My bird list for the Bellarine Peninsula = 172 species
Latest additions:
- Tree Martin single bird flying around tree tops in my backyard in Ocean Grove (13 Nov 2013)
- Pink-eared Duck large flock (300-400) at Lake Lorne, Drysdale (19 June 2013)
- Fork-tailed Swift small flock seen flying over the beach at Ocean Grove (11 March 2013)
- Nankeen Night-Heron seen at Begola Wetlands, Ocean Grove (18 February 2013)
- Black Falcon seen early morning flying over Barwon Heads Road, Connewarre (23 January 2013)
- Helmeted Guineafowl seen in a Leopold farm paddock (20 January 2013) - suspect domestic escapees or 'free range'
- Marsh Sandpiper seen at Hospital Swamp (19 January 2013)
- Australian Spotted Crake seen at Lignum Swamp near Hospital Swamp (15 November 2012)
- Black-tailed Native-hen seen at Lignum Swamp near Hospital Swamp (15 November 2012)
- Banded Stilt 400+ birds seen at Lake Victoria, Pt Lonsdale (7 March 2012)
- Great Crested Grebe seen at Lake Victoria, Pt Lonsdale (7 March 2012)
- Australasian Shoveler seen at Lake Lorne, Drysdale (24 October 2011)
- Eastern Barn Owl seen flying into Coastal Ti-tree scrub on Ocean Grove Spit near Barwon Heads Bridge just on sunset (12 October 2011)
- White-necked Heron seen flying over Queenscliff-Portarlington Road near Mannerim (26 September 2011) and photographed one individual on Lake Connewarre Game Reserve (12 October 2011)
- Northern Mallard seen on farm dam in Knights Rd, Mannerim (4 September 2011)
- Buff-banded Rail spotted on the edge of reeds at Begola Wetlands in Ocean Grove (15 August 2011).
Notes:
Geography - for the purposes of this exercise (or until someone informs me of an official designation), I am defining the Bellarine Peninsula as all the land east of the line roughly between Pt Henry (including the western shore of Pt Henry along Stingaree Bay and Corio Bay) and Pt Impossible at the mouth of Thompson Creek, west of Breamlea. This includes Moolap, Lake Connewarre, Reedy Lake and Connewarre but does not include the Geelong suburbs of Newcombe and St Albans Park (See Map on Wikipedia).Distribution - I indicate where I have seen these birds on the Bellarine Peninsula but this does not necessarily reflect the 'official' distribution or habitat preferences. I have tried to indicate where species are only seasonal visitors to the area. Abundance - is loosely classified as:
Listing - I have included only birds that I have personally seen on the Bellarine Peninsula. Seabirds in flight or on the water must have been seen from land on the Bellarine Peninsula. Photographs - where included (I'll progressively add photographs when I find the time), they have been taken on the Bellarine Peninsula. |
Indian Peafowl
Pavo cristatus
1 adult male seen at St Leonards in the 1990s - most likely a domestic escapee - not sure if any local farmers keep peafowl.
Helmeted Guineafowl
Numida meleagris
Seen several times near Leopold. Likely domestic free range or escapee.
Magpie Goose
Anseranus semipalmata
Rare. 3 individuals seen on farm dam along Anderson Road east of Drysdale July 2009.
Musk Duck
Biziura lobata
Uncommon. Occasionally seen at McLeods Waterholes in Drysdale.
Freckled Duck
Strictonetta naevosa
Previously uncommon but recently (since about 2016) seen frequently at Lake Lorne and McLeods Waterholes in Drysdale and Begola Wetlands in Ocean Grove.
 |
| Freckled Duck, Lake Lorne, Drysdale |
Cape Barren Goose
Cereopsis novaehollandiae
Uncommon. Occasionally seen on farm dams around the Peninsula.
