download bass coast bird trails
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Rufous Fantail
Western Port
Summerland
PeninsulaWATTS RD
BACK BEACH RD
RD
BERRYS
RD
RD PH
ILLIP
ISLA
ND
RH
YLL-
NEW
HAVEN
RD
BEACH RD
BEACH
RO
CK
RD
WimbledonHeights
Churchill
Island
SunsetStrip
San Remo
VEN
TNOR
SETTLEMENT RD
COWES-RHYLL
RD
HARBISON RD
CO
GH
LAN
RD
McFEES RD
PYRAM
ID
VENTNOR
GAP
RD
WO
OLAM
AI
BEACH
RD
Cape Liptrap
Coastal
Park
Candowie
Reservoir
Lance Creek
Reservoir
Scr
ew
Wonthaggi Heathland&
Coastal Reserve
Western Port
BASS
HW
Y
SOUTH
H
WY
THE SHUN
TOFF
STANLEY
RD
LOC
H-
WONTHA
GG
I
RD
GUYRD
CORINELLARD
AG
AR
RD
SOLDIERS RD
GRANTVILLE
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GLEN AVLIE
BA
SS
HW
Y
RD
RD
LO
CH
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WONTH
AGGI
RD
GLEN
ALV
IE
RD
WEST CREEKRD
WONTHAGGI
KO
RU
M
BU
RRA- LYNNESRD
BASS
HWY
CAPE
PATERSO
N
IN
VER
LO
CH
-
KO
NG
WA
KR
D
BASS
HWY
BASS
HWY
Anderson
Bass
Grantville
SouthDudley
WONTHAGGI
INVERLOCH
Dalyston
TheGurdies
Woodleigh
Kernot
Krowera
Almurta
Queensferry
Woolamai
GlenForbes
Ryanston
ArchiesCreek
WestCreek
LanceCreek
GlenAlvie
Kongwak
Outtrim
WattleBank
South
Gippsland
Shire
French Island
Cardinia
Shire
Cape Liptrap
Coastal
Park
Bass
Coast
INVERLOCH-VENUS BAYRD
CAPE PATERSON-IN
VERLO
CH
Bass Strait
Venus
Bay
Anderson
Inlet
to Korumburra
to Leongatha
to Tarwin
Lower
RD
Grantville
Nature
Conservation
Reserve
GIPPSLAND
Corinella
RD
RD
RD
NYORA
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ST. HELI
ER
RD
GURDI ES- ST. H
ELIE
RRD
RD
WOODLEIGH-ST. HELIER RD
DUN
BABBIN
STEW
ART
RD
DA
LYSTON-
ES
G
B
LEN
RD
FOR
RD
LOCH -
KERNOT
EDEN
McG
RATH
RD
RD
DA
LYSTON
GL
-EN FORBES RD
WOOLAMAI RD
BASSRD
TREW RD
TU
R-
NBU
LL
WO
OLAM
AI
DALY
ST
NO
-
MILL
RD
Rail
Tra
il
GLE
NFO
R
BES
CAM
ERO
NS
T
LO
CH-W
ON
TH
AG
GI
RD
KONG KWA RD
GLEN
AVLIE
RD
Bass
Rievr
Bass
River
River
MOUT
H
OF
POW
LETT
RD
Powlett
Cr
HarmersHaven
PHILLIP ISLAND RD
COWES
Rhyll
Newhaven
SmithsBeach
CapeWoolamai
SunderlandBay
Ventnor
Silverleaves
Penguin
Parade
SanRemo
Kilcunda
CapePaterson
Pioneer Bay
TenbyPoint
CoronetBay
to Melbourne
Jam Jerrup
to Phillip Island
P IH IL DL P ISLA
RN
D
to
Bass Coast
Mainland
COWES YL- LRHDR
HARBISON RD RHYL
L-NEW
HAVEN
RD
McIL
LRAIT
HRD
REID ST
Rhyll InletMarsh
Area
BASS
HW
Y
Bass Strait
Churchill Island
PHILLIP
ISLAND RD
NTO
VN
E
R
RD
8
7
Swan
Lake
Grantville
PioneerBay
GUR ID ES -
RRD
ST
L
HE
IE
DUNBABBIN
RD
SMYTHE
ST
WesternPort
Bass Strait
Quarry
The GurdiesNature
ConservationReserve
Corinella
Fishers
Wetland
SummerlandPeninsula
Penguin
Parade
GUY RD
JAM
IESO
NST
O’CONNOR RDCORINELLA
RD
Western Port
Boat RampPier
ISLAN
D
Bass Coast Shire, Mainland The Gurdies Nature Reserve
Bass Coast Shire, Phillip Island
1
Corinella Foreshore Reserve
Fisher’s Wetland3 McIllraith Rd / Rhyll Inlet5
Cape Woolamai Peninsula4
LEGEND
LEGEND
Oswin Roberts Reserve6
10 Bird Watching Locations
Main Road / Highway
Local Road
Tracks
Phillip Island
Nature Park (PINP)
Urban Areas
0 1000 2000
metres
Parking
Main Road / Highway
Local Road
Tracks
Reserve / Public Land
Urban Areas
kilometres
0 2 4
10 Bird Watching Locations
Central Access Track
Parking
Bird Hide
6
8
3
4
5
7
46
9
5
2
9
1
1
3
2
MOUTH
OF
POW
LETT
RD
10
11
This reserve protects one of the few significant
remnants of coastal woodland on Western Port.
