 We headed to Port Fairy for a pelagic trip in early Feb, and we managed to visit some new places. Here are some of them... INVERLEIGH NATURE CONSERVATION RESERVEWe headed down the M1 from Melbourne, and just past Geelong the Navi system sent us off the main drag and on to the Hamilton Highway. Always up for an s\adventrue, we went along, as you do. Inverleigh was one very gorgeous town en route - cutesie cafes and shops - so we'll visit that properly one day. But we spied the Inverleigh Nature Conservation Reserve on the radar and decided that was the best lunch spot. The weather was windy and rather inclement but we ploughed on. We found a lovely spot with a pond, and surrounded by trees, and many bush birds. Red-rumped parrots and grey fantails were there in crowds, and we also spotted a bronzewing pigeon. KILLARNEY BEACHWe sallied forth to Point Fairy and made a quick visit to Killarney beach in the afternoon - you never know what might be lurking in the plover department. On this occasion, a hooded plover, and some sanderlings braved the windy beach.
TOWER HILL WILDLIFE RESERVE We'd made a quick visit here once before, and the weather was poorly. Still windy this time, but much more amenable to doing a couple of the walks. Tower Hill is an inactive volcano so the walks were sufficiently challenging. We did the walk to the Last Volcano - steep in parts but worth it. As we drove into the Reserve we saw what we are pretty sure was a beautiful fire tail, but no photos...so we were on the lookout. No luck, but we did film a couple of eastern greys (kangaroos) performing their toilette which was fun. The Lava Tongue walk was an easy circuit - and quite rewarding birdwise: we saw a collared sparrow hawk, a golden whistler, many silvereyes and a red-browed finch. Pretty good going. Back in the carpark, koalas were providing entertainment for the young and the young at heart - we made a little clip which you might enjoy. Still no beautiful fire tail...maybe next time. WAY OFF SHORESunday was the pelagic trip, a boat ride way out to see the sea birds. You can see the details in our pelagic blog. But just for fun, here are some of the magnificent birds seen out there... BUDJ BIMWe were very keen to head inland about 60 kilometres to visit this national park, now under indigenous management, and previously known as Mt Eccles. The entry area is very nicely organised with substantial sheltered barbecues and really good camp sites set among the bush. We have never visited such a spotless and modern amenities block (cold showers only when we were there). It's always good to be greeted by a magnificent bird on arrival, and this pied currawong did the honours that day.  This is another extinct volcano, and we headed off to walk down into the crater and around Lake Surprise. It was delightful. The walk is not taxing but it is uneven in parts, so steady and surefooted mobility is required. We were delighted to capture a few favourite birds: a juvenile eastern rosella, a kingfisher, a crimson rosella, a yellow-faced honeyeater, kookaburras, silvereyes, wrens and a good many ducks on the lake. There's much more to see at Budj Bim, and we will return. One of our favourite encounters on the walk around Lake Surprise was this echidna - snuffling in the dirt for tasty morsels, making sure those big spikes are on full display to ward off its enemies, what's not to like? One last thing: we found this book in the Port Fairy Visitor Information Centre - Coastal guide to nature and history 3 Western Victoria: Covering Point Lonsdale to the South Australian Border by Graham Patterson. It's really informative on the human and geographical history of the coast, and makes a great addition if you're meandering about down this part of the world.
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