Black Swan
Cygnus atratus
Common on permanent lakes in many places, e.g., McLeods Waterholes, Lake Lorne, Lonsdale Lakes, Point Lonsdale Golf Course, Begola Wetlands, Lake Connewarre and the Barwon River estuary as well as in Swan Bay and Corio Bay.
 |
| Black Swan, McLeods Waterholes, Drysdale |
Australian Wood Duck
Chenonetta jubata
Common on farm dams around the Peninsula.
 |
| Australian Wood Duck, Lake Lorne, Drysdale |
Pink-eared Duck
Malachorhynchus membranaceus
Uncommon. Occasionally seen on Lake Lorne in Drysdale
 |
| Pink-eared Duck, Lake Lorne, Drysdale |
Grey Teal
Anas gracilis
Common. Frequently seen at Lake Lorne and McLeods Waterholes in Drysdale and occasionally on farm dams.
 |
| Grey Teal, Lake Lorne, Drysdale |
Chestnut Teal
Anas castanea
Very Common. Frequently seen at Lake Lorne and McLeods Waterholes in Drysdale, Begola Wetlands in Ocean Grove, St Leonards Lake Reserve and farm dams.
 |
| Chestnut Teal (female on left, male on right), Begola Wetlands, Ocean Grove |
Northern Mallard
Anas platyrhynchos
Rare, seen once on farm dam in Mannerim.
Pacific Black Duck
Anas superciliosa
Very common on farm dams and lakes in various places around the Peninsula. Also common on Barwon River estuary.
 |
| Pacific Black Duck, Lake Lorne, Drysdale |
Hardhead
Aythya australis
Uncommon. Occasionally seen at Lake Lorne and McLeods Waterholes in Drysdale and large farm dams.
 |
| Hardhead, Lake Lorne, Drysdale |
Blue-billed Duck
Oxyura australis
Uncommon. Occasionally seen at Lake Lorne and McLeods Waterholes in Drysdale.
 |
| Blue-billed Duck (male), Lake Lorne, Drysdale |
Australasian Shoveler
Anas rhynchotis
Rare. Seen occasionally at Lake Lorne, Drysdale
 |
| Australasian Shoveler, Lake Lorne, Drysdale |
Australasian Grebe
Tachybaptus novaehollandiae
Common. Resident at McLeods Waterholes and Lake Lorne in Drysdale, occasionally seen at other freshwater lakes around the Peninsula.
Hoary-headed Grebe
Tachybaptus ruficollis
Commonly seen at McLeods Waterholes in Drysdale, Emily's Pond and Lake Victoria in Pt Lonsdale and occasionally seen at Begola Wetlands in Ocean Grove.
 |
| Hoary-headed Grebe, Lake Lorne, Drysdale |
Great Crested Grebe
Podiceps cristatus
Rare. Seen occasionally at Lake Victoria, Pt Lonsdale.
Rock Dove
Columba livia
Also known as Feral Pigeon. Commonly seen in many places around the Peninsula, including several domestic flocks.
Spotted Dove
Streptopelia chinesis
Common across many residential areas and farmland, particularly where there is significant roadside vegetation, around the Peninsula.
 |
| Spotted Dove, Begola Wetlands, Ocean Grove |
Common Bronzewing
Phaps chalcoptera
Uncommon. Occasionally seen at Ocean Grove Nature Reserve.
Crested Pigeon
Ocyphaps lophotes
Common. Frequently seen along roadsides bordering farmland around the Peninsula.
 |
| Crested Pigeon, Ocean Grove |
Tawny Frogmouth
Podargus strigoides
Uncommon. Seen occasionally at Ocean Grove Bushland Reserve. Probably more common but difficult to find due to cryptic camouflage and secretive nature.
Fork-tailed Swift
Apus pacificus
Uncommon seasonal migrant (summer).
Wandering Albatross
Diomedea exulans
Uncommon. Occasionally seen in winter off Pt Lonsdale and The Bluff in Barwon Heads. One dead bird on Ocean Grove beach July 2009.
Black-browed Albatross
Thalassarche melanophris
Seasonally common (winter-spring) off Pt Lonsdale, Queenscliff and The Bluff at Barwon Heads.
 |
| Black-browed Albatross, Queenscliff |
Shy Albatross
Thalassarche cauta
Seasonally common (winter-spring) off Pt Lonsdale, Queenscliff and The Bluff at Barwon Heads.
 |
| Shy Albatross, Queenscliff |
Southern Giant Petrel
Macronectes giganteus
Uncommon. Occasionally seen off Pt Lonsdale.
