Bairnsdale Birding

Bairnsdale Birding

Bairnsdale is the largest town in East Gippsland, and is located on the Princes Hwy, 280 Km east of Melbourne.

There are a number of excellent birding spots in the Bairnsdale area, some of which have already been covered, such as Macleod Morass and The Cut. Below I will list some of the good birding locations around Bairnsdale.

Picnic Point Reserve: 

Picnic Point Reserve is located on Bredt Street. Bredt Street can be accessed from Calvert Street, which starts at the Hwy, opposite the VicRoads Centre.

Google Maps- Route to Picnic Point from Princess Hwy

There are a number of walks at Picnic Point Reserve, as well a road that goes through the reserve. The walking tracks are gravel and well maintained.

Some of the birds that can be seen in the Picnic Point Reserve are: Cormorants,  Reed Warbler and Darter in the Mitchel River, Australasian Pipit, Red-Browed Finch, Little Grassbird, Eastern Yellow Robin, Silvereye and Golden Whistler.

Golden Headed Cisticola

Australasian Pipit

The eBird hotspot for Picnic Point Reserve. http://ebird.org/ebird/australia/hotspot/L2531582

Bairnsdale Aquatic Recreational Centre 

The wetlands located behind Bairnsdale Aquatic & Recreation Centre (BARC) has quite a good population of birds. During the summer, Latham Snipe can be found in the wetlands. Other birds that may be seen are: Olive Backed Oriole, Australasian Swamphen, Yellow Thornbill, Spotted Pardalote and Australian White Ibis. BARC can be accessed from Wallace Street, which runs onto Bredt Street.

Google Maps-BARC

Red Wattlebird

An Australian White Ibis foraging in the reeds

Olive Backed Oriole

Howitt Park 

Howitt Park is a park located at the eastern end of Bairnsdale, just east of the bridge over the Mitchell River. There are toilets and picnic tables, as well as a playground. Some birds that can be seen in Howitt Park are: Dusky Moorehen, Mistletoe Bird, Striated Pardalote, Little Corella, Feral Pigeon, Golden and Rufous Whistler and Brown Thornbill.

Jones Bay Wildlife Reserve

Jones Bay Wildlife Reserve is a northern area of Jones Bay. This reserve is sometimes dry, but when it holds water, Red Necked Avocets, Black Winged Stilts, Musk Duck, Grey and Chestnut Teal and a large number of Golden Headed Cisticola can be seen there.

Jones Bay is accessed from Philips Lane. Turn right onto Philips Ln, off the Princes Hwy, 1.18Km from the Lucknow roundabout. Philips Ln takes you directly to Jones Bay.

Google Maps-route to Jones Bay

Red Necked Avocets

More Red Necked Avocets

Teal

Bairnsdale is actually quite a good area to go bird watching, even if you only have half an hour, a sizable checklist can be made from any of the above locations.  Always keep in mind ethical birding when birding in areas used by other people for their own recreation.