Victoria – Bird Families of the World

week 075 | mainly Jerrabomberra Wetlands | trip list 607 – 607

Posted on December, 2025January, 2026

Cann River - Bredbo - ACT - Yass - Robertson

In an Eggshell:

Big Zigzag bird species count: 607 (+0 this week)
Big Zigzag bird families count: 91 (+0 this week)
Big Zigzag Lifers: 157 (+0 this week)
Campsite Lifers 30 (+0 this week)
Big Zigzag New for Australia list: 211 (+0 this week), AU list now 640.
eBird AU year list: 487
eBird days of checklist streak: 523
Week’s special milestones: none

Bird(s) of the Week

Eastern Cattle-Egret

Baillon’s Crake

Pink-eared Duck (Malacorhynchus membranaceus), monotype genus Australian endmic

Jerrabomberra Wetlands: Australian Pelican, Australian Ibis, Maned Duck, Little Black Cormorant, Royal Spoonbill, Eurasian Coot

Non-bird image(s)

Jarabombera Marshes. Even though I dipped the Black-backed Bittern, it’s great to be here. 60 species a day, with 5 beautiful hides, and a 2 minute drive from Barrio Collective Coffee Roastery and Capital Brewing Co, where you can have a delicious vegan burger.

Week's Key location(s)

Big Zigzag Travelled so far: 71100 km (this week 800 km)

eBird Checklists this week

2173. 20 Dec 2025 11:31 AM Robertson Nature Reserve

2172. 19 Dec 2025 10:04 AM Joe O’Connor Park, Yass

2171. 18 Dec 2025 6:44 AM Jerrabomberra Wetlands Nature Reserve

2170. 17 Dec 2025 7:38 AM Jerrabomberra Wetlands Nature Reserve

2169. 16 Dec 2025 10:07 AM Jerrabomberra Wetlands Nature Reserve

2168. 15 Dec 2025 2:39 PM Jerrabomberra Wetlands Nature Reserve

2167. 15 Dec 2025 10:06 AM Jerrabomberra Wetlands Nature Reserve

2166. 14 Dec 2025 7:01 PM Bredbo

2165. 14 Dec 2025 9:38 AM Cann River Bushland Reserve–Rainforest Walk

Big Zigzag Birding

week 074 | Chasing Aurora Australis failed | trip list 607 – 607

Posted on December, 2025December, 2025

Parramatta - Burralow - Robertson - Cooma - Marlo - Sale

In an Eggshell:

Bird(s) of the Week

Eastern Shriketit (Falcunculus frontatus), member of the 3 members endmic family Falcunculidae (Shriketits). Sale Common Nature Conservation Reserve.

Non-bird image(s)

Starlink satellite train.

Waragrambe old cars meeting at the free camping area.

Week's Key location(s)

Big Zigzag Travelled so far: 70300 km (this week 1400 km)

eBird Checklists this week

2164. 13 Dec 2025 3:22 PM Cann River Bushland Reserve–Rainforest Walk

2163. 13 Dec 2025 12:00 PM Forest Park, East Gippsland

2162. 12 Dec 2025 10:52 AM Sale Common Nature Conservation Reserve

2161. 11 Dec 2025 10:21 AM Metung

2160. 10 Dec 2025 1:50 PM Metung Rd at Sardine Flat Rd, Tambo River

2159. 10 Dec 2025 12:33 PM Cunningham Arm Foot Bridge (Lakes Entrance)

2158. 10 Dec 2025 10:18 AM Snowy Flats at Brodribb River Bridge

2157. 09 Dec 2025 5:45 PM Mots Beach

2156. 09 Dec 2025 8:43 AM Robertson

2155. 08 Dec 2025 9:18 AM Blue Mountains National Park–Burralow Creek Campground

2154. 07 Dec 2025 9:12 AM Warragamba Dam Wall

Big Zigzag Birding

week 068 | Gippsland Owling | trip list 597 – 599

Posted on October, 2025November, 2025

2 great spotlighting nights: 1st at Cape Liptrap Lighthouse, 2nd at Lake Tyers State Park (and some Alpine views).

In an Eggshell:

Big Zigzag bird species count: 599 (+2 this week)
Big Zigzag bird families count: 90 (+0 this week)
Big Zigzag Lifers: 155 (+2 this week: Tasmanian Boobook, Australasian Masked Owl)
Campsite Lifers 30 (+0 this week)
Big Zigzag New for Australia list: 209 (+2 this week), AU list now 638.
eBird AU year list: 460
eBird days of checklist streak: 474
Week’s special milestones: None

Bird(s) of the Week

Tasmanian Boobook(Ninox leucopsis), Cape Liptrap Lighthouse lifer. Just before they migrate back to Tassie.

