The names used for Passerines are taken from Schodde and Mason, with
asterisks incdicating new species. I have all three files as word documents
if anyone would like a copy I can send it directly.
*Noisy Scrub-bird Atrichornis clamosus
The last of the ?big three? to be seen, eventually seen at Waychinicup NP on
the 27th. At least two males calling around the Little Beach area on the
25th, including one at the Frank O?Connor?s preferred site that was close
enough to be heard rustling in the undergrowth at my feet. The ?Willie
Wagtail on steroids? call is almost deafening when they are close. A number
were heard on the way to King Wave Gully, though the two present near here
were not obliging at all. Was prepared to stay all day at Waychinicup,
though saw a single male within 15 minutes of going to the site described
just above the carpark. The bird was calling about 10 metres upstream in the
Eucalypts when I arrived and quickly came to investigate when I pished. It
scurried around about two feet in front of me, before briefly sitting in the
open. It then disappeared into the undergrowth, before calling twice, and
then headed back up the creekline to its original spot. With all three of
the birds around Two People?s Bay, I felt fortunate that all seemed curious
to the observer, and they all allowed me great views.
*Rufous Treecreeper Climacteris rufa
One bird seen at Bungendore Park on the 2oth was the only bird seen away
from Dryandra, where it proved common in the Wandoo on both days. They were
not present at other ?regular? sites, like Porogorups and Stirling Ranges
National Parks.
Variegated Fairy-wren Malurus lamberti
Recorded on five days, near the end of the trip, with sightings in the New
Beach on the 1st and 2nd and in the Denham area on the following two days. A
group seen in coastal heath near Cervantes was also believed to be this
species.
*Blue-breasted Fairy-wren Malurus pulcherrimus
This species, which I found very similar to the previous species, was
recorded on six days. Though common at Dryandra on the 20th and 21st, it
wasn?t until the second day that I saw a full breeding plumage male. Also
recorded at the Stirling Ranges on the 28th, and in Tathra NP (East of
Eneabba) on the 31st. The most northerly sighting was at the Murchison River
crossing on the 4th, and it was reasonably common in Kalbarri NP the
following day.
*Red-winged Fairy-wren Malurus elegans
This wren was only seen on four days, though was common when present in an
area. Two groups were tracked down at Wungong Dam on the 20th, while birds
were seen in a number of locations in the Pemberton/Walpole area on the 23rd
and 24th. A small flock was also present in the camping area at Waychinicup
NP on the 27th.
Splendid Fairy-wren Malurus splendens
The commonest fairy-wren, being recorded on 12 days. Often present at the
same areas as the ?red-shouldered? species, it was seen at Wungong Dam, Two
People?s Bay, Stirling Ranges NP, and as far north as Kalbarri NP.
White-winged Fairy-wren Malurus leucopterus
Recorded on six consecutive days from the 1st, from New Beach in the north
to the coastal heath south of Kalbarri in the south.
Southern Emu-wren Stipiturus malachurus
Common in the coastal heaths around Albany, including Two People?s Bay and
Waychinicup NP, and seen in the mallee area at Stirling Ranges NP on the
28th to be recorded on four consecutive days.
Thick-billed Grasswren Amytornis textilis
This race proved to be much more obliging than the one I had previously seen
in South Australia. Common around the Monkey Mia area, including the
carpark, the walking trail, and back towards Denham about 500 metres, on the
2nd and 3rd. Also recorded at Francois Peron homestead, and at the 26th
parallel sign, which was the only spot where they behaved like grasswrens
and kept at least two bushes in front of me.
Spotted Pardalote Pardalotus punctatus
The ?spotted? race was only heard in Karri forest around Pemberton on the
23rd and 24th, and at the Porongorups NP on the 27th. They did not give the
complete ?sweet baby? call but was closer to the ?yellow-rumped? race, a
single male of which was seen at Fitzgerald River crossing on the 29th.
Striated Pardalote Pardalotus striatus
Common, recorded on 13 days, at locations including Kings Park, Dryandra,
Stirling Ranges NP and as far north as Kalbarri NP.
*Western Bristlebird Dasyornis longirostris
The call of this species is similar to the Eastern species, and was first
heard at Little Beach on the 25th. Heard again in the same area the next
morning, and a single bird was seen later that afternoon, pausing briefly to
look at me, before disappearing back into the heath. A number were heard
above the camping area at Waychinicup NP on the 27th.