Fairy Prion
Pachyptila turtur
Uncommon. Occasionally seen off Pt Lonsdale. One dead bird on Pt Lonsdale beach in 2008.
Short-tailed Shearwater
Ardenna tenuirostris
Common late spring to early autumn seen off Pt Lonsdale, Ocean Grove and The Bluff at Barwon Heads. Commonly found dead on beach at Pt Lonsdale and Ocean Grove after storms in spring.
Fluttering Shearwater
Puffinis gavia
Seasonally common. Occasionally seen in large flocks off Queenscliff, St Leonards and Indented Head.
Little Penguin
Eudyptula minor
Uncommon. Occasionally seen at Queenscliff, Pt Lonsdale and Ocean Grove. Commonly found dead on Bass Strait beaches after severe storms.
Australasian Gannet
Morus serrator
Commonly seen flying along coast between Pt Lonsdale and Portarlington and offshore along Bass Strait coast.
 |
| Australasian Gannet, Indented Head |
Australasian Darter
Anhinga novaehollandiae
Uncommon. Occasionally seen on farm dams and lakes around the Peninsula.
Little Pied Cormoroant
Microcarbo melanoleucos
Common in Swan Bay and Queenscliff, often congregating in large numbers at Swan Bay Jetty
 |
| Little Pied Cormorant, Swan Bay Jetty |
Great Cormorant
Phalacrocorax carbo
Common. Frequently seen on rocky outcrops on beaches and fishing in shallows at Pt Lonsdale and Ocean Grove.
 |
| Great Cormorant, Pt Impossible |
Little Black Cormorant
Phalacrocorax sulcirostris
Common in Swan Bay and Corio Bay.
 |
| Little Black Cormorant, Queenscliff Harbour |
Pied Cormorant
Phalacrocorax varius
Commonly seen along coast, particularly on jetties and rock outcrops at Portarlington, Pt Lonsdale, Queenscliff and Swan Bay Jetty.
 |
| Pied Cormorant, Ripview Lookout, Queenscliff |
Black-faced Cormorant
Phalacrocorax fuscescens
Uncommon. Occasionally seen at Indented Head, St Leonards, Pt Lonsdale and Queenscliff.
 |
| Black-faced Cormorant, Ripview Lookout, Queenscliff |
Australian Pelican
Pelicanus conspicullatus
Common all around the Peninsula, particularly Port Phillip and Corio Bays, and frequently found on freshwater lakes and even farm dams.
 |
| Australian Pelican, Pt Richards |
White-necked Heron
Ardea pacifica
Rarely seen on the Bellarine Peninsula. Has become a more common spring visitor since 2011.
 |
| White-necked Heron, Lake Connewarre Game Reserve |
Eastern Great Egret
Ardea modesta
Common. Seen at Lake Lorne in Drysdale, Swan Bay at Queenscliff, Breamlea Flora and Fauna Reserve and occasionally on farm dams around the peninsula.
 |
| Eastern Great Egret, Breamlea Flora and Fauna Reserve |
Cattle Egret
Ardea ibis
Uncommon. Occasionally seen in farmland, often (unsurprisingly) associated with livestock.
 |
| Cattle Egret, Lake Road, Connewarre |
White-faced Heron
Ardea novaehollandiae
Common all around the Peninsula coast and frequently found on freshwater lakes and farm dams.
 |
| White-faced Heron, Barwon Heads |
Little Egret
Egretta garzetta
Uncommon but can often be seen on mudflats at low tide in Swan Bay.
 |
| Little Egret, Swan Bay Jetty |
Nankeen Night-Heron
Nycticorax caledonicus
Uncommon. Occasionally seen at Blue Lake and Begola Wetlands in Ocean Grove and on Swan Bay mudflats in Queenscliff.
 |
| Nankeen Night-Heron, Begola Wetlands, Ocean Grove |
Australian White Ibis
Threskiornis molucca
Common on mudflats of Swan Bay and Corio Bay as well as on farmland and sporting ovals across the Peninsula.
Straw-necked Ibis
Threskiornis spinicollis
Common on farmland.