There is a small wayside stop opposite Pioneer Bay on
the Bass Highway. Another access point is via
Dunbabbin Road, off Stuart’s Road. There is a good
parking area with magnificent views over Western Port.
Near the top of the main trail a side track to the north
leads to a gully where Bassian Thrush, Rufous Fantail and
Eastern Whipbirds can be found.
Other birds seen in The Gurdies Nature
Reserve include parrots, thornbills, robins,
treecreepers, sittellas and honeyeaters.
Raptors can be seen overhead and
Powerful Owls have also been
sighted. An added bonus for
plant enthusiasts is the wide
variety of orchids flowering
throughout much of the year.
Cars may be left at either end of this 3-4 km walk, at
O’Connor Road or Jamieson Street. Alternatively
starting at the jetty carpark allows the walk to be done
in two shorter sections. The northern section, from the
rotunda to Jamieson Street, leads to a regenerating
heathland. Beach and seabirds roost and feed among the
mangroves, while small scrub birds are returning to the
heathland.
To reach the southern section, walk or drive along the
road past the caravan park to Settlement Point, then
follow the track along the southern coast on the high
cliffs. The track passes through a variety of habitats,
including low coastal scrub, native grassland, she-oak
dominated coastal woodland and, finally, a substantial
stand of Coastal Banksias at O’Connor Road.
(The walk can be extended to Coronet Bay). The bird
list includes a variety of bush and scrub birds. An
occasional sea eagle may be seen.
Two wetlands adjoin the road to Churchill Island.
Fisher’s Wetland is on the left side of the road.
It is a large wetland, which dries out, leaving a few
deep holes with permanent water during prolonged
dry seasons.
Three tracks leave the carpark. One skirts the
north-eastern edge of Fisher’s Wetland on a
boardwalk and continues into bushland.
The second crosses the road and leads to the
bridge via a boardwalk beside a saltmarsh.
A third track leaves the
northern end of the
carpark leading to a
birdhide overlooking the
western side of the
wetland and on to the
end of Churchill Road
through saltmarsh
beside Swan Bay.
Access this spot from the intersection of
Cowes-Rhyll Road and Rhyll-Newhaven Road. Take the
road heading north from this intersection and follow
the first dirt road on the left (McIllraith Road). Park at
the end of the road and look over the entrance of
Rhyll Inlet. At high tide the sand pit and rocks are
popular wader roosts and in summer a range of
international waders can be seen. A telescope or good
binoculars will be useful here.
Follow the track to the west for an interesting
bird walk with great scenery. It leads down to a
boardwalk among the mangroves and rejoins
the track to Conservation Hill
carpark and a lookout
overlooking
Rhyll Wetland, a
large nesting site for
ibis in a wet spring season.
2
Mouth of the Powlett River9Situated on the Bass Highway between
Kilcunda and Wonthaggi, this is an excellent
site with a range of habitats. Ocean beaches
(Hooded Plovers), river flood plains
(Blue-winged and Orange-bellied Parrots)
and banksia groves (honeyeaters and thornbills)
offer a range of interesting birds.
