On this tour we shall spend time exploring the wide range of habitats found immediately to the west of Melbourne without any long drives required.

For our woodland birding, depending on conditions and the season we may visit Eynesbury Grey Box Forest, Long Forest (Bull Mallee and Box), the You Yangs Regional Park (Yellow Gum, Red Gum and Wattle), Serendip Sanctuary (regrowth forest and wetlands) and/or the Brisbane Ranges National Park (mixed forest including Stringybarks, Ironbarks, Gums and Box trees)

A wide range of bushland birds are found in this area representing most Victorian bird families plus a few scarcer and/or cryptic species which can be searched for such as Little Eagle, Tawny Frogmouth, Purple-crowned Lorikeet, Satin Flycatcher (summer), Yellow-tufted Honeyeater, Blue-winged Parrot (summer), various Cuckoos, Crested Shrike-tit, Speckled Warbler, Chestnut-rumped Heathwren, Scarlet Robin, Red-capped Robin, Diamond Firetail, Varied Sitella and Spotted Quail-thrush to name a few. Spring and summer migrants increase the diversity

With the permit sections of the WTP (Werribee) currently closed due to bird flu, we will visit a number of the other varied wetland sites along Port Phillip Bay between Melbourne and Geelong. A little more spread out but the same habitats and birds. Conditions vary from season to season and even week to week. Sites visited may include Jawbone Reserve, Kororoit Creek, Laverton Creek, Truganinna Swamp, Skeleton Creek, Pt Wilson, Kirk Point, Avalon Beach, Limeburners Lagoon, Lara Lakes and Serendip Sanctuary amongst others. Migratory shorebirds and Terns are a feature especially from September to March, raptors are varied and common all year with a peak in late summer, rails and crakes are usually seen when water levels are just right, duck numbers fluctuate with a good variety nearly always present, winter brings Blue-winged Parrots and Flame Robins. Then there are Brolgas, Cape Barren Geese, Egrets and Spoonbills, Striated Fieldwren and Zebra Finch, the list goes on, the coastline of Port Phillip Bay is never dull. Of all our one day tours this one is likely to produce the biggest species list

Aus$700-00 total for a single person Aus$750-00 total for a 2 people Aus$800-00 for 3-4 people - includes drinks and snacks, lunch not included - larger groups are possible