PERTH, WA, THE WHEATBELT AND CHRISTMAS & COCOS ISLAND
From 28 November to 1 December and again 6-8 December, Anne and I were in
Perth and environs to improve our local knowledge (having spent 4 weeks in
WA in 2003) and spend 5 days on Christmas Island via Cocos Island. We
arrived in Perth at 1530 hrs local time, picked up our hire car and drove
100 km east to Northam we we had arranged to stay at Spring Hill Conference
Centre, 9 km S of Northam. The Conference Centre is set in about 15 ha, in
rolling wheat country and had a good area of eucalyptus woodland surrounding
the buildings. We soon got to know the local Twenty-eights (Ringneck
Parrots), and the bush had plenty of Grey Fantail, Rufous Whistler, Pallid
Cuckoo, Weebill, Grey Shrike-thrush, Common Bronzewing, Jacky Winter, Sacred
Kingfisher, White-browed Babbler, Brown, Brown-headed & Singing Honeyeaters,
Weebill, Mistletoebird and White-winged Triller plus the more common
species. We were off at 700 hrs next morning and drove another 250 km along
the Great Eastrn Highway to Westonia, where we met up with Lesley and
Michael Brooker to spend the day birdwatching and talking to them on their
bush block "Cappilosa". There are a number of Nature Reserves in the vicinty
as well so we checked them out too and throughout the day had great views of
Blue-breasted Fairy-wren, Redthroat, Red-capped Robin, Crested Bellbird,
Jacky Winter, Inland & Chestnut-rumped Thronbill, Black-faced Woodswallow,
White-eared Honeyeater, Grey Currawong, Brown Falcon & Kestrel, together
with other birds previously mentioned. It was great to catch up with
Michael, having known him since the middle 1960's but hadrly seeing him
since.
We stayed the night at Carribin, and in the morning picked up nesting Willie
Wagtail, Yellow-throated Miner, Pied Butcherbird and other common species.
We then did a loopback along the Golden Road to York, stopping 12 km SW of
Tammin where we saw 3 Wedge-tailed Eagles in dispute with some Ravens. At
Wallaby Hills NR north-east of York, we found Bee-eater, Rufous Whistler,
Silvereye etc, and then headed for York. While lunching in the centre of
this delightful, historic town we watched the Tree Martins as they nested
amongst the old buildings, together with Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike & Brown
Honeyeater. We lunched in Northam, checking out the Mute Swans, there were 5
still wild ones but apparently now sterile, and another 5 were in pens and
these had come from capitivity from a private property in Victoria. Frankly
the Mute Swan should not be on the Australian list as the population is not
sustainable and soon they will all be captive bred. Other interesting birds
on the Avon River here were nesting Little Black Cormorant and nesting Coot.
Wood Duck & Mallard had ducklings, Red Wattlebirds and Kookaburras were
feeding dependent young, Hoary-headed Grebe,Hardhead, Pelican, Grey Teal &
Silver Gull were on the water, and Sacred Kingfisher, Brown & Singing
Honeyeaters in the fringing vegetation. A short stop at Toodyay found a
flock of Short-billed Black Cockatoos along with Rufous Whistler, Chestnut &
Yellow Rumped Thornbills, Western Gerygone etc, and another stop along the
Avon Riverat Glen Avon HSD Northamturned up some Black Swans and a flock of
68 Western Corellas, some had feeding on spilled grain on the side of the
road and 5 had been killed. Further to the east at Riversdale Park we added
Grey fantail, Australian Shelduck with 5Y and Coots with 3Y. We returned to
Spring Hill for the night and watched aHobby shoot through the grounds, no
doubt hunting the abundant Laughing Doves and there were more Bee-eaters.
Next morning we were up early and heasded back to perth airport and off to
Christmas Island.
