On a beautiful sunny autumn day last Monday we parked the car at the Wantirna Road car park near the bridge and walked along the Dandenong Creek Trail towards Boronia Road.
As we started walking down the path there was a great commotion overhead with a large flock of white cockatoos expressing their views about life. Much of the noise came from the gumtree ahead of us.
Cockatoos were having converstions within their specific group, with other groups of birds in the tree and with cockatoos flying backwards and forwards overhead. A raucous noise was the result.
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| A small group of cockatoos |
On the banks of the creek water birds can often be seen looking for food, particularly after heavy rain.
On one occasion there were hundreds of water birds exploring the banks of the golf course side of the creek.
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| Heron |
Along the Dandenong Creek Trail there are a number of small billabongs,
usually inhabited by noisy frogs and insects hiding in the reeds. Ducks
from the creek also visit theses water holes.
We continued our walk until we came to the Winton Wetlands.(Sites of Biological Significance) This area is a series of waterholes surrounded by bush with a path meandering through it.
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| Image: Friends of Dandenong Creek |
It is a good place to enjoy a quiet walk away from the main walking track which can be busy at times.
Two months ago we wandered through the wetlands around five o'clock when a number of birds were returning to trees to roost.
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| Australian King Parrot |
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| Heron |
Back on the main trail we crossed the bridge to explore the other side of the creek. The gravel path on this side of the creek is not as busy as the track on the other side though there are still many people walking dogs or just going for a walk.
Heading towards Boronia Road there is a small paddock which in the warmer months contains a group of goats that recieve much attention from pasers-by.
Just before Boronia Road there is the entrance to Campbells Croft Reserve.
Having lived in Knox for more than more than forty years we had often passed the entrance to Campells Croft Reserve when driving down Boronia Road but had never visited the reserve. In the past few weeks we have visited and enjoyed the reserve several times.
This area was a small farm owned by the Campbell family and was acquired by the local council in the 1970s. Much of the reserve is open parkland where deciduous trees were planted, making an impressive site in autumn. There are, of course, areas of bushland and also rows of pine trees, often planted as windbreaks by early European settlers.
There are also views of the distant mountains from the park.
There are a number of paths through the bush section of the park - one leading back down to the creek path; another leading to a nearby street. Going into the street then turning right and right again takes you to Abbey Walk, another reserve. Abbey Walk can also be entered via the creek path. Both Campbells Croft and Abbey Walk are great spaces to relax and enjoy.
Part of the land in Abbey Walk was a vineyard once part of the property of L L Smith, an early resident of Vermont.
June 4: The weather was fine and sunny - a lovely day for a walk, though the temperature was only about 13 degrees celsius.
This splendid ibis was enjoying the sunshine
as was this heron.
We passed a project replanting vegetation near the the creek.
Further information:
Weekend Notes - Campbells Croft
Campbells Croft - history
Campbells Croft - photos of the reserve
Victorian Places - Vermont
Weekend Notes - Abbey Walk
Australian Dictionary of Biography - L L Smith
See also other posts related to this topic:
COVID-19 Musings - Exercise - Dandenong Creek (2)
COVID-19 Musings - Exercise - Dandenong Creek (3)
COVID-19 Musings - Exercise - Dandenong Creek (4)
COVID-19 Musings - Exercise - Dandenong Creek (5)
COVID-19 Musings - Exercise - Dandenong Creek (6)
See alao all posts relating to COVID-19
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