Western Australia: Southwest Specialties Trip Report, October 2023

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12 – 20 OCTOBER 2023

By Andrew Walker

All fairywrens are stunning little birds, the Red-winged Fairywren is no different and is only found in the extreme southwest of Australia. This makes it a big target on our Western Australia bird tour and is always a popular bird, given how beautiful it is.­

Overview


This birding tour of Western Australia started in Perth on the 12th of October 2023 and ended back there on the 20th of October 2023. The tour focused on the endemic birds of Southwest Australia, as well as a great number of more widespread Australian endemic birds. During this Western Australia bird tour we birded at Lake Monger Reserve, Herdsman Lake, Foxes Lair Nature Reserve, Dryandra Woodland, Stirling Range National Park, Cheynes Beach, Lake Muir, Cape Leeuwin, Margaret River, Busselton, and Nairns.

We recorded 154 bird species on this Western Australia birdwatching tour, (two of these were heard only). Some of the highlights seen included Noisy Scrubbird, Western Bristlebird, Black-throated Whipbird, Carnaby’s Black Cockatoo, Baudin’s Black Cockatoo, Western Corella, Western Rosella, Red-capped Parrot, Regent Parrot, Rock Parrot, Elegant Parrot, Purple-crowned Lorikeet, Wedge-tailed Eagle, Square-tailed Kite, Australian Hobby, Red-winged Fairywren, Blue-breasted Fairywren, Splendid Fairywren, Southern Emu-wren, Spotted Scrubwren, Western Thornbill, Western Gerygone, Western Fieldwren, Western Spinebill, Gilbert’s Honeyeater, Western Shriketit, White-breasted Robin, Western Yellow Robin, Scarlet Robin, Rufous Treecreeper, Western Whistler, Hooded Dotterel, and Banded Lapwing. In addition to the incredible birds seen, we also found a great selection of other animals, such as Numbat, Short-beaked Echidna, Western Grey Kangaroo, Southern Right Whale, Dugite, (Southwestern) Carpet Python, and several other reptiles. Bird and animal lists for this Western Australia birding tour follow the report.

Australia birding report 2023

During our Western Australia birding tour, we focused on the endemic species and subspecies found in the region, such as the regionally endemic and geographically isolated campbelli subspecies of Scarlet Robin, a potential future split.

Detailed Report

Day 1, 12th October 2023. Arrival in Perth

We arrived in Perth in the late afternoon and had a group welcome meal in the evening, discussing the plans for the coming week of birding in the bird-filled southwest of Australia.

Day 2, 13th October 2023. Birding Perth and travel to Narrogin

We spent the morning birding at a couple of sites in Perth city. Our first stop, at Lake Monger Reserve, gave us lots of waterfowl, including Musk Duck, Blue-billed Duck, Hardhead, Pink-eared Duck, Hoary-headed Grebe, Eurasian Coot, Dusky Moorhen, Australian Pelican, Black Swan, and Little Black Cormorant. In the vegetation surrounding the lake we noted Straw-necked Ibis, Australian Raven, Willie Wagtail, Little Corella, Rainbow Lorikeet, Red Wattlebird, Brown Honeyeater, and Australian Reed Warbler.

After our birding at Lake Monger Reserve, we moved the short distance to nearby Herdsman Lake, where we had excellent looks at stunning breeding plumage Great Crested Grebes and Australasian Grebes. Additionally, we had very close looks at Pink-eared Duck, and good views of Australian Shoveler, Grey Teal, Pacific Black Duck, Australian Pelican, Australasian Swamphen, Little Egret, Great Egret, Australian White Ibis, Glossy Ibis, Swamp Harrier, Whistling Kite, and Osprey. Meanwhile, Sacred Kingfisher, Australian Reed Warbler, Silvereye, Singing Honeyeater, Australian Magpie, and Little Grassbird were all seen fleetingly. One of the highlights of our birding at Herdsman Lake was finding a family group of roosting Tawny Frogmouths, which showed wonderfully – an early tour highlight, for sure!

