Jacky Winter Microeca fascinans
Only seen at Dryandra on the 20th and 21st, at the Old Mill Dam on the
former, and at the start of the Ochre trail on the second date.
Scarlet Robin Petroica boodang
Common in large areas of woodland including Dryandra on the 20th and 21st
and Stirling Ranges on the 28th and 29th. It was also common in the Lake
Muir area, to be seen on six days.
Red-capped Robin Petroica goodenovii
Apart from the possible sighting on Rottnest Island (see above) this was
only seen in drier areas, particularly in the north, on four days. First
seen at Wave Rock on the 30th, it proved commonest in the Kalbarri area on
the 4th and 5th.
Southern Scrub-robin Drymodes brunneopygia
At least three birds were seen at Meanarra Hill at Kalbarri on both the 4th
and 5th.
White-browed Babbler Pomatostomus superciliosus
A couple of birds flying across Dryandra Road on the 21st was the first
sighting for this species. A small flock was seen in roadside scrub on the
30th, but proved to be commonest in the Denham/Kalbarri area, with sightings
on four consecutive days. The call is quite different to birds in NSW.
*Western Whipbird Psophodes nigrogularis
The species that I thought would prove the most difficult to see, but ended
up being the first of the big three seen. At least two were calling near
Little Beach on the 25th and on the track to King Wave Gully on the 26th,
but the song seemed almost impossible to pinpoint. While waiting at the
Noisy Scrubbird site at Little Beach, a bird was heard in the heath, A quiet
stalk resulted in the bird hopping to the top of a bush twice to give me
great views. It did not sing, but gave a ?gluck? contact call similar to the
Eastern, before I saw it, indicating which species I was trying to find in
the heath. Birds were also heard at Waychinicup NP on the 27th, but along
with birds heard but not seen at Stirling Ranges NP (distant) and Fitzgerald
River Crossing (close but foiled by the strong wind) they are probably what
is now considered the Mallee Whipbird. The latter was heard a couple of
times in the last row of malle, right at the river crossing about 50 metres
from the bridge. A very pleasing sighting.
Chiming Wedgebill Psophodes occidentalis
Quite common, though heard more often than seen on four days. The best
sighting was at Hamelin Pools on the 2nd where one was pished to about two
feet, but others were heard at New Beach and around Denham.
Varied Sittella Daphoenositta chrysoptera
Recorded on five occasions, usually two or three birds, at a variety of
places including the Old Mill Dam at Dryandra on the 20th, the Valley of the
Giants skywalk near Walpole on the 24th and at Yanchep NP on the 7th.
Golden Whistler Pachycephala pectoralis
Quite common in the south west, with the first birds recorded at Wungong Dam
on the 20th. Generally not recorded in the wheatbelt (apart from Dryandra
and Stirling Ranges NP) it was counted on 13 days, with the most northerly
sightings being in the Kalbarri area.
Rufous Whistler Pachycephala rufiventris
Not as common as the previous species, it was still recorded on nine days,
in a variety of locations including Kings Park on the 18th, Dryandra on the
20th, in roadside mallee on the 29th and 30th, and as far north as Kalbarri
on the 5th.
Grey Shrike-thrush Colluricincla harmonica
A common species, recorded on 17 days in forest and woodland between Albany
and Carnarvon. First seen at Wungong Dam on the 20th.
Crested Bellbird Oreoica gutturalis
First seen in roadside mallee just north of Ravensthorpe on the 30th and
then on the following six days in heath, mallee and scrub. A single bird
heard near Cervantes on the 7th bought the total too eight.
*Western Shrike-tit Falcunculus leucogaster
This was the final of eight ticks seen on the 20th, with one bird seen
behind the Old Mill Dam at Dryandra. Two birds were heard calling, with the
call being recognised as a Shrike-tit, but with a different tone to the
eastern species.
*Mangrove Grey Fantail Rhipidura phasiana
Very common at New Beach on the 1st and 2nd, only one or two birds were
present at Carnarvon harbour and Little Lagoon, though none were recorded
there on the 3rd.
Grey Fantail Rhipidura albiscapa
Very common, being recorded on 18 days. Not seen north of Kalbarri, where it
was replaced by the previous species.
Willie Wagtail Rhipidura leucophrys
Along with Welcome Swallow, this proved to be the most widespread species,
being seen on every day except the last.
Magpie-lark Grallina cyanoleuca
Another very common species, only being missed in Dryandra on the 21st and
in the Denham area on the 3rd. Generally uncommon north of Kalbarri.
Restless Flycatcher Myiagra inquieta
Only recorded on four occasions, at Dryandra (particularly at Old Mill Dam)
on the 20th and 21st and on the Ongarup Walk at Stirling Ranges on the 28th
and 29th.
