BLEG does Bottom Lake

The visiting group from Birdlife East Gippsland (BLEG) chartered the Loch Ard and skipper Dale for a tour of the Inlet and some historic sites near the original site of Mallacoota.  We had been told in the past how good these trips are but hadn't got around to doing one until now.  It was really excellent!

I was surprised that once out on the water Genoa Peak was the backdrop to a view of Stingray Point.  (I was also surprised at the extent of the timber next to our block, which  meant our house was rarely visible from our route today.)

 A White-bellied Sea-Eagle came past.  Spoiler alert: this is not the last photo of this species in this post!  We saw a huge new nest being constructed towards the Mouth.

 One of the sandbars making up the Sands.  This one was quite well endowed with shore birds.  We didn't walk around as some of the birds were possibly nesting.

The diet of the Eagles was slightly supplemented with some chook offcuts.  The meat had air injected into it so that it floated.  Sorry about the other photographers finger, but the birds are travelling switly when they drop.

 A Silver Gull investigated one of the offcuts.  This would have to be contending for a Darwin Award: Silver Gulls are a more frequent element of the Eagle's diet than chook.

 Two views of a larger island in the Sands.  The Pelicans have bred with the chicks now quite large living in a creche.

 It was quite exciting to see Pied Cormorants.  The official count was 5 birds.

Several anglers were around the place.  I have obfuscated them in case they had called in sick and th boss happened to see this post.

 A Pelican came by.

 As did a Caspian Tern.

 At one point there were 3 Sea-Eagles and 3 Whistling Kites over the boat at once.  There was considerable discord between the Kites so this must have been the boundary of two territories.

 This is my best shot of an Eagle

 My second-best shot.

 On landing at the Spotted Dog Mine site an attractive Lace Monitor (Goanna) shinned up a tree.

 Here is an image of the bush as it is now around the mine site.  It was considered that at the time of setting up the mine the under-storey might have been more open as a result of regular burning

 Parks Victoria have put a lot of resources into the areaincluding fences on the mullock heap to stop punters falling into the mineshafts etc.

 A memorial to James Smellie in the historic Cemetery on the walk to Allan Head..

Our final walk was around the original settlement area of Lakeview.  The view from under a Bunya Pine was interesting.

 A Coal Tree had a few flowers.

 Here is the view back to Lakeview,

As I commented at the beginning, n excellent outing.