Birdlife Bass Coast Program 2021

Overview: Outings are held on the morning of the second Saturday and the afternoon of the fourth Friday of each month. We suggest that you bring lunch to Saturday outings that are not close to where you live.

Events are cancelled on days of TOTAL FIRE BAN. Events may also be cancelled at the last moment due to bad weather and we can’t always contact individuals to let you know. Please contact the outing leader if the weather is wet or windy to check.

For your own safety, wear appropriate clothing and footwear. Remember that snakes and stinging insects share these locations.

The times shown in the program are the times that we move off from the meeting place.

Registering for an outing: You MUST pre-register to attend an outing so that we can comply with any contact-tracing and social- distancing requirements that are in place. To register for an outing, please either email [email protected] or text Sue on 0417 139 590 with the following details: • Names of people attending • Full address • Contact phone • Emergency contact name and phone

This will also allow us to contact you if an outing is cancelled or changed at the last minute.

Covid-safe requirements: Depending on what Victorian government regulations are in place when the outing is held, you may have to: • Avoid carpooling with people from outside your household to minimise the risk of prolonged exposure to the virus. • Follow the 1.5 metre social-distancing requirements. • Wear a mask.

Binoculars: We usually have spare binoculars that you can borrow, but please let us know beforehand if you need them so that we can ensure that there are some available.

Program changes: Any changes to the program will be available on our webpage http://www.birdlife.org.au/group- events/birdlife-bass-coast/ or email [email protected].

2021 Program

January 2021 Saturday January 9th Shearwater Estate, Cowes, 10am - noon Meet in Waterford Street, off Boardwalk Boulevard. Contact: Gil 0416 118 393 or [email protected] Friday 22nd January Baxter’s Wetland, 2pm-4pm Meet at the Guide Park car park at the western end of Graham St, Wonthaggi. We’ll drive in convoy from there. Contact Dallas 0428 764 903 or [email protected] February 2021 Saturday 13th February Fish Creek Rail Trail and Foster area 10am – 2pm Meet at the carpark in Falls Rd, opposite the Gecko Gallery. This is a longer outing than normal, so bring lunch. Gordon 0419 005 424 or [email protected] Friday 26th February The Gurdies Nature Conservation Reserve 2pm – 4pm Meet at the Gurdies car park on the Bass Highway. If you are coming from the direction, it is on the left just past the Pioneer Bay turn-off. If you are coming the other way, you will need to drive to the Pioneer Bay intersection and do a u-turn to reach the carpark. Contact: Gil 0416 118 393 or [email protected] March 2021 Saturday 13th March Mirboo North Regional Park - Hallston Bush 10am - noon Meet on the corner of Forresters Rd and Hallston Rd, Hallston. Contact Dallas 0428 764 903 or [email protected] Saturday 20th March Children’s Outing – Shearwater Estate, Cowes, Phillip Island Meet in Waterford Street, off Boardwalk Boulevard. Details are still to be finalised. Please contact [email protected] for more information. Friday 26th March Fishers Wetland, Phillip Island 2pm – 4pm Samuel Amess Drive, Churchill Island. Meet in the parking area on left hand side of road before you get to Churchill Island. Contact: Gil 0416 118 393 or [email protected] April 2021 Saturday 10th April Bald Hills Creek Wildlife Reserve 10am-noon Meet at the Bald Hills carpark, Bald Hills Rd, Tarwin Lower. Contact: Gordon 0419 005 424 or [email protected] Friday 23th April , Wonthaggi 2pm-4pm Meet in the carpark on the State Coal Mine Access Road, off Garden St, Wonthaggi. Contact: Nola 0418 348 392 or [email protected] May 2021 Saturday 8th May Annual General Meeting, Phillip Island 10am Chisholm Room, Koala Conservation Centre, Phillip Island Tourist Rd, Phillip Island. Guest speaker TBA. Contact: [email protected] Friday 28th May King Rd Water Treatment Plant, Corinella 2pm-4pm Meet at the entrance to the water treatment plant on King Rd, Corinella. Contact: Penny 0400 591 915 or [email protected] June 2021 Saturday 12th June Swan Lake, Phillip Island 10am-noon Meet at the Swan Lake carpark off the Ventnor Road (just before the Penguin Parade). Contact: Gil 0416 118 393 or [email protected]

Friday 25th June Pioneer Reserve 2pm-4pm Meet at the tennis courts in Kongwak. Contact: Gordon 0419 005 424 or [email protected] July 2021 Saturday 10th July Desalination Plant Wetlands, Wonthaggi 10am – noon Meet in the Desalination Plant car park off Lower Powlett Road, Wonthaggi. Contact: Gordon 0419 005 424 or [email protected] Friday 23rd July Beach and Bush 2pm-4pm Meet in the Echidna car park (off Tea Tree car park road) to the right off Mouth of Powlett Road, between and . Contact: Gordon 0419 005 424 or [email protected] August 2021 Saturday 14th August Oswin Roberts Reserve, Harbison Road, Rhyll, Phillip Island 10am-noon Meet in the Oswin Roberts car park on Harbison Rd, Rhyll Contact: Gil 0416 118 393 or [email protected] Friday 27th August Anderson to Bass Rail Trail 2pm-4pm Meet in the car park at the Anderson roundabout. Contact: Nola 0418 348 392 or [email protected] September 2021 Saturday 11th September Venus Bay and Tarwin Lower area 10am-1pm Meet in the carpark at the boat ramp at the end of River Drive, Tarwin Lower. Car pooling is possible from there to the Tarwin Lower Flora and Fauna Reserve and then to the jetty and the bird hide at Venus Bay. Contact Lorraine 0402 210 020 or [email protected] Friday 24th September Outtrim area 2pm-4pm Meet in the carpark of the Recreation Reserve, Outtrim. Contact: Nola 0418 348 392 or [email protected] October 2021 Saturday 9th October and Weekend camp - Western Treatment Plant and Serendip Sanctuary Sunday 10th October Our weekend camp will be in the Werribee area. You are welcome to attend either Weekend camp one or both days. Saturday will be at the Western Treatment Plant, Werribee, and Sunday at Serendip Sanctuary at Lara. We suggest staying in North . BOOKINGS ESSENTIAL. Please contact [email protected] for more information. Saturday 16th October Beginner’s outing, Inverloch area. 10am-2pm Details are still to be finalised. Please contact [email protected] for more information. Friday 22nd October NO OUTING. Phillip Island Grand Prix weekend. November 2021 Saturday 13th November area including Ritchies Reserve 10am-1pm Meet in car park of the (former) Railway Station (behind Kelly’s Bakery) off the South Highway. Contact: Nola 0418 348 392 or [email protected] Friday 26th November Ventnor foreshore – arrival of Short-tailed Shearwaters 6pm onwards Meet at the end of Devon Avenue, Ventnor. Bring a meal to eat (and maybe a chair or cushion) while watching the Shearwaters come in to their burrows at dusk. Contact: Gil 0416 118 393 or [email protected] December 2021 Saturday 11th December Rhyll foreshore, Phillip Island 10am-noon (bird walk) Meet at end of McIlwraith Rd, Rhyll Noon onwards (Christmas Contact: Gil 0416 118 393 or [email protected] breakup lunch) Christmas breakup lunch – BYO food, drinks, chairs and join us for a picnic.