Our first stop was at the T-Section Lagoons, where we previously saw a vagrant phalarope. Upon arriving, we were informed that a family of Brolga were foraging on the banks of one of the lagoons. A quick scan of the lagoon's edges with my binoculars showed all 3 birds were feeding just below the road that circled the lagoon. By driving slowly along the road we were able to get great views of all 3 birds, including an adorable juvenile Brolga.
Unfortunately, brolgas are very rare in Victoria due to habitat loss
We also saw a few commoner waterbirds around the lagoon: the usual black swans, purple swamphens, silvergulls and Pacific black ducks were present.Already amazed by the brolgas, we drove down to Kirk Point to see if we could see what would be the year's second phalarope. We scanned the rocky beaches around Kirk Point with our binoculars. Far off in the distance lay a small peninsula covered in roosting waders. We drove along to the peninsula and spent some time photographing the various birds present. The rocks were covered in red-necked stints and curlew sandpipers. A few Australian pied oystercatchers probed the ground near the rocks, scaring off any other waders that wandered near them. There were also several pied cormorants at the far end of the peninsula, and a lone greater crested tern flew over the area briefly. Finally, while we were inspecting the waders an Australasian gannet flew past the peninsula, looped back around over the beach and headed out to sea!
Red-necked stints and curlew sandpipers are extremely common migrants
This Australian pied oystercatcher hungrily probed clumps of seaweed for food
The waders began to get somewhat restless as we were about to leave, ready to fly off
The Western Treatment Plant is one of 3 mainland pied cormorant colonies in Victoria
All in all it was a great trip and we got spectacular views of some species we hadn't seen for a while.
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