Irene,
Check my web site (see below) for details on sites such as Albany /
Waychinicup / Cheyne Beach, Dryandra, Stirling Range, south west corner,
Kalbarri, Shark Bay, Fitzgerald River.
I am organising a pelagic on Sunday August 11th from Perth. There are only
a couple of places still available, but this may be too early for
you. Seabirds are a good chance from Cape Leeuwin lighthouse near Augusta,
The Gap near Albany and Bunker Bay near Cape Naturaliste.
I am not certain when the school holidays are. If there are holidays then
you should book accommodation for the coastal areas unless you are camping.
There are excellent walks in the Stirling Range / Porongorups, Kalbarri,
Cape Leeuwin, Cape Naturaliste.
I know very little about flowers, but orchids should be good in areas such
as Stirling Range. I very highly recommend Simon Nevill's book "Guide to
the Wildflowers of South Western Australia". If you can't find it locally,
then send him an email at
If you are interested in wildflowers, then I would highly recommend
spending a few days at Cue (great birds here too) and then on the way back
to Perth via Wubin.
As for the south west endemics, I have some information on my web site (see
Species section) but this is not totally up to date.
Noisy Scrubbird - Endemic. My best two sites are Cheyne Beach Caravan Park
(see my recent posting to birding-aus), and the creek crossing on the way
into Waychinicup (see my web site). Third chance is the walk track from
Little Beach to Two People's Bay (see my Albany web site).
Western Bristlebird - Endemic. The best site is the Little Beach car
park. Next best is power pole 102 to 104 along Cheyne Beach Road.
Western Whipbird - Best chance is Fitzgerald River bridge along Highway One
in the regenerating area to the south west. The Little Beach car park is a
reasonable chance. Near power pole 104 on Cheyne Beach Road is another
chance, as is near the Cheyne Beach Caravan Park.
Short-billed Black-Cockatoo - Endemic. Should be fairly easy at say
Stirling Range. You will definitely see it somewhere, but get a good look
to confirm against the next species.
Long-billed Black-Cockatoo - Endemic. Most likely from Busselton to
Augusta and across to Manjimup in the south west corner. A chance at
Porongorups near the Stirling Range, Waychinicup and Albany but these last
three sites are at least as likely or more likely to be Short-billed.
Western Corella - Endemic. Almost certain along Muir Highway from Rocky
Gully to Lake Muir east of Manjimup. Very close to Rocky Gully is the best
chance. There is another race north of Perth near the Moore River as far
north as Dongara but check for Little Corella. Same near New Norcia about
100km NE of Perth, and along the Avon River between Northam and Toodyay.
Western Rosella - Endemic. Common around the far south west. You will see
it somewhere.
Red-capped Parrot - Endemic. Common in the south west. You will see it at
Dryandra or Stirling Range or Albany or Cheyne Beach.
Rock Parrot - Almost certain at Cape Leeuwin lighthouse. Very good chance
along the beach at Two People's Bay (walk about 400 metres along the beach
to the left). Very good chance at Rottnest Island near the Bathurst Point
tennis courts.
Western Thornbill - Endemic. Common in jarrah / marri woodland with low
undergrowth, but you can miss it if you don't go looking for it. Can be
found at Dryandra (near dam along Kawana Road), Stirling Range, etc. Best
chance is Bungendore State Forest just outside Perth. Good chance along
Muir Highway.
Western Spinebill - Endemic. Common. You should see it at Bungendore,
Dryandra, Little Beach, Cheyne Beach, etc.
White-breasted Robin - Endemic. Common. Easiest site is Gleneagle State
Forest rest area along Albany Highway in the Darling Range. Walk anti
clockwise around the ring road for about 200 metres or so. You should see
them along the south coast (Albany, Augusta) or in wet forest (karri
forest) also.
Western Yellow Robin - Best chances are Gleneagle (same site as
White-breasted), Dryandra (Ochre Trail). Also Stirling Range, Muir
Highway, etc.
Red-eared Firetail - Endemic. Can be easy to miss. Best found by call
(similar to Beautiful Firetail). Good chance at Little Beach, Lake Powell
(near Albany), near Cape Naturaliste. Chance at Lake Seppings in Albany,
Wungong Gorge near Perth.
Red-winged Fairy-wren - Endemic. Very common in the far south. Good
chance at Gleneagle. Best chances are Two People's Bay picnic area, and
near Augusta.
Blue-breasted Fairy-wren - Best chance is Dryandra (near Old Mill Dam,
Kawana Road dam and Kawana Road banding site). Also at Stirling Range and
Fitzgerald River bridge.
Banded Stilt - Certain at Rottnest.
Hooded Plover - Good chance on beaches near Augusta. Good chance at Lake
Preston just south of Mandurah.
Common Pheasant - Feral. Common on Rottnest golf course.
Common Peafowl - Feral. Common around Rottnest settlement.
Laughing Turtle-Dove - Feral. Common around Perth and Rottnest.
Mute Swan - Feral. Impossible to miss at Northam weir.
Malleefowl - Good chance if you ask the locals at Jerramungup and Stirling
Range. A chance at Dryandra along Koomal Road.
Red-tailed Tropicbird - Unlikely at Sugarloaf Rock near Cape Naturaliste
before late September and very unlikely before mid September.
Bridled Tern - No chance until early to mid October.
Little Bittern - A chance at Regent Waters (James Spiers Drive) near Lake
Joondalup, and at Herdsman Lake Wildlife Centre. Best chance is at dusk.
Square-tailed Kite - A good chance from the start of September, and maybe
earlier.
Lesser Noddy - Very hard to find at the Abrolhos until October.
Rufous (Western) Fieldwren - Best chance is at Kalbarri near Red Bluff, and
also near power pole 102 along Cheyne Beach Road.
Crested (Western) Shrike-tit - One of the hardest to find. Chances at
Dryandra (Ochre Trail / Arboretum) and Stirling Range. Good reports from
Margaret River to Augusta area.
Little (Western) Wattlebird - Fairly common in the south west where there
is banksia heath. You should see it at Dryandra, Cheyne Beach,
Waychinicup, etc. A chance in Kings Park Botanic Garden in Perth.
Grey Honeyeater - A good chance at the Emu Proof Fence just west of Yalgoo,
and at Nallan Station near Cue. Look for acacias with red trunks covered
in peeling bark.
Painted Button-quail - Common at Dryandra. Very good chance near Old Mill Dam.
Other good birds at Cue include Bourke's Parrot, Chestnut-breasted
Quail-thrush, Slaty-backed Thornbill, Slender-billed Thornbill, Chiming
Wedgebill, Western Bowerbird, Orange Chat, etc.
The best chances for mammals are at Dryandra, Perup (near Manjimup),
Waychinicup (Southern Brown Bandicoot and maybe Bush Rat), Rottnest
(Quokka) and south coast (Southern Right and Humpback Whales).
Reptiles would be very difficult in August / September.
Are there any other species you were looking for?
All the best
___________________________________________________________________
Frank O'Connor Birding WA http://members.iinet.net.au/~foconnor
Phone : (08) 9386 5694 Email :
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