Touring Australia (1 Viewer)

[Maroon Jay]

I will consider flying to Tasmania. I have decided for now to continue my trip around the coast and then when I get back to Sydney, if I have time and if it does not take long to sell the van, then I will fly to Tasmania. For now I will leave it to the end of my trip and hopefully be able to get there. To fly now, I would have to find a secure place to leave my van with lots of stuff in it. Also, I am running behind schedule. Apparently many people go to Tasmania for the summer as it is cooler there and now they are all trying to get back. The next available ferry for anything larger than a car is June 6th, a three month wait. There are 12 endemics in Tasmania and also wanted to see the Tasmanian Devil and other sights. Also was hoping to see some sea birds on the ferry trip.

 

[Maroon Jay]

#77. I listed my unknown raptor in the Bird ID forum and it has been identified as a Whistling Kite.

 

[Maroon Jay]

At Lakes Entrance, Victoria. Lots of birds but only one new one.
78. Pacific Gull. A huge gull with a massive bill.
On to Wilson's Promontory National Park.

 

[MJB]

here are 12 endemics in Tasmania and also wanted to see the Tasmanian Devil and other sights. Also was hoping to see some sea birds on the ferry trip.

13, according to 'Finding Birds in Australia'....:t:
MJB

 

[Maroon Jay]

Will have to find out what the 13th one is if I get to Tasmania. I have that book. Thank you.

 

[Maroon Jay]

Now at Wilson's Promontory, Victoria. Woke up early this morning to search for the Emu. It was a dark, gloomy and rainy day but I did find and photograph the Emu. One of the birds that I really wanted to see for sure in Australia.
79. Emu

Mammals
4. Wombat

 

[Maroon Jay]

Second day at Wilson's Promontory. Searched the beaches for Hooded Plover but no luck.
The best place to see Emu is at a location for wildlife viewing which is a small clearing in the forest, right on the main road. It is marked on the park map. Also the wildlife trail which starts on the far side of this clearing and also the Cotters Beach trail which runs between Cotters Beach road and the beach itself. Cotters Beach road is also a good place to see Wombats and Swamp Wallaby just before sunset.
Mammals
5. Swamp Wallaby

 

[Maroon Jay]

A long weekend and every campground near the coast is booked full. Had to spend two nights at a town called Leongotha as it was the only campground available on the holiday weekend.
80. Blackbird. Sometimes called Common Blackbird and sometimes Eurasian Blackbird and sometimes just plain Blackbird. Seen before in New Zealand. I also saw this bird in China but it appears that the ones in China have been split into a new species called the Chinese Blackbird. A new bird I didn't know I had.

 

[Maroon Jay]

Now at Philip Island. Thousands of people that were here for the long weekend were streaming off the island with bumper-to-bumper traffic for most of the day. After the weekenders were gone it was still difficult to find a parking spot. Nice place but crowded. At the rocks, called the Nobbies, at the far end of the island you can see penguins. Most penguins go out to sea all day and return at dusk but a few always remain behind. Perhaps ones that are molting. I saw six of them.
81. Little Penguin (Seen before in New Zealand)
82. Cape Barren Goose. Lots of them here. A nice surprise
83. Nankeen Kestrel (aka Australian Kestrel)
Also lots of Swamp Wallaby if you are interesting in photographing them it is a good place. Fur seals on the rocks but too far away to see them. You need to take a boat tour to get a look at them.

 

[Maroon Jay]

I looked in Wilson's Promontory and also here at Philip Island for the Hooded Plover but no luck. There don't seem to be any around. No wonder, they nest on the beach and the beaches are full of thousands of people. Their nesting season might be finished. Where do they go when they are not nesting on the beach?

 

[Maroon Jay]

Philip Island day two. The crowds have left. Much nicer today.
84. Kelp Gull (seen before in New Zealand)
85. Straw-necked Ibis

 

[Maroon Jay]

Seen on the ferry crossing Port Philip Bay
86. Australasian Gannet

 

[Maroon Jay]

Now touring the Great Ocean Road on the south coast. At Point Addis:
87. Rufous Bristlebird
88. Welcome Swallow (seen before in New Zealand)
Not many birds around but a good place to find the Rufous Bristlebird. Had no problem finding one.

 

[Allen S. Moore]

Now touring the Great Ocean Road on the south coast. At Point Addis:
87. Rufous Bristlebird
88. Welcome Swallow (seen before in New Zealand)
Not many birds around but a good place to find the Rufous Bristlebird. Had no problem finding one.

It is a surprise that it took you all this time to see Welcome Swallow. I've seen them everywhere I've been in Australia, even Sydney Airport.

Enjoy the rest of your trip. It is a good one!

 

[Maroon Jay]

Thanks Allen, Isle of Man is on my list of place to visit. Saw lots of swallows zipping around before but was not able to ID them until now.

 

[Allen S. Moore]

Thanks Allen, Isle of Man is on my list of place to visit. Saw lots of swallows zipping around before but was not able to ID them until now.

I think that barn swallows and red-rumped swallows are only seen in the far north (e.g. Queensland and Norther Territory). There again, there are other goodies like the white-backed swallow, which has a fairly extensive range but which I have only seen really out in the wilds west of the Great Dividing Range in NSW. There are also 2 species of martin, tree and fairy, both widespread. I've not checked whether you have seen those yet!

Yes, the Isle of Man is a good spot, but I would say that! In the next week or so I hope to see or hear the first migrant. Next month I hope to see my first Atlantic puffins of the year, and Manx shearwaters, of course. Birders don't see as long a "list" as we do in continental destinations, such as Australia, North America or Spain.

Allen

 

[Maroon Jay]

Yes, no doubt the many swallows that I have seen flying around were Welcome Swallows but I waited until I saw one well enough to see the colours.

 

[Maroon Jay]

I have been searching for the Hooded Plover all along the beaches of the south coast from Wilson's Promontory, to Philips Island. Finally found them at Point Roadknight on the Great Coast Road. A horrible day. The wind was terrific and I was being pelted with rain, salty seawater and blowing sand. The wind was so strong that I could not hold my telephoto lens still. Will go back tomorrow morning if the weather is good to try from some better photos. I got this photo of one flying in the rain. You can see the rain and blowing sand going past its head. Reliable to find them here if you are looking for them during the Australian Summer. Their breeding season ends at the end of March. Not sure where they go then. Perhaps just a little inland off the beach.
89. Hooded Plover
90. Double-banded Plover (seen before in New Zealand)

 

[Maroon Jay]

Went back the next morning for a better photo. Hooded Plover is quite reliable at Point Roadknight. From the parking lot, go right on the beach. Walk to the end of the beach and you will come to a bunch of large rocks. If you don't see the plovers here, climb over the rocks. There is another beach on the other side and you should find them there during breeding season. Don't know where they go at the end of March.

 

[Maroon Jay]

Forgot to enter this one from a few days ago. Seen at Split Point on the Great Ocean Road.
91. Singing Honeyeater - common here
92. Peregrine Falcon - flying along the coast. Did not stop. (seen before in Canada, USA and Mexico).
Don't bother trying to visit the lighthouse here. They want $14 to walk up the stairs. There is a great viewpoint on the cliff so need to go up the lighthouse. The viewpoint is where I saw the falcon. The Singing Honeyeaters are more common at the bottom of the hill.