This reserve on Harbison Road, bought by
Florence Oswin Roberts in the 1930s to protect the
koala habitat, is the largest accessible bushland left on
Phillip Island. Several tracks lead
through the reserve.
Birds often seen
include a variety of honeyeaters,
parrots, thornbills, pardalotes,
silvereyes and other bush birds.Silvereye
CapeBarrenGoose
White-eared Honeyeater
EasternCurlew
Short-tailed Shearwater
Parking in the southern carpark of the surf beach
allows easy access to a number of walking tracks on
the peninsula. Hooded Plovers are often seen on
the ocean beaches and the walk to the headland
often rewards birdwatchers with views of a range of
raptors, including White-bellied Sea-Eagle.
Keep a lookout for albatross and other pelagic birds,
especially in winter. At dusk, from September to
April, vast flocks of
Short-tailed Shearwaters
can be seen returning to their
rookeries on the clifftops
InverlochCaravan Park
CU
TTRIS
SST
CU
TTRIS
S
ST
Anderson Inlet
MEANDERRI
DR
LINDSEY CL
INVERLOCH-VENUS BAY RD
Screw
Creek
Scre
w
Cre
ek
OLD
FORD
RD
HEATHERGV
MEANDERRI
DR
GuidePark
WonthaggiWetlandReserve
GuidePark
WonthaggiWetlandReserve
WonthaggiWetlands
RifleRangeWetlands
BaxtersWetlands
Bass
Strait
to
Wonthaggi
ToPhillipIsland,Melborune
4McIllwraithRd/RhyllInlet
LEGEND
BassCoastShire,Wonthaggi Wonthaggi10
10 Bird Watching Locations
Main Road / Highway
Local Road
Tracks
Reserve / Public Land
0 200 400
metres
Parking
LEGEND
MainRoad/Highway
LocalRoad
Tracks
Reserve/PublicLand
05001000
metres
UrbanArea
BirdWatchingLocationA
BirdHide
11
A
C
B
D
E
H
I
G
F
Bird
Bass Coast Shire
Trails
Hooded Plover
Screw Creek walking track is at the eastern end of
The Esplanade. An excellent walking track leading
through the camping area and across the creek
takes you up to the Bluff where there are very good
views across the inlet toVenus Bay and Point Smythe.
Any number of small bush birds, gulls, egrets,
White-faced Herons, honeyeaters and the
occasional raptor can be seen.
Just across the bridge, to the right of the
walking track, is a swash way where it is
possible to catch sight of an
emu-wren or Orange-bellied Parrot
in the right season.
If you take the walk along the
creek bank you also have the
opportunity to see grebes,
ducks and other waterfowl.
Abouthalfwaybetweenthetworoundaboutsnearthe
PenguinParadeyouwillfindthecarparkfor
SwanLakeonthesouthsideofthemainroad.
Parkthereandfollowtheshort,wellmarkedtrack
throughcoastalbushtotwobirdhideslookingonto
SwanLake.Takeyourtimetofindagreatrangeof
ducks,teal,CapeBarrenGeese,wrens,grebesand
raptors.
Threats to birds include: predation by domestic
dogs, cats and foxes, development and land clearance
into bird habitat, drainage and salination of wetlands,
grazing and trampling of wetland and
stream/river verges by stock/humans,
trampling/disturbance of nests and nesting birds by
humans and their dogs especially on beaches and
ingestion of fishing tackle and bait bags by birds.
Help reduce these threats by keeping cats indoors,
especially at night, walking dogs on leash at all times
and heeding signs indicating threats to wildlife.
Please remember that snakes and other
hazards are a vital part of any bird habitat
and that care should always be taken when
venturing into their territory.
Warning!
Western Port Bird Observers Club (WESBOC) Telephone: (03) 5956 9401
Penguin Group (Australia)
Authors: Ken Simpson and Nicolas Day with PeterTrusler
BookTitle: Field Guide to the Birds of Australia, 7th edition
Illustrations: 43, 59, 75, 125, 117, 279, 173, 85, 99, 255, 115, 203, 237 and 269.
Reproduced with permission by Penguin Group (Australia)
Product Design: Karl Cao
Acknowledgements
Original cartographic data supplied by Bass Coast Shire Council 2009, for all maps depicted on this
product, particular attention has been taken to ensure accuracy of publication.
Bass Coast Shire Council and publishers DO NOT accept responsibility of any errors / omissions.
