Just returned yesterday from a few days wander through western Vic. Reasonable, although sometimes drizzly weather. Not an enormous amount of bird life, the visit confirming that the western part of the state is really one great expanse of farmland, with scant slivers of natural vegetation. At dusk on the first night (Sunday) after a longish drive I was standing on the shores of Lake Bolac, ominously, if pretentiously, self-labelled as the ‘Aquatic Sports Capital of Australia’. Fortunately no actual sportspersons in evidence. In the fading light a few Musk Duck could be seen bobbing about, and a Group (collective name for Grebes) of Great-cresteds was close to the eastern shore. The next morning they were widely spread, only the original 6 being located. On the weather side of the lake 2 avocets were sieving the dull yellow wave-wash for tiny ship-wrecked flying insects. Speaking of insects, it was interesting to learn from the ABC country program (always a comfort on long drives) that the Diamondback Moth is spreading rapidly due to ‘green bridges’ of weed brassicas that have sprung up with recent rains, and is damaging canola crops.