Following our return from Christmas Island on 5 /12, we spent the next day
doing the tourist thing in Fremantle, staying overnight at Cockburn where we
added New Holland Honeyeater, Straw-necked Ibis & various Cormorants. We
spent 7/12 on Rottnest island and missed the reported Ringed Plover, but at
Government Lake saw plenty of nesting Fairy,Caspian and Crested Terns, there
were plenty of Red-capped Plover, Red-necked Stint, Curlew Sandpiper,
Sanderling and Large Sand Plovers. Pied Oystercatchers were prominet on the
beaches, Ospreys patrolled overhead, and Bridled Terns were seen at two
locations. A few Ruddy Turnstones were located on the rocky shoreline, while
White-fronted Chats and White-browed Scrub-wrens were easily found in the
low vegetation. A Brush Bronzewing was seen in the low heath and there were
saome Peafowl. The last day was spent at Herdsman Lake, where Buff-banded
Rails were seen in the garden around the WWF HQ, Blue-billed Duck and
Great-crested Grebes were accompanied by small young, 5 Glossy Ibis were
feeding along the edge, Clamorus Reedwarblers were common in the reeds,
Brown Honeyaters were bot nesting and feeding dependent young, a pair iof
Shoveler were located and a Shining Bronze-Cuckoo was found. All up 102
species were seen around Perth and environs.
The following is the Report compiled by our Tour Guide Leader Dion Hobcroft,
on behalf of Follow That Bird Tours, of the trip to Cocos and Christmas
Island. All 12 tour members had good views of the Asian House Martin, Indian
Koels, Grey Wagtails & Barn Swallows, along with the usual endemic species
on the Island. We stayed in the QV3 Lodge which was excellent for our needs
and we were able to use the swimming pool across the road in facilities
owned by the same company as our Lodge. We dined at a number of places and
enjoyed great meals. As Sean Dooley said, the Christmas Island Tip is always
worth a visit and since our return, David James and Ian McAllan (who was
staying on after we returned) manged to find a Large Hawk Cuckoo, which if
accepteds will bea first record for Australia.
CHRISTMAS ISLAND
1-5 December 2005
Dion Hobcroft and Janene Luff
A really fabulous trip and I would like to thank the tour participants Allan
and Robin Benson, Pam Burden, Dorothy Devery, Rodger Hall, Rose Lau, Alan
and Anne Morris, Patricia Novikoff, Jack Shapiro, Belinda Webster and
Bernice Wilcock for making it works so well. I would like to thank Janene
for her excellent organisation.
We experienced all Christmas Island had to offer-the incredible spectacle of
Red Crab migration in a scene of unparalleled crab diversity; treacherous
razor sharp eroded coral, stunning rainforests and outstanding noodles. Even
the birds performed and we encountered all of the endemics and a good
collection of rarities. David James made sure we had the best of his local
knowledge and Ian McAllan added some zest to all discussions ornithological.
1 December: After a long flight we made the landing in the Cocos Islands.
Here we met Don and LlaneHadden who had some great photos of birds on the
Cocos Islands including rarities like Rosy Starling and what looked like a
Western Reef Egret. The Green Junglefowl perfomed dutifully on the airstrip,
if somewhat distantly. After clearing into CI we made it to VQ3 and the
Golden Bosun for dinner.
2 December: Early breakfast and off to North West Point for great birds. We
hit the early jackpot with a pair of Asian House Martins we were to sight
daily. A pair of White-breasted Waterhens performed well and everything was
new. From Red Crabs to Robber Crabs to Abbott’s Booby and Christmas Island
Frigatebirds, it was a treat.
During the lunchtime siesta post Cla Noodlehouse, Dion and Robin Benson went
scouting for the Asian Koels near Rumah Tinggi. Luck was shining and the
male was located. Rousing all from their slumbers great looks were enjoyed
of both the retiring male and female. Our only sighting for the trip, the
sixth Australian record.
In the afternoon we headed to the bankrupted Casino and Waterfall Beach. A
Striated Heron was seen briefly in flight, a pair of Peppered Moray Eels had
a dispute involving biting in the reef shallows and saw our first Blue
Crabs- a superb porcelain blue. Heavy rain saw us dip on the hawk owl but at
least we walked off the Alma’s Pizza.
3 December: This morning we explored the Phosphate mine at Drumsite on a
walk to the Plantation. We again hit the jackpot by finding three Grey
Wagtails and after some patient observing enjoyed great views out in the
open of these typically flighty and shy birds.
