Month Long Trip To Wimmera - Mallee Victoria May - June.
86GTS said
12:00 PM Jun 14, 2022
Just arrived back from a visit to this great area. We camp in areas where we can do our wildlife photography, mostly birds.
After crossing over Port Phillip heads on the Sorrento-Queenscliff ferry we headed NW to the fairly remote Broken Bucket Tank in the Big Desert.
Basically all that's there is a sandy camping area surrounded by dense mallee trees, a dam, fire places & a windmill.
We've been there many times since back in 1982, its a great location for our interests.
We were alone for the whole week of our stay with around one to six other vehicles passing by on the Nhill-Murrayville Track.
It was pretty cold so our Ozpig got a real workout as did my new Stihl Miniboss petrol chainsaw.
First in line to depart the ferry.
Broken Bucket windmill.
Ozpig working overtime on a cold night.
Our home-made shelter, great to sit under & look up at the stars with a glass of red on a cold night.
After a great week we moved on to Lake Albacutya another place that we've stayed at many times, it rarely has water in it.
The large lake bed is covered in saltbush & you can drive across it in dry weather.
The camp area is surrounded by Box/Native Pine woodland with low Ruby saltbush.
We had a lovely 10 day stay there. For people into silo art the nearby Albacutya silo has been painted fairly recently. We passed on it.
Sunrise over the lake bed with a thin layer of fog.
The nearest town is Rainbow, here's a rainbow ending at Rainbow.
We then moved to Lake Hindmarsh, another lake that's usually dry. When it holds water its the largest lake in Victoria.
We usually camp at The Wattles campground at the Northern end but it was too slippery to access so we stayed at the fairly primitive CP at 4 Mile Beach at the Southern end.
We didn't use any of the facilities & the place was empty except for one couple in a bus.
The only time that we went near other people was at small town supermarkets & fuel outlets, always with a mask on.
It was great to get out in the bush again after almost two years of self imposed lock down.
Lake Hindmarsh sunset.
A very rough crossing back home on the ferry.
Here's a few of our bird photos, we've been doing it for years.
Both my friend and I decided the birds were doing OK without any human input.
86GTS said
01:32 PM Jun 15, 2022
Mike Harding wrote:
Both my friend and I decided the birds were doing OK without any human input.
I'd have more chance of winning the lottery, than anyone in Australia spotting a flock of 30 OBP's.
It's a nice thought & maybe in 30 or so years time with a lot of luck & research it might come true.
Does your friend specialize in ornithology or is it a case of I saw a Tassie Tiger last week?
Maybe get a shot of them next time around, I'd love to see them, you don't have to reveal a location.
OBP's are only on the mainland in Winter & early Spring, what month was your sighting?
Mike Harding said
02:08 PM Jun 15, 2022
I have neither the desire nor interest in playing your game.
You may believe me or not, your choice is totally irrelevant to me. I have no special interest in birds over and above my general love of and interest in nature.
86GTS said
03:47 PM Jun 15, 2022
Mike Harding wrote:
I have neither the desire nor interest in playing your game.
You may believe me or not, your choice is totally irrelevant to me. I have no special interest in birds over and above my general love of and interest in nature.
Being a long time member of Birdlife Australia, contributing images to their photographic gallery & also being involved in their beach nesting birds program, I'm genuinely interested in your sighting.
I don't play games regarding bird conservation.
Plain Truth said
07:17 PM Jun 15, 2022
Nice bird photo's K and J
oldbloke said
06:42 PM Jun 23, 2022
Is there water at Big Billy?
Late last year was only abt 30km away at Murrayville but didn't make it. Perhaps in a few months.
86GTS said
05:56 AM Jun 24, 2022
oldbloke wrote:
Is there water at Big Billy?
Late last year was only abt 30km away at Murrayville but didn't make it. Perhaps in a few months.
Tank rainwater available at Big Billy Bore. It's a great camp if you enjoy peace & quiet.
Wouldn't like to travel down that part of the Nhill-Murrayville track towing anything at the moment, too slippery & you might get stuck in there.
oldbloke said
08:27 AM Jun 24, 2022
86GTS wrote:
oldbloke wrote:
Is there water at Big Billy?
Late last year was only abt 30km away at Murrayville but didn't make it. Perhaps in a few months.
Tank rainwater available at Big Billy Bore. It's a great camp if you enjoy peace & quiet.
