Mike's Excellent Adventure to the South-east - Jan 2011

Day 1

Left Salisbury East at 4am and headed for Tailem Bend and the ferry to Narrung. Huge numbers of Great Cormorants and Australian Pelicans greeted me at the ferry, along with a very cheery ferry pilot, despite it being only 6am! A Swamp Harrier circled overhead, along with a couple of Caspian Terns, against the back-drop of a beautiful morning blue sky.

I reached Pelican Point, my first stop, to discover that access to the barrage had been blocked – however, the drive in was worth it – with great sightings of Cape Barren Geese, Australian Kestrel, thousands of Australian Shelducks, Elegant Parrot (hit one with the car – sorry!), three Wedge-tailed Eagles, Black-shouldered Kite, Brown Songlark and Brown Falcon. The only casualty (apart from the Elegant Parrot!) was my camera, which I left on the back of the car when I headed on. Upon returning, after realising my error some 20kms later, it was nowhere to be seen. The verbal recriminations of myself were colourful and extended. Bird total – 40

Next stop was Salt Creek, and following Kay Parkin’s excellent directions, started off my list here with a Malleefowl, happily working on its nest. Brilliant! Followed this up with a pair of Hooded Plover so I was feeling pretty chuffed. Brush Bronzewing and three Emu wandering past (my first for the year!) completed a nice stop-over. Bird total – 52

A petrol stop at Kingston, and then on to Bool Lagoon, south of Naracoorte. Been here once before many years ago and it was a barren grassland. No more – good rains in the south-east and floods in western Victoria have filled the lagoon and the birdlife was prolific. Hundreds of Masked Lapwings, Black-winged Stilts and Magpie Geese (a first for me in South Australia) were the standouts. Just remember to have a ten dollar note on you before arriving here. Access was $8.50 and the Parks and Wildlife people received a nice $20 bucks from Potter. Bird total – 69

I arrived in Port MacDonnell in time to meet up with the team going on the Pelagic the next day at the Victoria Pub. A very nice meal and conversation and then on to the caravan park where I hit the sack, ready for a boat trip to the Southern Ocean.

Day 2

Awake at 5:00am – Colin was clear that we had to be on the boat by 6am and he wouldn’t be waiting! Took my Kwell tablet – although fortunately sea-sickness has never been a problem. A cool morning, but clear skies, greeted us and we were soon away on the Remarkable with skipper Mark and his son, Jamie. The group consisted of Colin Rogers (group leader), Stuart, Grant, Neil, Roly, Jim, Eddie (a South African chap – lots of great chats about African birding), Chris, Beatrice and Marion (sisters) and me!

We headed out to the Continental shelf – the trip took about 90 minutes. Flocks of Short-tailed and Flesh-footed Shearwaters and a couple of Shy Albatrosses swept across the ocean in our wake, but the first specialty for the day was a Common Diving-Petrel, which seems to be anything but common based on the reactions of those on board. My first “lifer” so things looked positive for the day ahead. We settled on a pre-determined spot and started the task of putting the “burley” out, producing a slick of delicious goodies for the birds.

And then the fun began.....Shy Albatrosses were joined by other Albatrosses – numbers of Black-browed, Indian Yellow-nosed and then a Campbell’s (which has recently been split from the Black-browed – check for the yellow eye!). Great-winged Petrels swept in, along with White-chinned Petrels (lifer No. 2). Flesh-footed Shearwaters were abundant. A Southern Royal Albatross was then spotted (lifer no.3) and it hung around for some time. Five species of Albatross – fantastic!

Black-browed Albatross

And then things hotted up – both White-faced Storm-Petrels and Wilson’s Storm Petrels turned up, the former in very large numbers (lifers No. 4 and No. 5). These were startlingly pretty birds, not much larger than starlings. They would “dance” across the water, rather than actually land – quite enchanting. The second specialty of the day then turned up – the Fairy Prion (lifer No. 6). Mark and Jamie served up a fantastic lunch – snags cooked on the BBQ, along with cold serves of Crayfish! Awesome!

