WESTERN TREATMENT PLANT

Back in November 2012 I spent a couple of days of full on birding at the Western Treatment Plant, not far from Werribee South where we were staying.  For those who may not know it is an environmentally friendly sewage treatment plant with over 10,850 hectares (26,800 acres) of lagoons, grasslands, inter-tidal and shoreline areas. With a bird list in excess of 280 species it's also arguably one of the best birding locations in Australia, and it did not disappoint. My list over the two days was 70 birds, including three lifers.

Cape Barren Goose

These crakes I spotted were new for my life list, along with Striated Fieldwren and Fairy Tern.

Australian Spotted Crake

Playing chasey!

Australian Shelduck

Sharp-tailed Sandpiper

I utilized my spotting scope often, with many of the birds a fair distance out on the lagoons. A handy item to have if visiting this fantastic location.

Australian Pelican

Whiskered Tern

Red-necked Avocet

Great Crested Grebe

White-fronted Chat

Black Swans

A link to more info on the Western Treatment Plant  and how to apply for an entry permit, here: http://melbournewater.com.au/getinvolved/activities/Birdwatching/Pages/Birdwatching.aspx

Cheers & Happy Birding

A WEEKEND BREAK

Had a chance to spend a couple of nights away to try out our newly acquired caravan. We stayed at a little van park along the Tin Can Bay road about 25km from Gympie, in S.E.Queensland.

Our site at Standown Park, Goomboorian.

One of the locals gave us a good looking over not long after we pulled up. 

Galah.

There was a small dam on the property with a pair of ducks loafing around and not too concerned about my presence.

Australian Wood Ducks

I have seen this species nesting high up in tree hollows and although having never witnessed it, marvel at the way the chicks survive their "parachuting" jump to the ground below.

Female

Male

They obviously weren't scared off by this other resident of the dam.

Crocodylus Plasticus

I went for a drive through the pine plantations of Toolara State Forest nearby and by following a mud map supplied by the van park manager, found my way to some lovely lakes hidden away in an area of beautiful natural bushland.

Scribbly Gum

On our way home we stopped for a cuppa at Lake Alford Park in Gympie where we watched some of the activity on and beside the water.

Pacific Black Duck and Dusky Moorhens.

Black Swan and cygnets.

The swans were unafraid of our presence, obviously habituated to the park visitors and virtually came right to our feet, maybe expecting a handout? The cygnets were quite clumsy on solid ground and preferred to flop down on their bellies to graze on the grass.

NEW PICS FOR A NEW YEAR

We've had some night time visitors the last few weeks and they've cleaned up 

the fruit off the cocos palm in our backyard. I counted nine up there one night

and they can be quite noisy as they squabble and climb around the fronds.

Grey-headed Flying Foxes

I hadn't realised how long their wing "hooks" are and how these 

appendages help their agility.

There was another winged creature hanging upside down,out on the 

back verandah.We seem to find a lot of creepy-crawlies out there.

I think this may be some kind of cricket.

I visited a local dam today.There were about thirty Black Swans spread over 

the water and some Little Black Cormorants and a single Whiskered Tern

preening and resting on the pumphouse.

Little Black Cormorants

Black Swans

Poona Dam looking towards Kureelpa.

I found this fungus on a bush track nearby.

It was a dainty cup shaped mushroom about 10cm tall.

I tried to identify it through the internet but was unsuccessful.

Back in the backyard these Silvereyes were waiting patiently for their turn

 in the birdbath. Afterwards they partook of some mutual preening 

and canoodling. 

Although we have had a very wet spring and summer so far with record rainfalls in the area, we are high and dry here in Kureelpa. Our thoughts and prayers go out to those people affected by the massive flooding further north and west. I know what they are going through, having endured the 1974 floods in Brisbane.