As well as a good field guide, a birder may carry some or all of the following: 10 by 40 (or 10x42) binoculars, a tripod and telescope, a camera, a GPS for recording latitude and longitude of sightings, topographic maps, a notebook and pen, a device for tweeking up wrens and other small birds plus a backpack with water, nibbles and so forth. To understand the makeup of a twitcher, a dedicated birder who is prepared to travel all over Australia and offshore in search of new birds, have a read of Sea Dooley's wonderful book, The Big Twitch.

 

Downloadable birding site brochures
Apart from Barham-Koondrook, A4-sized brochures can be downloaded from this site on each of the areas mentioned here,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Birding spots in Echuca-Moama

Barmah area

Deniliquin

Gulpa Creek

Kamarooka Forest

Kanyapella and Wyuna

Perricoota Road

Terrick Terrick National

Barham-Koondrook

(These links are for this page, and are not pdf files)

Birding in Echuca & District

Web pages of the Echuca and District Branch of
the Bird Observation and Conservation Australia

 

Good birding spots: Northern Victoria & Southern Riverina

1 Barmah area2 Deniliquin 3 Echuca-Moama
4 Gulpa Creek & Gulpa Island, Mathoura 5 Gunbower Island and Cohuna area
6 Kamarooka Forest 7 Kanyapella & Koyuga 8 Perricoota Road, Moama
9 Terrick Terrick National Park 10 Barham-Koondrook-Tullakool

1 Barmah
Click here to download a pdf file on birding spots of Barmah Forest

It is suggested that you obtain a map of Barmah Forest before attempting this route. The sketch map below is indicative only.

From Moama, head north on the Cobb Highway (Highway 75). About 5km beyond the railway crossing turn off Highway 75 onto the Shepparton-Barmah Road. This turnoff is about 18km from Moama, There is a large sign, ³Shepparton². Note the indigenous tree plantings alongside the Cobb Highway-Barmah Road and on adjoining farmland. Further along, the road cuts through a sandhill which marks the edge of a once larger Barmah Lake. Moira Forest is on your left.

 

Stop One: Reserve alongside Murray River, opposite Barmah Hotel
Cross the Murray into Barmah and turn right into the park opposite the hotel near the bridge. Many birds are attracted by the introduced trees and shrubs of this small reserve. Blue-faced Honeyeater and Eastern Rosella may be observed here. If the nearby Silky Oak (Grevillea robusta) are in flower, they are worth checking out.

Stop Two: Broken Creek.
Take the Picola Road from Barmah Town toward Picola. After about 3km, immediately after crossing Broken Creek (Cemetery Bridge), turn left and follow the creek downstream for about 2.5km, to a locked entry gate into Barmah Forest labelled ³Management Vehicles Only². Stop here alongside the creek. Sometimes a green plant grows on top of the water so that the water resembles a lawn. Around 40 bird species can usually be sighted here over an hour or so, e.g. Diamond Firetail, Purple Swamp Hen, Brown Tree-creeper, Rufous Whistler, White-plumed Honeyeater, Darter, Whistling Kite, Yellow-rumped Thornbill, Striated Thornbill, Yellow (Little) Thornbill, Red-rumped Parrot, yellow form of Crimson Rosella and Little Pied Cormorant. Koalas have been sighted here. The endangered Superb Parrot may be observed nesting in summer. Bushwalkers: it is possible to walk from here along Broken Creek to its confluence with the Murray, near the lakeside camp ground in Barmah State Park.

Stop Three: Baxter's Pit
Return to Barmah-Picola Road, turn left and continue towards Picola. Turn right onto James Bridge Road. Continue along this road until you see a water-filled quarry (Baxter's Pit) on your left. This quarry usually affords excellent birding. Watch for crakes, White-backed Swallow and Red-kneed Dotterel.

In times of wet weather and slippery unsealed roads, end the tour here and return to Echuca-Moama. In June and July, if forest roads are dry, it is recommended that you visit the site of Murray¹s mill instead of Trickey¹s Lane.

Stop Four: Trickey's Lane
Stop Four: Trickey¹s Lane (Trickey¹s Road) Return to the Barmah-Picola Road and turn back toward Barmah. Turn right at the next road, Trickey's Lane. Watch for Grey-crowned Babblers and, if you are visiting between late November through to late January, check the roadside vegetation for Superb Parrots. Stop at Lyles Road, which is the first T-intersection. Grey-crowned Babblers nest in this area. Continue along Trickey¹s Lane, pass Vale Road and turn left at the next road to Trickey¹s Gate. Enter Barmah Forest taking the right fork in the track. Remain on the main track. Note: Trickey¹s Lane is unsuitable for high vehicles such as coaches.

