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Over the last month I've had the opportunity to
visit the above area on a number of occasions. Surrounded by the Mt. Ida, McIvor
Range, Spring Plains, Argyle and One Eye Box-Ironbark Forests, it is also the
gateway to Derrinal Pool at the north eastern end of Lake Eppalock.
Heathcote, a survivor from the goldrush days, is a
thriving country town situated between Melbourne and Echuca or Bendigo. The
bakery is a 'must stop' with the added advantage of the Tourist Information
Centre across the road where maps of the above forests are freely
available.
Onto the birds:
Based on the southern side of Derrinal Pool and
being required to travel to Heathcote, normal route would be along the
Derrinal Pool/Mia Mia road and the McIvor Highway to Heathcote.
The Derrinal Pool road cuts through the One Eye
Forest, so rather than travel along the bitumen, I would take the One Eye Track
through the forest which ultimately (2k's) rejoins the McIvor Highway just north
of Heathcote. It was probably a short cut to Heathcote, but took me 10 times
longer!!
On an early morning visit, a Crested Bellbird
enthralled me. Being ventriloquial, they can be rather difficult to find.
I've also seen these in the Springs Plains Forest.
Other birds included (all visits) White-winged
Chough, White-browed Babbler, Grey Shrike-thrush. Yellow-tufted, Black-chinned,
White-naped & Fuscous Honeyeater, Black-faced Cuckoo Shrike, Superb
Fairy-wren, Varied Sittella, Galah, Little Eagle overhead, Crimson &
Eastern Rosella, Striated Pardalote, Rufous Whistler, Common Bronzewing, Crested
Pigeon, Brown & Striated Thornbill, Willie Wagtail, Diamond
Firetail, Kookaburra, Grey Fantail, Brown Treecreeper. Also
seen small black wallaby (I've always called them Swamp Wallaby, but I
think that has now changed) Bearded Dragon and Echidna plus many
kangaroos.
Derrinal Pool and surrounds (36 53'44" 144
35'38") Australian Shelduck, Black-fronted & Red-kneed Dotterel, Great
Egret, Grey Teal, Wood & Black Duck, Black-winged Stilt, Pelican,
Darters (many) Silver Gull, Crested Tern, White-faced Heron, Black, Little Black
& Little Pied Cormorant, White-breasted & Dusky Woodswallow, Welcome
Swallow, Red-rumped Parrot, Magpie, Magpie-lark, Masked Lapwing, Little Corella,
Richards Pipit, Yellow-billed Spoonbill, White-plumed Honeyeater, Galah,
Black-shouldered Kite, Noisy Miner and around the house, New Holland
Honeyeater.
Along the Derrinal Pool Road, the dry creek bed of
Wild Duck Creek ( 36 54'40" 144 37' 21")added White-browed Scrubwrens
& Red-browed Firetails foraging amongst the fallen timber. This creek fills
when Lake Eppalock is somewhere near full, which it isn't at the moment.
The receding water is providing delicacies on the mudflats of Derrinal
Pool.
Also along the Derrinal Pool Road, at a dam
west of Hookes Road, a large mixed flock (300- 400) of Long-billed Corellas, Sulphur-Crested Cockatoos & a few
Galahs feeding on the seeding grasses and/or bathing and drinking from the
dam. As one, they took off with a deafening screech. A Wedge-tailed
Eagle circling overhead had them going around in circles. The Eagle
thought it all a bore and flew off towards the lake. Interestingly, the
Wood Duck on the dam remained on the water, obviously feeling safer there then
in the air.
Happy to provide further info to anyone
interested.
Something to read on this hot, humid day in
Melbourne. That is, if you're not interested in cricket or
tennis.
Happy birding
Marlene
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