Royal Spoonbill
Platalea regia
Common on mudflats of Swan Bay and Corio Bay and several freshwater lakes including Lake Lorne and McLeods Waterholes in Drysdale. Often seen on Barwon River estuary in Ocean Grove/Barwon Heads. Occassionally seen on farm dams.
 |
| Royal Spoonbill, Barwon River Estuary, Ocean Grove |
Yellow-billed Spoonbill
Platalea flavipes
Uncommon but occasionally seen on farm dams and on mudflats of Swan Bay.
Black-shouldered Kite
Elanus axillaris
Commonly seen hunting over farmland and on roadsides.
 |
| Black-shouldered Kite, Edwards Point Wildlife Reserve |
White-bellied Sea-eagle
Haliaeetus leucogaster
Uncommon but occasionally seen at Pt Lonsdale and Pt Henry.
Whistling Kite
Haliastur sphenurus
Commonly seen at Edwards Point Wildlife Reserve over farmland near St Leonards and Drysdale.
 |
| Whistling Kite, Lake Lorne Reserve, Drysdale |
Black Kite
Milvas migrans
Previously uncommon - occasionally seen flying over farmland near Portarlington and Clifton Springs but since 2015 seems to becoming more common.
Brown Goshawk
Accipiter fasciatus
Locally common. Most frequently seen at Edwards Pt Wildlife Reserve and over farmland near St Leonards.
Collared Sparrowhawk
Accipiter cirrocephalus
Uncommon. Seen occasionally over farmland.
Grey Goshawk
Accipiter novaehollandiae
Rare. Pair (white morph) seen flying over Wallington, November 2010.
Spotted Harrier
Circus assimilis
Uncommon. Seen occasionally over farmland and swampy areas.
Swamp Harrier
Circus approximans
Common over farmland and swampy areas across the Peninsula.
Wedge-tailed Eagle
Aquila audax
Uncommon. Occasionally seen over Wallington and Curlewis.
Little Eagle
Hieraaetus morphinoides
Uncommon. Occasionally seen at Edwards Point Wildlife Reserve and over farmland near St Leonards.
Nankeen Kestrel
Falco cenchroides
Common. Often seen hunting over farmland across the Peninsula.
 |
| Nankeen Kestrel, Curlewis |
Brown Falcon
Falco berigona
Common. Often seen hunting over farmland across the Peninsula.
 |
| Brown Falcon, Mannerim |
Black Falcon
Falco subniger
Rare. Seen once flying over farmland in Connewarre
Australian Hobby
Falco longipennis
Uncommon. Seen occasionally at The Bluff, Barwon Heads and in Ocean Grove
Peregrine Falcon
Falco peregrinus
Uncommon. Occasionally seen in Ocean Grove.
Brolga
Grus rubicunda
Uncommon. Occasionally seen at Reedy Lake and surrounding farmland after water inundation. Breeding pair seen on Lake Connewarre, Barwon Heads 2011-12.
 |
| Brolga, Lake Connewarre |
Purple Swamphen
Porphyrio porphyrio
Commonly found among riparian vegetation on most sheltered freshwater lakes.
 |
| Purple Swamphen, St Leonards Lake Reserve |
Buff-banded Rail
Gallirallus philippensis
Uncommon and secretive. Seen occasionally at Begola Wetlands in Ocean Grove but likley to be at other similar wetlands.
Australian Spotted Crake
Porzana fluminia
Occasionally seen in swamps around Lake Connewarre and Begola Wetlands in Ocean Grove.
 |
| Australian Spotted Crake, Begola Wetlands, Ocean Grove |
Black-tailed Native-hen
Tribonix ventralis
Occasionally seen spring-summer in swamps around Lake Connewarre.
Dusky Moorhen
Gallinula tenebrosa
Common in most freshwater lakes and rivers.
Eurasian Coot
Fulica atra
Common in most freshwater lakes and rivers.
 |
| Eurasian Coot, Lake Lorne Reserve, Drysdale |
Australian Pied Oystercatcher
Haematopus longirostris
Common on mudflats on Stingaree Bay and Corio Bay at Pt Henry and many beaches along Port Phillip Bay shore at Portarlington, Indented Head and St Leonards.
 |
| Australian Pied Oystercatcher, Indented Head |
Sooty Oystercatcher
Haematopus fuliginosus
Common. Occasionally seen on mudflats on Stingaree Bay at Pt Henry and rock platforms at Pt Lonsdale and the Bluff at Barwon Heads.
