My birding related goals this year are to improve my photography and fieldcraft. To get off to a flying start I hit one of my favourite spots in the Mornington Peninsula National Park – Greens Bush. I visited twice over two days – midday on the first day and 9 am on the second. On the first visit it was full of families and groups bushwalking and making a racket. Strangely there were quite a few birds around and lots of opportunities to take shots. The second day while it was earlier and I only saw two guys going for a cross run, it was very much quieter – not many birds around at all. This may have been because the forecast was for a hot day and the birds had found cooler patches to wait out the pending two day heatwave.
White Browed Scrubwren , Greens Bush, Vic 1 Jan 2014
White Browed Scrubwren II
Grey Fantail , Greens Bush, Vic 1 Jan 2014
Always a favourite to try and photograph – Superb Fairy Wren, Greens Bush, Vic 1 Jan 2014
This bird took me a while and a lot of effort to find as a lifer in 2013 and I am still excited to see it whenever it pops up – they are summer migrants to Greens Bush . They are hard to photograph and never sit still for very long and always seem to use a bit cover when having a look at something….
Rufous Fantail , Greens Bush, Vic 1 Jan 2014
Rufous Fantail II
Rufous Fantail III
Rufous Fantail IV – showing the beautiful colouring on the back
Rufous Fantail V
Rufous Fantail VI
Rufous Fantail VII
For the first time at this site I also found a large Koala up an unusual tree – he was facing away and happy to glance at me and then ignore my presence.
Koala , Greens Bush, Vic 1 Jan 2014
I knew I would find these guys soon enough as I could hear them from the car park – they are fun to watch as they preen, squabble and harass each other.
Sulphur Crested Cockatoos, Greens Bush, Vic 2 Jan 2014
Sulphur Crested Cockatoos II
The Grey Kangaroos were also out and feeding, getting a quick top-up from mum, and resting. The female Roo feeding her young was very alert and had spotted me from the other side of the creek through the trees even though I was moving quietly and very carefully….
Grey Roo mum and joey , Greens Bush, Vic 2 Jan 2014
Grey Roo , Greens Bush, Vic 2 Jan 2014
The Gap Year and Beyond 
Hi !
Great photos! Green’s Bush is one of my favourite places as well and I get down there fairly regularly. I was actually down there yesterday afternoon for a few hours, which led me to a Google Search and your Koala picture when I got home. I would be curious to know roughly where you sighted the Koala… I have never seen one there, however yesterday I thought I heard one grunting in the distance when I was in the far reaches of Baldry’s Circuit, and I have previously come across paw prints and scat down towards Long Point. Anyway, a nice walk yesterday, two echidnas sighted as well as yellow breasted robins, blue wrens and crimson rosellas, and to top it all off, a Wedge Tail Eagle on my way home.
– Andrew
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Hi Andrew, I saw the Koala at back of the long circuit – I usually do the full Baldry Circuit. I was at Greens Bush on Sunday morning and heard what I thought was either a Koala or a Grey Kangaroo grunting. There were plenty of roos along the creek on the first part of the circuit and I assumed the big male put out a grunt alert about me walking nearby…I have checked the area where I first saw the koala a few times again but no luck. I also saw the Wedgetail Eagle. I have seen it a few times now cruising high overhead. The ravens mob it and give out the general alert. I will be putting up a new post on Greens bush in the next day or so…
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I’ll keep an eye out now I’m certain they are there and let you know if I come up with anything… I usually get down that way at least once a month.
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