Alternate Stop Four: Murray's Mill (recommended for May and June)
In May and June, a wonderful alternative to Stop 4 is the site of Murray¹s timber mill. Follow the birding route to Stop 3 and then return to the Barmah-Picola Road. Turn right to Picola township. At Picola, turn left (north) at Picola North Road. Follow this bitumen road until it veers right; travel about another kilometre and turn left on to Murray Mill Road or Gulf Road. Cross a cattle grid and stop in the open area, site of Murray¹s old mill. Little remains of the mill.

Many robins are migratory birds, spending time in the Great Dividing Range over summer. In May and June this is good spot to look for them. Birds to look for include Hooded Robin (the male has a black hood), Red-capped Robin (red cap and red breast), Flame Robin (the red on the breast extents right up to the head), Scarlet Robin and Jacky Winter. There¹s also a chance to see Eastern Yellow Robin. Other birds her often include Southern Whiteface, White-throated Tree-creeper, White-plumed Honeyeater, the yellow form of Crimson Rosella, Red-rumped Parrot , White-winged Triller and Diamond Firetail. Drive back to Barmah Town, turn right at the hotel and follow Sandridge Road past the Dharnya Centre to Stop 5.

Stop Five: Steamer Plain
Trickey's Lane ends in a T intersection with Sandridge Road. Turn right and follow the Sandridge Road for just over a kilometre until where it crosses Rat Castle Creek (there are two parallel tracks just prior to the bridge). Leave your car alongside the creek near the fenced koori middens to the left of the road and find a short track which leads to a large plain of Moira Grass (Steamer Plain). The edge of the plain is a good spot for bush birds.

A few decades ago, large areas of the Barmah-Millewa Forest were covered in Moira Grass plains like this one. In late spring, the plain should be flooded. There is another midden on the opposite side of Sandridge Road. Koori groups had three nearby camp sites, one for families, one for single adult males and one for teenagers. Discarded shells and ash formed the mounds we see today. In wet weather, a gate may prevent further travel along Sandridge Road, in which case turn and head for stop 7.

Stop Six: Hut Lake
Return to the Sandridge Road and continue along it for about 3km until the intersection with a track to Hut Lake. Follow Hut Lake track toward the lake (GPS 35š 53 45S; 144š 59 45E). As the track may be wet or rough, a short walk may be necessary. Take your scope, if you have one, to see what waterbirds are on or about Hut Lake. Look for Emu, Black Swan, Grey Teal, Coot, White-faced Heron and Peaceful Dove. Return to Sandridge Road and follow it back toward Barmah.

If access to the lake is not possible due to flooding, go straight to Stop 7.

Note: although this lake is regarded as a drought refuge, it was completely dry in mid 2007.

Stop Seven: Barmah Lake
Follow the Sandridge Road until you see the Dharnya Centre. The interpretive displays in its information building are worth seeing. Toilets are located here. Proceed on for a few hundred metres and turn right to Barmah Lake. Check out the waterbirds on and around the lake. It is also worth walking downstream on the walking track to the confluence with Broken Creek, the watercourse you observed at Stop Two. Keen walkers may wish to follow the walking track alongside the creek and return via the Dharnya Centre (6km). Return to Sandridge Road and turn right. Sandridge Road will take you back to Barmah and Stop One. Cross the Murray into Barmah and turn right into the park opposite the hotel near the bridge.

Barmah Forest in flood (K Stockwell)

Return to Echuca-Moama the way you came or, if you have time and the weather is fine, consider this alternative.

Note: Barmah Lake was dry in mid 2007.

(Original notes by Keith Stockwell; revised by Bev and Alan Curtis, March 2006)

Alternative scenic route to Echuca
Rather than taking the Cobb Highway, it is possible to return to Echuca on an unsealed road through Echuca Regional Park to Stewarts Bridge and then on the sealed Bangarang Road and Goulburn Road to Echuca. To reach Stewarts Bridge, travel toward Shepparton for about 7km; turn right onto an unsealed road (look for small road sign²Stewarts Bridge²; follow the main track through Lower Moira (locality only) and past Madowla Park Sandhill which, despite its stark appearance, often affords good birding. After a few kilometres, the track enters forested country (Echuca Regional Park). Explore one of the right-hand side-tracks to the river for a short break and cross Stewarts Bridge before following directional signs back to Echuca (left onto the sealed Bangarang Road which becomes Goulburn Road).