Black-winged Stilt
Himantopus himantopus
Uncommon. Occasionally seen on Lonsdale Lakes, Barwon River estuary in Barwon Heads/Ocean Grove and rarely on farm dams across the Peninsula.
 |
| Black-winged Stilt, Lake Victoria, Pt Lonsdale |
Banded Stilt
Cladorhynchus leucocephalus
Uncommon but occasionally seen in large numbers on salt lakes, e.g., Lake Connewarre and Lake Victoria as water is receding.
 |
| Banded Stilt, Lake Victoria, Pt Lonsdale |
Pacific Golden Plover
Pluvialis fulva
Uncommmon. Flock of 30+ seen occassionally at Black Rocks (western end of 13th Beach) most summers.
 |
| Pacific Golden Plover, Black Rocks |
Red-capped Plover
Charadrius ruficapillus
Locally common. Commonly seen at Lake Victoria in Pt Lonsdale and on 13th Beach near Black Rocks.
 |
| Red-capped Plover, 13th Beach |
Double-banded Plover
Charadrius bicinctus
Locally/Seasonally Common. Seen late summer to late winter on beaches along Bass Strait, particularly from Barwon Heads to Breamlea.
 |
| Double-banded Plover, 13th Beach |
Black-fronted Dotterel
Elseyornis melanops
Uncommon. Occasionally seen at Lake Connewarre, Hospital Swamp, Lake Lorne in Drysdale and Begola Wetlands in Ocean Grove when water levels are low.
 |
| Black-fronted Dotterel, Begola Wetlands, Ocean Grove |
Hooded Plover
Thinornis rubicollis
Locally Common. Threatened species in Victoria but several pairs breeding on beaches along Bass Strait.
 |
| Hooded Plover, Pt Impossible |
Red-kneed Dotterel
Erythrogonys cinctus
Uncommon. Occasionally seen at Reedy Lake and Lake Connewarre
 |
| Red-kneed Dotterel, Hospital Swamp, Connewarre |
Masked Lapwing
Vanellus miles
Common in wide range of habitats from residential areas to farmland and beaches across the Peninsula.
 |
| Masked Lapwing, Indented Head |
Latham's Snipe
Gallinago hardwickii
Uncommon summer visitor to several freshwater wetlands including Begola Wetlands in Ocean Grove.
 |
| Latham's Snipe, Begola Wetlands, Ocean Grove |
Bar-tailed Godwit
Limosa lapponica
Uncommon but occasionally seen in Swan Bay at Queenscliff and mouth of Barwon River.
 |
| Bar-tailed Godwit, mouth of the Barwon River, Ocean Grove |
Whimbrel
Numenius phaeopus
Uncommon. Occasionally seen on Thompson Creek at Breamlea and Swan Bay at Queenscliff.
Eastern Curlew
Numenius madagascariensis
Rare. Occasionally seen on mudflats in Barwon River estuary (Barwon Heads/Ocean Grove) and at Swan Bay (Queenscliff).
 |
| Eastern Curlew, Barwon River, Ocean Grove |
Common Greenshank
Tringa nebularia
Uncommon summer migrant, occasionally seen at Thompson Creek at Breamlea, Begola Wetlands in Ocean Grove and Lonsdale Lakes.
Marsh Sandpiper
Tringa stagnatilis
Uncommon summer migrant to swamps around Lake Connewarre.
Ruddy Turnstone
Arenia interpres
Common summer migrant that can be seen on pebbly beaches along Port Phillip Bay. Most commonly seen at Edwards Point, Portarlington, St Leonards and Black Rocks.
 |
| Ruddy Turnstone, Portarlington |
Red-necked Stint
Calidris ruficollis
Common summer migrant most frequently found at Lake Victoria and on beaches along Bass Strait, particularly from Barwon Heads to Breamlea.
 |
| Red-necked Stint, Pt Impossible |
Sharp-tailed Sandpiper
Calidris acuminata
Uncommon summer migrant but occasionally seen in saltmarsh and mudflats near Swan Bay Jetty, Swan Bay in Queenscliff, Edwards Point Wildlife Reserve and swamps around Lake Connewarre.
 |
| Sharp-tailed Sandpiper, Swan Bay Jetty |
Curlew Sandpiper
Calidris ferruginea
Uncommon but occasionally seen at Lake Victoria in Pt Lonsdale associated with Red-necked Stints.
 |
| Curlew Sandpiper, Lake Victoria, Pt Lonsdale |
Little Tern
Sternula albifrons
Rare. Occasionally seen at Swan Bay in Queenscliff.
