Excursion 1: Bellarine Birds

Leader: Craig Morley
Facilitator: Jeff Dagg

We began in overcast and drizzle with occasional short showers and finished in sunshine. Across the day we visited numerous sites to give participants a taste of birding across the Bellarine Peninsula. In the process we recorded a very respectable 80 species.

After starting in Eastern Park where we enjoyed the Nankeen Night Herons and at least 75 Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoos flying in, it was on to Lake Lorne where we found a solitary Freckled Duck, Pink-eared Duck and Hardhead. Added to these we had 6 Blue-billed Ducks to go with Black Swan, Pacific Black Duck and the first of several Grey Teal (3 sites) and Chestnut Teal (4 sites).

Swan Bay Jetty provided a Little Egret, Great Egret, an adult Pacific Gull, Striated Fieldwrens, White-fronted Chats and some distant Little or Fairy Terns. On to Point Lonsdale Lighthouse where we were treated to at least 25 Shy Albatross wheeling about of The Rip and Short-tailed Shearwaters streaming about beyond the breakers. A Black-faced Cormorant flying in and doubling back to perch on the partially covered rock platform to provide great views through the ‘scope, Lake Victoria did not disappoint with two Sooty Oystercatchers (a rare bird at the site) flying in to land in clear view. Red-capped Plovers and Red-necked Stints were also enjoyed by the group.

On to Blue Rocks where a Eurasian Whimbrel and at least one Pacific Golden-Plover showed well along with a pair of Hooded Plovers on the creek which flew in for a cameo appearance on cue.

We finished the day with some good woodland birds such as Striated Pardalote, Red-browed Finch, Grey Shrikethrush, Red-rumped Parrot and Pied Currawong at Rice Reserve and to cap off a very successful and enjoyable day, a Wedge-tailed Eagle sailed across the sky.

eBird Trip Report https://ebird.org/tripreport/493310?view=checklists