Day 10, Sydney to Warrnambool

Date: Monday October 16th 2023

Project: Eastern Australian Waterbird Survey

Observers: John Porter (NSW DPE), Paul Wainwright (SA DEW)

Trainee: Scott Henshall (Vic GMA)

Pilot: Thomas Clark

Departing Sydney we headed south to Avon and Cordeaux dams near Wollongong. Although almost full they have very little shallow habitat that many water birds prefer and we counted low number of piscivorous species including darters, Little Black and Pied Cormorants.  From here we headed to Lake Illawarra and found moderate numbers of Black Swans, cormorants, Pelicans, Silver Gulls and terns. Out next target was a series of coastal lagoons and lakes south of Narooma, which held low to moderate numbers of cormorants, egrets, herons and Pelicans. The weather took a turn for the worse and we soon found ourselves flying into a strong and gusty southerly with heavy rain showers which made the counting extremely challenging.

Cordeaux Dam

Surveying Cordeaux Dam

Surveying Avon Dam

Into the storm, South of Narooma

Dramatic storm clouds ahead of the storm, south of Narooma

Counting over Cuttagee Lake

After refuelling at Merimbula we continued south down the New South Wales and Victorian coastline, we passed whales leaping from the white capped waves, pods of dolphins and fur seals lounging on the rocks. We continued on past Mallacoota and Lakes Entrance to Seaspray before counting over a series of coastal lagoons around Jack Smith game reserve. Flooding rains have topped up water levels and we counted thousands of Grey Teal and lower numbers of Chestnut Teal, Black Duck, Mountain Duck and Australasian Shoveler. 

Surveying Curdies Inlet

Heading west to Leongatha we continued to count along swollen watercourses and small dams brimming with water, finding moderate numbers of waterbirds, especially Grey Teal, coot, Hardhead, herons, egrets and Black Duck.

Continuing west we count around Phillip Island and as usual are there is a small colony of White Ibis and we find hundreds of Cape Barren Geese on the freshwater wetlands and adjacent grassy paddocks.

Heading west from Aireys Inlet we count over a series of small dams and reservoirs with low numbers of waterbirds, passing across the top of the Otway Ranges and on to the green dairy pastures around Curdies Inlet and Warrnambool. We had plenty of work to do here with lots of dams to count, most of them with moderate to high numbers of Grey Teal, Chestnut Teal, Mountain Duck, Black Duck, Hardhead and Black Swans.

Finally we make it into Warrnambool, the end of a very bumpy and demanding days counting!