*Western Fieldwren Calamanthus montanellus
I was not confident of finding this recently split species, as the only
potential sites I had were at the Pinnacles, near Lancelin and Two People?s
Bay. However, birds were seen at two spots in low heath along the northern
boundary road of Stirling Ranges NP on the 28th. They birds were
considerably greyer than the two Rufous Fieldwrens seen later. I was also
told that Fieldwrens were also present in the low heath south of Kalbarri,
but strong winds were not suitable for trying to track down the exact
species.
Rufous Fieldwren Calamanthus campestris
A pair of birds seen near the Slender-billed Thornbills at New Beach on the
2nd.
*Redthroat Pyrrholaemus brunneus
Proved to be relatively common in the shrubland south of Carnarvon,
including New Beach, and on the road to Denham. Also seen at Z Bend lookout
in Kalbarri NP on the 5th, to bring to four days seen.
White-browed Scrubwren Sericornis frontalis
A common species, recorded on 19 days, first on Rottnest Island, around the
coast as far north as New Beach, in many habitats from wet forest to heath
and arid shrubland.
Weebill Smicrornis brevirostris
Seen on 13 days, including King?s Park on the 18th, Dryandra on the 20th and
21st, Stirling Ranges NP on the 28th and in Kalbarri NP on the 5th.
Western Gerygone Gerygone fusca
Another common species, being recorded on 12 days. Found in a wide variety
of habitats, between Albany and Kalbarri, after being first heard at Wungong
Dam on the 20th.
*Dusky Gerygone Gerygone tenebrosa
A single bird was seen at New Beach on the 1st, and after none were seen in
mangroves at Carnarvon, two birds were pished into view at New Beach the
following day.
Inland Thornbill Acanthiza apicalis
The most commonly recorded thornbill, with sightings on 17 days. Recorded in
both inland and coastal habitats, as far north as New Beach, with the first
birds recorded at Dryandra on the 20th.
Chestnut-rumped Thornbill Acanthiza uropygialis
First recorded at Wave Rock on the 30th, and also seen in roadside
vegetation north of Geraldton on the 1st and the 4th. Birds were also seen
in Kalbarri NP on the 5th.
*Western Thornbill Acanthiza inornata
This species, with a call almost identical to the Buff-rumped Thornbill, was
first seen at Wungong Dam on the 20th. It also proved common in Dryandra the
same day and at Stirling Ranges NP on the 28th. The last of six days
sightings was at a roadside conservation reserve just to the north of
Northam on the 31st.
*Slender-billed Thornbill Acanthiza iredalei
A small flock of birds was seen at New Beachon the 2nd, in the low samphire
where the road from the Highway meets the coast road. The birds were
followed almost to water?s edge, before disappearing into the stunted
mangroves.
Yellow-rumped Thornbill Acanthiza chrysorrhoa
Seen on 12 days, usually in roadside vegetation. The first sighting was made
west of Dryandra on the 20th, and commonest in the south west, though
sightings were made as far north as Kalbarri NP on the 5th.
Singing Honeyeater Lichenostomus virescens
This species was recorded on 15 days, and was particularly common in
suburban Perth and north of Geraldton. Not recorded anywhere on the south
coast and wheat belt between Dunsborough and Northam.
White-eared Honeyeater Lichenostomus leucotis
This species was uncommon, being recorded on only four days. Recorded at a
couple of spots in Dryandra, particularly near Old Mill Dam on the 20th, and
in the mallee areas of Stirling Range NP on the 28th. A single bird was also
seen at the Fitzgerald River crossing on the 29th.
Purple-gaped Honeyeater Lichenostomus cratitius
Individual birds recorded on the Ongarup walk at Stirling Ranges NP on the
28th and 29th, and a single bird was also seen in the bird bath at the café
just north of the park on the former date.
Yellow-plumed Honeyeater Lichenostomus ornatus
This species had a very similar distribution to the White-eared Honeyeater,
being recorded on five days. It was common in Dryandra on the 20th and 21st,
but only seen in the immediate area of the Stirling Ranges Retreat on the
28th and 29th. A few more birds were seen in roadside mallee on the southern
wheatbelt the following day.
Grey-fronted Honeyeater Lichenostomus plumulus
A single bird was observed in roadside mallee to the north of the Kalbarri
turnoff on the 1st.
White-plumed Honeyeater Lichenostomus penicillatus
An individual was seen in roadside vegetation just north of Geraldton on the
1st, with birds seen later that day and the next morning in Carnarvon
township. A few birds were also seen in the Hamelin Pools Telegraph Station
on the same day.
Yellow-throated Miner Manorina flavigula
Only seen in disturbed roadside mallee in the wheatbelt on three days from
the 29th, with the first birds seen just to the north of the Stirling Ranges
NP.
