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Private birding trip report Lake Elizabeth, Forrest, The Otways The Geelong Field Naturalists Club mid-week bird outing to Lake Elizabeth took place on 26-04-07. We stopped at Lake Wurdi Boluc en-route, which is a major storage area for Geelong’s water supply. The level was very low but we saw many species of waterbirds with the highlight being a pair of Brolgas on the dry bed of the lake. We moved on to Lake Elizabeth where we met several more Club members. After morning tea we headed off to walk the circuit of the lake. Satin Bowerbirds were noted near the carpark and Brown and Striated Thornbills, Eastern Yellow Robins, Red-browed Finch and Golden Whistlers were observed while we were in the picnic area. The history of Lake Elizabeth is an interesting one. In June 1952, one of the largest landslides known in Victoria occurred in the Otway Ranges near Forrest. After heavy rainfall, a surface area of about 48 hectares, including some 6 million cubic metres of rock, slid into the East Branch of the Barwon River. The slide was about 400 metres wide at river level and formed a natural dam over 35 metres high. The reservoir that formed behind the slide was named Lake Elizabeth by the locals. The blocked river filled the natural reservoir and by August 1953, the level breached the slumped material and rapidly eroded the top 26 metres of material from the landslide dam. A wall of water estimated to be up to 7 metres high flowed down the river, but luckily no houses were in the flood zone. Afterwards, the remaining lake was only one fifth the volume of the original. The lake and its surrounds are habitat for many birds and other wildlife, including platypus. A picnic ground and camping facilities are provided. (Information from G W Cochrane et al 1995 Introducing Victorian Geology 2nd edition) We walked upstream along the East Barwon River, admiring the lush vegetation and beautiful scenery. The birds were a little quiet, but we noted White-browed Scrubwren and also an Olive Whistler near the lake. At the Lake, some sharp-eyed observers saw a platypus moving along the surface. We completed the circuit, noting several more species. A Wedge-tailed Eagle was seen gliding over head, Yellow-faced and White-naped Honeyeaters called from the trees, an Australian King Parrot flew by and a female Brush Bronzewing entertained us by walking along the track, keeping about 5 metres ahead of the group, for over 150 metres. We returned to a well-earned lunch before most traveled to the West Barwon Dam. A Bassian Thrush was observed as we passed into the area. Viewed from the dam wall were several duck species, including Blue-billed Duck. We walked down the track back through the valley, and were delighted to see a pair of Scarlet Robins near the river. We finished the day with a bird call, during which time Peter pointed out a Grey (White) Goshawk in a tree across the valley. It was a fitting end to a great day out Barry |
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