This is a report for my recent trip to Western Australia. It is mainly
included to be added to the archives. I used Frank O?Connor?s website
(http://members..iinet.net.au/~foconnor/index.html) extensively to determine
locations, as well information provided to Birding-Aus by Rod Gardner, Edwin
Vella, Michael Hunter and David Cooper. Without the information my trip
would not been as successful, so thanks to all for providing the
information. Also used the ever useful Thomas & Thomas, though did not use
it as often as I have in other states.
In just over three weeks, travelled just over 7100 kilometres, saw exactly
200 species, with 23 new species and quite a few seen for only the second
time. This included all the south west endemics, including, fortunately, the
?big three? around Two People?s Bay and the recently split Shrike-tit and
Fieldwren. Whilst I am birdwatching, I regularly stop in roadside vegetation
and often drive down side roads, so some of my notes may be a little vague.
However, if anyone wants specific details, do not hesitate to contact me and
I will try and provide extra details.
The report will be split into three files. The first lists my itinerary,
with the other two list each species individually, broken into
Non-Passerines and Passerines for size reasons. I apologise if this makes
the files large, but I found this very useful for targeting species. I will
also list any interesting mammals/reptiles recorded in this file. The
numbers at the end of each day represent daily count/trip ticks/trip
count/lifers.
Day 1 ? 18th August ? Perth
After arriving late the previous night, this day was really just a case of
settling in. Stayed at a friend?s place in Perth (Bulls Creek) and picked up
a hire car from Fremantle. Spent a couple of hours walking around King?s
Park. 33/33/33/1
Day 2 ? 19th August ? Rottnest Island
Rottnest Island, leaving from Fremantle wharf. Rode around the southern
third of the island, visiting the Settlement, Salmon Bay, Geordie Bay, and
the Golf Course. A number of Quokkas were seen, the easiest site being the
Geordie Bay store. Bottlenose Dolphins were seen off the south coast.
40/16/49/3
Day 3 ? 20th August ? Wungong Dam/Bungedore Park/Dryandra
Left Perth, stopping first at Bibra Lake, before heading to Wungong Dam.
Walked as far as the Gorge, before driving up the hill to Bungendore Park.
Did the complete Casuarina Road loop, and then drove to Dryandra Reserve,
via Pingelly (needed food which wasn?t available at either the towns marked
on my map). Walked around the Village and Old Mill Dam areas, generally
walking through the open woodland, until reaching the cleared fence. Went to
arboretum late in the afternoon, before spotlighting around the village. Saw
4 Echidnas and numerous Western Grey Kangaroos during the day, and spotlit 5
Common Brushtail Possums and 1 (very rapid) Woylie (Brush-tailed Bettong) at
night. 82/50/99/11
Day 4 ? 21st August ? Dryandra
Spent the day at Dryandra, walking the Ochre Trail before driving around the
reserve (I had been told this is the best way to find Numbats, which it was
with one seen briefly on Baaluc Road). Visited virtually every site listed
on Frank O?Connor?s website, including the banding sites, Lol Grey Lookout,
and the Gura Road Junction. 51/7/106/13
Day 5 ? 22nd August ? Dryandra/Dunsborough
Left Dryandra early, heading south to Narrogin then through Collie and
Donnybrook through to Busselton. Followed the coast road through to
Dunsborough (where I stayed) and visited Leeuwin-Naturaliste NP (Sugarloaf
Rock and Cape Naturaliste). 71/12/118/13
Day 6 ? 23rd August ? Dunsborough/Augusta/Pemberton
The weather was fairly wet and wild, so spent a lot of time in the car this
day. Revisited Sugarloaf Rock, before following the Caves Road to Augusta,
stopping briefly at Boranup Forest to get drenched. Visited Cape Leeuwin
before continuing on to Pemberton, stopping at Beedleup Falls on the way.
Visited Bicentennial (Warren NP) and the Gloucester Trees late in afternoon.
These trees are well worth a visit, even if not birdwatching. 48/6/124/13
Day 7 ? 24th August ? Pemberton/Walpole
Drove via Manjimup to Muirs Lake to look for Western Corella, then cut back
through Northcliffe to Cape D?Entrecasteaux. Then through the Shannon NP
forest drive and on to Walpole. Visited the Valley of the Giants, plus
Mandalay Beach late in the afternoon, where the wreck was visible.
44/1/125/14
Day 8 ? 25th August ? Walpole/Albany/Two People?s Bay
Left Walpole early on the way to Albany, stopping at William Bay NP and
driving via Elleker and the coast road. Went to various spots around Albany
(Quaranup Rd, the Gap and Goode Beach). In the afternoon visited Two
People?s Bay, stopping in the Kalgan River area. At Two People?s Bay, I
first talked to the CALM staff (who had a tape of calls which helped
immensely) and then spent a few hours around the Little Beach area.