Brown-headed Honeyeater Melithreptus brevirostris
Common at Dryandra, being seen all three days I spent in the reserve. A few
were also present in Stirling Ranges NP and was recorded both days at
Meanarra Hill near Kalbarri on the 4th and 5th, bringing the day total to
eight.
White-naped Honeyeater Melithreptus lunatus
Very common in a number of different habitats in the south west corner,
being recorded on seven days. The first sightings were at Wungong Dam and
Dryandra on the 20th, and the last at Stirling Ranges NP on the 29th.
Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater Acanthagenys rufogularis
Seen in heath and scrub north of Eneabba on five days from the 31st, though
not in the immediate area of Denham and Monkey Mia.
Western Wattlebird Anthochaera lunulata
A species that I had listed but was wanting to see again to confirm. Unlike
the Little Wattlebird from which it has been recently split, it was not seen
once in urban areas, generally found in heath. It was recorded on six days,
in a number of locations including the heath near the banding site on Kawana
Road at Dryandra on the 21st, at Sinkers Reef carpark on the 26th, on the
Ongarup walk on the Stirling Ranges on the 28th and in Yanchep NP on the
7th.
Red Wattlebird Anthochaera carunculata
Being recorded on 17 days, this was the second commonest honeyeater. It was
not recorded north of Geraldton.
Brown Honeyeater Lichmera indistincta
This was the commonest honeyeater, being recorded on 19 days. It was common
in suburban Perth, and was only absent from the Two People?s Bay and Denham
areas.
New Holland Honeyeater Phylidonyris novaehollandiae
Another common species, with 15 days. It was common in Perth, Dryandra and
Albany, though was not seen north of Yanchep NP.
White-cheeked Honeyeater Phylidonyris nigra
Proved much less common than the previous species with records on nine days.
First seen at King?s Park on the 18th, it was also seen in small numbers in
heath at Dryandra. Between Cervantes and Kalbarri it was one of the
commonest species in coastal heath.
White-fronted Honeyeater Phylidonyris albifrons
First seen in roadside scrub on the Denham road on the 4th, and a number
were seen and heard in a number of locations in Kalbarri NP the following
day.
Tawny-crowned Honeyeater Gliciphila melanops
This species was unexpectedly common, being recorded in low heath on nine
days. First seen in Dryandra on the 21st, it was also recorded at Two
People?s Bay on the 26th, Stirling Ranges NP on the 28th and a number of
sites between Kalbarri and Cervantes.
*Western Spinebill Acanthorhynchus superciliosus
The first tick for the trip was a single bird seen in King?s Park on the
18th. Recorded on another nine days, including at Bungendore Park and
Dryandra on the 20th, Two People?s Bay and Waychinicup NP and at the
Stirling Ranges NP on the 29th. A single bird flying across the road near
Lancelin was the northernmost sighting.
Pied Honeyeater Certhionyx variegatus
One male seen displaying and another heard in Eremophila scrub along the
Murchison road on the 4th.
White-fronted Chat Ephthianura albifrons
A few birds were seen on Rottnest Island on the 19th, and a couple of small
flocks were seen on roadsides to the north of Albany on the 27th and 28th.
*Western Yellow Robin Eopsaltria griseogularis
First seen on the Ochre Trail at Dryandra on the 21st, at least three were
around the carpark at Lol Grey Lookout later the same day. A single bird
flew across the road east of Manjimup on the 24th, but proved easiest to
find at the Stirling Ranges NP on the 28th and 29th. A bird was also seen
near Kalbarri on the 5th, making five days with sightings.
*White-breasted Robin Eopsaltria georgiana
Found at Wungong Dam on the 20th at exactly the location described by Frank
O?Connor. Seen at a number of sites around Pemberton, including at the base
of the Gloucester tree on the 23rd. Common at the camping ground in
Waychinicup NP on the 27th and on the Ongarup Walk the following day. A
possible sighting of a bird disappearing into shrubs on the Pinnacles Road
on the 6th would have made six days if I was confident of the ID.
Hooded Robin Melanodryas cucullata
A robin was identified as this species on Rottnest Island on the 19th.
However, as it was only seen from behind as riding past on a bike, it may
have been a Red-capped Robin (though the call heard was very different). A
pair was definitely recorded south of the Overlander Roadhouse, in one of
the few patches of Mulga seen on this road.
_________________________________________________________________
Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com/intl.asp
Birding-Aus is on the Web at
www.shc.melb.catholic.edu.au/home/birding/index.html
To unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message
"unsubscribe birding-aus" (no quotes, no Subject line)
to
|
