Eden-Wilderness Coast-East Gippsland Trip

We spent 4 days ( 29 October - 1 November)
touring the extreme south-east corner of Australia visiting Eden, Ben Boyd
National Pk, Wonboyn Lake and Nadgee Nature Reserve, Mallacoota, Point
Hicks and Croajingalong NP, Cape Conran and Marlo, and Ninety Mile Beach,
then Errinundra National Pk and Snowy River Country.

Highlights were the numerous migrating
Humpback Whales, females and calves, in Twofold Bay (Eden) and off Green
Cape Lighhouse (Ben Boyd NP). At one of my favourite spots in South East
Forests National Pk (between Cooma and Bega) we saw/heard Black-faced
Monarch, Olive Whistler, Rufous Fantail, Pilotbird,
Satin Flycatcher, Crescent Honeyeater, a flock of 20 Gang-gang
Cockatoos and an immature Collared Sparrowhawk in dense temperate
rainforest thicket. This is the same spot I saw Pink and Rose Robins over
Easter. Pilotbirds were also heard along Bonang Road (Errinundra Plateau)
and at least 3 in coastal scrub by Point Hicks Lighthouse (Croajingalong
NP) and a possible Olive Whistler heard from the car along Pt Hicks Road.
The profusion of Gippsland Waratah in flower on the Errinundra Plateau
was spectacular too.

Eden Harbour had the usual Pacific
Gulls plus White-bellied Sea-Eagles and Whistling Kites
fishing metres off the jetties. Single Cattle Egrets were seen in
weird spots such as circling over Eden Harbour and over Green Cape Lighhouse
looking lost, but probably migrating.

On our travels we counted 13 separate
Bell Miner colonies (including one inside the motor inn grounds
at Orbost). We saw a flock of 6 Little Corellas at Bega, Cattle
and Great Egrets and Royal Spoonbills were seen at various
sites and Sea-Eagles, Wedge-tailed Eagles, Kestrels, Black-shouldered
Kites, Whistling Kites and Swamp Harriers were all seen. Large
flocks of Bar-tailed Godwit and Eastern Curlew at Lake Curalo
and Mallacoota Inlet. Tawny-crowned Honeyeater at Green Cape and
Southern Emu-wren at the Mallacoota Heathland Walk. A Rose Robin
at Mallacoota Foreshore Reserve by Betka Beach and Wonga Pigeons
were common roadside along Bonang Road below the Errinundra Plateau and
at several other sites. A Jacky Winter at Lake Tyers Beach. Fairy
Martins nesting near Delegate River as well as an Australian Shelduck
flying overhead.

At beautiful deserted Secret Beach (Mallacoota)
we found a Hooded Plover, a pair of dark morph Eastern Reef Egrets
and a pair of Chestnut Teal on the beach. Another pair of Hooded
Plovers were later seen at the Betka River Estuary with Pied Oystercatchers.
Shining Bronze-Cuckoo in thicket at Mallacoota Heathland Walk (among
others), Brush Cuckoo at Bull Creek (Ben Boyd NP) and Fan-tailed
Cuckoos everywhere.

Brown Gerygones and Lewins
Honeyeaters were present in every patch of warm temperate rainforest
we visited including Double Creek Nature Trail (Mallacoota), Bemm River
Rainforest Walk and Drummer Rainforest Walk (near Alfred NP).


Cheers
Marnix Zwankhuizen
Ngunnawal ACT


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