WTP (A) report Excursion 10 Leader: Margaret AlcornFacilitators: Craig Morley, Greg O’Toole, Richard Alcorn. We met at WTP Gate 5 on Paradise Rd. We had 3 cars, each with a GFNC member with a WTP bird watching permit. All participants adhered to the rules imposed on visitors to the WTP. We drove down Paradise Rd Read more…

Leaders: Barry Lingham, Bernie Lingham The You Yangs Regional Park is now a highly popular natural area with many visitors from the Geelong and Melbourne regions. Popular activities include bird watching, walking, mountain bike cycling, rock climbing and picnicking. Historically, much of the park was turned over to timber plantations managed by the Forest Commission, Read more…

Leader: Jeff DaggFacilitators: Caroline and John Booth We met at Serendip at 8.30 am and were joined by Serendip Ranger Ruth and Steve who is in charge of the Friends group. After a talk on the history and future plans of Serendip, we started our walk joined by Ruth and Steve. All participants were encouraged Read more…

Leader: Margaret AlcornFacilitators: Pete Sullivan, Richard Alcorn We met at Emily’s Pond on Emily Street, Point Lonsdale. As Emily Street is a ‘no through road’ we helped all drivers to turn around and park facing towards Fellows Rd. We walked along Emily Street to Lake Victoria and followed the walking track to the last of Read more…

Leader: Graham PossinghamFacilitator: Jenny Possingham Total of 35 visitors over the two excursions We arranged for a reserve key from the Council to open the short access track off Vigneron Drive and parked and met at the end. From there we took two out-and-back loops, northwards through open country towards Moorabool River Viaduct then southwards Read more…

Leaders: Bernie Lingham and Lorraine Phelan The estuary at the confluence of Hovells Creek and Limeburners Lagoon is notable for its diverse habitats and wildlife. A variety of birds and reptiles can be observed in this area. The estuary and its valley support salt-tolerant vegetation, which flourishes in the saline conditions. Within the tidal zone, Read more…

This was originally planned as a second trip on Port Phillip Bay, but the excursion was cancelled due to lack of numbers

Leader: Donna SmithymanFacilitator: Chrissy Freestone A background to the history and purpose of the site was provided before we walked for a kilometre along a muddy track amongst saltmarsh vegetation. About 60 Red-necked Stints were observed along with a few Sharp-tailed Sandpipers and Black-fronted Dotterels, a Whistling Kite, a Black-shouldered kite and a Black Kite Read more…

Leaders: Brad Ferrier, Bernie Lingham, Alison Watson The rain held off, though there was a lot of water underfoot when we gathered at the Swan Bay jetty. We started by observing birds, long lines of mostly Little Black Cormorants snuggled up along the pier railings. A Great Egret was initially difficult to identify as it Read more…

Saturday 28 March, morning and repeat in afternoonLeaders: Peter Sullivan, Susanne Hudgell (morning)Barry Lingham, Bernie Lingham, Andrea Dennett (afternoon) The Ocean Grove Nature Reserve was created in the early 1970s by the purchase of land by public subscription and grant moneys. The site was previously occupied by a farm held by the Cuthbertson family from Read more…

Leader: Peter CrowcroftFacilitator: Phil Watson After starting the day in the dark with heavy rain one wondered at the merit of a boat trip. Nonetheless, 25 participants arrived on time and eager to sail as the weather had turned calm and clear. Before boarding the vessel, we walked the harbourside to watch the resident Stingrays Read more…

Saturday 28 March, afternoonLeaders: Pete Crowcroft, John Newman, Brad Ferrier The rockpool ramble at the Bluff was at capacity with over 20 participants making their way on the circuit route from the western end to the eastern access of Barwon Bluff Marine Sanctuary. Starting with some pictures of the weird and wonderful nudibranchs, eventually we Read more…

Leaders: Barry LinghamFacilitators: John and Caroline Booth This excursion explored a range of habitats found on a large private property located adjacent to the Brisbane Ranges National Park. The property had once been an operational farm as was seen from the old horse-drawn machinery and the ruins of the original homestead. The farm was acquired Read more…

