Spring Camp at Marlo - a huge success – Merryl Wright and Ian Wright
BirdLife East Gippsland held its 2013 Spring Camp (14-18 October) in Marlo just south of Orbost. The Marlo region is a
popular destination for bird lovers, as it provides easy access to a wide range of habitats – woodlands and forest,
heathland, temperate rainforest, coastal and estuarine environments. We were indeed fortunate to have BirdLife East
Gippsland members and Marlo residents Len and Jacquie Axen as the camp leaders, as the changeable weather meant
that the original program needed to be modified to suit the conditions, and they were able to find the best spots with
plenty of birds even on the worst of days. Birdwatchers are a determined lot and despite the variable conditions, 138
different bird species were recorded over the four days.
Who was there
There were 28 participants including eight birders from Melbourne and two from New South Wales most accommodated
in comfort at the Marlo Ocean Views Tourist Park. The group visited 15 different sites over the four days.
20 BirdLife East Gippsland members were present and was also great to see Jill and Max Markey once again, formerly
from Wiseleigh but now living at St Georges Basin on the NSW South Coast, We were also joined by eight members of
the BirdLife Melbourne group, 2 who had been to other camps with us, and 4 newcomers.
Day 1 – William Court, Marlo; Mots Beach lookout
The weather on the first day was very windy with intermittent showers. After travellers had arrived and settled in on
Monday morning, 24 birders set off after lunch to William Court, a rural subdivision on the edge of Marlo township, which
was a reasonably sheltered site. In addition to indigenous flora along the roadsides, and in the adjacent Marlo State
Forest, there had been extensive planting with other bird attracting native species, and also some cleared areas around
homes. This diversity resulted in a species count of 49, the highest for any site visited during the camp! Sighting of a pair
of Latham’s Snipe was unexpected but several of the residences had small reeded dams so there was obviously enough
cover for them.
On the way back to base camp, the group stopped at Mots Beach lookout, using the club’s new spotting scopes to
identify waders and other shorebirds on the sandbanks. Happy hour was a treat with Max getting a fire going in the open
fireplace at the BBQ shelter at the Tourist Park.
Day 2 – Orbost Water Treatment Plant; Corringle/Lake Wat Wat Reserve; Marlo Jetty; Snowy River Estuary;
Frenches Narrows
The next day, the weather had improved, and it was sunny, but still a bit cool with a moderate breeze. A convoy of
vehicles left the caravan park after breakfast, and headed to the Orbost Water Treatment Plant (birders just love sewage
ponds). The species count was 39, with ten different species of duck, including Musk Duck, Australasian Shoveler, Pinkeared Duck and Blue-billed Duck, and some unusual sightings of Rufous Songlark, Black-fronted Dotterel and around
150 Hoary-headed Grebe.
After morning tea, the group travelled to the wetlands at the Lake Corringle and Lake Wat Wat reserve. Water levels
were high due to release of environmental flows into the Snowy River, and many of the mudflats were no longer
exposed. Nonetheless, 36 species were recorded including 130 Red-necked Avocet, and a range of small bush birds
and warblers in the fringing vegetation and reed beds.
Marlo Jetty was the first stop after lunch, where a Buff-banded Rail frustrated our photographers by hiding under a picnic
table, before scurrying off into the shrubbery. Although the Snowy River estuary mudflats were somewhat reduced due
to higher outflows, ten wader species were sighted including a Sharp-tailed Sandpiper, Hooded Plover, and both Pied
and Sooty Oystercatchers.
Last stop for the day was Frenches Narrows, accessed via the wonderful Snowy River Estuary Boardwalk. Several of the
fitter (less tired) birders crossed over the dunes to the ocean, but did not see anything of note. On the estuary side of the
dunes however, Striated Field-wrens and White-fronted Chats were discovered, and a Spotted Harrier was seen
overhead.
Day 3 – Cabbage Tree Creek Flora Reserve; Marlo Airport; Marlo State Forest, Healey’s Road, Marlo; Snowy
River Estuary lookout.
