Gippsland Trip 2017 - Part I: Orbost + Marlo

In November last year I went on a Gippsland birding trip with my friend Karen from Perth. So this obviously a super delayed trip report but if that doesn't offend you, read on!

the green hills of Gippsland

Originally we'd planned this trip around a pelagic out of Merimbula in southern NSW that didn't end up happening. And originally we were going to travel through East Gippsland to Merimbula and continue further north in NSW in search of Rockwarblers and Eastern Bristlebirds. But when the pelagic was called off we instead reorganised ourselves to stay in Victoria and explore both East and South Gippsland - all Gippsland, all the time.

Lots of birdy firsts awaited us on this trip: heaps potential lifers for Karen, who had only done one real day of East-coast birding before this, and lots of state birds and new birding sites for me.

The first day, way back on 12 November 2017, we left Melbourne early and headed for Orbost. Our first stop on the way was Fairy Dell where Karen was met with an onslaught of lifers.

Brace yourself, Karen!

Shortly after crossing the bridge from the picnic area we stopped to watch an Eastern Whipbird in a tree. Then a Satin Bowerbird and Olive-backed Oriole flew into another tree overhead. Soon after that there was a female Rose Robin busy building a nest and then further into the rainforest we found Rufous Fantails, Brown Gerygones, and very briefly a Black-faced Monarch - all new birds for Karen and the last two Vic ticks for me!

a handsome male Rose Robin also joined us for lunch

After Fairy Dell we headed up to the drier habitat of Canni Creek Racecourse Reserve which was an interesting place. Here we were hoping for Turquoise Parrots, Diamond Firetails or Hooded Robins...

no dogs

We wandered around the racecourse area and some of the tracks but it was getting to that time of the day when the weather's warmed up and the birds have quietened down. We didn't see too much and unfortunately left without any of our targets.

also no BYO

Arriving at the Orbost Caravan Park we found Common Blackbirds everywhere - ferals are slightly more interesting when birding with someone from the much less feral-ridden WA. We also checked out the lagoon that stretches under the highway here.  Lots of the usual wetland suspects and bonus Cattle Egrets.

hi Orbost

That evening we tried our luck at the mouth of the mighty and/or legendary Snowy River (depending which sign you read) for the Beach Stone-Curlew that had been quite regular there.  Though it wouldn't be a new bird for either of us, it is not a common occurrence on the beaches of Victoria so worth a look. We didn't find the BSC but we did find a local birder who gave us some tips and other spots to check out - thank you, local birder!

sunset over the water - normal for the Perthling, a more unusual sight for me

Of course one of the birds at the top of our wish lists for this trip was the Eastern Ground Parrot, a much sought-after species that is notoriously stealthy. So the next morning we were down at the Marlo aerodrome just after 6.00am.  And yeah, didn't see any Ground Parrots. There were some Pallid Cuckoos giving very nice views though, and Karen got a flyover lifer in a Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoo.

one of the cuckoo fiends

Next up that day was Cabbage Tree Creek Flora Reserve. But we were a bit delayed getting there when we stopped to rescue and injured magpie. It looked like it had been hit by a car and so we took it to the nearest vet - all the way back in Orbost.  It seemed to have some kind of brain injury but at the vet's they said they can recover from this so hopefully the little guy made it.

so lush and green!

When we did make it into Cabbage Tree Creek it was awesome spot. It was pretty birdy with a mother Superb Lyrebird feeding her nearly full-grown chick right near the track, better looks at Black-faced Monarchs, Karen's lifer Red-browed Finches and Lewin's Honeyeaters and other cool stuff.

one of the Cabbage Palms, surrounded by eucalpyts

Also it was cool to see the Cabbage Palms - the only native palm in Victoria and this is the only spot they grow naturally in the state! Fun facts!

Lace Monitor

On the way out we came across the first of many Lace Monitors for the trip.  This one was straight off the road and up a tree.

we can still see you up there you know

Back towards Marlo we stopped at Frenches Narrows and found some spoonbills, ibis and teal. And we did do another quick stop back at the river mouth for that cheeky BSC but no...

the view out over Frenches Narrows

Chestnut Teal, Royal Spoonbills and an Australian White Ibis shunning us

Then we ventured over to the other side of the river where there is a small section of rainforest at the end of Lochend Road, a tip from the local birder. Here we had great prolonged views of two Bassian Thrushes out in the open as they fed along the road.

unfortunately I didn't get a photo that accurately reflects that

As well as all the birdies, there was another Lace Monitor and also an Echidna going about their business.

out for a stroll

Then we went to look for Lake Wat Wat, which the local birder had also told us about.

We found the gate!

The road down to the lake as a bit of an adventure in my little car but we made it!  All the water, and thus birds, were way over the other side of the mostly-dry lake.  With our scopes we were able to find our first shorebirds for the trip - some Common Greenshanks amongst the ducks, swans and ibis and everything else.

How far can we get out on that mud? Turns out not far.

lotsa birds, lotsa haze

I think you can see a Common Greenshank in this photo

We liked this spot but didn't stay for too long as we needed to head back for Round II at the Marlo aerodrome.  Ground Parrots would be a new bird for both of us so we wanted to give them as many chances as possible to show themselves.

the aerodrome, on the morning visit

And again they lived up to their stealthy reputation and stayed hidden.

The Ground Parrot dream was still alive though and the next morning we would be exploring Cape Conran Costal Reserve, with the hopes that the Ground Parrots there would be a bit more visible!