microcarbo melanoleucos 2 (1.07%)
• Great Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo 6 (3.21%)
• Little Black Cormorant Phalacrocorax sulcirostris 3 (1.60%)
• Black-faced Cormorant Phalacrocorax fuscescens 1 (0.53%)
• Pied Cormorant Phalacrocorax varius 1 (0.53%)
• Australasian Darter Anhinga novaehollandiae 1 (0.53%)
• Black-shouldered Kite Elanus axillaris 1 (0.53%)
• Wedge-tailed Eagle Aquila audax 12 (6.42%)
• Swamp Harrier Circus approximans 3 (1.60%)
• Brown Goshawk Accipiter fasciatus 3 (1.60%)
• Collared Sparrowhawk Accipiter cirrocephalus 1 (0.53%)
• White-bellied Sea-Eagle Haliaeetus leucogaster 1 (0.53%)
• Whistling Kite Haliastur sphenurus 2 (1.07%)
• Southern Boobook Ninox boobook 4 (2.14%)
• Rainbow Bee-eater Merops ornatus 2 (1.07%)
• Dollarbird Eurystomus orientalis 2 (1.07%)
• Azure Kingfisher Ceyx azureus 1 (0.53%)
• Sacred Kingfisher Todiramphus sanctus 25 (13.37%)
• Laughing Kookaburra Dacelo novaeguineae 42 (22.46%)
• Nankeen Kestrel Falco cenchroides 3 (1.60%)
• Australian Hobby Falco longipennis 1 (0.53%)
• Brown Falcon Falco berigora 1 (0.53%)
• Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus 1 (0.53%)
• Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoo Zanda funereus 16 (8.56%)
• Gang-gang Cockatoo Callocephalon fimbriatum 23 (12.30%)
• Galah Eolophus roseicapilla 13 (6.95%) (B)
• Long-billed Corella Cacatua tenuirostris 3 (1.60%)
• Little Corella Cacatua sanguinea 5 (2.67%)
• Sulphur-crested Cockatoo Cacatua galerita 35 (18.72%)
• Australian King-Parrot Alisterus scapularis 8 (4.28%)
• Red-rumped Parrot Psephotus haematonotus 7 (3.74%)
• Crimson Rosella Platycercus elegans 58 (31.02%)
• Eastern Rosella Platycercus eximius 23 (12.30%)
• Ground Parrot Pezoporus wallicus 1 (0.53%)
• Blue-winged Parrot Neophema chrysostoma 2 (1.07%)
• Musk Lorikeet Glossopsitta concinna 10 (5.35%)
• Little Lorikeet Glossopsitta pusilla 1 (0.53%)
• Rainbow Lorikeet Trichoglossus moluccanus 10 (5.35%)
• Superb Lyrebird Menura novaehollandiae 11 (5.88%)
• Satin Bowerbird Ptilonorhynchus violaceus 18 (9.63%)
• White-throated Treecreeper Cormobates leucophaea 74 (39.57%)
• Brown Treecreeper Climacteris picumnus 3 (1.60%)
• Superb Fairy-wren Malurus cyaneus 104 (55.61%) (B)
• Southern Emu-wren Stipiturus malachurus 1 (0.53%)
• Scarlet Honeyeater Myzomela sanguinolenta 4 (2.14%)
• Noisy Friarbird Philemon corniculatus 9 (4.81%)
• Little Friarbird Philemon citreogularis 1 (0.53%)
• Crescent Honeyeater Phylidonyris pyrrhopterus 9 (4.81%)
• New Holland Honeyeater Phylidonyris novaehollandiae 25 (13.37%)
• White-eared Honeyeater Nesoptilotis leucotis 7 (3.74%)
• Brown-headed Honeyeater Melithreptus brevirostris 9 (4.81%)
• White-naped Honeyeater Melithreptus lunatus 23 (12.30%) (B)
• Eastern Spinebill Acanthorhynchus tenuirostris 40 (21.39%)
• White-fronted Chat Epthianura albifrons 3 (1.60%)
• Lewin’s Honeyeater Meliphaga lewinii 12 (6.42%)
• Little Wattlebird Anthochaera chrysoptera 15 (8.02%)
• Red Wattlebird Anthochaera carunculata 73 (39.04%)
• Fuscous Honeyeater Ptilotula fusca 1 (0.53%)
• White-plumed Honeyeater Ptilotula penicillata 19 (10.16%)
• Yellow-faced Honeyeater Caligavis chrysops 105 (56.15%)
• Yellow-tufted Honeyeater Lichenostomus melanops 6 (3.21%) (B)
• Bell Miner Manorina melanophrys 8 (4.28%)
• Noisy Miner Manorina melanocephala 12 (6.42%)
• Spotted Pardalote Pardalotus punctatus 39 (20.86%) (B)
• Striated Pardalote Pardalotus striatus 48 (25.67%)
• Brown Gerygone Gerygone mouki 4 (2.14%)
• White-throated Gerygone Gerygone olivacea 5 (2.67%)
• Western Gerygone Gerygone fusca 1 (0.53%)
• Weebill Smicrornis brevirostris 6 (3.21%)
• Pilotbird Pycnoptilus floccosus 1 (0.53%)
