Itinerary: Geraldton - Denham (Shark Bay) - Kalbarri - Cervantes -
Armadale (Perth).
Key Species: Black-tailed Gull (Geraldton); Slaty-backed Thornbill,
Thick-billed Grasswren, Chiming Wedgebill (Shark Bay); Black-breasted
Buzzard (Overlander-Billabong), Western Corella (Regan's Ford),
Red-eared Firetail (Wungong Gorge).
Other WA Endemics: Western Rosella, Western Yellow Robin, Red-capped
Parrot
Total List: 94
Comments: The Black-tailed Gull was seen at Fisherman's Wharf on the
17th. It was seen 3 out of 4 times we visited the site at the water
intake pipes for the live crayfish. It was seen flying around Pages
Beach twice. A Sea Lion swimming metres off the wharf was memorable.
The Slaty-backed Thornbill was seen in Mulga country half way between
Overlander and Denham. The Thick-billed Grasswren and Chiming Wedgebill
were seen at the Thomas and Thomas site at Little Lagoon near Denham.
The site has changed somewhat but the Grasswren was seen about 150
metres from the car park as it crossed the 4 WD track. I saw the bird as
it crossed 15 metres of open ground. There is a walking trail which
leaves this track and heads back towards the main road. I crossed the
main road and continued to follow the track uphill towards a picnic
shelter. The Wedgebill was seen about half way up the hill. Although I
glimpsed the bird about 20 times, it took some time to get a full
binocular view as it sat for about 2 seconds on top of a bush.
Regan's Ford is near the Moore River on the Great North Highway. I had
seen a flock of about 25 Corellas on the wing here when we stopped for
petrol on the way up. While I suspected Western Corella, there was no
way to be sure. On the way back, I spotted about 10 feeding with a 30-40
Galahs on a ploughed paddock. Although I couldn't get closer than 300
metres, it was close enough to see the elongated bill and the
significantly larger size of the WC compared to the Galahs
The Red-eared Firetail has proved a bogey bird for me. Despite three
previous trips to Wungong and visits to numerous sites in the South, I'd
failed to see one. I arrived at Wungong about 7.30am and searched the
picnic area and its surrounds for over an hour. Almost as an after
thought, I decided to drive to the other side of the dam and walked down
toward the pipeline. I saw a largish (compared to Yellow-rumped
Thornbills I kept seeing), dark bird about 100 metres away under the
pipeline. As my binoculars focused on the checked flanks, I let out a
sigh of relief. The bird then flew up toward me and landed in a tree
providing good views from 30 metres. The bird was extremely skittish and
kept flying 150 metres at a time before landing momentarily then it
disappeared into thick bush at the bottom of the gorge.
General comments: Nicest place we stayed Kalbarri. Scenic highlight "The
Pinnacles"; this is a must see place in WA and has an impressive bird
list. Most unusual sighting 4 Emus right on the beach near Cervantes.
Motel/ B and B's cost us $120 -$150 per night and petrol was $1.30-$1.50
per litre so it not cheap to travel in this part of the world.
Please contact me if you required any further information
Regards
Allan Benson
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www.birding-aus.org
birding-aus.blogspot.com
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