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Mount Korong near Wedderburn in central Victoria.

To: "BA email" <>
Subject: Mount Korong near Wedderburn in central Victoria.
From: "simon starr" <>
Date: Tue, 2 Sep 2008 18:54:35 +1000

Hi everyone,
Tried to send this before but it didn't seem to go through.  Sorry if this is a 
duplicate.
I visited Mt. Korong ( this is different to the nearby Mt Kerang ) in central 
Victoria this week.  Having lived in the region for 15 years, and driven past 
this granite outcrop too many times to mention, this is the first time I've 
spent a decent amount of  birding time there.  I realise how lucky I am to have 
so many great birding areas on my doorstep that I still haven't checked them 
all out.
Its not a site I have heard much mention of before so thought I'd share the 
experience.
It is situated just north of the Calder Highway between Inglewood and 
Wedderburn, and is the most impressive of the many granite outcrops around ( 
almost a mountain ),
however nearly all of the box woodlands around it's base have been cleared for 
agriculture. Amongst the large expanse of granite boulders is a mix of acacia 
shrublands and scattered eucalypts, many of which are very old, hence plenty of 
hollows and Cockatoos. Nice and green at the moment, a perfect early spring day 
and many wattles in full bloom.   Best access is from the Wedderburn-Serpentine 
road where the Major Mitchell trail sign is.  The picnic area is signed to the 
right, this track does a loop right around the whole reserve, my 2WD would only 
go in this anti-clockwise direction to get back to where you've started as 
there is a very steep section once you are nearly back which I could only 
tackle in a descent.
Once you get up a little higher in the rocky scrub the landscape is very 
scenic, though bird diversity is a bit limited ( I'm sure losing much of its 
woodlands has something to do with it).  The birdlife is almost identical to 
"The Granites, Mt Egbert " a little to the north.  Common and widespread are 
White-browed Babblers, Brown Treecreepers, Southern Whiteface, Spiny-cheeked 
Honeyeaters, Cockatoos etc.  Also widespread are the scarcer Gilberts 
Whistlers, Diamond Firetails and Hooded Robins.
Due to the time of year I bumped into 3 sp. of Cuckoo, Horsfield,s Bronze, 
Shining Bronze and Pallid.   Other Honeyeaters included New Holland and 
Singing.  As expected a Wedgie was circling.
In some spots there is a lot of mistletoe on the Deane's Wattles. Nearby 
Mt.Egbert is a regular site for Painted Honeyeater, I see no reason why Mt 
Korong shouldn't attract them also, late spring into mid summer seems best for 
this particular species of mistletoe to be fruiting ( its flowering now ) .
At some point in recent times there has been an extensive fire, and this has 
encouraged a thick regrowth of Deane's Wattle, much more than on other nearby 
hills.  Much of this regrowth is still fairly short but will provide some great 
cover for years to come.
Bee-eaters should return soon and I guess it will be a good site for a number 
of other summer migrants also.
It was worth driving right around to the north side of the highest rocks, a 
great feeling of isolation and some of the nicest habitat.
I'll definately be going back for more !!

Regards,
Simon Starr.
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