Australia birding report 2023

Tawny Frogmouth,showing how well camouflaged they can be, was a great start to the tour!

We left Perth in the late morning and made our way to Narrogin for our two-night stay. Along the way we made a lunch stop at the village of Wandering, where we found Nankeen Kestrel, Australian Ringneck, a stunning male Western Rosella, Western Gerygone, Grey Fantail, and Tree Martin.

After a brief break to check in at our B&B we visited Foxes Lair Nature Reserve, right on the edge of Narrogin, here we found a pair of Square-tailed Kites that showed incredibly well in the beautiful late afternoon sunlight. We then also had good looks at the tiny Weebill, Elegant Parrot, Australian Ringneck, Red-capped Parrot, and Gilbert’s Honeyeater, as well as a stunning male Scarlet Robin, which was glowing in the last rays of the sun.

Australia birding report 2023

We enjoyed some excellent views of the gorgeous Square-tailed Kite in the late afternoon glow.

Day 3, 14th October 2023. Birding Dryandra Woodland

We spent our morning birding session exploring Dryandra Woodland. As soon as we arrived in the woodland we heard the distinctive high-pitched call of Purple-crowned Lorikeet. We set off to get into a better position to look for them and soon thereafter we were enjoying good views of these attractive small lorikeets. While watching the lorikeets we also got lots of other target species come into our view, such as Carnaby’s Black Cockatoo, Western Yellow Robin, Rufous Treecreeper, Western Whistler, Yellow-plumed Honeyeater, Brown-headed Honeyeater, Gilbert’s Honeyeater, Varied (Black-capped) Sittella, Striated Pardalote, Spotted Scrubwren, Inland Thornbill, and Shining Bronze Cuckoo. Both Collared Sparrowhawk and Peregrine Falcon were noted overhead, causing a bit of alarm amongst the other birds!

Australia birding report 2023

An attractive male Blue-breasted Fairywren gave some close views.

We moved deeper into the woodland, finding our first Shingleback Lizard and Western Grey Kangaroos of the tour. Then a few more interesting bird species came our way, including Bush Stone-curlew (a pair with a young baby), Blue-breasted Fairywren, Western Thornbill, Western Gerygone, Tree Martin, Grey Shrikethrush, Rufous Whistler, Jacky-winter, Grey Currawong, Australian Magpie, Australian Raven, and Rainbow Bee-eater. Here, Wedge-tailed Eagle and Brown Goshawk were overhead too.

Australia birding report 2023

While birding at Dryandra Woodland, we had incredible close looks at several Carnaby’s Black Cockatoos as they came to a waterhole to drink.

After lunch and a siesta, we went back into Dryandra Woodland for an afternoon birding session. We saw many of the birds listed above, with the addition of a couple of species and improved looks at others, including Western Spinebill and Carnaby’s Black Cockatoo. In addition to the great birds, we also saw the Endangered (IUCN) Numbat (for some people in the group), Short-beaked Echidna, lots of Western Grey Kangaroos, (Gould’s) Sand Goanna, and two snakes, a Dugite and a (Southwestern) Carpet Python.

Australia birding report 2023

It’s always exciting to see one of Australia’s “strange” animals, and Short-beaked Echidna certainly ticked that box!

Day 4, 15th October 2023. Birding Dryandra Woodland and travel to Stirling Range National Park

We headed back to Dryandra Woodland in the morning (finding a pair of Banded Lapwings along the way), and what a great morning we had. We drove some roads around the woodland and found another Numbat, this one showed much better than the one we’d briefly seen the previous day, and everyone managed to see this one well. We also enjoyed watching a mother Western Grey Kangaroo with a joey in her pouch, and we had further looks at (Gould’s) Sand Goanna – a sunbathing individual soaking in the first rays of the day. All very exciting!

