Overnight stay in Mildura
Our cabin, Mildura, Victoria
Our holiday in Victoria
September 2007
We stayed only one night in Mildura during our trip through New South Wales and Victoria. Mildura is a bustling provincial city in north west Victoria well worth staying for more than an over night stay. It would be an excellent destination for a week or more. If you are keen on water sports or have a boat, places like the caravan park where we stayed would be ideal. Unfortunately we had to move on after one night. We must rectify that one day.
River Murray at Mildura, Victoria
Several of the many caravan parks are located right on the banks of the river. These are particularly popular with the boating fraternity. I usually head for such places too, but for different reasons. I know that there is a greater chance of seeing more birds where there is water.
This family of Black Swans came to greet me when I wandered down to the water’s edge after unpacking the car.
Black Swans with juveniles, Mildura, Victoria
Lake Ranfurly, Mildura, Victoria
Lake Ranfurly, Mildura, Victoria
Our Holiday in Victoria
September 2007
On our way home from our holiday in New South Wales and Victoria last year we stayed for one night in Mildura. This provincial city in north west Victoria is a prominent fruit growing area.
We arrived late in the afternoon, so I only had a short time to do some birding before settling into our cabin at one of the many caravan parks. I decided to spend about a half hour birding at Lake Ranfurly on the northern outskirts of the town. This is just off the road to Wentworth.
The birding on that afternoon was rather disappointing with very little bird life to be seen. That is quite obvious from the photo above. This shows a few Black Swans, a small flock of Silver Gulls and several Red-necked Avocets. In the distance I could see many Grey Teal; at least, I think that is what they were – they were too far across the lake to be certain.
It was quite a disappointing visit.
Royal Spoonbill, Hattah-Kulkyne National Park
Royal Spoonbill, Lake Hattah, Victoria
Our holiday in Victoria
September 2007
During our holiday in Victoria last year we visited the Hattah-Kulkyne National Park in the north west part of the state.
Over recent years this system of lakes has not had much – if any – water due to the drought. This has resulted in poor flows in the nearby River Murray, the only source of water for the lakes. This is disappointing, because when filled with water – or even partially full, the lakes are a haven for water birds in their thousands.
Last year a special partial filling of the lakes was authorised and so it was with a high level of anticipation we spent several hours in the park on our way to Mildura.
One species I have only occasionally recorded in these lakes is the Royal Spoonbill, shown in the above photo. This is always a pleasing species to encounter. In my experience the Yellow-billed Spoonbill is far more common. This one was feeding in the shallows near where we had morning tea.
Hattah-Kulkyne National Park – Noisy Miner
Noisy Miner, Hattah-Kulkyne National Park
Our holiday in Victoria
September 2007
While we were having lunch on the banks of Lake Hattah during our holiday in Victoria last year we were visited by a group of honeyeaters, the Noisy Miner. These fearless birds are common in the camping and picnic grounds of the Hattah-Kulkyne National Park in north west Victoria.
They are quite unafraid of humans having a picnic lunch or camping near the lakes. They hang around under picnic tables – and even on the tables. They have learned that people will drop crumbs and tidbits from their food. This species will eat out of your hand and are not afraid to actually steal food from your plate when you are not attentive.
Hattah-Kulkyne National Park birds
Blue-faced Honeyeater
Our holiday in Victoria
September 2007
One of the main reasons for visiting the Hattah-Kulkyne National Park last year was to do a few hours of birding in one of my favourite places. With large tracts of mallee scrub, the national park is an excellent place to see a large number of honeyeaters, especially when the trees are in flower.
Along the Murray River and around the various lakes the large stands of River Red Gums also attract a good range of honeyeaters. While we were having lunch on the bank of Lake Hattah I was pleased to get some good photos of the Blue-faced Honeyeater.
Blue-faced Honeyeater