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Description
At Anakie Gorge you can find some good species on a short and easy walk. The dry forest is Messmate, Manna Gum and Red Box, with a scrubby understory of Pomaderris in places. Some huge River Red Gums line the road in, look in these for Striated Pardalote and Eastern Rosella.
The picnic ground and carpark are good for Red-browed Finch, Grey Shrikethrush, Golden Whistler and Sacred Kingfisher in summer.
The track winds along and crosses Stony Creek, which is dry most of the time. Superb Fairywren, White-browed Scrubwren chatter and flit across at ground level, and Silvereye, White-throated Treecreeper, White-naped Honeyeater andStriated Thornbill can be seen in the canopy all the way along.
This is the best walk for viewing Yellow-tufted Honeyeater. They breed in fairly small trees in scrubby parts of the gorge about 2 km from the carpark. They seem to prefer the messy Golden Wattle and thin stem Eucalypt regrowth from the 2006 fire. But they can be seen along the track all the way to Stony Creek picnic ground.
White-eared Honeyeater are pretty reliable too, but they are quiet and don't call much. Grey Currawong on the other hand, can be heard easily, and often seen flying over.
Wedge-tailed Eagle , Welcome Swallow, Sulphur-crested Cockatoo and corellas - mostly Long-billed Corella but need to check for Little Corella too - can be seen flying over most days. Occasionally Painted Buttonquail make an appearance and breed here, and will stay for a few weeks. Look out for platelets beside the track.
Sometimes in Spring a wet country bird will pop in for a stopover - Rose Robin, Pink Robin, Satin Flycatcher, Sahul Brush Cuckoo, Rufous Fantail have all been seen here at times.
At night this could be a great spot to listen for White-throated Nightjar, Southern Boobook, Australian Owlet-nightjar and even Powerful Owl.
Details
Access
Anakie Gorge is located about 70 km west of Melbourne. Best access to Anakie Gorge is by car from Gorge Road and the Anakie Gorge Picnic Area (1), then on foot from the carpark. You can also drive in to Stony Creek Picnic Area (2), off Switch Road. Press a P on the map for directions to a carpark.
The walk is a linear track (not a loop) to Stony Creek PG. But a track does branch off about 1 km in (Ted Errey Nature Circuit), and goes up to Nelson Point, then circles back down to Stony Creek PG. So it could be done as a long loop. But the better birding is along the creek in my experience.
Terrain and Habitat
ForestConditions
Hilly , Rocky , DryCircular trail
YesIs a telescope useful?
NoGood birding season
All year roundBest time to visit
SpringRoute
Narrow trailDifficulty walking trail
Average walkAccessible by
FootBirdwatching hide / platform
NoExtra info
There are three eBird hotspots which is a bit confusing. I recommend you use the Brisbane Ranges National Park--Anakie Gorge as the main hotspot for any walks of any duration.
However, if you don't venture out of the picnic grounds, you can use Brisbane Ranges National Park--Anakie Gorge Picnic Ground, or Brisbane Ranges National Park--Stony Creek Picnic Ground.