Coolart Wetlands, Somers, Victoria

Managed by Parks Victoria, the Coolart Wetlands reserve consists of several wetlands in a bushland setting near the shores of Western Port.

Above image: Chestnut Teal bobbing their heads at each other in the water.

August 2013

This month's BirdLife Beginners outing coincided with an annual market day at Coolart, so parking was at a premium. Those of us who were running late had to park outside the property. Most of the crowd stayed near the market stalls and Homestead garden, so we had much of the rest of the area to ourselves. The day was cloudy, but quite calm and very peaceful. Evidence of approaching spring included nesting Ibis and Black Swans that could be easily viewed and photographed from the bird hide without disturbing the birds. We watched them for a long time in the morning and some of us returned in the late afternoon after the official outing was over. It was well worth our time sitting quietly and watching the Sacred Ibis near the bird hide as they engaged in their activities, collecting more nesting material, rearranging it, turning eggs over, tending to tiny newly-hatched chicks, mating again, changing places or just sitting and preening. All this was observed against a backdrop of the constant comings and goings of various other waterbirds. A frequent visitor to the bird hide commented that it was only a few years ago that the lake here was dry. 

I took numerous photos on the day. Here is one of a cormorant. I intend to add more images one day.

Great Cormorant

June 2012

These images were taken during a BirdLife Bayside visit. We began our day at the nearby Balbirooroo Wetlands in Balnarring, then spent a very pleasant few hours at Coolart until the weather began to close in. Earlier the day was fine with some sun and a fresh, cool wind.

  Pied Cormorant reaching to the water.

         Merricks Creek.

White-necked Heron; one of 12 flying overhead at the beach
south of Coolart.

     Australian White Ibis, preening.

     Coast Banksia Banksia integrifolia.

     Reed seed head.