Just returned from leading a tour of the south west (and a bit
further out) of Western Australia. Perth, Geraldton, Kalbarri, Mt
Magnet, Cue, Payne's Find, Dalwalinnu, Northam, Narrogin, Dryandra
SF, Stirling Range NP, Jerramungup (and the mallee) and Albany / Cheyne Beach.
First the unusual sightings :
Gull-billed Tern (affinis). This is very uncommon in the south
west. Three sightings of birds all in breeding plumage. 30/09/13
Three birds in the Hutt River Lagoon at Port Gregory (between
Geraldton and Kalbarri) and three birds at the Murchison River mouth
at Kalbarri. 10/10/13 Two birds on the mud flats in Oyster Harbour at
Emu Point near Albany.
Plumed Whistling-Duck. Again very uncommon in the south west.
04/10/13 Twelve birds on an ephemeral wetland about 1km south of York.
Australian Bustard. 03/10/13 Four birds along Maranalgo Road south of
Payne's Find. Uncommon in the south west, but it has been seen along
this road before.
White-fronted Honeyeater. 04/10/13 Five plus birds at Ballidu (in the
heath opposite town). They do turn up from time to time, but almost
not seen anywhere else.
Rock Parrot. Six seen at Lancelin on 29/09/13. Four on the ground at
the north end of town, plus two others flew over.
Black-tailed Native-hens were at four sites. Herdsman Lake, Northam,
Albany and Beaufort River.
Two Whiskered Terns in breeding plumage were at the Wagin sewage
ponds on 06/10/13 along with 100+ Pink-eared Ducks (including ducklings).
The two Freckled Ducks were at Herdsman Lake as previously reported.
The Common Ostriches at the north end of the Frankland Kojonup Road
were sitting on eggs.
Second, the areas from Kalbarri to Mt Magnet to Cue to Payne's Find
had obviously had a very poor season. No nomadic species
whatsoever. Five Western (Chestnut-breasted) Quail-thrush about 9km
from Mt Magnet on the Yalgoo Road in the late afternoon of 01/10/13
were a bonus, as we could not find them opposite the 10km
marker. Missed Orange Chat and Banded Whiteface which I expected to
see near Cue. The White-browed Treecreeper was at the grid east of
Payne's Find on the Payne's Find - Sandstone Road, and the Gilbert's
Whistler and two Bourke's Parrots were at the Warne River crossing on
the same road.
We found most of the south west endemics, except that Red-eared
Firetail was missed (looked at Cheyne Beach, Lake Seppings, Lake
Powell, Porongurups and Dwellingup) and Noisy Scrub-bird was only
glimpsed. Unbelievably, we could not find a Spotted Pardalote of
either race. Heard some in the distance at Dryandra and the
Porongurups. Only saw two Western Spinebills at Narrogin.
The Little Beach car park at Two People's Bay was good with two
Western Whipbirds calling and showing themselves (one between car
park and the toilet, and the other at the bottom right corner of the
car park), plus a Western Bristlebird ran across the road.
Three Hooded Plovers were on the Camel Lake NR on Salt River Road as
usual (with four Banded Stilt).
The main comment from the trip was that many of the migrants were
missing or in very small numbers. Only one group of White-winged
Trillers (on York Williams Road north of Dryandra). No Pallid Cuckoos
(even heard). Only heard two Horsfield's Bronze-Cuckoos. Only saw one
Shining Bronze-Cuckoo (at Herdsman Lake), and heard two others. Only
saw one Fan-tailed Cuckoo and heard three others. Only one poor
sightings of a Brown Songlark on Formby South Road north of the
Stirling Range. Rufous Songlark was only common just east of
Geraldton, but we did hear a few others including two at the Stirling
Range. Only three Sacred Kingfishers (including one nesting at the
Stirling Range). Only saw two Rainbow Bee-eaters (plus heard a few
more) at the Stirling Range (08/10/13).
_________________________________________________________________
Frank O'Connor Birding WA http://birdingwa.iinet.net.au
Phone : (08) 9386 5694 Email :
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