October Bird Walk – Saturday 4 October – Mt Korong Nature Conservation Reserve, Glenalbyn

Our October bird walk will be held on Saturday 4 October at Mt Korong, Glenalbyn. It is a bit further away than our typical walks but worth the drive as we will be getting into more arid habitats than usual, with the possibility of seeing species we are not usually able to see.

Also, for those wishing to make a full day of it, after the usual morning walk, we will have lunch then go to a different area close by where there are opportunities to possibly see more different species.

The indigenous name for the park is Burrabungle and it is a spiritual site for the Dja Dja Wurrung people. Species recently seen include Wedge-tailed and Little Eagle, Square-tailed and Black Kite, Diamond Firetail, White-browed Babbler, Red-capped and Hooded Robin, Southern Whiteface, Gilbert’s Whistler, various Cuckoos including Black-eared, Rufous Songlark, Painted, Singing, Spiny-cheeked, Black-chinned plus several other Honeyeaters, various Thornbills, Pardalotes and more. Your walk leaders are Judy and Gary Smith.

ALL WELCOME!

Please note there are no toilets available at the Reserve.

Where: We will be starting at the Mt Korong Scenic Reserve picnic area. From Castlemaine take Barker St/Midland Hwy (A300), then the Calder Fwy (M79). At Ravenswood turn left on the Calder Alternate Hwy (A790) and continue on this
until you get to Marong then turn left onto the Calder Hwy (A79). Continue on the Calder for approx. 37KM then turn right onto the Boort-Kurting Rd. This is after Inglewood and you will see an old abandoned Mechanics Institute Hall on the right about 300mtrs before the turn off. Drive approx. 8.6KM and turn left onto the Wedderburn-Serpentine Rd. After driving around 5.6KM you will see a road on the right sign posted the Mount Korong Firebreak Track – DO NOT TURN HERE – go another 600mtrs and turn right where you see the Castlemaine BirdLife sign; this is also part of the Mount Korong Firebreak Track (it is signed). Drive in and look for our BirdLife sign.

GPS: -36.4747, 143.7545. Google Maps Link is here. 

When: Meet at Mt Korong at 9:00am.

Bring / wear: Water, snacks, lunch (if staying for afternoon walk), binoculars, sunscreen, hat, long trousers, sturdy closed-in shoes.

More info: Jane Rusden 0448 900 896, Bob Dawson 0417 621 691

Acknowledgment of Country

BirdLife Castlemaine acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the lands we will walk, the Dja Dja Wurrung people, and we pay our respects to their Elders past and present. We recognise and are grateful for the immense contribution of Indigenous people to the knowledge and conservation of Australia’s birds.

Important Information Regarding Cancellation of Walks

Please note that walks will be cancelled if severe weather warnings are in place, persistent rain is forecast, the temperature is forecast to be 35C or above during the walk period, a Total Fire Ban is declared, or some other safety issue is identified. Please check our Facebook page or email castlemaine@birdlife.org.au the day before the event in case there is a cancellation.

Nature Journaling with BirdLife Castlemaine District

Golden Point Reservoir is looking very pretty as spring gets underway. We will be looking for wildflowers and other signs of spring, as we walk about 500m to a good spot to settle, observe, write and draw. Led by artist and bird nut, Jane Rusden. No experience is necessary and beginners are very welcome.

What to bring / wear:

– Wear warm clothing and sturdy shoes. Note we will be on rough bush tracks, occasionally off track and will walk up to a few hundred meters, possibly carrying your art materials.

– A small selection of art materials such as paints, pencils, pens, coloured pencils, pastels, paper, water container if applicable, camera or phone and binoculars if you have them. A bag to put it all in.

– Something to sit on, such as a camp chair or rug.

– A hat and sunscreen.

– Water, hot drink and snacks.

– Your sense of curiosity.

When and where: Sunday 5 October from 9:30am – 11:30am. Expedition Pass Reservoir, Golden Point Rd, Golden Point.

Weebill foraging in Yellow Gum, detail of a larger painting in watercolour. By Jane Rusden.

