South East Trip, Day 2

Teresa and I were up and on the go again early, stopping to view Mount Gambier's famous Blue Lake before heading off to the Princess Margaret Rose Cave in the Lower Glenelg National Park in Victoria. 

Blue Lake, Mount Gambier, SA

We saw a pair of ravens on our way, that were happy to call for us, and we were able to confirm Forest Ravens - a first for me. Before long we were crossing the state border, at probably the most inconspicuous border crossing sign I've seen anywhere! 

Victorian Border sign :-D

We got to the Cave site carpark, and immediately started seeing birds. Superb Fairywrens appeared from all directions and approached the car, gleaning the insects off the vehicle! Lots of small birds bounced around the trees, and I was able to identify a White-eared Honeyeater and a White-throated Treecreeper - the rest were too quick for me!

  

White-throated Treecreeper, Lower Glenelg NP, Victoria

We wandered around the camping area, and found Eastern Yellow Robin, White-browed Scrubwren, Crimson Rosella, Pied Currawong, and Australian Raven. We dipped on Bassian Thrush and Rufous Bristlebird - although we did have a couple of glimpses of birds running across the path into the bushes that very well could have been one of our targets! 

Eastern Yellow Robin, Lower Glenelg NP, Victoria

Eastern Yellow Robin, Lower Glenelg NP, Victoria

Australian Ravens, Lower Glenelg NP, Victoria

White-browed Scrubwren, Lower Glenelg NP, Victoria

White-browed Scrubwren, Lower Glenelg NP, Victoria

Pied Currawong, Lower Glenelg NP, Victoria

 On our way out from the Cave site, Teresa spotted a Wedge-tailed Eagle perched in a tree. 

Wedge-tailed Eagle, Lower Glenelg NP, Victoria

We popped back over the VIC-SA border and passed through Donovans, where I was able to add Pied Currawong to my South Australia bird list, and then back into Victoria where we drove to Portland. Unfortunately I wasn't very good company for Teresa on this leg of the journey as I kept dozing off, but eventually we arrived in Portland. We checked into a motel, got some lunch, and then drove out to Point Danger, the location of Australia's only mainland colony of Australasian Gannets. As soon as we arrived we could see these beautiful birds soaring around over the colony and the rough sea, against the backdrop of a windfarm on the opposite cape. 

Teresa watching the Gannets and the sea, Point Danger, VIC

Australasian Gannet, Point Danger, VIC

We were watching the gannets for a while, and then saw what we thought was another one emerge flying quite slowly in comparison. We seemed to realize at the same moment that it was not another gannet and was in fact a White-bellied Sea-Eagle! This was only my second Australian sighting for this species (I saw some quite recently in Sri Lanka), so this was really exciting for me.

White-bellied Sea-Eagle, Point Danger, VIC

The gannets were fantastic to watch, and spent quite a while there. Some were still demonstrating some courtship behaviour, and there was one remaining fledgling present. They didn't seem at all bothered by our presence, and we were able to get some great views and photos.

Australasian Gannets, Point Danger, VIC

"Wilfred" the last remaining fledgling 

 

At the end of our second day our trip list was at 86 species, and I had a total of 3 lifers! Highlights of Day 2 were definitely spending time at the Gannet colony, including getting that surprise sighting of a White-bellied Sea-Eagle, and for me the Yellow Robin was also a great moment as it has been a very long time since my first and only ever sighting of one in Naracoorte! Thanks for reading!