Reef Hills State Park

Visited: summer

Recommendation: This is probably not on anyone else's wildlife hotspot list but it is high on mine. Sitting for several days by a small dam in a dry forest was one of the best experiences of my life. I saw more animal species in this small place than in many first class birding locations.

I have found state parks to be very productive at times. They are often quiet with few humans around. The caveat is that you need to find water and be prepared to potentially wait for a long time. At Reef Hills I found a small dam close to the entrance at the main road running south from Benalla. It look pretty stagnant however and apart from a quick glimpse of a Speckled Warbler, there wasn't anything happening. 

I moved on to another dam further into the park. The dirt tracks were challenging in my campervan but with some clearing of dead branches, I made progress. This dam looked cleaner, although there wasn't much activity. I always try to back my van against the water and then, with my fly screen down, I can sit in the back largely undetected. I made a cup of tea and sat down to wait. 

Being there early in the morning on a hot day seemed to do the trick and it wasn't long before the birds started to come down for a drink. The honeyeaters were first. 

A flash of red in the canopy caught my eye and I knew straightaway it was a Gang-gang Cockatoo. I've only ever seen them once so it was exciting. They are uncommon birds but very distinctive. They didn't come too close but hopefully I'll get better shots of them next time. 

Gang-gang Cockatoo (Callocephalonfimbriatum) 

One of the reasons I wanted to come here was that I had seen reports of Turquoise Parrots in the area. They would be another new bird for me and I thought I saw them on the first visit. I was very hopeful on the second. As I lay in the van shooting the honeyeaters on the ground next to the water, all of a sudden the parrots were just there. I really wanted to get good shots but largely managed to focus something just behind them. Still, I got a couple of half decent ones. 

Turquoise Parrot (Neophema pulchella) 

Regular visitors to the small patch of sand by the dam as well as the honeyeaters, kingfishers and cockatoo were some of the trickier bird to photograph including the Restless Flycatcher, Olive-backed Oriole and Little Friarbird. I struggled to get them all!