2 Deniliquin
Click here to download a pdf file on birding spots of Deniliquin (with sketch maps)
Stop One: Island Sanctuary
The Deniliquin area is regarded by some as one of Australia¹s best birding areas. Area One: Island Sanctuary This suggested tour commences at the Island Sanctuary, Cressy Street DENILIQUIN (GPS 35š 32S; 144š 58E). There is a public toilet near the entrance to the reserve and in the parklands opposite the shops. When crossing the bridge to enter the sanctuary, look for platypuses and water rats in the lagoon. Island Sanctuary can also be accessed from the sporting fields to the east of the reserve.

Waterbirds common in the sanctuary include Black Duck, Maned Duck, Grey Teal, Little Pied Cormorant, Little Black Cormorant, White-faced Heron, White-necked Heron, Nankeen Night Heron, Great Egret, Straw-necked Ibis, Australian White Ibis, Yellow-billed Spoonbill, Purple Swamphen and Dusky Moorhen.

Raptors often observed in or over the sanctuary include Black Kite, Whistling Kite and Collared Sparrowhawk.

Common bush birds of the reserve include Peaceful Dove, Galah, Long-billed Corella, Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, Crimson Rosella (yellow), Eastern Rosella, Red-rumped Parrot, Azure Kingfisher, Sacred Kingfisher (Summer), Laughing Kookaburra, Dollarbird (Summer), Brown Tree-creeper, White-throated Treecreeper, Spotted Pardalote, Striated Pardalote, Superb Fairy Wren, White-browed Scrubwren, Weebill, Buff-rumped Thornbill, Yellow Thornbill, Striated Thornbill, Red Wattlebird, Noisy Friarbird, Little Friarbird, Blue-faced Honeyeater, White-plumed Honeyeater, Brown-headed H¹eater, Varied Sittella, Crested Shrike-tit, Golden Whistler (Winter), Rufous Whistler, Grey Fantail, Willie Wagtail, Olive-backed Oriole, Masked Woodswallow, Pied Butcherbird, Magpie, Australian Raven, Little Raven, White-winged Chough, Red-browed Finch, Mistletoebird, Welcome Swallow, Tree Martin, Reed Warbler (Summer), Silvereye, House Sparrow, Rock Dove Blackbird and Starling.

Night birds observed in the reserve include Southern Boobook, Barn Owl and Tawny Frogmouth.

Kangaroos are often observed in the sanctuary. They are able to come and go.

Area Two: Blake Reserve
Drive north-west along Cressy Street , around two roundabouts, until Cressy Street ends at a T-intersection. Turn left into Fowler Street. After two crossroads, you will come to Blake Reserve (GPS 35š 31 25S; 144š 57 15E), a botanic garden of indigenous plants. It is worth spending up to an hour birding in the garden.

The plants on display include Weeping Pittosporum, Eremophila, Senna, Old Man Saltbush, eucalypts, wattles and native grasses.

Many of the bush birds listed above are sometimes observed here. A few waterbirds may be observed on the lake. Often, you will observe some birds which you may not have observed in Island Sanctuary. In summer, look for the Clamorous Reed Warbler and Little Grass Bird in the reeds on the opposite side of Fowler Street.

Area Three: wetlands
From Blake Reserve, continue along Fowler Street, turning left into Ochtertyre Street at the T-intersection. Continue on around the roundabout and turn right at the stadium into Wirraway Drive (Cemetery Road). On your right is Rotary Park. This may be a suitable spot for a meal break or toilet stop. Continue on along Wirraway Drive, crossing a canal, until you see a cemetery on your left. The area bordered by the cemetery, rice mill, abbatoir and saleyards (GPS 35š 33¹S; 144š 56¹E) is a great area for waterbirds, including waders. Check out the ponds opposite the cemetery for such birds as Black-tailed Native Hen and Eurasian Coot.

Drive half way around the block and access the wetlands near the truck wash in Saleyards Road. The wetland here is a good spot to look for waders, including Red-kneed Dotterel and Black-fronted Dotterel. Look for the White-fronted Chat. In summer, some migratory waders may be observed here.

Check out the reeds in the pond nearest the rice mill for Baillons Crake and other waterbirds.