Fairy Tern
Sternula nereis
Rare. Occasionally seen at Swan Bay in Queenscliff and Lake Connewarre.
Caspian Tern
Hydroprogne caspia
Uncommon but can be seen anywhere along coast.
 |
| Caspian Tern, Swan Bay Jetty |
Whiskered Tern
Chlidonias hybrida
Seasonally common (spring and summer) at Lake Connewarre and Reedy Lake, occasionally in very large numbers (>1000).
 |
| Whiskered Tern, Breamlea Flora and Fauna Reserve |
Crested Tern
Thalasseus bergii
Common. Can be seen anywhere along coast.
 |
| Crested Tern, Portarlington |
Pacific Gull
Larus pacificus
Common. Can be seen anywhere along coast.
 |
| Pacific Gull, Indented Head |
Kelp Gull
Larus dominicanus
Rare. Occasionally seen along Bass Strait coast.
Silver Gull
Chroicocephalus novaehollandiae
Very common. Can be seen anywhere along the coast and often inland.
 |
| Silver Gull, Ripview Lookout, Queenscliff |
Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoo
Calyptorhynchus funereus
Common. Small flocks often seen associated with mature pine and cypress trees.
 |
| Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoo, Ocean Grove |
Galah
Eolophus roseicapillus
Very common. Small to large flocks can often be seen feeding in grasslands, farmland and sporting fields.
 |
| Galah, Wallington |
Long-billed Corella
Cacatua tenuirostris
Uncommon. Occasionally seen in eucalypt woodlands and roadside corridors surrounding farmland.
Little Corella
Cacatua sanguinea
Uncommon. Occasionally seen at St Leonards. Flock of 200-300 seen at St Leonards Lake Reserve in January 2011.
 |
| Little Corella, St Leonards Lake Reserve |
Sulphur-crested Cockatoo
Cacatua galerita
Common. Can be seen almost anywhere across the Peninsula.
 |
| Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, Ocean Grove |
Rainbow Lorikeet
Trichoglossus haematodus
Common. Can be seen almost anywhere on the Peninsula with mature wooded areas, particularly when eucalyptus are flowering.
 |
| Rainbow Lorikeet, Lake Lorne Reserve, Drysdale |
Scaly-breasted Lorikeet
Trichoglossus chlorolepidotus
Uncommon. Seen once at St Leonards. Hybrid Scaly-breasted and Rainbow Lorikeets seen once in Ocean Grove.
Musk Lorikeet
Glossopsitta concinna
Uncommon. Seen occasionally in roadside vegetation corridor along Anderson Road adjacent to farmland near Edwards Point Wildlife Reserve and in Ocean Grove feeding in Yellow Gums.
 |
| Musk Lorikeet, Ocean Grove |
Crimson Rosella
Platycercus elegans
Uncommon. Occasionally seen in residential gardens in Ocean Grove.
Eastern Rosella
Platycercus adscitus
Common in wooded farmland and residential gardens across the Peninsula.
Swift Parrot
Lathamus discolor
Uncommon migrant. Small flocks occasionally seen in Ocean Grove feeding in Yellow Gums.
Red-rumped Parrot
Psephotus haematonotus
Commonly seen feeding on grasslands and farmland across the Peninsula.
Blue-winged Parrot
Neophema chrysostoma
Uncommon but occasionally seen in winter at Breamlea Flora and Fauna Reserve along Blackgate Road.
Horsefield's Bronze-Cuckoo
Chalcites basalis
Uncommon. Occasionally seen in range of habitats from saltmarshes to vegetation corridors.
Chalcites lucidus
Uncommon. Seen in coastal woodland along Barwon River in Barwon Heads and in Ocean Grove Nature Reserve.
 |
Shining Bronze-cuckoo, Barwon Heads
|
Fan-tailed Cuckoo
Cacomantis flabelliformis
Uncommon. Seen in open coastal woodland at Edwards Point Wildlife Reserve.