57/6/131/14
Day 9 ? 26th August ? Two People?s Bay
Spent the day at Two People?s Bay, with early morning at Little Beach area,
then on to ?King Wave Gully? as the local staff called the site listed by
Frank O?Connor (the site off Sinker Reef track). This is on the edge of the
?Research Area? which is closed, so if you want to go here, the staff should
be asked first. Walked to Sinker Reef, before once again returning to Little
Beach (all the effort was eventually worth it). Startled a Quenda (Southern
Brown Bandicoot) early in the morning at Little Beach. 45/2/133/16
Day 10 ? 27th August ? Waychinicup NP/Porongorups NP
Left Albany to head to Waychinicup NP, visiting the main camping area. Was
intending to camp here, but after tracking the Scrub-bird down within half
an hour of arriving, decided to head north to gain a day so I could get to
Carnarvon. Went via back roads towards the Porongorups, where I went to
Tree-in-the-Rock picnic area, and walked the Nancy?s Peak loop. Saw another
Quenda on this walk, and saw King Skinks at Waychinicup and Shinglebacks on
the roads. 54/2/135/17
Day 11 ? 28th August ? Stirling Ranges NP
Drove to the Stirling Ranges NP where first did the Ongarup Creek Walk,
before driving the central trail, and back along the northern boundary. Much
of the park has been burnt, so much of the vegetation was low regrowth.
Later in the afternoon did the Kanga Walk. 65/3/138/18
Day 12 ? 29th August ? Stirling Ranges NP/Fitzgerald River/Hopetoun
Did part of the Ongarup walk early in the morning before climbing Bluff
Knoll. Unfortunately, a cold front passed through, so the top was covered in
cloud (and strong wind) and the rest of the day was chased by rain. Drove
north, before heading to Jerramungup and then Ravensthorpe, stopping briefly
at the Fitzgerald River crossing. Was originally going to camp here, but the
weather was terrible so spent the night in a hotel in Hopetoun. Saw a
Western Brush Wallaby in the Ongarup Walk. 65/4/142/18
Day 13 ? 30th August ? Wave Rock/Northam
This was one of the days I intended to make my way north as quickly as
possible, covering over 700km. Was going to drive via Fitzgerald River NP,
but the weather was too risky, so drove via Lake King, stopping at Wave
Rock, before travelling through Kondinin and Merredin. Then drove the Great
Eastern Highway, through Kellerberrin to Northam. Went for a short drive in
the afternoon around the town, including the weir. 62/7/149/19
Day 14 ? 31st August ? Moora/Dongara/Geraldton
Drove through the wheat belt, via New Norcia, Moora, Carnamah and Eneabba,
stopping at various patches of bush along the way. Had lunch at Dongara,
before continuing on to Geraldton. Before staying at another friend?s place
drove to the Greenough River on the Mullewa Road. 70/6/155/19
Day 15 ? 1st September ? New Beach/Carnarvon
Went from Geraldton north, stopping at a number of spots, until reaching New
Beach, south of Carnarvon. Continued on to this town and went to various
spots around town. 75/22/177/22
Day 16 ? 2nd September ? New Beach/Denham
After visiting the mangroves at the harbour and walking along the mile long
jetty, then headed south again. Stopped again at New Beach, before
continuing on to Denham, via Hamelin Pools. Went to Monkey Mia, but didn?t
go to the Dolphin area. Birdwatched at a few of the scenic areas along Shark
Bay. Picked a Thorny Devil off the road on the way into Denham. 61/6/183/23
Day 17 ? 3rd September ? Denham/Monkey Mia
Stayed around the Denham/Monkey Mia area, including a cruise to see Dugong
and Bottlenose Dolphins, including the feeding at 12 o?clock. Walked around
the Little Lagoon and visited the ?Peron? homestead. 39/3/186/23
Day 18 ? 4th September ? Murchison River/Kalbarri
Went to wader roosts near Denham, before once again heading south. Stopped
at the Murchison River crossing again, before heading towards Kalbarri.
Stopped at Hawks Head and Ross Graham Lookouts, before stopping in town.
Headed up to Meanarra Hill at sunset. 67/6/192/23
Day 19 ? 5th September ? Kalbarri NP
Visited Meanarra Hill at dawn, before heading out to Kalbarri NP again. Went
to The Loop and Z Bend, finding another Moloch on the road. After lunch
visited the Murchison River, before heading to various sites along the road,
south of Kalbarri, including Eagle Bluff. Even though the wind was picking
up, a number of Humpback Whales were seen off the coast. 65/3/195/23
Day 20 ? 6th September ? Geraldton/Cervantes
Drove south from Kalbarri, on the coast road to Northampton through
Geraldton, then again following the coast through Leeman, Jurien and to
Cervantes. Though the wind was very strong, visited the Pinnacles, before
looking at a few spots around town. 60/3/198/23
Day 21 ? 7th September ? The Pinnacles/Yanchep NP/Herdsman Lake
Visited out to the Pinnacles again early, before heading back inland to the
main Brand Highway. Headed south, before turning towards the coast and
travelling to Lancelin. Followed the coast road through Two Rocks and
Yanchep NP, where I walked around the lake and various caves. Drove through
the northern suburbs of Perth stopping at Lakes Herdsman (both northern and
southern shores) and Monger, before heading back to Bulls Creek. 82/2/200/23
Day 22 ? 8th September ? Perth
This was the last day in Perth and I stayed around Bulls Creek after
dropping the hire car back, watching the Aussie Rules finals. The only day I
didn?t add a new species for the trip, though I wasn?t really trying.
17/0/200/23
As a final point a few species that were missed that might have been
expected during the trip included Eastern Reef Egret, White-bellied
Sea-eagle, Peregrine Falcon, Hooded Plover, Red-necked Avocet, Fairy Tern,
Rainbow Bee-eater, Orange Chat and Torresian Crow (though the last was
probably overlooked).
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