Atlona and Williamstown are also accessible by train, and there are generally Pacific gulls there.
If you check the Birdline archives (http://www.eremaea.com/BirdlineSpeciesArchive.aspx?Taxon=245), Steve Davidson saw Black-faced Cormorants at Williamstown twice in March this year (possibly the same one). Not something you could rely on, though.
Peter Shute
________________________________________ From: birding-aus-bounces@lists.vicnet.net.au [birding-aus-bounces@lists.vicnet.net.au] On Behalf Of michael norris [menorris@ozemail.com.au] Sent: Saturday, 28 May 2011 11:23 PM To: Tony Keene; birding-aus@vicnet.net.au Subject: Re: [Birding-Aus] Twofold post: scrounging a lift to the Western Treatment Plant / RFI St Kilda.
Hi Tony
I guess you are ticking!
Can’t help with the WTP but I have a very good idea about the birds along the coast. St Kilda is a bit north of my patch – the City of Bayside (which starts about 10km south of the Melbourne CBD) – but I guess that Black-faced Cormorant would be rare there as it is here (5 records this century).
Pacific Gulls are increasingly common as you go south. You would almost certainly find them if you went to Brighton Beach, Hampton, or Sandringham stations on the Sandringham railway line from Flinders Street. Head for the foreshore, find the path nearest to the beach, and walk back towards the City, get a train back from another station north (not so easy from Brighton Beach but if you get to the Brighton Marina you could find your way – about 1km).
Best of luck
Michael Norris Bayside Friends of Native Wildlife