Grey Butcherbird Cracticus torquatus
Recorded on twelve days in a variety of areas including Kings Park on the
18th, Dryandra on the 21st, Two People?s Bay on the 26th, and near Kalbarri
on the 4th.
Pied Butcherbird Cracticus nigrogularis
Much less common than the previous species, only being seen on five days.
Commonest in the southern wheatbelt from Ravensthorpe to Moora, it was also
recorded as far north as the Denham Road.
Australian Magpie Gymnorhina tibicen
Recorded on 17 days, though an absence from along the coast between Kalbarri
and Perth may have been due to poor note keeping. However, it was definitely
an uncommon species north of Geraldton with a pair seen at Wooramel
Roadhouse on the 4th being the northernmost record.
Grey Currawong Strepera versicolor
Proved particularly common in the south west where seen every day between
the 20th and the 31st. Easily seen in Dryandra, it was recorded as far north
as Geraldton on 13 days.
White-breasted Woodswallow Artamus leucorhynchus
A single bird was seen flying over mangroves at New Beach on the 1st.
Black-faced Woodswallow Artamus cinereus
A sighting of about five birds near Pingelly on the 20th proved to be the
first of ten days, making this the most recorded woodswallow. It was
particularly common in the wheatbelt, from near Stirling Ranges NP to
Eneabba. Also seen sporadically down the coast between Carnarvon and
Cervantes.
Dusky Woodswallow Artamus cyanopterus
Recorded on nine out of ten days starting on the 20th at Dryandra and
finishing at Stirling Ranges NP. It was absent at Two People?s Bay on the
26th, but proved particularly common in roadsides to the north of Albany the
following day.
Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike Coracina novaehollandiae
Another common species, recorded on 19 days. Only missed on the 19th at
Rottnest Island, the 26th at Two People?s Bay and in the Denham area on the
3rd.
White-winged Triller Lalage tricolor
First recorded in roadside vegetation north of Kalbarri on the 4th, it was
also present at Meanarra Hills the following day.
Little Crow Corvus bennetti
Common north of the Murchison River crossing, where it was seen on four
consecutive days from the 1st. Some may have been misidentified Torresian
Crows, though this species was never heard at any time.
Australian Raven Corvus coronoides
A common species being heard or seen on 20 days, only being absent north of
the Murchison River crossing (where one was heard on the 4th).
White-backed Swallow Cheramoeca leucosternus
Seen on three consecutive days from the 1st, when birds were seen just south
of Carnarvon. Quite common near New Beach and around Denham.
Welcome Swallow Hirundo neoxena
Being recorded every day except the 21st which was spent in Dryandra, this
proved to be one of the two most widespread species.
Fairy Martin Petrochelidon ariel
Apart from two birds seen in a flock of Tree Martins over Dryandra on the
20th, this species was only recorded at the Murchison River crossing on both
the 1st and 4th, where it was collecting mud for nests.
Tree Martin Hirundo nigricans
Another common species, being recorded on 18 days. Present in many habitats,
including suburban Perth, and reallu only absent from Two People?s Bay and
Denham.
Yellow White-eye Zosterops luteus
Only common at New Beach, where seen on both the 1st and 2nd. One was
possibly seen at Little Lagoon on the second date, but only Silvereyes were
seen there the next day.
Silvereye Zosterops lateralis
Another common species, being seen in virtually every habitat on 20 days. It
was only missed on the 1st (though it was seen the next day near the
previous species at New Beach) and on the 8th when no bird-watching was
done.
Australian Reed-warbler Acrocephalus australis
A number of birds were heard calling in reeds at both Lakes Bibra (20th) and
Herdsman (7th).
Rufous Songlark Cinclorhamphus mathewsi
A number of birds were heard call in the northern wheat belt on the 31st,
the first at New Norcia. Also heard along the Brand Highway on the 7th.
Brown Songlark Cinclorhamphus cruralis
A single bird was heard calling in a appdock north of Moora on the 31st.
Mistletoebird Dicaeum hirundinaceum
Proved to be much less common than expected. One heard at Wungong Dam on the
20th proved to be only the sighting until one was seen at the Greenough
River crossing east of Geraldton on the 31st. However, it was recorded at a
number of spots around Kalbarri on the 4th and 5th.
Australian Pipit Anthus australis
Recorded on 15 days, with the first being seen on the road, just south of
Dryandra on the 22nd.
*Red-eared Firetail Stagonopleura oculata
Three birds were seen at Wungong Gorge on the 20th, and singles were seen at
King Wave Gully (Two People?s Bay) and at Tree-in-the-Rock in the
Porongorups on the 26th and the 27th. The latter birds were both first
detected by their distinctive calls, which sounded identical to the
Beautiful.
Zebra Finch Taeniopygia guttata
First recorded at the Billabong Roadhouse on the 1st, and more were seen at
a number of locations on the following three days.
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