Baillons Crake (D Ong)

It is worth returning to Wirraway Road (Cemetery Road) and driving along it to the south-west for about two kilometres. immediately before it enters private property, look for Banded Lapwing in the paddocks adjoining the road.

Many ducks and other waterbirds can often be observed on the settlement ponds of the sewerage treatment works at the south-western end of Macauley Street. Enter at your own risk. It is possible to observe over 80 bird species in a day within the town of Deniliquin. In summer, migratory birds may enable you to attain an even higher total.

Our Deniliquin brochure contains sketch maps.

3 Echuca-Moama
Click here to download a pdf file on birding spots of Echuca-Moama

Horseshoe Lagoon, Moama. From Echuca, cross the iron bridge to Moama. On your right is an elevated walkway through the tree tops. Once over the bridge, turn right over the railway and immediately turn right again to reach the start of the wooden walkway. The walkway crosses a horseshoe-shaped lagoon, beyond which is a swampy area that supports many water birds. Thickets of wattle alongside the Murray afford excellent habitat for bush birds. Unless the river is in flood, you can do a circuit walk on well-maintained walking tracks. About 45 species can often be observed over the course of two hours.. A colour brochure with a map is available from the adjoining Council offices.
 

Victoria Park and Murray Pines Sandhill Protection Zone. Follow the Scenic Drive which commences near the north end of Dickson Street. After about a kilometre, there are some lagoons on the left and these are worth checking out when they contain water. The drive ends near Echuca High School. At the ³back² of the school is Murray Pines Sandhill Conservation Zone. In wetter years, this fenced sandhill is alive with birds. A walking loop can be assessed from the main entry gate near the school or via a style on the far side of the fenced area. White-winged Choughs have a large nest nearby. In summer, Rainbow Bee-eaters nest here. Their nests are tunnels dug into the sides of sandy slopes. Dollarbirds have been observed in this vicinity. It's a great spot to look for thornbills, including Buff-rumped, Little (Yellow), Yellow-rumped and Striated.

Campaspe River from near Echuca Cemetery to Confluence with Murray River. There is an unsealed walking track through Red Gums and Reed Beds, alongside the Campaspe River from near Echuca Cemetery (off Warren Street) to the Murray. Leave your vehicle near the cemetery (where Rainbow Bee-eaters usually nest during summer). Walk along Holman Street and cut across to the riverside track. This walk is great on a warm summer evening or around noon on a cool winter's day. Over 30 species can often be sighted over a few hours. In summer, look for a Dollarbird. The walk can be done on a warm summer evening or around noon on a cold winter's day. Over 30 species can usually be sighted within a few hours. There is a good chance of seeing Dollar Birds in summer.

Campaspe River, Echuca
The west side of the Campaspe River between the Warren Street footbridge and Ogilvie Avenue also affords good birding opportunities. There is a sealed bike/walking track and also unsealed tracks alongside the river. Revegetation works are under way to enhance the quality of remnant bushland.

Banyula Forest, Echuca
Banyula Forest is an area of red gum forest alongside the Murray in Echuca, upstream of the Information Centre. It is best accessed via an unsealed track which leaves the junction of Pakenham Street, Goulburn Road and Sutton Street. Follow the straight unsealed road to the Murray and then stroll alongside the Murray. Paths lead in various directions.

Five Mile Reserve (Moama State Forest)
About eight kilometres along Perricoota Road, Moama, the roadside stock route widens and extends to the Murray. This reserve, known locally as ³The Five Mile², supports some old box and red gum trees and the under-storey is regenerating.

 

4 Gulpa Creek and Gulpa Island, Mathoura
Click here to download a pdf file on birding spots of Gulpa Creek
Mathoura is located about 45km north of Echuca-Moama (about 40km south of Deniliquin) along Highway 75. Consider calling in at the Mathoura Visitor Information Centre for a brochure on the Gulpa Creek Walk Trail (Stop 1). There are toilets alongside the Information Centre.

8 Perricoota Road, Moama
Click here to download a pdf file on birding spots along Perricoota Road and Perricoota Forest
Note: there is a map in the downloadable brochure.