The Gurdies Nature Conservation Reserve data supplied by ParksVictoria.
Bird Observation and Conservation Australia (BOCA)
Telephone: (03) 9877 5342 / 1300 305 342
Postal Address: PO Box 185, Nunawading VIC 3131
Website: www.birdobservers.org.au
Bass Coast Shire Council -Visitor Services
(manages visitor information centres in Bass Coast Shire)
Postal Address: PO Box 118, Wonthaggi VIC 3995
Telephone: 1300 366 422
www.basscoast.vic.gov.au / www.visitbasscoast.com
Contacts
SummerlandPeninsulaCircuit8Thispeninsulacoversthewesternendof
PhillipIsland.ThePenguinParadeisattheentrance.
Fromtheroundabout,followthesealedroadwest.
TurnofftotheCatBaycarpark(about500mfrom
theroundabout)andparkfacingtheoldjettyin
CatBay.Variouscormorants,including
Black-facedShagoften,restontheposts.
Returntothemainroadandcontinuewest.Other
carparksalongthecliffsleadtointerestingbeaches.
ParkatTheNobbiescarparkandexplorethe
boardwalks.WatchoutforCrestedTerns
gannets,gulls
(Pacific,Kelp
andSilver),
LittlePenguinsand
SootyOystercatchers
whichroostandnestinthisarea.
Useyourbinocularsoratelescope
tocheckoutthesealsonSealRocks.
Forabitmoreadventure,travelalong
thetrackbacktothePenguinParade,
stoppingatanyofthelookouts.Thesearegood
spotstosea-watchforalbatross,gannetsand
jaegers.Watchoutforraptorsoverthepeninsula.
Thereisalsogoodbirdingtobefoundinsomeofthe
bushclosetotown:
E
G
CampbellStreetbushrunningparallelto
CampbellStreet F
EasternAreaRailTrail,offCapePatersonRoad
WesternAreaRailTrail,accessoppositethe
WonthaggiWetlands H
WonthaggiBushland
ReserveoffElizabethStreet
TankHill,offReedCrescent E
G
H
II
Wonthaggiisfortunatetohavethreewetlands
withinashortdistanceofthetown.
WonthaggiWetlands,offSouthDudleyRoadare
closetothemainroadandhaveeasywalking
tracks.Thereisavarietyofwaterandbushbirds.
Baxter’sWetlandisreachedbydrivingtothe
westernendofCampbellStreetandwalkinga
shortdistancethroughregeneratedbush.
Someofthespecialsherehaveincluded
MagpieGeeseandGlossyIbis.Thereisabird
hidewithexcellentmorningviews.
RifleRangeWetlandsisaccessedfromthe
westernendofReedCrescent.Thisareaisa
partoftheWonthaggiHeathlandsandwas
regeneratedbydirectseedingprocessesin
2005.Thereisagoodbirdhideandeasy
walking.In2007thespeciescountwas
between90and100species.
Baxter’sandWonthaggiWetlandshavewater
allyearround,buttheRifleRangewaterisvery
lowinsummer.Agoodselectionofwaterbirds
andbushbirdswillbeseenateachofthesites.
Lyingsome5kilometrestothesouth-westofthe
town,theWonthaggiHeathlandisan
excellentexampleofcoastallandscapewith
avarietyofdifferentbirdhabitats.Thereisa
networkofverygoodwalkingtrackswhich
leadyouthroughdryandwetheathlands,coastal
wetland,coastaldunesandactual
beachfront.Youmightcatcha
glimpseofaSouthern
Emu-wrenintheheathland
oraHoodedPloveronthe
beach.Therearealsohoneyeaters,
raptors,EasternRosellas,
Blue-wingedParrots,wrensand
thornbills.
A
B
D
C
Bass Coast Shire, Inverloch
SwanLake7
Screw Creek, Inverloch11
Golden-headedCisticola
CrestedTern
White-facedHeron
Black-shoulderedKite
Responsible birdwatching should always be done
with the welfare of the birds in mind. Try not to
disturb their feeding, resting or roosting by watching
from a distance. Keep interference to a minimum and
encourage others to do the same. Keep to defined
tracks and roads. Respect the rights of landowners and
other birdwatchers. Never disturb habitat or approach
too close to achieve a better view or photograph.