I managed to sneak in some bird watching last week on a recent diving trip
to Gnaraloo Bay (200 km north of Carnavon, just above the Tropic of
Capricorn - a 2 day drive from Perth). Gnaraloo is a sheep station well
known for surfing, fishing and diving. It is on the southern edge of the
Ningaloo reef. There is a camping ground with showers (bore water only).
The area is remote and the terrain is semi-arid. Oh, and the road in is
absolutely shocking.
Bird list for the trip......
Osprey, Sooty and pied oyster catchers,
Gannet, Yellow, caspian and lesser crested tern,
Eastern reef egret, Pacific gull, Silver gull (very few of these)
On the first day there was a huge swell and I saw one Wilson's storm petrel
from the shore and some ?? yellow-nosed albatross.
Banded plover, Magpie lark, Willie wagtail
Singing honeyeaters and Richard's pipit were very common and very friendly
in the camping ground.
White-winged fairywrens Grasswrens - couldn't get an ID.
Wedgetail eagle, Whistling kite, Black breasted buzzard - (from the
road)
Brown falcon, Kestrel, Raven
Welcome swallow, white backed swallow, tree martin,
Black-faced cuckoo shrike and woodswallow
Pied butcher bird, crested pigeon
White cheeked honeyeater (south of Carnarvon)
Crimson chat, Chiming wedgebill, Crimson chat
Southern whiteface, Zebra finch, Budgerigar (x5) Cockatiel (x7)
Other vertebrates worth mentioning :
Humpback whale, manta ray, black tipped reef shark, lemon shark,
baldchin groper, moray eel, parrot fish etc.
P.S. The countryside north of the Billabong Road House is covered in a
carpet of wildflowers at the moment.
Shane Raidal
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