Leader: Deirdre MurphyFacilitators: Brad Ferrier and members of the Friends of Brisbane Ranges (FoBR) Five Friends of Brisbane Ranges representatives included Colin, Wendy and Owen Cook, Debra and James The Anakie Gorge walk is a linear walk that follows Stony Creek upstream. Many birds were heard as it was a clear, warm morning and perfect Read more…

Leader: Craig MorleyFacilitator: 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 Read more…

By Max Thompson Led by Roger Thomas and assisted by Max Thompson A full contingent of twenty participants joined Roger for an excursion to Mt Beckworth, where he generously shared his extensive knowledge of the area. The Mt Beckworth Scenic Reserve, an open grassy woodland dominated by Yellow Box (Eucalyptus melliodora) and Long-leaved Box (E.goniocalyx), Read more…

By Angela Aldred Leader- John Gregurke Facilitator- Angela Aldred On Sunday afternoon our group of 13 met at the start of the Dementia Friendly Forest and Sensory trail in the Woowookarung Regional Park. Jeff Rootes from the Friends of Canadian Corridor (FoCC) explained how the Friends had worked hard to gain funding to create this Read more…

By Vireya Jacquard & Andy Arnold Starting at Lal Lal station, Andy pointed out interesting traces in the landscape of geological and human history, including the former Lal Lal swamp. The Wathaurong people previously used this area in its natural state for resources they needed to survive, thrive and practice their unique culture and customs.We Read more…

By Margaret Rich OAM Eleven people set out, led by John Petheram with Margaret Rich assisting. We drove in convoy through Creswick State Forest to our first stop at 600m on the Great Divide, to talk about water catchments, forest management and the importance of water to gold mining. There was a large patch of Read more…

By Max Thompson A small but enthusiastic group gathered at the gates of “Chepstowe” to take up Neville’s generous offer to showcase his property’s environmental highlights. “Chepstowe” is an 800-hectare working farm where environmental management is a major focus.Our first stop was a grassland area that had not been stocked for over twenty years. We Read more…

By Val Hocking We met Kathy at her home for a morning visit. April Newton from Trust for Nature joined us there too. She is a Senior Project Officer, South Central Area.The property, owned by Kathy and her late husband Bill, consists of 20 acres of woodland and has a Trust for Nature covenant. We Read more…

By Alasdair Wardle Eleven of us, including leader Andy Arnold assisted by Roger Thomas, met at Cape Clear near the ‘lighthouse’. We headed to our first stop, the Illabarook Grasslands Flora Reserve. It was a very sunny day, perfect for finding the smaller species in the grassy paddock. Highlights we observed were Golden Moth Orchids, Read more…

By Elspeth Swan & Paul Norquay A highlight of the sunny Saturday afternoon SEANA excursion to Beacon Hill on Incolls Road in Enfield State Park was a display of Twisted Sun-orchids, Thelymitra flexuosa. The thirteen participants, after parking to enjoy the views towards Mt Warrenheip and Mt Buninyong, enjoyed exploring the hillside looking at the Read more…

By Val Hocking and Emily Noble Emily Noble, who works part-time at Clarkesdale Bird Sanctuary for BirdLife Australia, escorted 37 of us around this favourite place near Linton. We began by stopping at a roadside area to view flora there. It included Red Parrot-pea, Waxlip Orchids, Common Bird-orchids, Rabbit-ears and the last of the Leopard Read more…

By Margaret Rich OAM On Saturday morning, our group of 20 admired the tall Messmate Stringybarks and Manna Gums on the walk up to the Mount Buninyong crater. Grass tussocks abounded between the old growth trees. We looked down into the crater while hearing the Wadawurrung dreamtime story about the origin of the mountain. The Read more…

By Neville Oddie OAM The participants of SEANA 2025 Spring Camp were privileged to have an evening presentation given by Richard Weatherly OAM. He is a well-known ornithologist, artist, regenerative farmer, and community activist. He studied history at Cambridge University and has spent “over 50 years studying, painting and writing about birds”. Richard has managed Read more…

