All members welcome to the club’s annual event to celebrate a successful years birding, botany and general appreciation of our environment.

Following on from Meredith Fletcher’s talk, this month’s general excursion is to the western side of Tyers Park. Enjoy the walk looking at wildflowers and birds in this area of Lowland and Damp Forest. Wear sturdy shoes and bring your lunch and water. Directions are: turn north off the Yallourn North- Tyers Rd into Manuels Rd, then take the second road on the right - Blairs Rd. Follow along under the power lines and just after the entry to the Park there is a parking area on the right. Meeting there at 10 am

Join us on an excursion to The Channels on a short enjoyable trail in the Avon - Mount Hedrick Natural Features and Scenic Reserve on the Avon River. For those who wish to car pool meet at Glengarry Park in the Main Street, Glengarry at 9.00 am before travelling, through Newry to the Golf Club house in Three Chain Rd from where we will leave at 10.00 am, in convoy, and turn off into the bush for the dirt road section to Channel West Road. Please  register by email to info@lvfieldnats.org. Wear sturdy shoes and bring lunch and water.

This month’s excursion will be looking at urban birds in their habitat and we will be meeting at the Moe Botanic Gardens, then moving on to Ollerton Avenue Bushland Reserve and finishing up at Lake Narracan. Bring your binoculars and cameras and lunch. All welcome.

We are very pleased to have Peter Ware from Friends of Drouin's Trees leading us on an inspiring excursion around Drouin and surrounds exploring interesting areas of biodiversity. Meet in the northern end of the Drouin Golf Club car park off McGlone Rd Drouin (take the Robin Hood exit from Princes Fwy) for a 10.00am start. Bring your lunch.

Our excursion will take us to explore some of the local geological features of Tyers Park. Wear sturdy boots and warm clothing and bring your lunch.

Meet in the Tyers Primary School car park behind the Hall in Mt Hope Rd, Tyers at 9.30AM

This month’s excursion will be among the tall Mountain Ash forest of Tanjil Bren. Meeting place is at the picnic ground off the Mt Baw Baw Tourist Road.

We will be light-trapping for insects, mainly moths but hopefully some lacewings on a private property adjacent to Morwell National Park. Please contact the club for more information and directions.

Note: This excursion is starting at 7PM.

Image: Helena Gum Moth Opodiphthera helena by Ken Harris

Alpine excursion meet at 9:30AM at Rawson Shopping Center car park to car pool, or 10:AM at the Mt St Gwinear car park. Getting there: From Rawson, travel approximately 18 km up the Thomson Valley Rd to the Mt St Gwinear Road (on your left) and another 5 km to reach the car park.

This walk is in an alpine environment and the weather can change very quickly so the appropriate equipment must be carried at all times including lunch and water.

Excursion to the Wonthaggi Heathland and Coastal Reserve, meeting point is the car park at the end of Chisholm Rd. We plan to walk in the Wonthaggi Heathlands NCR to Cutler's Beach - approx. 3.4km out and back, easy walking with steepish access to the beach. Carry lunch to have at the beach or as preferred. Varied experiences possible across plants (although likely few in flower), birds and shore platforms at the beach. Carry water and use sun protection and insect repellant; be aware of possibility of wet sections of track.

Directions: Coming into Wonthaggi along the Bass Hwy from Inverloch, proceed straight ahead through the roundabout at the start of the CBD down Graham St. Turn Left into Cameron St, then Turn Right into Campbell St. At its end, Turn Left into Chisholm Rd and continue to the car park at its end.

Thanks to Wendy and Ken who have kindly offered to host this year’s annual picnic. Please BYO everything.

The Club will be undertaking a wildflower excursion along Seninis Track located in Moondarra State Park where sixteen species of native orchid have been recorded. Bring lunch, water and a chair and your camera. Meet at the beginning of the track along the Moe-Rawson Rd.

Stephanie Suter, Environmental Water Officer at the WGCMA will show us the Cowwarr Weir Fishway and explain how it works. Steph is passionate about freshwater ecology and the interconnectedness of all things. We will then move on to the Dawson Flora Reserve to look at the native flora and birdlife. Photo: Dawson Flora Reserve

On this excursion we will visit one of the Geological heritage sites of geomorphological interest to the Geological Society of Australia. The outcrops of the Tyers Group sediments are very important in the study of the stratigraphy and palaeontology of the Mesozoic in Victoria. The clear exposures of the Palaeozoic and Cainozoic materials together with the variations in valley morphology make this an important teaching and research locality. Meet at Main Street Glengarry.

Excursion to the Traralgon South Flora and Fauna Reserve to look at Lichens and flora. Meet at Traralgon South Hall. Leader: Dr Simone Louwhoff
Meet at Traralgon South Hall, 3-5 Keith Morgan Drive, Traralgon South then travel on to the reserve. Bring cut lunch, refreshments and a folding chair.

Following Friday evening’s presentation, we will be going on an excursion to Yellingbo (Liwik Barring) to see the recovery work done by the Friends of the Helmeted Honeyeater for this critically endangered bird. Meet at the visitor centre at the end of Shield Road 10.30am for morning tea, (BYO Morning tea and lunch). The YNCA is gated and there will be a sign and gate open for our arrival, but will need to close it once everyone arrives. Image: Yellingbo NCR, FOHH

We will meet Matt Campbell at his property near Morwell National Park, then go into the Park, especially the western boundary to look for local reptiles including Lace Monitors, Skinks and Snakes.

Following on from Dr Mary Cole’s Friday night talk about soil fungi which will include Phytophthora cinnamomi and a soil borne rust that affects beech, we will go on an excursion to Glen Nayook to look at beech and changes in soil type across the reserve. Meet 10 am at the reserve car park, Paynter Road, Neerim Junction. Take lunch and a folding chair. The weather will be hot so carry plenty of water and wear a hat.