Another fine day on Wednesday saw the convoy off to Cabbage Tree Creek Flora Reserve, where the mosquitoes were
waiting for us. But the hardy band of birders just smothered on the repellent and enjoyed another successful morning in
this lovely temperate rainforest, sighting 36 species. A pair of Collared Sparrowhawks was nesting close enough to the
walking track for a reasonable view, and other special birds recorded were Large-billed Scrubwren, Scarlet and Crescent
Honeyeaters, a Rose Robin and two Black-faced Monarchs.
After a couple of hours, the mozzies were declared to have won, and the group retreated to the more open areas at
Marlo Airport. Here, the wind had picked up and despite the fact that most birds had gone into hiding, 20 species were
recorded. On the heathland surrounding the runway, one Southern Emu-wren briefly popped its head up, and a Swamp
Harrier flew overhead. For many members of the group, lack of birds was truly made up for by the show of Purple Diuris
orchids in flower.
In the afternoon, Len took the group for a leisurely stroll through the Marlo State Forest, a recently designated park which
had been consolidated from several different areas previously managed by different authorities. Tracks had been newly
surfaced and BirdLife East Gippsland had worked with DEPI Forest Planner, Joady Chick, to design three bird themed
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interpretive signs using photographs taken by BLEG members. The signs cover popular wetland birds, honey eaters and
parrots that can be sighted within the Marlo State Forest’s Coastal Lagoon Wetland and Banksia Woodland habitats.
The next stop was a wetland area with adjacent farming land at the end of Healey’s Road, where the new scopes came
in handy again for long distance sightings of ducks, swans, and spoonbills. Two White-necked Herons were also seen
here, but the hoped for Topknot Pigeons did not make an appearance. On the way back to the Tourist Park, a second
check of the Snowy River Estuary revealed a couple of Bar-tailed Godwits which had not been present earlier and over
50 Chestnut Teal and several Australasian Gannets just offshore.
After a long day, the birders repaired to the Marlo Hotel for a great meal with good company.
Day 4 – Cape Conran, East Cape; Yeerung River
Thursday began with a light drizzle and increasing wind. Some of the group had already left the camp to return home
and the remaining eighteen birders headed for East Cape Picnic Area at Cape Conran. This location was relatively
sheltered from the wind for people and birds, and amongst the 31 species recorded were three Sooty Oystercatchers, a
Hooded Plover and a Sharp-tailed Sandpiper close in on the beach, the latter gaining much attention from the
photographers.
There were many bush birds in the coastal scrub, including a Pilotbird heard calling. As the rain became heavier, the
damp birders squeezed in under the shelter of the tiny BBQ area for a warming cuppa. The convoy then followed Len
round to West Cape, to find there was no shelter at all and a 40 knot gale blowing! The fastest birding event of the week
– out of the car, rugged up, down to the beach, nothing to see, turn around, back up the hill with a stiff following wind,
into the cars and off again.
Next stop was the Yeerung River and heathland. The rain had decreased to an occasional light drizzle and there was
more shelter from the wind, but it was cold. After about 45 minutes of birding with only 17 species recorded, it began to
rain properly. A return to East Cape even with its limited shelter was agreed and the birders again squeezed in under the
picnic ground BBQ shed, or ate lunch in their cars. With no end to the rain in sight, the vote was unanimous for an early
happy hour round a fire back at home base. After a few comforting glasses, no-one felt inclined to cook dinner, so the
group returned to the Marlo Hotel for a second evening of good food with good friends. A great way to round off an
excellent camp.
But wait, there’s more………………..
Over the four days of the camp, the group also recorded sightings of birds in and around the Tourist Park and Marlo
township, and any incidental sightings on the way to or from other sites. These included some birds that had not been
recorded at other sites including four Emus, a Crested Pigeon, Cattle Egret, Black-shouldered Kite, Purple Swamphen,
Gang-gang Cockatoos, Musk Lorikeets, Crested Shrike-tit, and a Southern Boobook roosting in the Tourist Park keeping
some birders awake at night!
Also sighted out to sea were Albatross, Shearwaters and a flight of unusual looking Terns, all too far for species
identification even with the spotting scopes in use.
Thanks
Special thanks are due to Len and Jacquie Axen for sharing their favourite birding spots and for managing the program
under trying weather changes. The Melbourne lot were great company and brought additional expertise to the camp,
and the East Gippsland birders look forward to taking up the offer of a reciprocal visit sometime in the near future. An allround enjoyable experience.