Lake Tyers State Park lifer: Australasian Masked Owl (Tyto novaehollandiae). With Ben Williams, Wild
East Gippsland – Photography and Nature Based Tours.

Sooty Owl (Tyto tenebricosa), Lake Tyers State Park

Non-bird image(s)

Cape Liptrap Lighthouse

Week's Key location(s)

Big Zigzag Travelled so far: 64025 km (this week 925 km)

eBird Checklists this week

2092. 01 Nov 2025 4:58 PM Livingstone Park

2091. 01 Nov 2025 11:10 AM Fainter Falls Walk

2090. 31 Oct 2025 1:56 PM 173 Old Harrietville Road, Germantown, Victoria, AU (-36.756, 147.023), Alpine

2089. 31 Oct 2025 10:47 AM Dinner Plain Village, Alpine

2088. 30 Oct 2025 12:36 PM Collins Road Crossing, Tambo River

2087. 29 Oct 2025 9:51 PM Lake Tyers State Park–Trident Arm

2086. 28 Oct 2025 11:13 AM Bald Hills Reserve, South Gippsland

2085. 28 Oct 2025 7:30 AM Cape Liptrap Lighthouse

2084. 27 Oct 2025 9:55 PM Cape Liptrap Lighthouse

2083. 27 Oct 2025 4:33 PM Cape Liptrap Lighthouse

2082. 26 Oct 2025 10:10 AM Korumburra

Big Zigzag Birding

week 067 | Great Ocean Pelagic (and Road) | trip list 590 – 597

Posted on October, 2025October, 2025

Portland Pelagic! - Great Ocean Road

In an Eggshell:

Big Zigzag bird species count: 597 (+7 this week)
Big Zigzag bird families count: 90 (+0 this week)
Big Zigzag Lifers: 153 (+3 this week: Flesh-footed Shearwater, Gray-faced Petrel, Great-winged Petrel)
Campsite Lifers 30 (+0 this week)
Big Zigzag New for Australia list: 207 (+5 this week), AU list now 637.
eBird AU year list: 453
eBird days of checklist streak: 467
Week’s special milestones: None

Bird(s) of the Week

Flesh-footed Shearwater (Ardenna carneipes), one of the three lifers on Portland Pelagic (with few of the dozens White-capped Albatrosses) . Many thanks to Chanith Wijeratne for organizing great ocean birding!

Great-winged Petrel (Pterodroma macroptera) one of the three lifers on Portland Pelagic.

Grey-faced Petrel (Pterodroma gouldi) one of the three lifers on Portland Pelagic.

Wilson’s Storm-Petrel (Oceanites oceanicus)

Southern Royal Albatross (Diomedea epomophora) with “Fleshie” shadow

Indian Yellow-nosed (Albatross Thalassarche carteri)

Young Black-browed Albatross (Thalassarche melanophris) with White-capped (Shay) Albatross (Thalassarche cauta) behind.

Great Ocean Road star: Rufous Bristlebird (Dasyornis broadbenti). Seen in a few sites and probably got used to the tourism activity around so less secretive than expected.

Non-bird image(s)

The best non-bird photo from the plagic

A bit of Great Ocean Road (and Peregrine Falcon)

Kuala & son

Week's Key location(s)

Portland Pelagic–Offshore

Big Zigzag Travelled so far: 63100 km (this week 900 km)

eBird Checklists this week

2081. 25 Oct 2025 1:22 PM Moorabool River Reserve (Golden Plains)

2080. 24 Oct 2025 4:35 PM Barwon River at Winchelsea

2079. 24 Oct 2025 2:02 PM Split Point, Surf Coast

2078. 24 Oct 2025 11:39 AM Great Otway National Park–Sheoak Falls Track

2077. 23 Oct 2025 12:02 PM Port Campbell National Park–Loch Ard Gorge

2076. 23 Oct 2025 9:54 AM Cobden Lake Reserve

2075. 22 Oct 2025 9:27 AM Cobden

2074. 21 Oct 2025 3:10 PM Port Campbell National Park–London Bridge

2073. 21 Oct 2025 1:48 PM Bay of Martyrs

2072. 21 Oct 2025 1:15 PM Bay of Islands

2071. 21 Oct 2025 9:41 AM Fitzroy River, Heywood

2070. 20 Oct 2025 2:16 PM Fitzroy River, Heywood

2069. 19 Oct 2025 1:17 PM Portland Pelagic–Inshore

2068. 19 Oct 2025 8:15 AM Portland Pelagic–Offshore

2067. 19 Oct 2025 7:36 AM Portland Pelagic–Inshore

2066. 19 Oct 2025 7:29 AM Portland Harbour

Big Zigzag Birding

week 066 | From SA (state) to SA (bird) | trip list 588 – 590

Posted on October, 2025October, 2025

Kalangadoo - Mount Gambier - Piccaninnie Ponds (SA) - Casterton (VIC) - Point Danger

