Photo Steven James
East of Melbourne in the foothills of the Great Dividing Range are towering forests of Mountain Ash, the world’s tallest hardwood tree. These stunningly beautiful forests are home to one of Australia’s most remarkable birds, the Superb Lyrebird.
A morning spent here is usually enough time to find this species, as well as a nice range of other wet forest birds. Regularly seen are Rose Robin, Rufous Fantail, Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoo, Australian King Parrot, Red-browed and White-throated Treecreeper, Eastern Whipbird, Crescent Honeyeater, Lewins Honeyeater, Brown Gerygone, Striated Thornbill and Crested Shrike-tit amongst a range of other possibilities. Driving through the leafy Melbourne suburbs on the way may produce a variety of Parrots such as Rainbow and Musk Lorikeets, Long-billed and Little Corellas and perhaps a roosting Tawny Frogmouth.
The freeway past Melbourne’s CBD allow us to easily drive through to the west and spend the afternoon at Werribee’s Western Treatment Plant where the birding pace will rise to another level with easier viewing in the wetlands and open country.
Cost $390 for 1-2 people, plus $50 for each extra person, includes drinks and snacks, lunch not included