Editor’s note:
Merryl and Ian Wright did a great job to keep tabs on 28 birders and record their sightings in the field, and then
complete a daily running total of species to keep the group up to date with the ‘score’. All records from the
camp have now been forwarded to the Atlas of Australian Birds database.
Photo 1:
Camp participants at the Snowy Estuary Lookout (Leah Beekman)
Photo 2:
Birders enjoy the easy walking tracks at Marlo State Forest (Merryl Wright)
Photo 3:
Intrepid birders defy rain and wind at Cape Conran for a close up look at a Hooded
Plover and Sharp-tailed Sandpiper (Merryl Wright)
Photo 4:
Looking for the Striated Fieldwren at Frenches Narrows (Ian Wright)
Photo 5:
40 knots at West Cape (Merryl Wright)
Complete bird list next page
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BirdLife East Gippsland - Spring Camp at Marlo 14-18 October 2013 - Final bird list
Emu
Black-fronted Dotterel
Red Wattlebird
Musk Duck
Hooded Plover
White-fronted Chat
Black Swan
Masked Lapwing
Scarlet Honeyeater
Australian Shelduck
Latham's Snipe
Crescent Honeyeater
Australian Wood Duck
Bar-tailed Godwit
New Holland Honeyeater
Pink-eared Duck
Red-necked Stint
Brown-headed Honeyeater
Australasian Shoveler
Sharp-tailed Sandpiper
White-naped Honeyeater
Grey Teal
Caspian Tern
Eastern Whipbird
Chestnut Teal
Crested Tern
Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike
Pacific Black Duck
Pacific Gull
Crested Shrike-tit
Hardhead
Silver Gull
Golden Whistler
Blue-billed Duck
Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoo
Rufous Whistler
Hoary-headed Grebe
Gang-gang Cockatoo
Grey Shrike-thrush
Rock Dove
Galah
Olive-backed Oriole
Spotted Dove
Little Corella
Dusky Woodswallow
Crested Pigeon
Sulphur-crested Cockatoo
Grey Butcherbird
Wonga Pigeon
Rainbow Lorikeet
Australian Magpie
Australasian Gannet
Musk Lorikeet
Pied Currawong
Australasian Darter
Australian King Parrot
Grey Fantail
Little Pied Cormorant
Crimson Rosella
Willie Wagtail
Great Cormorant
Eastern Rosella
Australian Raven
Little Black Cormorant
Horsfield's Bronze-Cuckoo
Forest Raven
Pied Cormorant
Shining Bronze-Cuckoo
Little Raven
Australian Pelican
Pallid Cuckoo
Leaden Flycatcher
White-necked Heron
Fan-tailed Cuckoo
Black-faced Monarch
Eastern Great Egret
Southern Boobook
Magpie Lark
Cattle Egret
Laughing Kookaburra
White-winged Chough
White-faced Heron
Sacred Kingfisher
Jacky Winter
Straw-necked Ibis
Superb Lyrebird
Rose Robin
Royal Spoonbill
White-throated Treecreeper
Eastern Yellow Robin
Black Shouldered Kite
Satin Bowerbird
Golden-headed Cisticola
White-bellied Sea-Eagle
Superb Fairy-wren
Australian Reed-Warbler
Whistling Kite
Southern Emu-wren
Little Grassbird
Brown Goshawk
Pilotbird
Silvereye
Collared Sparrowhawk
White-browed Scrubwren
Welcome Swallow
Spotted Harrier
Large-billed Scrubwren
Fairy Martin
Swamp Harrier
Striated Fieldwren
Common Blackbird
Wedge-tailed Eagle
Brown Gerygone
Common Starling
Nankeen Kestrel
Striated Thornbill
Mistletoebird
Brown Falcon
Yellow-rumped Thornbill
Red-browed Finch
Peregrine Falcon
Brown Thornbill
Australasian Pipit
Purple Swamphen
Spotted Pardalote
Rufous Songlark
Buff-banded Rail
Striated Pardalote
Eurasian Coot
Eastern Spinebill
Australian Pied Oystercatcher
Lewin's Honeyeater
138 species
Sooty Oystercatcher
Yellow-faced Honeyeater
2304 birds
Red-necked Avocet
Bell Miner
Red-capped Plover
Little Wattlebird
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