In an Eggshell:

Big Zigzag bird species count: 590 (+2 this week)
Big Zigzag bird families count: 90 (+0 this week)
Big Zigzag Lifers: 150 (+1 this week: Australasian Bittern)
Campsite Lifers 30 (+0 this week)
Big Zigzag New for Australia list: 207 (+2 this week), AU list now 632.
eBird AU year list: 446
eBird days of checklist streak: 460
Week’s special milestones: Big Zigzag Lifer #150!

Bird(s) of the Week

Finally got the boogey bird! Australasian Bittern (Botaurus poiciloptilus), Piccaninnie Ponds Conservation Park. Seen for 3 days in a raw, always for a short time after flashed from the reeds.

Long staying South African guest at Point Danger: Cape Gannet among hundreds of Australasian Gannets (the pale irised one, long dark gular striped, and paler head).

Golden-headed Cisticola, carrying nesting material, Piccaninnie Ponds Conservation Park.

Australian Hobby, Piccaninnie Ponds Conservation Park

Non-bird image(s)

Looks good but nature problem! Introduced Red Fox, Piccaninnie Ponds Conservation Park.

Koala hanging on a tree above Victorian highway north to Portland

Southern Elephant Seal near Point Danger

Week's Key location(s)

Australasian Bittern site!

Big Zigzag Travelled so far: 62200 km (this week 800 km)

eBird Checklists this week

2065. 18 Oct 2025 4:56 PM Point Danger

2064. 17 Oct 2025 12:43 PM Weecurra State Forest–Range Rd, Glenelg

2063. 17 Oct 2025 10:13 AM Ess Lagoon

2062. 16 Oct 2025 1:21 PM Ess Lagoon, Glenelg, Victoria

2061. 16 Oct 2025 9:07 AM Eight Mile Creek Mouth, Grant, South Australia

2060. 15 Oct 2025 4:05 PM 85 Attiwill Road, Yahl, South Australia, AU (-37.858, 140.848)

2059. 15 Oct 2025 1:46 PM Mount Schank State Heritage Area

2058. 15 Oct 2025 9:44 AM Piccaninnie Ponds Conservation Park

2057. 15 Oct 2025 9:16 AM Piccaninnie Ponds Conservation Park–Pick Swamp

2056. 14 Oct 2025 5:47 PM Eight Mile Creek Mouth

2055. 14 Oct 2025 9:47 AM Piccaninnie Ponds Conservation Park–Pick Swamp

2054. 13 Oct 2025 11:48 AM Piccaninnie Ponds Conservation Park–Pick Swamp

2053. 13 Oct 2025 11:01 AM Valley Lake, Mount Gambier

2052. 12 Oct 2025 9:52 AM Kalangadoo

Big Zigzag Birding

week 035 | Back to South Australia via Victoria | trip list 484 – 485

Posted on March, 2025March, 2025

Back to Gang-gang territories!

In an Eggshell:

Big Zigzag bird species count: 485 (+1 this week)
Big Zigzag bird families count: 89 (+1 this week: Bristlebirds)
Big Zigzag Lifers: 111 (+0 this week:0)
Campsite Lifers 24 (+0 this week)
Big Zigzag New for Australia list: 158 (+1 this week)
eBird days of checklist streak: 243
Week’s special milestones: None

Bird(s) of the Week

Rufous Bristlebird, new endemic bird family for Big Zigzag list. (photographed in 2018, Great Ocean Road)

Great to hear and see some Gang-gang Cockatoos again, this one from Heywood, VIC

Black-tailed Nativehens from Cockatoo Lake, South Australia

Typical assortment on lake Cockatoo like: Australian Pelican, Yellow-billed Spoonbill, Australian Shelduck, Pacific Black Duck, Masked Lapwing, Sliver Gull, Gray Teal.