By Val Hocking       Nicole is the Manager of the Biodiversity Heritage Library Australia based at Museums Victoria. Using many illustrations from various field naturalists’ club’s newsletters that have been digitised and uploaded to this vast online Library, particularly Ballarat’s club newsletters, Nicole gave us an overview of how to navigate the Library Read more…

SEANA SPRING CAMP 2024 Leaving a misty morning in Marysville, 18 participants of the SEANA Conference departed to meet at Healesville Sanctuary. Travelling via the Black Spur it looked stunning in the early morning with the tree ferns overhanging the road and the Eucalypts all upstanding in their rows. Everyone was on time at 10.00 Read more…

SEANA SPRING CAMP 2024 Saturday afternoon and Sunday morning excursions. We were very happy to see a Rose Robin on Sunday morning at Taggerty River picnic area. He stayed in the tree for photos and good viewing opportunity for everyone. Lady Talbot Drive is a very scenic drive beside the Taggerty River. From the meeting Read more…

SEANA SPRING CAMP 2024 Saturday morning and Sunday afternoon. We enjoyed fine weather although it was fresh Saturday morning. Walked around the historical area of Cambarville sawmill and township site, a flat and open area reading the information boards. Flame Robins were seen here. In the 1860’s this was a stopping point along the road Read more…

SEANA SPRING CAMP 2024 Meeting of the Waters, Buxton – Saturday pm Twelve people participated in this walk in perfect weather. After seeing the rivers merging, we took a walk along the Acheron River to Dyes Lane and back. Among the plants seen beside the track were Trigger Plants, Cherry Ballarts and Olearia. A number Read more…

SEANA SPRING CAMP 2024 STEAVENSON FALLS AND BEAUTY SPOT – Sunday am Nine people came on this walk. We started at the Steavenson Falls carpark and walked the 700m or so to the viewing platforms for the Falls, looking at birds and plants along the way. We then travelled a few kilometres to the Beauty Read more…

SEANA SPRING CAMP 2024 SEANA Lake Mountain excursion – SUNDAY Leaders David & Eeva Hewitt Thirteen people met at the Ticket Box car park on a fairly cool and overcast morning before driving up to Gerraty’s car park for a brief morning tea. At about 10:30 am we set off on a walk to Helicopter Read more…

SEANA SPRING CAMP 2024 Saturday 26th and Sunday 27th October 2024 Leader: Jack Airey As part of the Spring 2024 SEANA weekend away, guests were offered a full day excursion to the Cathedral Range, north of Marysville. The excursion, which was based at the Cook’s Mill Campground, consisted of a morning walk traversing the Friends Read more…

SEANA SPRING CAMP 2024 Report by: McKenzie Flora Reserve and Grannies Lane Seventeen Seana members drove the 43km north of Marysville to McKenzie Flora Reserve, Alexandra, on Saturday 26th of October 2024. The group met on Plantation Lane adjacent to the Reserve, at 10.30am. Although it had been very cold overnight, the Sun came out, Read more…

Leader John Eichler, Facilitators: June Anton and Anna Burley. The largest remaining eucalypt woodland on Phillip Island, 150 acres, including wetlands. This land was donated to the people of Victoria by Florence Oswin Roberts, a passionate conservationist and wildlife carer, of Koalas in particular, from the early 1900’s. Plants identified: Rhagodia, ericifolia melaleuca, Spinyheaded mat Read more…

LEADER: Graham Patterson FACILITATOR: Judith Sise Saturday Morning’s adventure to Pyramid Rock and Redcliff Head Lookout. At around 9 o’clock, sixteen Naturalists set off in cars gaily displaying purple ribbons behind Graham with Judith bringing up the rear. This was an easy introduction to the geology of Phillip Island – a pyramid of volcanic basalt, Read more…

Led by Gil Smith and Sue Woolley from Birdlife Bass Coast. The morning was still and overcast as 20 people and Gil and Sue set off from the car park at Rhyll Inlet. The vegetation varied from farmland to mixed banksia habitat to mangroves close to the water. The following 50 bird species were recorded. Read more…