Eastern Barn Owl
Tyto javanica
Uncommon. Probably not as rare as sightings suggest due to nocturnal behaviour.
Laughing Kookaburra
Dacelo novaegunieae
Common on roadsides and wooded areas across the Peninsula.
Superb Fairy-wren
Malurus cyaneus
Very common across the Peninsula wherever there is low scrub.
White-browed Scrubwren
Sericornis frontalis
Common in coastal scrub along back of Bass Strait sand dunes at Pt Lonsdale and Ocean Grove and in coastal scrub around Swan Bay.
Striated Fieldwren
Calamanthus fuliginosus
Uncommon but can be found in saltmarsh on Barwon River estuary at Barwon Heads and Swan Bay Jetty.
 |
| Striated Fieldwren, Barwon Heads |
Yellow-rumped Thornbill
Acanthiza chrysorrhoa
Common in coastal woodland and scrub.
Brown Thornbill
Acanthiza pusilla
Common in coastal woodland and scrub.
 |
| Brown Thornbill, Ocean Grove |
Spotted Pardalote
Pardalotus punctatus
Uncommon. Seen occasionally at Ocean Grove Wildlife Reserve.
Eastern Spinebill
Acanthorhynchus tenuirostris
Uncommon winter migrant seen occasionally in residential gardens in Ocean Grove.
Singing Honeyeater
Lichenostomus virescens
Common in coastal scrub along Bass Strait from Pt Lonsdale to Breamlea. Best places are Ocean Grove foreshore at the Lookout and adjacent to car parks east of surf club (designated as emergency locations 12W, 13W and 14W) and The Bluff at Barwon Heads (take the walk around the top of the bluff) and the Black Rocks end of 13th Beach.
 |
| Singing Honeyeater, Black Rocks |
White-plumed Honeyeater
Lichenostomus pencillatus
Common in most wooded areas.
 |
| White-plumed Honeyeater, Lake Lorne Reserve, Drysdale |
Noisy Miner
Manorina melanocephala
Common in parks and open wooded areas.
 |
| Noisy Miner, Ocean Grove |
Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater
Acanthagenys rufogularis
Uncommon but can often be seen at Edwards Point Wildlife Reserve and in wooded roadside corridor along east end of Anderson Road and occasionally along sand dunes at Buckley Park Foreshore Reserve in Ocean Grove.
 |
| Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater, Ocean Grove |
Little Wattlebird
Anthochaera chrysoptera
Uncommon. Seen at Ocean Grove Nature Reserve and Ti-tree scrub at SW end of Begola Wetlands Reserve in Ocean Grove.
Red Wattlebird
Anthochaera carunculata
Very common in most wooded areas and gardens across the Peninsula.
 |
| Red Wattlebird, Pt Lonsdale |
White-fronted Chat
Epthianura albifrons
Common around salt lakes and saltmarshes at Lonsdale Lakes and around Swan Bay and along the dunes at 13th Beach.
 |
| White-fronted Chat (female), 13th Beach |
 |
| White-fronted Chat (male), 13th Beach |
New Holland Honeyeater
Phylidonydris novaehollandiae
Very common in most wooded areas and vegetated suburban gardens across the Peninsula.
 |
| New Holland Honeyeater, Ocean Grove |
White-naped Honeyeater
Melithreptus lunatus
Uncommon. Occasionally seen at Ocean Grove Nature Reserve.
Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike
Coracina novaehollandiae
Seasonally common in wooded areas adjacent to parks and farmland. Most frequently seen at south end of Queenscliff-Portarlington Road.
Crested Shrike-tit
Falcunculus frontatus
Rare. Only seen once on the Bellarine Peninsula at Ocean Grove Nature Reserve.
Grey Shrike-thrush
Colluricincla harmonica
Uncommon. Occasionally seen at Ocean Grove Nature Reserve and Edwards Point Wildlife Reserve.
White-browed Woodswallow
Artamus superciliosus
Uncommon. Seen only for a few days in November 2009 along west end of Anderson Road and at Edwards Point Wildlife Reserve.