Perricoota Road runs from Moama to Barham. Murray Shire has produced a coloured brochure on Perricoota Road Tourist Drive. Available from local tourist information centres and Murray Shire offices, this brochure provides information on holiday parks and cottages, motels, restaurants, wineries, clubs, Perricoota Station and reserves. If you wish to explore Perricoota Forest or spots off Perricoota Road, the following 1:50,000 maps are recommended: 7825 Moama; 7826 Mathoura, 7726 Keely and 7726 Barham. Stock Routes allow drovers to move cattle and sheep along roads. In places, there are Travelling Stock Reserves, wider roadside areas where cattle can be held overnight. Along Perricoota Road, are TSRs locally known as the Five Mile (adjoining Moama State Forest), the Ten Mile and the 12 Mile. There is also one near Womboota Village. Because few mobs are driven along the stock routes these days, there is much regeneration of the vegetation along Perricoota Road and in the TSRs. The TSRs along Perricoota Road now provide good habitat for many bird species, including some which are classified as endangered by some States, e.g. Brown Treecreeper, Diamond Firetail and Grey-crowned Babbler. In places, Gold Dust Wattle (Acacia acinacea) is regenerating well. At the Five Mile, there are sometimes drifts of Everlasting Daisies and Drumsticks. Native pines grow near the 12 Mile.

On the northern outskirts of Moama, turn off the Cobb Highway (B75) into Perricoota Road.

Stop One: Kilkerin Lakes and Rich River Lake

After a few kilometres is a turnoff on your right (24 Lane) to the Rich River Golf Club. Take this turnoff and check the birds on the two lakes between Perricoota Road and the entrance to the Golf Club. Birds usually seen on the lakes include Pelican, Purple Swamp Hen, Dusky Moorhen, Black Swan, Black Duck, Coot, Wood Duck and Black-fronted Dotterel and, in summer, a number of waders may be observed.

Stop Two: Tataila Lane

Continue on past the Golf Club entrance and turn right into Tataila Lane. The plantation alongside the Golf Club often supports a number of honeyeaters. Black Honeyeater, White-plumed Honeyeater, Brown-headed Honeyeater, Singing Honeyeater and Spiny-checked Honeyeater have all been observed along Tataila Lane, in the plantation. See what you can find and then return to Perricoota road and continue travelling west.

 

Stop Three: Five Mile Reserve
Located about 7km north-west of Moama between Perricoota Road and the Murray River, Moama State Forest (Five Mile Reserve) is part of a travelling stock route that parallels Perricoota Road but which is wider here. As fewer and fewer mobs of cattle are herded along the road, regeneration has taken place. Downstream of the boat ramp,alongside the Murray, in a thicket of red gum and wattles, a wide variety of birds can usually be found. Stop here and search for Varied Sitella, Brown Treecreeper, White-browed Treecreeper, Buff-rumped Thornbill, Cinnamon-rumped Thornbill, Yellow-rumped Thornbill, Striated Thornbill, Buff-rumped Thornbill, Yellow (Little) Thornbill, Zebra Finch, Red-capped Robin, Diamond Firetail, Red-browed Finch, Restless Flycatcher, Jacky Winter, White-winged Chough and Red-rumped Parrot. Bush Stone Curlews have been heard calling here at dusk. Continue walking alongside the Murray until you come to a lake. Check this out for water birds and return to your vehicle on the higher ground between the Murray and Perricoota Road. Check the saltbush and grass out for Red-browed Finch and Diamond Firetail.

Red-browed Finch ~ often seen at the Five Mile (D Ong)

Stop Four: Ten Mile Reserve
About 13km (9 miles) along Perricoota Road is another wider section of the Travelling Stock Route. This is an excellent spot to search for Grey-crowned Babbler as well as the bush birds listed above. This reserve is on the opposite side of the road to the Murray and some distance away from the river.

Stop Five: Wetland opposite Perricoota Woolshed
Another good spot along Perricoota Road is the swamp and box country opposite Perricoota Woolshed, near the turnoff to Perricoota Forest. Look for Diamond Firetail, Hooded Robin, waterbirds) as well as the birds listed for Stop 3. Continue on your journey, noting the roadside plantings (some a result of direct seeding by Moama and Green Fully Landcare Groups).

Stop Six: Womboota Village
Continue along Perricoota Road until you reach Womboota Village. The arboretum at Womboota village is worth checking out. In winter, look for Red-capped Robin and Flame Robin in the adjoining fields. The Old Schoolhouse Pottery and Winery are worth checking out. Some distance beyond the village is another turnoff to Perricoota Forest.

Stop Seven: Green Gully
Continue along Perricoota Road beyond the end of the bitumen and stop in a saltbush-covered depression, Green Gully. Look for a huge Wedgetailed Eagle nest. In summer, there is a chance of seeing chats here.