Birding Weekend, Myrtleford, 24-26 October

Just a reminder about our 2025 birding weekend around Myrtleford, Victoria. The area has a number of different types of habitat but the main reason is it being close by wet forest, in particular the Mount Buffalo National Park. The wet forest birds that we may find are Superb Lyrebird, Pilotbird, Satin Bowerbird, Red-browed Treecreeper, Rufous Fantail, Olive Whistler, and Eastern Whipbird plus various Honeyeaters and Robins. In fact, it is possible to see eight species of Robin in the area including Pink and Rose.

At this stage the details have not been finalised, but we are looking at areas in and around Myrtleford including the Poo Ponds, Lake Buffalo and some local forest tracks.

For accommodation there are three caravan or camping parks in Myrtleford itself plus hotels and motels in the town, and a number of B&Bs etc., in the general area. If you intend on going, we suggest booking your accommodation as soon as possible to secure a place as the Myrtleford Show is also on that weekend and it may be difficult to find somewhere.

As usual we suggest driving up on the Friday to get settled in if you can. There will be walks organised for Friday afternoon, Saturday morning and afternoon and Sunday morning. If enough people are interested, we may look at doing a night walk on the Saturday. A communal dinner will also be arranged for the Friday night at a hotel or restaurant in Myrtleford.

For more information regarding the area, click here:
https://www.victoriashighcountry.com.au/destinations/myrtleford/
https://www.alltrails.com/australia/victoria/myrtleford–2/birding
https://www.parks.vic.gov.au/places-to-see/parks/mount-buffalo-national-park

For those interested in the weekend, please advise Bob Dawson by email so that you can be notified of the details as they become available.

Seniors Festival 2025: Castlemaine Pride Rainbow Bird Walk – Saturday 18 October

For this Senior’s Month we’ve teamed up with Castlemaine Pride to bring you a Rainbow Birdwalk on Saturday 18 October.

Come along and connect with nature and other LGBTQIA+ folks on our bird watching wander along Campbells Creek Trail. Whether you’re an experienced bird nerd or looking for an inclusive intro to the world of birds, this event is for you.

This event is for all ages and open to allies, so bring along friends, family and grandchildren.

The walk is free but you do need to register – for further details and the registration link please click here.

Know Your Birds Quiz

Test your bird knowledge in this month’s quiz with the questions below, then check the answers at the end of this eNews. Big thanks as always to quizmaster Ash Vigus.

Question 1 (Easy): Multiple Choice

What is Australia’s largest species of Cuckoo? Choose from the list of six species below.

1. Eastern Koel
2. Pallid Cuckoo
3. Black-eared Cuckoo
4. Channel-billed Cuckoo
5. Fan-tailed Cuckoo
6. Horsfield’s Bronze Cuckoo

Question 2 (Intermediate): Spot the Feathers

All four bird species pictured below are found in the Castlemaine district; what do you think these four birds are?

Question 3 (Advanced): Who Am I?

• I’m a large bird, approximately 60 to 75 centimetres in length, with a wingspan up 1.2 metres.
• I’m found in all Australian states and territories, as well as Papua New Guinea and Indonesia.
• My diet consists mainly of terrestrial invertebrates, especially grasshoppers and locusts. But I will also take frogs, small reptiles and mammals.
• I’m found across a variety of habitats, including wet and dry grasslands, pastures, croplands, swamps, and lagoons as well as sport playing fields.
• I form large breeding colonies. The low nests are large, trampled platforms of reeds, rushes and sticks over water, often blending to form one continuous platform.
• A partly migratory bird, I will move according to water conditions. I can be observed flying in large flocks often in a line or V formation.
• My colours consist of a glossy blue-black back, with metallic purple, green and bronze sheen, a white nape and sides of neck and white underparts.
• I have a featherless black head, long downcurved black bill and yellow throat plumes.

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Become a Member

Membership of BirdLife Australia is a great way to support a bright future for Australia’s birds – and it would also make a perfect gift for a bird-lover! Learn more about membership or other ways to get involved here.

Kind regards,

The BirdLife Castlemaine Committee

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Quiz Answers

Question 1: The Channel-billed Cuckoo.

Question 2: Clockwise from top left – Brown Treecreeper, Striated Pardalote, Australasian Darter, Nankeen Night Heron (Juvenile).

Question 3: Straw-necked Ibis.