In the afternoon we enjoyed display flighting Red-tailed Tropicbirds and
dapper Java Sparrows for all. In the late afternoon we walked out to
Margaret Knoll with the crabs on full migration. We had super views of
Christmas Island Flying Foxes. We proceeded to the Golf Course at dusk and
had a great encounter with a pair of Christmas Island Hawk Owls, for many
perhaps the highlight of the birding. They are very handsome little owls. A
fine dinner at Seasons Palace in Poon Saan saw Dion celebrating his new bird
(Asian Koel) and Alan Benson’s 699th species in Australia.
4 December: A day set aside to search for the enigmatic Christmas Island
Goshawk. Our sock lure failed, even the crab’s objected. It was going to be
a difficult bird to find. We explored the Chinese Temples at South Point and
enjoyed frigatebirds drinking from a roadside pool pterodactyl style.
In the afternoon we concentrated at Winifred Beach at dusk. David James
bought along a bat detector and we managed a few fleeting glimpses of the
rare endemic Christmas Island Pipistrelle- a species that is in steep
decline and seriously threatened. Dinner was enjoyed at Rumah Tinggi.
5 December: This time armed with a real toy rat and fishing line we lured in
a pair of Christmas Island Goshawks with spectacular results at The
Plantation. Our last endemic bird it was a great way to finish up. At the
old cemetery we enjoyed point blank Red-footed Booby, golden morph
White-tailed Tropicbirds and excellent frigatebirds. Post lunch and a
thunderstorm saw us scouting around and we enjoyed a great White-breasted
Waterhen near the Airstrip and as a last hurrah a pair of Ruddy Turnstones
and seven Pacific Golden Plovers at Ethel Beach. A quick stopover at Cocos
saw Green Junglefowl in the scope and numerous Nankeen Night-herons.
BIRDLIST
Red Junglefowl Gallus gallus: (20) plus seen daily on CI; great majority
looking like feral chickens.
Green Junglefowl Gallus varius: (10) on 1 December and (20) on 4 December on
the Cocos Island Airstrip. Some quite OK scope views of this thriving feral
population.
Red-tailed Tropicbird Phaethon rubricauda westralis: (2-10) daily on CI with
best views at Rumah Tinggi in Settlement.
White-tailed Tropicbird Phaethon lepturus fulvus: (20-40) daily on CI with
great views of golden individuals.
Abbott’s Booby Papasula abbotti: Recorded daily on CI with max. (15) on both
days around Northwest Point. Watched displaying at nesting sites in the
canopy, presenting twigs, wing flapping and growling.
Red-footed Booby Sula sula rubripes: (200-300) daily at CI, all adults white
morphs. Present in roosting and nesting colonies. Very tame.
Brown Booby Sula leucogaster plotus: (10) daily on CI; mostly in Flying Fish
Cove and Settlement.
Great Frigatebird Fregata minor listeri: (100) plus daily on CI.
Lesser Frigatebird Fregata ariel: (1) male seen by Dion only at Rumah Tinggi
on 2 December.
Christmas Frigatebird Fregata andrewsi: (20-50) recorded daily on CI.
White-faced Heron Egretta novaehollandiae: (3-5) daily on CI, mostly on the
airstrip. Three including recently fledged juvenile at The Old Cemetery on 4
Dec.
Eastern Reef Egret Egretta sacra: (3) at Waterfall Beach on 1 Dec and (1)
Flying Fish Cove on 2 Dec. All white morph birds.
Great Egret Ardea alba: (1) present on 1, 2 and 4 December near the Rubbish
Tip; (1) near The Plantation on 3 December was a different individual.
Striated Heron Butorides striatus: (1) at Waterfall Beach on 1 Dec was shy
and seen only in flight.
Nankeen Night-Heron Nycticorax caledonicus: (1) on the Airstrip on Cocos
Island on 1 Dec and at least (20) including one juvenile at the same
location at dusk on 4 Dec.
Christmas Island Goshawk Accipiter fasciatus natalis: (2) both juveniles- a
male and female were present near the Plantation on the morning of the 4
Dec. They provided great value in attacking the toy rat lure on fishing
line. While currently classified in as a subspecies of the Brown Goshawk it
appears likely this taxa may be moved to Variable Goshawk Accipiter
hiogaster of New Guinea and eastern Indonesia.
Nankeen Kestrel Falco cenchroides: (20-50) seen daily on CI where common and
conspicuous in grassland-forest edge and townsites.