• Speckled Warbler Pyrrholaemus sagittatus 1 (0.53%)
• Chestnut-rumped Heathwren Calamanthus pyrrhopygius 1 (0.53%)
• Striated Fieldwren Calamanthus fuliginosus 1 (0.53%)
• White-browed Scrubwren Sericornis frontalis 62 (33.16%)
• Large-billed Scrubwren Sericornis magnirostra 2 (1.07%)
• Yellow-rumped Thornbill Acanthiza chrysorrhoa 13 (6.95%)
• Yellow Thornbill Acanthiza nana 8 (4.28%)
• Striated Thornbill Acanthiza lineata 14 (7.49%) (B)
• Brown Thornbill Acanthiza pusilla 98 (52.41%)
• Buff-rumped Thornbill Acanthiza reguloides 5 (2.67%)
• Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike Coracina novaehollandiae 26 (13.90%) (B)
• Cicadabird Edolisoma tenuirostris 7 (3.74%)
• Olive Whistler Pachycephala olivacea 6 (3.21%)
• Rufous Whistler Pachycephala rufiventris 34 (18.18%)
• Golden Whistler Pachycephala pectoralis 28 (14.97%) (B)
• Grey Shrike-thrush Colluricincla harmonica 59 (31.55%)
• Crested Shrike-tit Falcunculus frontatus 5 (2.67%)
• Eastern Whipbird Psophodes olivaceus 20 (10.70%)
• Olive-backed Oriole Oriolus sagittatus 8 (4.28%)
• Pied Currawong Strepera graculina 39 (20.86%) (B)
• Grey Currawong Strepera versicolor 7 (3.74%)
• Australian Magpie Gymnorhina tibicen 91 (48.66%) (B)
• Grey Butcherbird Cracticus torquatus 19 (10.16%)
• Dusky Woodswallow Artamus cyanopterus 11 (5.88%) (B)
• Willie Wagtail Rhipidura leucophrys 34 (18.18%) (B)
• Rufous Fantail Rhipidura rufifrons 6 (3.21%)
• Grey Fantail Rhipidura fuliginosa 109 (58.29%)
• Little Raven Corvus mellori 35 (18.72%)
• Forest Raven Corvus tasmanicus 3 (1.60%)
• Australian Raven Corvus coronoides 33 (17.65%)
• Leaden Flycatcher Myiagra rubecula 2 (1.07%)
• Restless Flycatcher Myiagra inquieta 4 (2.14%)
• Magpie-lark Grallina cyanoleuca 46 (24.60%)
• Black-faced Monarch Monarcha melanopsis 3 (1.60%)
• White-winged Chough Corcorax melanorhamphos 2 (1.07%)
• Rose Robin Petroica rosea 2 (1.07%)
• Pink Robin Petroica rodinogaster 2 (1.07%)
• Flame Robin Petroica phoenicea 8 (4.28%)
• Scarlet Robin Petroica multicolor 4 (2.14%)
• Red-capped Robin Petroica goodenovii 1 (0.53%)
• Jacky Winter Microeca fascinans 1 (0.53%)
• Eastern Yellow Robin Eopsaltria australis 43 (22.99%) (B)
• Mistletoebird Dicaeum hirundinaceum 6 (3.21%)
• Red-browed Finch Neochmia temporalis 14 (7.49%)
• House Sparrow Passer domesticus 22 (11.76%) (B)
• Australasian Pipit Anthus novaeseelandiae 7 (3.74%)
• Common Greenfinch Chloris chloris 2 (1.07%)
• European Goldfinch Carduelis carduelis 22 (11.76%) (B)
• Eurasian Skylark Alauda arvensis 8 (4.28%)
• Golden-headed Cisticola Cisticola exilis 2 (1.07%)
• Brown Songlark Cincloramphus cruralis 1 (0.53%)
• Rufous Songlark Cincloramphus mathewsi 1 (0.53%)
• Little Grassbird Poodytes gramineus 1 (0.53%)
• Australian Reed-Warbler Acrocephalus australis 6 (3.21%)
• Fairy Martin Petrochelidon ariel 3 (1.60%)
• Tree Martin Petrochelidon nigricans 14 (7.49%)
• Welcome Swallow Hirundo neoxena 37 (19.79%)
• Silvereye Zosterops lateralis 67 (35.83%)
• Common Starling Sturnus vulgaris 27 (14.44%)
• Common Myna Acridotheres tristis 28 (14.97%)
• Common Blackbird Turdus merula 39 (20.86%)

If you would like to contribute the the well being of this world, our world, your world, an easy and effective way to do it is to join a quality environmental group. There are many spread across the world all plugging away trying to make the world a better place for wildlife. We belong to Birdlife Australia, Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) and Australian Wildlife Conservancy (AWC). You can donate your time and or money to these and many others knowing that the world will be a slightly better place because of your effort.