River Gum Creek Reserve (Hampton Park)

River Gum Creek is a 71ha reserve which primarily acts as a drainage corridor and flood plain. River Gum Creek helps reduce the flood risk to surrounding properties, by retaining flood water during times of high rainfall. As the Reserve and its associated trails are located within the flood plain, they will be regularly inundated with water during rainfall.

A series of vegetated wetland ponds along River Gum Creek provide habitat and improve the quality of the water before it drains into Port Phillip Bay. Stormwater from nearby streets, drains into the wetland ponds, where aquatic plants take up nutrients such as phosphorus and nitrogen. Sediments are filtered from the water and settle at the bottom of the wetland before the water flows back into the creek.

The wetlands enhance the appearance of the area and provide habitat for a range of rare and threatened species, including Latham's Snipe and Great Egret. Frogs are also in abundance and can be heard throughout the year.

Before European settlement the traditional owners of the land formed part of the Language group of the nation known as the Kulin. They were hunter gatherers living on the natural resources of the land.

Life depended on the seasonal availability of different plants and animals. Creeks provided places to fish, drinking water and nourished plants and trees, while encouraging animals to the area. All that was needed was found locally, for medicine, painting, clothing and implements for hunting.

To help preserve the wetlands join the local friends group, ensure you place rubbish in the bin, clean up after your pets and do not feed the ducks

Review:

A series of ponds with some paths and bridges (at the east end). There are plenty of waterbirds to see in the various ponds. A lot of the area has fences of neighbouring houses blocking access for visitors so it is best to park around 91 Coral Drive.

There is a basic fenced playground at the west end beside Hallam Road with toilets. At the east east there are two unshaded picnic tables, pelican sculptures and an Indigenous Medicine Wheel. A highlight are the information boards (see below)

A tale of two shorebirds

There are two types of shorebirds (or waders) that appear in River Gum Creek Reserve, these are migratory and resident shorebirds. Although they share a number of similarities and can both occasionally be seen in the shallow water of the wetland, their lives could not be more different.

Masked Lapwing
Contrasting with the Sharp-tailed Sandpiper, the Masked Lapwing (or Spur-winged Plover) is a familiar bird, easily recognisable by the conspicuous bright-yellow skin on its face. It is known as a resident shorebird and does not move far at all. They can be seen at River Gum Creek Reserve throughout the year.

Each spring they lay their eggs amidst short grass where they are well camouflaged. If you walk too close to the nest, the adult birds will scream noisily and fly around and they might even swoop at you. If you're really unlucky, they may strike you with the yellow spurs on their wings. But remember, they are only protecting their vulnerable eggs or chicks.

Most of the time, they feed quietly in the short grass or beside the wetland, where they eat insect larvae and other invertebrates. They are also often active at night and their distinctive calls have become a regular part of the suburban soundscape.

Who's feeding where in the wetland?

The wetland at River Gum Creek Reserve is home to many different birds. If you look closely you will notice that some of the birds appear in different parts of the wetland.

Reeds
If you hear a rustling in the reeds, it may be a Purple Swamphen. This large purple and black bird has a bright red beak and a white bottom and can be found regularly foraging among the reeds, snipping off the green shoots with its powerful beak and then holding the shoot in its foot to eat it. They also forage in grassy areas.

Other birds which inhabit the reeds are the Little Grassbird and Australian Reed-Warbler, which are both small, brown birds. The Grassbird gives a mournful whistle, while the Reed-Warbler has a melodious song. They both eat invertebrates, especially insects, which have been pecked from the stems of the reeds and exposed mud or the water's surface.

Vegetated muddy edges
Two birds in River Gum Creek Reserve are usually difficult to see, these are the Spotless Crake and Australian Spotted Crake. Both usually only come out around sunset, but most of the time they skulk among the vegetation and peck at small invertebrates in the soft, moist mud.

Bare muddy edges
Where the Wetland's muddy margins lack vegetation, you may see two small shorebirds scurrying around - the Red-kneed Dotterel and the Black-fronted Dotterel. Both dash around and pause every so often to peck at insects from the surface of the mud. Although they appear superficially similar they are easily distinguished.

The Red-kneed Dotterel has a dark head and face, a black band across its chest, and its knees are red. While the Black-fronted Dotterel also has a black breast band, it has a paler brown cap, broad white eyebrow, broad black stripe through its eye and its legs are pink.

Both species are known as resident shorebirds, meaning that they build their nests in Australia.

Deep water
In areas of deep water you will see Eurasian Coots (black birds with a white frontal shield) diving beneath the water's surface. While they are swimming underwater they collect water weed from the depths. It is collected in the bird's beak, and is not eaten until the bird returns to the surface.

Other birds which feed by diving in deep water are the cormorants. Three species of cormorants are regularly seen in River Gum Creek Reserve, including the Little Black, Little Pied and Great Cormorant. Each swims below the for water's surface looking small fish or yabbies. They can swim for long distances underwater and may stay submerged for a surprisingly long time.

Shallow water
You can often see a White-Faced Heron (grey bird with a white face and a long neck) wading in the shallows with its neck outstretched while it is on the lookout for frogs, small fish and yabbies in the water. When it spots some prey within reach, it quickly darts its head forward to grab the fish or frog with its sharp, pointed beak and then often swallows it in one go!

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Location

91 Coral Drive, Hampton Park 3976 Map