White-breasted Waterhen Amaurornis phoenicurus: (2) at Northwest Point on 1
December with (1) flushed at The Rubbish Tip on the same day and also on 3
Dec. A great view of (1) near The Airstrip on 4 Dec. All birds seen were
adult.
Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos: (1) seen on three days at Waterfall
Beach and Flying Fish Cove.
Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres: (2) at Ethel Beach on 4 Dec.
Pacific Golden Plover Pluvialis fulva: (7) at Ethel Beach on 4 Dec.
Common Noddy Anous stolidus: (200) daily mostly at Flying Fish Cove.
Emerald Dove Chalcophaps indica natalis: (10-20) daily on CI. Distinctive
subspecies with white forehead and silver crown is considered specifically
distinct from Australian birds by certain authors.
Christmas Island Imperial Pigeon Ducula whartoni: (50-100) daily on CI where
abundant in every forested habitat.
Asian Koel Eudynamys scolopacea: (2), male and female present at Triadic
Crescent, Rumah Tinggi on 1 December. Good view of both male and the more
distinctive female bathing in wet foliage in subcanopy. Typically skulking.
Now generally considered a separate species from the Australian cyanocephala
that differs in the female with a black cap and different reproductive
biology.
Christmas Island Hawk-Owl Ninox natalis: (2) male and female gave a
sensational view at the Golf Course on dusk on 2 Dec. Also heard at Winifred
Beach on 3 Dec whilst looking for the microbat.
Cave Swiftlet Collocalia linchi natalis: (200) seen daily on CI. A recent
unpublished genetic study shows this island population is more closely
related to the Cave Swiftlet Collocalia linchi than to the Glossy Swiftlet
C. esculenta.
Grey Wagtail Motacilla cinerea: (3) studied closely at The Plantation on 2
Dec.
Eurasian Tree Sparrow Passer montanus: (50-100) plus daily around Settlement
on CI.
Java Sparrow Lonchura oryzivora: Recorded daily on CI with high count of
(26) near Rumah Tinggi on 3 Dec. Also seen near Drumsite.
Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica: (2) present on every visit to North West Point
and (1) present on every visit to Rubbish Tip and (1) seen near Old Cemetery
on 2 Dec. A juvenile bird was present at The Rubbish Tip on 1 Dec.
Asian House Martin Delichon dasypus: (2) present at North West Point on
three days we visited this site on 1-3 Dec. Some excellent views of this
highly aerial species seen flying against forest and dark clouds allowed us
to see the diagnostic features clearly.
Christmas Island White-eye Zosterops natalis: (200) plus seen daily in every
forested habitat. Abundant.
Island Thrush Turdus poliocephalus erythropleurus: (30) plus seen daily in
every forested habitat. Moderately common, tame and approachable. One adult
observed feeding a dependent juvenile.
MAMMALS
Christmas Island Flying Fox Pteropus melanotus natalis: (20) at Margaret
Knoll in late afternoon on 2 Dec and (1) seen on following day from
East-West Base Road.
Christmas Island Pipistrelle Pipistellus murrayi: (1-2) heard and seen
flying in spotlight beam near Winifred Beach in early evening on 3 Dec.
Critically endangered.
REPTILES
Asian House Gecko Hemidactylus frenatus: Common around accommodations at VQ3
Lodge ad elsewhere in settlement.
CRABS
Robber Crab Birgus latro: Moderately common, seen daily often scavenging
road-killed Red Crabs. Some real giants seen especially at night. The world’s
largest terrestrial arthropod and spectacularly coloured.
Red Crab Geocarcoidea natalis: Abundant- several million encountered. Truly
impressive phenomena.
Blue Crab Cardisoma hirtipes: (40) around Waterfall Beach with occasional
individuals encountered daily elsewhere on the island.
Little Nipper Geograpsus grayi: A few encountered daily in forest.
Grapsus Grapsus tenuicrustatus: Common on intertidal rocks.
Horn-eyed Ghost Crab Ocypode ceratopthalma: Common on sandy beach at Flying
Fish Cove.
FISH
Peppered Moray Eel Siderea picta: (2) had an aggressive interaction in reef
shallows at Waterfall Beach near The Casino. Quite spectacular.
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