Turn around for your return journey. Ignore the turnoff into Perricoota Forest as this is a day's outing in itself , best done from February to early May.

Stop Eight: Benarca State Forest
East of Perricoota Forest, between Perricoota Road and the Murray River, is a small forest reserve worth exploring, Benarca Forest. The endangered Sandalwood Tree is still found on a sandhill here. Access is via McKindlay Road, just west of McKindlay¹s indigenous plant nursery. If there are no noisy boats on the river here, the forest entrance usually affords excellent birding.

Keep an eye out for McKindlay's Road, which is located just west of McKindlay's Riverine Indigenous Plant Nursery. Turn toward the Murray and follow the road for a few hundred metres, past a paddock which may contain ostriches, until you see the entrance gate into Benarca State Forest. Stop alongside the Murray prior to passing through the gate. If there are no speed boats plying the Murray, this is usually a prime birding spot. If time permits, you may wish to explore Benarca Forest before returning to Moama. The best birding spot in Benarca Forest is the fenced sandhill. White-browed Babblers live in the fenced enclosure.

A day in Perricoota Forest
It is recommended that you obtain the following 1:50,000 NSW topographic maps before attempting this drive: Moama, Mathoura and Keely.
To reach Perricoota Forest from Moama, drive 21km along Perricoota Road (refer to 1:50,000 maps). En route, you may wish to stop at the Five Mile Reserve (8 km from Moama on your left) and at the wetland to the north of the Perricoota Woolshed.

Immediately past the Perricoota Woolshed, turn left on to an unsealed road.
After 8.8km (29.8km from Moama), turn left off River Road into the forest. Immediately after passing over a grid (33km from Moama) turn left and continue on until you see a billabong. The wetlands here are worth exploring. Retrace your journey back to River Road and turn left. After about 42.5km, turn left into Lock Road. It is worth stopping along this track. The views of the Murray River and the birding are usually good here.
Return to River Road to continue your journey through the forest.. It may be worth birding in some of the less-disturbed bush alongside the road. About 59km from Moama is one of several tracks (lines and arrows are painted on trees) which lead to the Murray. You may wish to drive along or walk along this track to the Murray. This and other tracks in the vicinity are bordered by everlasting daisies, Dwarf Cherry (Exocarpus), Red Gum and, on higher ground, Box trees. Some tracks end at sandy beaches. Return to River Road and continue on past Prices and Penny Royal roads.
About 70km from Moama, turn right onto Belbins Road. You are now on your way back to Moama. Slow before the intersection with Corio Road as the surface is loose on the bend. Watch for emus. After 82km, cross a channel. This is often a good birding spot.
Two kilometres further on the track passes a house (³Lovely Gums²). Exit through the gates and drive straight ahead along Lower Thule Road. When it contains water, a wetland on your right supports lots of birds. Turn right at Perricoota Road. After a while the bitumen resumes. Follow Perricoota Road back to Moama. Alternatively, follow the signs to Bunaloo and return to Moama via Thyra Road.

9 Terrick Terrick National Park
Click here to download a pdf file on birding spots of Terrick Terrick National Park

Click here to download a bird list for Terrick Terrick National Park

Travel west from Echuca-Moama on Echuca-Mitiamo Road(or alternatively on Mt Terricks Road) to Mitiamo.

Terrick Terrick national Park is located about 50km west of Echuca and about 3km north of Mitiamo. On the outskirts of Mitiamo, look for Brolgas: a pair is occasionally seen alongside Bendigo Creek or on the football oval. In wetter years, check out depressions and dams for birds such as Whistling Duck, Black-winged Stilt and Black-tailed Native Hen.

From the crossroads in Mitiamo, drive north on the Sylvaterre-Timms Lake Road for about four km into the National Park and turn right at the Park sign onto Cemetery (Picnic Ground) Track.

Stop One: corner of Picnic Track and Link Track
Picnic Track Entrance Collect a map from the nearby pamphlet box. Check out the bush along Link Track (east of the pamphlet box) for bush birds, e.g. Red-capped and Hooded Robins (and, in winter, Flame Robin), thornbills, honeyeaters, Diamond Firetail, Crested Shrike Tit, Eastern Rosella and Varied Sitella. Diamond Firetails nest here in late spring/¹summer and decorate their nests with Everlastings.

Terrick Terrick National Park supports Victoria's largest stand of native White Cypress Pine, meaning parts of the park have a European rather than Australian appearance.