Non-bird image(s)

Blue Lake, Mount Gambier, South Australia. Amazing site with local interesting record: 15 Great Crested Grebes

Cape Nelson Lighthouse Reserve, Victoria

Week's Key location(s)

Cape Nelson Lighthouse is a great spot for Rufous Bristlebird

Big Zigzag Travelled so far: 27900 km (this week 950 km)

eBird Checklists this week

1693. 15 Mar 2025 9:59 AM Cockatoo Lake

1692. 14 Mar 2025 6:05 PM Cockatoo Lake, Naracoorte and Lucindale

1691. 14 Mar 2025 1:19 PM Naracoorte Caves National Park–Visitor Centre

1690. 13 Mar 2025 2:01 PM Blue Lake, South Australia

1689. 12 Mar 2025 4:48 PM Fitzroy River, Heywood, Victoria

1688. 12 Mar 2025 1:12 PM Fawthrop Lagoon

1687. 11 Mar 2025 1:59 PM Bridgewater Bay

1686. 11 Mar 2025 10:17 AM Cape Nelson Lighthouse Reserve

1685. 10 Mar 2025 4:45 PM Fawthrop Lagoon

1684. 09 Mar 2025 10:05 AM Kings Domain

Big Zigzag Birding

week 028 | Leaving Melbourne and crossing the Bass Strait | trip list 457 – 459

Posted on January, 2025March, 2025

Bye bye Victoria, Tassie - here we come!

In an Eggshell:

Big Zigzag bird species count: 459 (+2 this week)
Big Zigzag bird families count: 86 (+1 this week: Albatrosses)
Big Zigzag Lifers: 94 (+0 this week)
Campsite Lifers 23 (+0 this week)
Big Zigzag New for Australia list: 136 (+0 this week)
eBird days of checklist streak: 194
Week’s special milestones: none

Bird(s) of the Week

White-capped Albatross – 2 were seen during Bass Strait crossing

Short-tailed Shearwater – hundreds were seen from 2 point on the easter end of Great Ocean Road and during the Bass Strait crossing

Short-tailed Shearwater

Hooded Plover. Disturbed by dogs, protected by volunteers who kindly explain the dog walkers about the vulnerability of this species and why they should walk their dogs on a leash on this beach.

Bell Miner (Manorina melanophrys) at Melbourne Royal Botanical Gardens

Non-bird image(s)

Crossing the Bass Strait

Hooded Plover. Disturbed by dogs, protected by volunteers who kindly explain the dog walkers about the vulnerability of this species and why they should walk their dogs on a leash on this beach.

Hooded Plovers protected nesting area

Week's Key location(s)

Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria

Bass strait – Geelong – Devenport “Pelagic” – Spirit of Tasmania

Big Zigzag Travelled so far: 22800 km (this week 850 km)

eBird Checklists this week

1615. 25 Jan 2025 12:47 PM AU (-38.631, 144.796), Mornington Peninsula (Bass Strait)

1614. 25 Jan 2025 11:34 AM No 6 Channel Marker, Mornington Peninsula (Bass Strait)

1613. 24 Jan 2025 11:21 AM Fishermans Beach, Surf Coast

1612. 24 Jan 2025 9:07 AM Anglesea Heath–Hammond Rd b/w Camping Area

1611. 23 Jan 2025 12:15 PM Point Roadknight, Surf Coast

1610. 22 Jan 2025 4:24 PM Anderson Reserve, Greater Geelong

1609. 22 Jan 2025 11:58 AM Moolap Saltworks–Pump-house, Greater Geelong

1608. 21 Jan 2025 9:00 AM Clayton South

1607. 20 Jan 2025 10:48 AM Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne

1606. 19 Jan 2025 10:39 AM Lake Weeroona

Big Zigzag Birding

week 027 | North to Melbourne | trip list 449 – 457

Posted on January, 2025March, 2025

Approaching and quick crossing of Murray River

In an Eggshell:

Big Zigzag bird species count: 457 (+8 this week)
Big Zigzag bird families count: 85 (+1 this week: Rollers)
Big Zigzag Lifers: 94 (+3 this week: Turquoise Parrot, White-throated Needletail, Little Buttonquail)
Campsite Lifers 23 (+0 this week)
Big Zigzag New for Australia list: 136 (+3 this week)
eBird days of checklist streak: 187
Week’s special milestones: Big Zigzag bird #450

Bird(s) of the Week

Turquoise Parrot (Neophema pulchella), not just a beautiful lifer – also the 450th Big Zigzag bird, which happens to be seen after 6 months of zigzagging… Encouraging to see many property owners around Warby-Ovens National Park participating in Practical Parrot Action Project which helps this threatened bird.

This week new bird family for the trip – Rollers with Dollarbird – from a quicky visit to New South Wales.

Noman land Long-billed Corellas, on the bridge over Murray River, between the sister towns of Echuca (Victoria) and Moama (New South Wales).

