Visited: spring and summer
Recommendation: This is one of the best wildlife areas in the country. Research is needed, however, as you don't want to just be driving round aimlessly.
Winton Wetlands have an interesting and complex history. European settlers converted the area for farming, displacing the Yorta Yorta people from their traditional way of life. In 1971, a major shift occurred with the construction of a rock wall to create Lake Mokoan, a large water storage reservoir. The flooding inundated vast areas of productive farmland, ancient woodlands, and critically, the original wetland ecosystems, resulting in the death of around 150,000 iconic river red gums, including culturally significant Aboriginal scar trees. Over time, issues like water loss through evaporation and blue-green algae blooms became apparent.
By the 1990s, the environmental drawbacks of Lake Mokoan were recognized and with a focus on water conservation and environmental restoration, the decision was made to decommission the lake. The Winton Wetlands Reserve was established, and environmental flows were redirected to restore the original wetland ecosystems. Today, the Winton Wetlands project is considered Australia's largest wetland restoration initiative. The project aims to revive the ecological health of the wetlands, bringing back native plants and wildlife, while acknowledging the cultural significance for the Yorta Yorta people.
Winton Wetlands is a huge area and it can be daunting trying to find a good spot to see birds. On my first visit, I drove around trying to get close to water and all I got in return were clouds of waterbird springing out of the bushes and rapidly flying away. As I was planning to camp there I headed to the Nesting Ground campsite to have a look around there.
From the north was a narrow but very well constructed road structure through an area of wetland. There was a really small pull in towards the middle and there I hit the jackpot. I ended up spending the best part of several days here, just sitting by the side of the road. As you drive through this area, there are hundreds of birds (herons, cormorants, spoonbills, cockatoo), which are immediately spooked by vehicles. So, using the van as a hide, I sat pointing at the side where the sun would shine the most. Unfortunately, all the herons etc, were over the road on the other side.
Not to worry, I sat and watched. It could have been frustrating at the wetlands as I was just not getting any photos because the birds were so flighty. But I was actually happy to sit and just watch.
My first day sitting here, only yielded a flash of a Buff-banded Rail and lots of fly-bys. But I had arrived mid-morning so I wasn't surprised.
The next day, I got there from the campsite at 7am. As I pulled the van in, I flushed a Buff-banded Rail and Latham's Snipe so I was immediately more hopeful. As I was setting up my solar panel at the back of the van, I turned around and saw an Australian Spotted Crake.
Not even time for a cup of tea, I crept out onto the firmer ground and waited. The crake was totally unconcerned by me and ran around, practically at my feet. I was amazed.
Australian Spotted Crake (Porzana fluminea)
As the crake pottered about, it seemed to give the rail some confidence and it came out too.
Buff-banded Rail (Gallirallus philippensis)
The grebes were out in good numbers and unusually, they were quite tolerant of me. By standing close to the water but very still, they quickly began to ignore me and I was able to get some nice shots of them and the reflections in the water.
Australian Grebe (Tachybaptus novaehollandiae)
The Hoary-headed Grebe is a small, stocky grebe that is quite common across Australia, and often seen in groups with the Australasian Grebe. The 2 species can be tricky to distinguish, especially as this one gets its name from the silvery-white streaking on its black head, which is only visible during the breeding season. In the non-breeding months, they look quite similar. But, as you can see in this photo, the bill is paler.
Hoary-headed Grebe (Poliocephalus poliocephalus)
In a short respite from furious snapping of these wonderful birds, I looked up and saw the snipe a short distance away. It disappeared as soon as it saw me but I got a couple of snaps.
Latham's Snipe (Gallinago hardwickii)
The Purple Swamphen were placidly milling about as usual but I got a nice shot of one just standing in the right light. In New Zealand, this common rail (known as the Pukeko) is so widespread that it is considered a nuisance. Numbers in Australia are much more proportionate to other species.
Purple Swamphen (Porphyrio melanotus)
On the far side of the small creek I tentatively explored a bit further and was rewarded with Red-kneed Dotterel and White-fronted Chat.
White-fronted Chat (Epthianura albifrons)
Red-kneed Dotterel (Erythrogonys cinctus)
As I walked back towards the van I flushed a raptor from the other side of the road. It flew up to a nearby tree and I snapped away, not sure what species it was. The light was right in my eyes so I worked my way around it and it was very tolerant. Turned out to be a juvenile Brown Goshawk and what a beauty!
Goshawks and Sparrowhawks can be difficult to tell apart but there is a helpful golden rule: sparrowhawks stare and goshawks glare. The strong eyebrow on the goshawk species makes it easier to tell apart from the sparrowhawks.
Brown Goshawk (Accipiter fasciatus)
Back on the main road, as I was leaving, there are several signs warning of turtle crossing. You never see the animals on these signs and on my first visit I sneered a little at them. Today, I see something on the road. As I get closer, I see that it is a Long-necked Turtle. I shot it from a distance and then closer up. It was quite big and although I was nervous about picking it up, I moved it to the other side of the road.
Long-necked Turtle (Chelodina longicollis)
When I was further south in Victoria, I heard the Little Grassbird a lot and got used to hearing its melancholy piping call. I haven't heard any as I moved north but I thought I caught a single note on one morning. I sat in the van and concentrated. I heard it again and whistled a poor imitation back. The bird flew right out and into the grass in front of me. Learning bird calls is starting to pay off!
Little Grassbird (Poodytes gramineus)
White-necked Heron (Ardea pacifica)
The smaller birds became less active and quiet during the morning and I started to pay more attention to the birds flying over. There were plenty of them. I stood in the shade of the van and tried to shoot them. Check the raven image, it is carrying the head of a duck. Brutal.
There were hundreds of other water birds, cockatoo and heron flying about and it was a great challenge to take some BIF (birds in flight) shots.
Australian Raven (Corvus coronoides)
Little Pied Cormorant (Microcarbo melanoleucos)
Sulphur-crested Cockatoo (Cacatua galerita)
White-faced Heron (Egretta novaehollandiae)