A pair of Hooded Robins ~ often observed in bushland alongside Link Track (D Ong)

Drive alongside the boundary fence on Picnic Track until you reach a T-intersection. Turn right to the cemetery.

Stop Two: Mitiamo Cemetery
Drive alongside the boundary fence on Picnic Track. Keep an eye out for Australian Ringneck Parrots. When you reach a T-intersection, turn right to the cemetery. Less common plant species survive immediately to the east of the cemetery, e.g. Hakea, Hop Bush, Drooping She-oak, Buloke and Sandalwood. These plants, in turn, support a number of endangered and bush birds. Look for White-browed Babbler, wood-swallows, robins and Jacky Winter. It is suggested that you walk outside of the cemetery, along the eastern fence until the south-eastern corner. Look for Babblers, Mistletoe Bird and Peaceful Dove. The cemetery is at the edge of the park, close to farmland. Such peripheral zones are often rich in bird species

Stop Three: Mitiamo Rock (Mt Terrick)
Retrace your route to the T intersection but continue along Picnic Track to the well-kept picnic ground at the base of Mitiamo Rock (Mt Terrick). There are toilets and tables here. Brown Tree-creepers and Tree Martins live in the picnic ground. Mistletoe Birds often feed on nearby Ballart. Near the start of the walking track to the summit (95m above sea level), look for Gilberts Whistler, Southern Whiteface, Ringneck Parrot, White-winged Chough, Grey Shrike Thrush and robins. Taking care, the Rock can be climbed relatively easily and allows great views across the plains of northern Victoria to Pyramid Hill, Mount Hope and Kow Swamp.

Gilberts Whistler ~ often seen in shrubbery alongside the track to the top of Mitiamo Rock (D Ong)

There are native wells in the rock about a hundred metres west of the walking track. A cross country walk from the here due west toward Allen Track and Link Track will take you through a thick understorey of Olearia. This is a good spot to look for Painted Button Quail.

Stop Four: Base of a Riegal Rock
Return to the Mitiamo-Timms Lake Road and drive north for about five km. Turn right onto Marlow Track and follow it for about two km where there are some aboriginal rock wells on your right, due south of Riegal Rock. The wells and the base of Riegal Rock (Byrne Hill) often afford good birding. Look for raptors, including Little Eagle, Brown Falcon, Kestrel, Goshawk. Occasionally, the Black Falcon is observed here. Each year, Wedgetailed Eagles nest in the district.

Stop Five: Eastern Boundary of the National Park
Drive back west along Marlow Track, turning south at Sylvaterre - Timms Lake Road and on to the next major intersection. Turn left onto Mologa-Echuca Road and continue to the eastern boundary fence. Stop here. Tracks lead north and south. Robins, flycatchers and Southern Whiteface are often seen on the fences, particularly in winter when southerly or westerly winds are blowing. Grey-crowned Babblers sometimes frequent this area.

Stop Six: Fabians Paddock
Continuing east on the Mologa-Echuca Road, you come to the Mitiamo-Kow Swamp Road. If you turn left and drive for 4km, at Regal Road junction, you reach the southerly paddocks of the Park¹s indigenous grasslands. A further 3.5km along the road, on your right, is the old Davies homestead. One of the best grassland paddocks is ³Fabians², on the south side of Leahys Ferris Road.

If travelling back to Echuca, you might drive south on the Mitiamo-Kow Swamp Road.

Various side tracks lead down to Bendigo Creek which is lined with Black Box, Red Gum and Lignum. Birding is often good alongside the creek.

Drive on Mitiamo-Kow Swamp Road to the eastern extension of Mologa-Echuca Road (called Hooper Road). Turn east here and then turn left at Mt Terricks Road. After a few kilometres, the bitumen begins and the road leads you to Echuca.

About Terrick Terricks Grasslands
Following the purchase of an adjoining 1262 hectare property, which is covered in native grasses and which contains more Plains Wanderers than any area of comparable size in Victoria means the park's status has been upgraded from a State Park to a National Park. The acquisition is from the north-east corner of the old State Park to Bendigo Creek and beyond.

The addition means Terrick Terrick National Park has the largest native grassland area of any Victorian conservation park, and protects several species of plant which are rare and threatened in the region, e.g. Annual Buttons, Pepper Grass, Bottle Bluebush, Fragrant Leech Orchid, Murray Swainson Pea, Deane's Wattle and Shiny Correa.

