Just back from Karratha, thought I would turn in a
birding report.
Birding time was spread over 3 days (24-27 July 2000),
not all of it dedicated birding but a lot of time
spent in the outdoors anyway. All time was spent
within 50kms of Karratha, unfortunately time didnt
allow a trip to Millstream-Chichester or places
further afield. Pity.
Total number of species recorded was 70, not many for
3 days but a study of the distribution maps in your
field guide will show that the Karratha area is
species-poor, especially in winter when the waders
have gone home. Highlight was probably the complete
absence of introduced species.
Here's the species list.
AROUND KARRATHA
yellow throated miner
pied butcherbird
zebra finch
diamond dove
peacefull dove
crested pigeon
singing bushlark
grey teal
black duck
little grebe
magpie lark
willie wagtail
red backed kingfisher
black faced cuckoo shrike
nankeen kestrel
spotted harrier
black shouldered kite
silver gull
white plumed honeyeater
fairy martin
tree martin
torresian crow
black faced woodswallow
AT DAMPIER, the following additional species were seen
eastern reef egret
osprey
caspian tern
galah
little corella
grey headed honeyeater
welcome swallow
AT HEARSONS COVE, the following additional species
were seen (in nearby mangrove/mudflats)
little egret
striated heron
brahminy kite
beach stone curlew
bar tailed godwit
eastern curlew
whimbrel
grey tailed tattler
pied oystercatcher
sooty oystercatcher
red capped plover
lesser sand plover
crested tern
lesser crested tern
collared kingfisher
AT POINT SAMPSON
rainbow bee eater
mangrove grey fantail
AT NICOL RIVER
spinifex pigeon
white necked heron
white faced heron
great egret
gull billed tern
black fronted dotterel
AT MARREE (spelling ?) PONDS
darter
whistling kite
pallid cuckoo
star finch
painted finch
clamorous reed warbler
white breasted woodswallow
AT CLEARVERVILLE CREEK (spelling ?)
white bellied sea eagle
ruddy turnstone
grey fantail
yellow white eye
spinifexbird
AND OFFSHORE, FROM 5 TO 15 KMS
wilsons storm petrel (2x)
wedge tailed sheerwater (5x)
fairy tern (5x)
brown booby (4x)
Top spot, within this distance of Karratha, was the
Hearsons Cove area. Walking from the cove in a south
easterly direction for a couple of kilometers leads
one to a vast mangrove area and a broad flat mudflat.
I walked as far as Airport Creek. This would be a
great place for waders in summer. There is also a
small island accessible at low tide which would have
some seabirds taking a rest. A lot of time was spent
offshore in the subsequent two days, with very little
seen beyond terns (crested, little crested, caspian)
and gulls (silver).
cheers
Arron
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