This year I had the (apparently not so) bright idea of going to
only to be overwhelmed by the crowds: people, bicycles, wheelchairs...all enjoying themselves, running and riding loudly along the tracks...next year I need to go further afield.
However I did manage to find a few birds
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| Common Bronzewing (female), RBG Cranbourne |
I found this Yellow-faced Honeyeater taking dives into a puddle on the track
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| Yellow-faced Honeyeater, RBG Cranbourne |
The walk across the Wylie Creek valley provided some great views
but there was not much bird activity at the Wetlands, just the usual suspects: coots, grebes, swans, swamphens and a few ducks in the distance. One small flock of Hardheads did provide a bit of entertainment:
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| Hardhead, RBG Cranbourne |
Perhaps the highlight was a family of carolling magpies, most partially hidden in the long dry grass but this one was happy to show off in full view
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| Australian Magpie, RBG Cranbourne |
I took a drive through the hills of South Gippsland through Bunyip State Park and returned later in the day to Warneet, stopping at the small village of Blind Bight where I caught up with a "water dance" of grebes (yes, apparently that is the collective noun)
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| Hoary-headed Grebe, Blind Bight |
and it seems even among grebes, that the kids can't help mucking about while the parents are trying to have a relaxing swim
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| Hoary-headed Grebe, Blind Bight |
Also close-by was a solo egret
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| Eastern Great Egret, Blind Bight |