Azure Kingfisher

Non-bird image(s)

Moama Wetlands and Horseshoe Lagoon, Murray, New South Wales

Pink Rocks

Week's Key location(s)

Warby-Ovens National Park – Turquoise Parrot stronghold.

Not the best place for White-throated Needletail as they fly high above – but this is where I ticked them…

Big Zigzag Travelled so far: 21950 km (this week 945 km)

eBird Checklists this week

1605. 18 Jan 2025 11:56 PM Possums Track, Terrick Terrick

1604. 18 Jan 2025 12:10 PM Campaspe River Walk, Rochester

1603. 17 Jan 2025 7:14 PM Moama Wetlands and Horseshoe Lagoon, Murray, New South Wales

1602. 17 Jan 2025 9:20 AM Moama Wetlands and Horseshoe Lagoon, Murray, New South Wales

1601. 16 Jan 2025 7:39 PM Rotary Park (Echuca)

1600. 16 Jan 2025 11:00 AM Port of Echuca

1599. 15 Jan 2025 10:41 AM Pink Cliffs Natural Features Reserve, Greater Bendigo

1598. 15 Jan 2025 9:39 AM Meadow Valley Road, Mia Mia, Victoria, AU (-36.939, 144.602)

1597. 14 Jan 2025 6:46 AM Greater Bendigo National Park–Diamond Dove Dam

1596. 13 Jan 2025 4:56 PM Greater Bendigo National Park–Camp Road Dam

1595. 13 Jan 2025 9:02 AM Warby-Ovens National Park–Nason Springs

1594. 12 Jan 2025 11:46 AM Warby-Ovens National Park–Nason Springs

Big Zigzag Birding

week 026 | East to Melbourne | trip list 449 – 449

Posted on January, 2025March, 2025

The Middle of Everywhere

In an Eggshell:

Big Zigzag bird species count: 449 (+0 this week)
Big Zigzag bird families count: 84 (+0 this week)
Big Zigzag Lifers: 91 (+0 this week)
Campsite Lifers 23 (+0 this week)
Big Zigzag New for Australia list: 131 (+0 this week)
eBird days of checklist streak: 180
Week’s special milestones: None

Bird(s) of the Week

The Middle of Everywhere. This is Central Gippsland promo slogan, which fits this Big Zigzag week, after 6 months. Somewhere in the middle of Victoria, between the golden beaches an Australian Alpine mountains, near the lakes along the sore. In between, as these Yellow-billed & Royal Spoonbills, resting on the wetlands of Sale.

White-winged Chough (Corcorax melanorhamphos) one of the two members family of White-winged Chough and Apostlebird (Corcoracidae). This family is one of the seven Australian endemic bird families, and the easier to complete. Also called Australian mud-nest builders.

White-winged Chough nest

Non-bird image(s)

Alpine National Park

Wilsons Promontory National Park

Week's Key location(s)

Wilsons Promontory National Park

Alpine National Park

Sale River Heritage & Wetlands Trail

Big Zigzag Travelled so far: 21055 km (this week 835 km)

eBird Checklists this week

1593. 11 Jan 2025 5:31 PM Smoko Camping Area

1592. 10 Jan 2025 2:51 PM Italian Flat, Wellington

1591. 10 Jan 2025 10:15 AM Port of Maffra

1590. 09 Jan 2025 7:35 AM Fishers Riverside Campsite (Perry Bridge)

1589. 08 Jan 2025 12:42 PM Sale Common Nature Conservation Reserve

1588. 08 Jan 2025 9:30 AM Bellbird Corner

1587. 07 Jan 2025 3:29 PM Apex Park (Stratford)

1586. 06 Jan 2025 6:27 PM 25 Main Street, Glengarry, Victoria, AU (-38.125, 146.573)

1585. 06 Jan 2025 10:13 AM 128 Boolarra-Foster Road, Foster, Victoria, AU (-38.632, 146.232)

1584. 05 Jan 2025 1:44 PM Wilsons Promontory National Park–Lilly Pilly Gully

Big Zigzag Birding

week 025 | Around Melbourne | trip list 443 – 449

Posted on January, 2025March, 2025

Mountains and Woods, Penguins and the Ocean

In an Eggshell:

Big Zigzag bird species count: 449 (+6 this week)
Big Zigzag bird families count: 84 (+1 this week: Penguins, Shearwaters and Petrels)
Big Zigzag Lifers: 91 (+0 this week)
Campsite Lifers 23 (+0 this week)
Big Zigzag New for Australia list: 131 (+3 this week)
eBird days of checklist streak: 173
Week’s special milestones: Travelled so far milage passed the 20000 km