Hi Gary,
Try Genoa Peak for the Glossy Blacks. As you drive up the road towards the
carpark at the top of the peak, look in the casurinas by the side of the
road. We have also seen them flying across Betka Road, quite near Mallacoota
township and also flying across the Princes Highway near the NSW border.
The Mallacoota Heathland Walk is worthwhile (Ruth and I saw Ground Parrot
there). Access is from the carpark off Betka Road, just to the north-east of
the bridge over Betka River (or Betka Inlet). After you complete the
Heathland walk, you enter a wooded area - keep following the track until you
get to Betka Road. This wooded area is good for Rose Robin.
In Mallacoota itself, Shady Gully is good - a few tracks wind their way
through the gully. Good for Scarlet Honeyeater and Black-faced Monarch to
name just a couple.
On the rocks at Bastion Point you can sometimes see Eastern Reef Egret. On
four visits last year, we saw the Reef Egret twice. If you backtrack from
Bastion Point and head towards the country club on Nelsons Road you will
reach an intersection where the road becomes gravel (and the surfaced road
heads towards the clubhouse). Follow the gravel road and you'll reach a
small carpark. Park there and walk along the track to the beach. Apart from
the dominant New Holland Honeyeaters, the shrubs here are really good for
Beautiful Firetail.
Shipwreck Creek is a must. Drive all the way along Betka Road (it becomes
gravel and then a dirt track through the forest). Follow this until you
reach Shipwreck Creek campsite. Park there and you'll need to head out to
the heathland. As you pass through the forest, look for Rose Robins - at one
point last year we had 5 of them around us. The heath is good for Ground
Parrot, Tawny-crowned Honeyeater, Crescent Honeyeater and Southern Emu-wren.
Go to Gipsy Point - in particular, head to the carpark at the Gipsy Point
Lodge private boat ramp. If you're lucky you could manage to see a Striated
Heron from the bank here. Keep a good lookout for Azure Kingfishers, there
are plenty there. Now take the Point Walk from the carpark to the point
itself. Keep an eye and an ear out for Scarlet Honeyeaters - typically once
you get past the area with the Bell Miners. Also keep an eye out here for
White-headed Pigeon and Topknot Pigeon. This area can be good for Powerful
Owl and Sooty Owl too. If you didn't manage to see a Striated Heron from the
bank, then take a boat tour with Captain John (can't remember his last
name). You should be able to get a brochure from any of the accommodation or
information centres - if not, his boats depart from the public boat ramp
near Gipsy Point Lakeside Resort (there's a phone number on the side of his
boat). Apart from the fact that he knows where the Striated Herons are, he
will also show you the nesting pair of Sea Eagles.
I'm not sure how adventurous you are, but the Black Bittern may still be
around - you need to hire a boat from Ian at Gipsy Point Lodge and head
upstream from the private boat ramp. If you do this, be very careful - the
river is very shallow and it would be easy to get stranded on a sandbank.
The other adventurous activity would be to drive into Howe Flat (you need to
drive into NSW then take Maxwell Road and follow bush tracks to get back
into Victoria and eventually onto Howe Flat). This is probably the one
remaining area in Victoria where you can still see Eastern Bristlebirds. It
is possible to get a boat to Howe Flat from Mallacoota, but you need to walk
for an hour on the other side until you get to Howe Flat track.
Pink Robins may still be around too - keep an eye open for them. Also, the
mosquitos can be terrible, make sure you have your repellent!
Good luck!
Paul Dodd
Docklands, Victoria
-----Original Message-----
From:
On Behalf Of
Sent: Wednesday, 16 March 2011 7:55 PM
To:
Subject: Mallacoota
Greetings all,
Im in Mallacoota for three nights. Ive got Tim Dolbys book but if anyone has
some good local advice id apreciate it. Glossy blacks,
powerful owls and rose robins would be nice!
Regards,
Gary Oliver
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