Black-faced Woodswallow
Artamus cinereus
Uncommon. Seen once at Ocean Grove Nature Reserve.
Grey Butcherbird
Cracticus torquatus
Common. Frequently seen (or more likely heard) in various wooded locations including residential gardens.
 |
| Grey Butcherbird, Barwon Heads |
Australian Magpie
Cracticus tibicen
Very common across most habitats on the Peninsula.
Pied Currawong
Strepera graculina
Uncommon winter visitor in wooded areas along St Leonards foreshore and Ocean Grove.
Grey Currawong
Stepera versicolor
Uncommon. Seen twice in wooded areas on farmland on north shore of Lake Connewarre.
Grey Fantail
Rhipidura albiscapa
Common in most wooded areas across the Peninsula.
Willie Wagtail
Rhipidura leucophrys
Very common in most habitats across the Peninsula.
Australian Raven
Corvus coronoides
Rare. Seen only once each at Portarlington and Ocean Grove.
Forest Raven
Corvus tasmanicus
Rare. Out of usual range in the Otways but occasionally seen at Breamlea and Connewarre. Seen once in Ocean Grove.
Little Raven
Corvus mellori
Common in many wooded areas, farmland and suburban roadsides and gardens across the Peninsula.
Magpie-lark
Grallina cyanoleuca
Very common across most habitats on the Peninsula.
 |
| Magpie Lark, Lake Lorne Reserve, Drysdale |
Flame Robin
Petroica phoenicea
Common winter visitor often seen perched on fences on farmland across the Peninsula.
 |
| Flame Robin, Ocean Grove Nature Reserve |
Eastern Yellow Robin
Eopsaltria australis
Uncommon. Seen occasionally in wooded roadside corridors on eastern end of the Peninsula and at Edwards Point Wildlife Reserve.
Horsefield's Bushlark
Mirafra javanica
Uncommon. Occasionally seen in grasslands at Edwards Point Wildlife Reserve and surrounding farmland.
Eurasian Skylark
Alauda arvensis
Uncommon. Occasionally seen in farmland at eastern end of the Peninsula.
Golden-headed Cisticola
Cisticola exilis
Locally common around dams and saltmarshes with adjacent reeds and rushes. Most frequently seen at Edwards Point Wildlife Reserve.
Australian Reed-Warbler
Acrocephalus australis
Uncommon but can be seen (and more often heard) around creeks and waterholes with riparian reeds and rushes.
Silvereye
Zosterops lateralis
Common in coastal scrub and woodland. Frequently seen along Ocean Grove Spit.
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| Silvereye, Ocean Grove |
Welcome Swallow
Hirundo neoxena
Common around lakes and estuaries.
Fairy Martin
Petrochelidon ariel
Uncommon. Seen occasionally at Lake Victoria in Pt Lonsdale.
Tree Martin
Petrochelidon nigricans
Uncommon. See once in Ocean Grove.
Common Blackbird
Turdus merula
Common in residential gardens and parks.
Common Starling
Sturnus vulgaris
Very common across most habitats on the Peninsula.
Common Myna
Sturnus tristis
Common in residential gardens and parks.
Zebra Finch
Taeniopygia guttata
Uncommon. Seen occasionally on fences adjacent to farmland on Portarlington - Queenscliff Road.
Red-browed Finch
Neochmia ruficauda
Uncommon. Seen occasionally in wooded roadside corridors on eastern end of the Peninsula.
Diamond Firetail
Stagonopleura guttata
Rare. Seen once at Ocean Grove Nature Reserve.
House Sparrow
Passer domseticus
Very common across most habitats on the Peninsula.
Australian Pipit
Anthus novaeseelandiae
Locally common along coastal grasslands between 13th Beach and Breamlea.
European Goldfinch
Carduelis carduelis
Locally common in areas of coastal scrub. Seen frequently at Pt Henry and along inside of sand dunes between Pt Lonsdale and Ocean Grove.
Common Greenfinch
Chloris chloris
Locally common in areas of coastal scrub. Seen frequently at Pt Henry and along inside of sand dunes between Pt Lonsdale and Ocean Grove.
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| Common Greenfinch, Alcoa Wetlands, Pt Henry |
