I’m on my way home from a trip up to Tallangatta, a town on the Hume Lake near Wodonga. And, on our way back to the Dandenong Ranges, it was a must to stop in Chiltern.
Chiltern is a small sleepy town about 3 hours north of Melbourne. Situated half an hour from Wodonga, it’s a birdwatching jewel surrounded by the Chiltern-Mt Pilot National Park and the box-ironbark forest. It is also one of the best spots in Victoria to see Regent Honeyeater, a critically endangered bird. So, as we turned off the highway to Chiltern, I hoped but I knew it was very unlikely.
We drove through the main street, past historic brick buildings and pulled into the information centre. Inside, I picked up a brochure titled ‘Bird Walks Of Chiltern’ and asked about the best spots to go birding. The friendly man recommend Lake Anderson, a lake just across the road with promises of some good waterbirds. Then, he mentioned Cyanide Dam, in Chiltern-Mt Pilot National Park, about a 10 min drive from the information centre. As I said “Thanks” he stopped me and said “Isn’t there one thing you haven’t asked me?” Immediately I responded “Regent Honeyeaters?” “Cyanide Dam is the spot” he replied
So, after a bakery lunch we strolled over to Lake Anderson. A gravel track lead from the carpark, around the lake and an arrangement of european trees surrounded the lake. The lake itself was dried out, but upon display of birds were feeding in the mud. A Great Egret plunged it’s beak into the mud, while being surrounded by Dusky Moorhens and White-faced Herons doing the same. A magpie warbled and a few Magpie-larks flew past. Yellow-billed Spoonbills wandered about and Australian Pelican floated on the small puddles of water left in the lake. As we moved to shade from the burning sun, and curious Grey Fantail shared our refuge. Australiasian Swamphens strutted on the banks and a Straw-necked Ibis flew over. Superb Fairy Wrens and Rufous Whistlers called and A number of Eurasian Coots and Grey Teals floated on the water. Masked Lapwings ran about next to Pacific Black Ducks waddling. And finally, a small plover like bird scuttled about. “Whats that?” I exclaimed. After examining it with my bird book, it turned out to be a Black-fronted Dotterel dragging it’s wing about to distract us from its nest. My first lifer of the day! I left feeling quite accomplished.
Check out the Lake Anderson eBird checklist
Now, we headed out to the second location, across the other side of the highway from Chiltern and into the Chiltern-Mt Pilot National Park. As we drove on the dusty road, the first thing that came to mind was dry. The eucalyptus trees stood tall as we followed the signs to Honeyeater Picnic Area where Cyanide Dam is located. A Swamp Wallaby hopped a across the road in front of but apart from that, all was quiet probably due to the heat. We pulled up to a couple of picnic tables and a sign board telling us that the Cyanide Dam was a 500m walk. With that in mind, I crossed my fingers and headed off.
The first thing that struck me was the fact that the dam was empty. “Well that’s not going to attract many birds” I said. With that note however, a Superb Fairywren trilled and a Eastern Spinebill struck up a song. A Yellow-faced Honeyeater called in the distance as we kept on marching forward. A Striated Pardalote called briefly and a Grey Fantail flew about. We walked over a small wooden bridge over a very dry creek. And ended up back in the picnic area. We sat down for a cool drink and to see of any other birds showed up.
Looking around, the tall Box-Ironbark Eucalyptus Trees looked over us as we sipped from out water bottles. They looked like a snake, shedding their bark. Then, something caught my attention! A black and yellow bird, the same colours as the Regent Honeyeater! “Could it be??” I exclaimed as I focused my binoculars. But no, it was a Yellow-tufted Honeyeater, feeding. As I continued to scan around an Australian Raven cawed (the most common corvid in this area) and a Rufous Whistler sung. Three White-plumed Honeyeaters flew about us curiously. I watched them playing for a while before we had to continue on our way home.
But, as we drove out a saw a family of White-winged Choughs playing near the road. That was my second lifer of the day! White-winged Choughs looked like a raven with a hooked beak and white under their wings which is revealed when they fly. I also love how they are always in family groups. And with that, we left Chiltern.
Check out the eBird checklist for Chiltern-Mt Pilot National Park – Honeyeater Picnic Ground