Wouldn't like to travel down that part of the Nhill-Murrayville track towing anything at the moment, too slippery & you might get stuck in there.
Thanks.
Not for sometime now. Perhaps next year tho. Mrs likes the area.
Just arrived back from a visit to this great area. We camp in areas where we can do our wildlife photography, mostly birds.
After crossing over Port Phillip heads on the Sorrento-Queenscliff ferry we headed NW to the fairly remote Broken Bucket Tank in the Big Desert.
Basically all that's there is a sandy camping area surrounded by dense mallee trees, a dam, fire places & a windmill.
We've been there many times since back in 1982, its a great location for our interests.
We were alone for the whole week of our stay with around one to six other vehicles passing by on the Nhill-Murrayville Track.
It was pretty cold so our Ozpig got a real workout as did my new Stihl Miniboss petrol chainsaw.
First in line to depart the ferry.
Broken Bucket windmill.
Ozpig working overtime on a cold night.
Our home-made shelter, great to sit under & look up at the stars with a glass of red on a cold night.
After a great week we moved on to Lake Albacutya another place that we've stayed at many times, it rarely has water in it.
The large lake bed is covered in saltbush & you can drive across it in dry weather.
The camp area is surrounded by Box/Native Pine woodland with low Ruby saltbush.
We had a lovely 10 day stay there. For people into silo art the nearby Albacutya silo has been painted fairly recently. We passed on it.
Sunrise over the lake bed with a thin layer of fog.
The nearest town is Rainbow, here's a rainbow ending at Rainbow.
We then moved to Lake Hindmarsh, another lake that's usually dry. When it holds water its the largest lake in Victoria.
We usually camp at The Wattles campground at the Northern end but it was too slippery to access so we stayed at the fairly primitive CP at 4 Mile Beach at the Southern end.
We didn't use any of the facilities & the place was empty except for one couple in a bus.
The only time that we went near other people was at small town supermarkets & fuel outlets, always with a mask on.
It was great to get out in the bush again after almost two years of self imposed lock down.
Lake Hindmarsh sunset.
A very rough crossing back home on the ferry.
Here's a few of our bird photos, we've been doing it for years.
Shy Heathwren.
Varied Sittella.
Hooded Robin.
Red-capped Robin.
Rufous Whistler.
CHEERS 86GTS.
Nice report.
How did you find enough word at Broken Bucket for a fire!?
Birds, just to make you jealous: I have a camp which is visited by Orange Bellied Parrots, a flock of at least 30, but I'm not telling where it is :)
Are you sure that they are Orange-bellied Parrots, Blue-winged Parrots are almost identical & are very common in Victoria particularly near the coast.
Our Ozpig gives maximum heat from very little wood, open campfires waste wood.
I'm absolutely sure!
Both me and the, wildlife knowledgeable, lady who was with me for a week at that location concluded such and that after much research.
If they OBP's you have made an amazing discovery that needs to be reported to Birdlife Australia
There is a team of staff that have been surveying the population for many years.
The very small number of locations that the birds occur are well known.
Both my friend and I decided the birds were doing OK without any human input.
I'd have more chance of winning the lottery, than anyone in Australia spotting a flock of 30 OBP's.
It's a nice thought & maybe in 30 or so years time with a lot of luck & research it might come true.
Does your friend specialize in ornithology or is it a case of I saw a Tassie Tiger last week?
Maybe get a shot of them next time around, I'd love to see them, you don't have to reveal a location.
OBP's are only on the mainland in Winter & early Spring, what month was your sighting?
I have neither the desire nor interest in playing your game.
You may believe me or not, your choice is totally irrelevant to me. I have no special interest in birds over and above my general love of and interest in nature.
Being a long time member of Birdlife Australia, contributing images to their photographic gallery & also being involved in their beach nesting birds program, I'm genuinely interested in your sighting.
I don't play games regarding bird conservation.
Nice bird photo's K and J
Late last year was only abt 30km away at Murrayville but didn't make it. Perhaps in a few months.
Tank rainwater available at Big Billy Bore. It's a great camp if you enjoy peace & quiet.
Wouldn't like to travel down that part of the Nhill-Murrayville track towing anything at the moment, too slippery & you might get stuck in there.
Thanks.
Not for sometime now. Perhaps next year tho. Mrs likes the area.