Little Desert Nature Lodge - near Nhill

9 - 11 March 2015

After a late start from Echuca we headed to Bendigo, with a stop for coffee at Elmore. There was a great little coffee shop, right on the highway and directly opposite public toilets and some tourist information.

Mick was keen to stop at a park in Bendigo, with a lake, where a Nankeen Night Heron had been seen. We found the park without difficulty - it's right on the highway - but it was absolutely chock-a-block full of people - a legacy of a public holiday and a sporting carnival at the adjacent field. We eventually managed to find a parking spot and were pleasantly surprised by the lovely spot, but no night heron. We walked right around the lake before driving on.

A White-faced Heron was some consolation for missing the Night Herron.

We used a map and the GPS to determine the fastest route to Nhill, and Little Desert, taking a number of back roads. We stopped at a roadside picnic area  for lunch and then St Arnaud for supplies, before making our way to Little Desert Nature Lodge. We visited the lodge - which is adjacent to the National Park - when we traveled to South Australia (and into Victoria) in September last year, and always intended to return. 

We booked into an ensuite room and were allocated the same one we had last time. The facilities here are great. Visitors in ensuite rooms have access to a small kitchen with microwave, toasters, fridge and a zip boiler, as well as the lounge area with TV. The lounge room gets the afternoon sun, so was beautiful and warm in the evening as the outside temperature dropped.

The Emu known as George was never very far away, probably hoping for a hand out.

We had a late start thanks to daylight saving and being so far west in Victoria (almost in South Australia). We walked down to the bird hide on the property and stayed a while without much luck. We returned for morning tea via Whimpy's Pond. Mick returned to the hide and spent most of the rest of the day there. I enjoyed a relaxing afternoon with just George the emu for company.

We have written about this special place before and I suppose, the fact that we have returned indicates that it has quickly become a favourite destination. Although the morning walk didn't turn up anything special, an afternoon session at the hide gave me a beautiful Diamond Firetail, Black-chinned Honeyeaters and many others covered last time.

White-plumed Honeyeater (Lichenostomus penicillatus)

Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater (Acanthagenys rufogularis)

Tawny-crowned Honeyeater (Gliciphila melanops)

The Shy Heathwren put in an appearance but proved impossible to photograph. Later when I related this to one of the staff (Grahame), he offered to help out and found me a bird that had been regularly seen elseware on the property. Thanks Grahame! The Heathwren posed beautifully for me at one point but I was unable to find it through the viewfinder. I managed some OK shots though so was very happy.

I think this is a great birding destination, right up there with O'Reilly's and Kingfisher Park. Mick.

Diamond Firetail

Shy Heathwren

We left Little Desert Lodge on Wednesday morning and drove south - through the part of the park which had been burnt out in bushfires not so long ago. Fortunately the lodge and it's surrounding property and adjacent park were not affected.