The creek area includes Lignum (a thin-leafed shrub which provides protection for small birds) and Red Gum.

Before the large new addition, this park covered an area of 2,500 hectares. Additions have increased the size to about 3,850 hectares. Sheep will continue to lightly graze the grasslands area to help keep introduced grasses at bay and to encourage the growth of native grasses, and maintaining conditions which are favourable for the endangered Plains Wanderer. The grasslands were farmed by the Davies family on a low-input basis, grazing stock at conservative levels, from the early 1900s for nearly 100 years. They felt no need to add super phosphate, herbicides and other chemicals. Fortunately for animals such as the Plains Wanderer and the Hooded Scaley-foot, and plants such as Plains Leek-orchid and Annual Buttons, the owners did not use fertilisers or plough the land for cropping. Rather, they preferred a conservative approach. No fewer than 27 of the 1,200 indigenous plants recorded for the property are of significance.

Annual Buttons was believed to be extinct until discovered growing on the grasslands. Wildflowers on the grassland are at their best from late August to November. Relatively few birds live on the grasslands.

Plains Wanderer
The grassland area of Terrick Terrick National Park supports Victoria¹s largest known colony of Plains Wanderer. The Plains Wanderer resembles Button Quail. It is a fastidious bird, requiring native grasses and daisies tall enough to conceal it from predators but with lower or bare patches.

Its plumage offers excellent camouflage. A Parks Victoria believes that over 100 individuals of this species live within the Park. The public are asked not to drive about on the grassland as this may destroy the conservation values which the Park aims to protect. There are no walking tracks on this section of the park and boundary fences are maintained.

The grassland section also supports Victoria¹s largest-known colony of Fat-tailed Dunnarts and the endangered Hooded Scaley-foot, a legless lizard which grows up to 450mm in length.

Inland and endangered birds
Inland and endangered birds likely to be observed in the Park include Gilbert's Whistler, Ringneck Parrot, Cockatiel, Diamond Firetail, Grey-crowned Babbler, White-browed Babbler and Brown Tree Creeper. Painted and Black Honeyeaters and Chestnut-crowned Babblers have been sighted here, on occasions, in Eremophila plants just west of the railway crossing at Mologa.

Toilets and tables are available in the Park¹s picnic ground at in Mitiamo. There is a store in Mitiamo.

The best seasons of the year to visit the Park are Autumn and Spring. Mid summer can be very hot.

(by Keith Stockwell; revised by Peter Allan, March 2006)

10 Barham-Koondrook-Tullakool

It is difficult to find any 1:25,000 or 1:50,000 map which adequately covers the whole of this cross-border area. The Region 20 CFA Rural Directory is possibly the best reference but fails to name many forestry tracks. Unlike the nine areas mentioned above, we do not have a downloadable brochure on this region.

Good birding spots around Barham and Koondrook:

1. Clump Bend, Murray River Reserve, Gunbower Island.
Look for Gilbert Whistler in the lignum and Grey-crowned Babbler. Ground scratchings (platelets) indicate the presence of Painted Button Quail.

2. Bushland surrounds of Barham Golf CLub.
Whilst remaining on public land, look for the Bush Stone Curlews which are often observed under Black Box trees close to the Barham-Moulamein Road or under Box trees at the 'back' of the adjacent cemetery.

3. Thomas Road.
Miller Road leaves the Barham-Moulamein Road about 24.5km north of Barham. After several kilometres, there is a bend in the road and it becomes Thomas Road. Drive slowly along Thomas Road to the T intersection with Swan Hill Road, looking for Banded Lapwing, White-winged Fairy Wren and Blue-winged Parrot.

4. Tullakool Evaporative Ponds
There is an observation platform located alongside the Barham-Moulamein Road about 35km north of Barham. It overlooks a pond of salty water which has been pumped from underground to lower the water table. A wide range of water birds can often be observed,m e.g. Pink-eared Duck, Shelduck, Chestnut Teal and Pelican.

Turn east onto the Burraboi Road for about 2.5km and look for waders and water birds on the ponds. You should not enter the property without the express permission of Murray Irrigation Ltd. unfortunately, because of concerns about public liability, it is unlikely that permission will be granted, so do the best you can from the roadside verge.

5. Barham Lake and surrounds.
Several species can often be observed around and on the Barham Lake. Virtually alongside the lake is an interested indigenous plant garden. Sewage ponds are also in the vicinity.

 

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