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Visited: summer
Recommendation: Even though I visited during the summer months, I always managed to visit here when there was rain or bad weather which hampered the wildlife viewing. However, I still got a great taste and can't wait to return.
Spanning over 2,300 hectares, the Werribee Wetlands are now a significant conservation area. They're recognized under the international Ramsar Convention for their importance as a wetland habitat.
When I first visited Werribee my friends at work asked me what for and I cheerfully replied that it is a huge sewage farm. You can imagine the response. But Werribee Treatment Plant is not only an old sewage farm but one of the best birding sites in Australia. And for a sewage farm, it is quite beautiful. Access is restricted with vehicles allowed on tracks surrounding the various ponds and secured by locked gates. Local bird watchers can apply for a key and if you are lucky, you might know one.
I have visited here several times and it has always been different, usually depending on the weather. The best thing about the wetlands are the variety of birds that can be found here, from waders to crane, raptors and waterfowl.
At the western end, known as the T section, there is a good view of some of the ponds and on a good day you can see hundreds of waders. One this occasion, photography was difficult as it was often cloudy and the birds were just a bit far away. The most numerous bird was the Curlew Sandpiper, easily identified by its downward curving bill. Waders are always tricky in non-breeding plumage so it is helpful to have a feature to help sort them out. Smallest of all is the Red-necked Stint, noticeably smaller than all the other waders.
Curlew Sandpiper (Calidris ferruginea)
The Curlew Sandpiper can be seen here in the summer months in non-breeding plumage. It is a long-distance migratory bird with an impressive journey between its breeding and non-breeding grounds.
Their breeding season takes place in the short Arctic summer on the tundra plains of northeastern Siberia and Alaska They then embark on a long southward migration. These non-breeding grounds span a vast area across Africa, south of the Sahara Desert, as well as parts of southern Asia, the Persian Gulf, and Australasia.
The Curlew Sandpiper's migration is remarkable for its sheer distance. Some estimates suggest they can travel up to 15,000 kilometers round trip, making them one of the farthest migratory shorebirds in the world
Despite their small size, Red-necked Stints and other migratory birds are impressive examples of avian adaptation. Their bodies are specially designed for long-distance flight, allowing them to travel vast distances in search of food and breeding grounds.
They have a specialized metabolism that allows them to efficiently store fat reserves. They build up fat reserves before migration, providing them with the necessary fuel for their long flights. During migration, their bodies can break down these fat reserves for sustained energy.
Red-necked Stint (Calidris ruficollis)
The Sharp-tailed Sandpiper has a fascinating range that can be broadly separated into breeding and non-breeding grounds.
Their breeding grounds are located in the harsh Arctic tundra, where summers are short and temperatures can be frigid.
Following the breeding season, the vast majority of the population migrates south to spend their non-breeding months in Australasia, where they might been seen across the country.
Sharp-tailed Sandpiper (Calidris acuminata)
Best of all were numbers of Common Greenshank and Marsh Sandpiper. The greenshank have a slightly upturned bill and the marshie has a really fine bill. However, I can never identify them clearly when they are apart so it was great to see them next to each other. Easy now.
Common Greenshank (Tringa nebularia)
Marsh Sandpiper (Tringa stagnatilis) and Greenshank
In a nearby pond we also found terns. I assumed they were whiskered, not sure why. Not great photos again but clear enough to tell they are White-winged Black Tern, again in non-breeding plumage.
White-winged Black Tern (Chlidonias leucopterus)
On the way out of this area, we saw a couple of Brolga fly in. They settled in a ditch and we were able to get some head shots. Brolgas, are native to Australia and southern New Guinea.
They stand tall, reaching heights of 1 to 1.3 meters with a wingspan of 1.7 to 2.4 meters. Their plumage is mainly grey with black wingtips and a contrasting orange-red patch on their heads. They have long necks and legs, with a small head and a long, pointed beak.
Brolga prefer open wetlands like freshwater marshes, swamps, floodplains, and seasonally flooded grasslands, so Werribee is perfect for them during the summer months.
Brolga (Antigone rubicunda)
On another visit, we stopped at a bigger pond to the west of the area where we hoped we would find some waders. Just ducks. Nice ducks - Australian Shelducks, but just ducks and swans. As we drove around, we saw a pair of young Brolga flying past. Then, a pair of them in the grass next to the water. We stopped and watched them all. It was like a David Attenborough documentary when a pair started displaying. Honking and crying, it was magnificent. Such a special experience.
Kirk Point is one of my favourite spots at Werribee. It is right next to a boat ramp in between another gated area and a heath with a track along the coast. It can be pretty quiet but when you find birds, they are always very interesting. Here are some of my best finds.
Black Kite (Milvus migrans)
Fairy Martin (Petrochelidon ariel)
White-fronted Chat (Epthianura albifrons)
Striated Fieldwren (Calamanthus fuliginosus)
Driving around the area, we spotted possible Tiger Snake on the track. These are highly venomous, one of the most venomous snakes in all of Australia in fact. Their venom is dangerous and can be fatal to humans if left untreated.
Their venom contains a mix of toxins, including neurotoxins that attack the nervous system, coagulants that cause blood clotting, and hemolysins that destroy red blood cells.
Tiger Snake (Notechis scutatus)
Brown Falcon (Falco berigora)
Driving around the area can also be very productive as there are often birds sitting on posts and wires. This is a young Brown Falcon and a singing Golden-headed Cisticola.
Golden-headed Cisticola (Cisticola exilis)
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