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Hopetoun Easter 2016 I went to Hopetoun in the semi-desert Mallee region of north-western Victoria. This was a part of the state I hadn't been to before and there was great expectation to see a number of new species of birds for the first time. Despite the lateness of the season I added Shy Heathwren, Blue Bonnet, Major Mitchell's Cockatoo, White-backed Swallow and White-browed Treecreeper to my lifetime birdlist. Views of Hopetoun and surrounds are here. I enjoyed a free camping site on the shore of the freshwater Lake Lascelles and woke each morning to beautiful bird song. The black-fronted dotterel and white-faced heron were regular visitors to the shoreline less than 10m from my tent. Wyperfeld National Park is less than an hour's drive from Hopetoun and I felt a sense of adventure driving on the sandy tracks through the dry and sparsely vegetated terrain. The region certainly warrants a return in Spring when the flowers are out and birds are in fine voice. |
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| Black-fronted Dotterel | Blue Bonnet | Chestnut-rumped Thornbill | Common Starling (juv-adult phase?) | Galah | Major Mitchell's Cockatoos (one enjoying a good preen) |
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| Restless Flycatcher | Ringneck | Shy Heathwren | Southern Whiteface | Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater | Striated Pardalote (race substriatis) |
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| White-backed Swallow | White-browed Treecreeper | White-faced Heron | White-winged Chough |
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Images © Russell Cockman |
