Separation Creek Australia

This morning the sun was awash on the balcony at Treetops and the Crimson Rosellas out in force. They are one of our favorite birds with the beautiful blue and reds. I thought I’d look them up on Wikipedia and found they are one of eight species of colorful Australian parrots of the broad-tailed variety. Yes, those tails are definitely broad, sometimes the tail seems as wide as the body. What Wikipedia doesn’t tell us though, is that these guys can be the greatest goons, jumping and diving and squabbling over the seeds. We (and our guests) watch them for hours.

There’s a plucky little bird we’ve watched over the years on our Wye River and Separation Creek seashore. They nest on the beaches and we see them regularly defending their nests from people and dogs with shrieking and flapping of wings.

It’s the Hooded Plover which is extinct in NSW and in Queensland. Only 400 remain in Victoria, many along our wonderful part of the Great Ocean Road.

We always encourage our guests at Treetops not to take their dogs to that part of the beach (immediately opposite the General Store Café) so that these endangered little guys have a chance to rear their chicks. Our dog visitors have plenty of other areas on the beach to have fun.

Great Ocean Road Coast Committee (GORCC)has just won an award for protecting these birds long the coast – well done folks. Committee teams fence off breeding areas and install signs along the coast informing visitors about these endangered birds. With this sort of care we hope the little birds have a good future here in our coastal villages.

Wow, four whales spotted playing offshore at Fairhaven from the Split Point Lighthouse about 800 metres offshore. They are splashing and breaching, heading towards Lorne and Wye River.

Yes whale season gets better and better. Today the Visitors Information Centre told us there were whales along Lorne and also near Cape Otway Light house. People were able to get good sightings with the naked eye.

Had a yummy truffle pasta at La Bimba’s in Apollo Bay yesterday. The owners there, Steven Earl and Mikhiala Slade  found a truffle goldmine when they bought their a 36-hectare farm in the Otways a few years ago. They do about 3 or 4 truffle dishes and the season lasts till late August. La Bimba is also great for coffee and other meals and is a spectacular 30 minute drive along the wild coast from Treetops Wye River accommodation.

Our fabulous local cafe, the Wye General, was written up by The Age again last week. At this time of the year we enjoy the wood fire and the spicy soups with baker Pip’s sensational sourdough, oh and don’t forget the latte, creamy and coffeelicious.

So there’ s a Senate inquiry into Koalas which are definitely our favorite local wildlife. Here at Wye River and Treetops Wye River accommodation we’ve got lots of koalas in comparison to years ago when we first came here. We see at least one every day and sometimes as many as two or three. And of course George, our local resident has become an icon here at Treetops, as much a drawcard for our guests as our fabulous location in the trees overlooking Wye River beach.

But in many parts of Oz the picture is different, and the koala is under threat for due to habitat destruction, fragmentation of forests, bushfires, feral and domestic animals, climate change and in-breeding. Whew! The inquiry will report next month – I’m keen to see many recommendations for how we can continue to protect these beautiful and unique animals.

The whale season last year was fantastic. From August to November there were whales almost every day visible along the Great Ocean Road. Here are just a couple of comments from folks last year.

18^th august 2010 -message from Corinne at Wye River just now. “Three whales off Wye River this morning. One is coming around Point Sturt heading towards, Separation Creek,doing flipper flapping and circle work.” People watching them off the Wye beach..fantastic!

30^th august 2010 – From Jim…”This is the best season yet…Today two more whales in the bay at Wye River now heading towards Kennett River, the lead whale is extremely large.