Excursion: Kitty Miller Bay (Geology, Botany & Birds) On afternoon of Sunday 21st April excursion leader Ken Griffiths and facilitator Maryse arrived at the muster location at 1.00pm for our 1.15pm muster before driving to the site. The convoy of participants and others we met on site gathered in the Kitty Miller Bay Beach carpark Read more…

Saturday afternoon 20/4/2024. 16 degrees mostly cloudy. After meeting in the car park at the Nobbies 23 people led by Gil Smith and Sue Wooley from Birdlife Bass Coast walked slowly along the boardwalk between the visitor centre and the rocky coastline. Birds were observed on the rocks, in the air and water and we Read more…

Swan Lake is a freshwater lake, located in the south west corner of Phillip Island, close to the Penguin Parade and The Nobbies. The surrounding area was used for stock grazing over many years following European settlement, but overuse and erosion became an issue. In the 1960s, moves were made to protect the area and Read more…

Phillip Island SEANA Autumn Convention – April 2024 Report by Maryse – Facilitator 1. Excursion: Cape Woolamai Peninsula to Old Granite Quarry (Geology, Botany, History) On morning of Saturday 20 th April excursion leader Ken Griffiths and facilitator Maryse arrived at the muster location at 8.00am for our 8.15am muster before driving to the site. Read more…

SEANA Spring 2023 Camp Excursion 13: Alberton Cemetery Sunday afternoon Leader: Lorraine Norden Facilitator: Julie Murray Our visit to the historic Alberton Cemetery coincided with an attractive display of a range of bright, colourful flowers nestled among the grasses and sedges. This site is known for its native grasses; these flower and seed later in Read more…

SEANA Spring 2023 Camp Excursion 12: Old Port Trail at Port Albert Sunday morning Co-leaders: Jay Duncan and Julie Murray On the day of the Port Albert excursion, we had a great deal of rain and blustering wind. While the bird-watching planned from the Victoria Street vantage point for the first part of the tour Read more…

SEANA Spring 2023 Camp Excursion 11: Birding around Toora Sunday, all day Leader: Ron Greer Facilitator: Linda Hayes The purpose of this excursion was to showcase some of the birdlife of Corner Inlet, provide an overview of Corner Inlet from Mt Best and observe a different grouping of birds in and around Agnes Falls. As Read more…

SEANA Spring 2023 Camp Excursion 10: Northern end of Wilson’s Promontory NP Sunday full day Leader for Vereker Range: Greg Gilbert Facilitator: John Poppins We departed Yarram (which was then fine) soon after 8:00 am. Along the way, fine drizzle turned to steady rain. Just over an hour later, we arrived at our destination of Read more…

Excursion 9a: Alberton West State Forest No. 1 Saturday afternoon Leader: Melinda Darer (FOAWSF) Facilitators: Wendy & Norbert Fuessel A full group of some 20 plus participants ultimately met at a western corner of the state forest, cars ‘higgledy-piggledy’ on the gravel roadside end off in the scrub. We met our leader Melinda from the Read more…

SEANA Spring 2023 Camp Excursion 8A McLoughlins Beach Saturday afternoon Leader Mitch Smith Facilitator Joelle Champert We travelled by car 25 km east of Yarram and met the rest of our group at the McLoughlins Beach boat ramp and footbridge. The day was overcast ,with a gentle to fresh breeze. We could hear the roar Read more…

SEANA Spring 2023 Camp Excursion 7a: Shorebirds Boat Trip No. 1 Saturday morning Leader: Tania Ireton Facilitator: Jay Duncan Eight enthusiastic birdwatchers from various Field Naturalists’ Clubs, joined Brian & Belinda from “Port Albert Fishin’ Charters” on their boat, for a four-hour birding trip around the shallow, inner waters of Nooramunga Marine Park. The park Read more…

SEANA Spring 2023 Camp Excursion 6a: Won Wron State Forest No. 1 Saturday morning Leader: Dr Margaret Rowe Facilitator: Phil Rayment Led by Margaret and assisted by Phil, our first stop in the Forest was White Woman’s Waterhole, where we were greeted by many King Parrots, used to being fed by the visitors. This site Read more…