Flesh-footed Shearwater

Great-winged Petrel

White-faced Storm-Petrel

After eight hours of fantastic birding, we headed back. I am greatly indebted to Grant who leant me a camera to catch a few snaps. Other birds seen were Fluttering Shearwaters (on the way back in), and Australasian Gannets and Crested Terns. Sixteen species in total! My grateful thanks go to Colin and Stuart for their invitation, patience and guidance. Thanks guys! Bird total – 83

Once back on shore, Chris and I decided to head to Telford Scrub, some thirteen kilometres north of Mount Gambier, to look for the Satin Flycatcher and White-bellied Cuckoo-Shrikes that had been reported there. Following the directions of both Kay and Eddie, we headed to the first picnic site and quickly found the Flycatcher and the Cuckoo-Shrike, along with a couple of Eastern Yellow Robins (all new ones for SA for Mike), and White-throated Treecreepers. A very pleasant afternoon of birding and chatting! Thanks Chris! I then headed back to Port Mac and the caravan park for dinner. Got to watch the first One-Dayer between Aus and England - Watson was brilliant! Then off to bed. Bird total – 90

Day 3

Up early again to chase down the Olive Whistler which is regularly seen near the caravan park. Roly turned up and we spent some time calling for the Whistler without success. Roly suggested I check out the beach at Eight Mile Creek so I headed east along the coast for about 8kms and worked my way down to the beach. Wow! Hundreds of shorebirds were on the beach, including Oystercatchers, Stints, Sanderlings, Turnstones, plus Caspian, Crested, Fairy and nesting Little Terns (the latter species a new one for Australia!). I was also chuffed to see a Kelp Gull – a species I haven’t seen for years. Buoyed with my success, I headed back to have a second go at the Whistler – I pulled out my Michael Morcombe Birds App on my phone (gotta love technology!) and played its call for about five minutes before a beautiful Olive Whistler turned up to have a chat. It came very close, providing brilliant views (lifer No. 7). Where was my camera! I also snaffled a Skylark, which was great. It’s characteristic flight pattern and calling was a great way to start the day.

The rest of the day was spent following the coastline east, and then into the Lower Glenelg National Park. Highlights included Forest Raven, Pied Currawong, Long-billed Corellas (hundreds), and three Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoos. That night I went owl hunting at the Dry Creek Reserve and along Grubbed Road west of Casterton. The Powerful Owl called to me at Dry Creek but refused to show itself, and the Masked Owl kept silent and hidden – so dipped badly on both. However, it had been a great day. Bird total – 119

Day 4

Spent the night at Pritchards Camp in the Lower Glenelg NP in my swag (thanks Nigel!), and then off on an early morning walk – picked up White-naped Honeyeater, White-eared Honeyeater, Red-browed Finch, Brush Cuckoo, a pair of Olive Whistlers and an Azure Kingfisher (spectacular). Also had Superb Fairy-wrens and Eastern Yellow Robins playing around my feet. Where was my camera!!!!

Packed the car and headed north to Wartook. I began to hear reports that I was entering flood territory. I didn’t take it too seriously until I visited the Nigretta and Wannon falls. OK – there was a LOT of water!! These photos were taken with my iPhone!

Hmmm. Was I going to get through to Wartook, a small village at the base of the Grampians? Reached the Glenelg River at Cherrypool and was relieved that the water had receded enough for me to get through. It was clear that a massive amount of water had passed through Wartook, and several sections of road had been damaged. Again, though, I was able to get through and finally arrived in Wartook. The road to Hall’s Gap, however, was totally ruined so that made birding site decisions easier!

Pulled into the Holiday Caravan Park and booked a really nice cabin – thanks Janet! After a well-deserved and needed shower (!), I headed into the Wartook State Forest for an afternoon bird-walk. What a great place – saw some really nice stuff, but best of all was a number of Yellow-tufted Honeyeaters (lifer No. 8). Mr. Morcombe’s App was invaluable again! Headed back to the cabin for dinner and a good sleep! Bird total – 130

Day 5

Up early (surprise), and back into the Forest – birds were everywhere (well worth visiting). Picked up the Fuscous Honeyeater, and saw many more Yellow-tufted, but dipped on the Black-chinned, which has been seen here. Decided to head back to the Glenelg River at Cherrypool, and almost immediately got the Little Lorikeet (lifer No. 9) – a bird I have been targeting for years. VERY happy!

Then it was a matter of holding my breath and hoping that I could get through Horsham, which had been under water for days. Made it to the southern part of the town and was advised that there was ONE track through the town that was open. I carefully made my way through roads packed with sandbags, glancing down the other roads to see them completely submerged. Emerging the other end I was then advised that the main road to Bordertown was still impassable and that I would need to go via Frances. So off I headed, crossing a number of swollen rivers, one with a house wrapped around a tree in the middle of the water!

Heading north from Frances, I stopped in at Bangham NP, but the only highlights were six more Yellow-tails, a Rufous Whistler and an indignant Echidna!

The e rest of the trip was a relaxed cruise home, with a brief visit to the Monarto CP, where Mr. Morcombe helped me call in a Purple-gaped Honeyeater, the final bird of the trip. I finally arrived home at 7:30pm, tired but content. Totals for the trip were – 139 birds, 23 new for South Australia, 10 new for Australia, and 9 lifers. A great trip – highly recommended! Below is a complete list of the birds seen.

Till next time,

Mike

22^nd January, 2011