After enjoying seeing the Numbat and other critters, we focused on the birds of Dryandra Woodland once again, and had a really enjoyable walk through a patch of the woodland that has served us well on past tours. Today was no exception, and we found one of the big trip targets, the recently split Western Shriketit. We also found Restless Flycatcher, Horsfield’s Bronze Cuckoo, Rufous Treecreeper, Scarlet Robin, Rainbow Bee-eater, Red-capped Parrot, and several pairs of nesting Purple-crowned Lorikeets.

Australia birding report 2023

We saw a Numbat foraging for termites while in Dryandra Woodland.

After finishing our birding at Dryandra Woodland, we commenced our journey to Stirling Range National Park. Along the way we found several notable birds, and these included Peregrine Falcon (a perched pair), Nankeen Kestrel, Black-shouldered Kite, Wedge-tailed Eagle, Chestnut Teal (a pair with very young ducklings), Black-fronted Dotterel, White-faced Heron, White-winged Triller, Rufous Songlark, Australian Pipit, and Pallid Cuckoo.

Australia birding report 2023

We enjoyed great views of a pair of Western Shriketits in Dryandra Woodland.

Once we arrived at our accommodation at Stirling Range National Park, we took a brief late afternoon walk around the grounds. It was quite late, but we had excellent looks at several Regent Parrots coming into a water bath to drink, along with Gilbert’s Honeyeater, Yellow-plumed Honeyeater, New Holland Honeyeater, and a brief Blue-breasted Fairywren. A fitting end to a great day’s birding in Western Australia.

Day 5, 16th October 2023. Birding Stirling Range National Park and travel to Cheynes Beach

We spent the morning birding around Stirling Range National Park. As we made our way to our first site within the park, we got distracted by several Emus. The first few were quite nervous, but the others, seen a bit later, showed nicely. We also had a flock of Regent Parrots, Rufous Songlark, Brown Falcon, and Grey Butcherbird. On arrival at our main morning birding site, we got several new birds, including Tawny-crowned Honeyeater, White-cheeked Honeyeater, Splendid Fairywren, and Southern Emu-wren. After enjoying these species, we saw the main target, Western Fieldwren, and it showed very well for us. Nankeen Kestrel and Wedge-tailed Eagle were overhead too. As we drove back to get a late breakfast, we found another gorgeous (Southwestern) Carpet Python and our first Western Bluetongue, a lizard full of character!

Australia birding report 2023

This Western Fieldwren performed brilliantly for us while we birded Stirling Range.

After our late breakfast we visited another section of Stirling Range National Park, where we found Southern Emu-wren, Western Spinebill, Brown Falcon, and more Tawny-crowned Honeyeaters. After this short birding session, we made our journey down to Cheynes Beach. Several stops along the way yielded Red-necked Avocet, Pied Stilt, Silver Gull, Australian Shelduck, Grey Teal, Hoary-headed Grebe, Grey Butcherbird, Yellow-throated Miner, Grey Fantail, and displaying Brown Songlarks

We took a short walk near our accommodation at Cheynes Beach, where we found several new birds, including White-breasted Robin, Red-winged Fairywren, Brown Quail, Brush Bronzewing, Red-eared Firetail, and our best looks so far of Common Bronzewing and Splendid Fairywren. A King’s Skink looked rather impressive hiding in the undergrowth, our first of many over the coming days, and we had plenty of Western Grey Kangaroos keeping on top of the lawn cutting! Looking out along the beach we found Silver Gull, Greater Crested Tern, Australasian Gannet, Common Sandpiper, and Sooty Oystercatcher.

Day 6, 17th October 2023. Birding Cheynes Beach

We spent the morning walking around the coastal heathland at Cheynes Beach. White-cheeked Honeyeaters were abundant, and many Carnaby’s Black Cockatoos were flying around. We tried to concentrate on finding the three tough species of the region. Noisy Scrubbird was, unsurprisingly, heard but not seen, with a bird calling from deep within some impenetrable heath. Western Bristlebird was the first of the three skulkers to show, a singing bird which then started foraging along a shady section of sand dune. After enjoying the sighting of this one we found Black-throated Whipbird. This bird moved around us giving fleeting and frustrating glimpses, before it then clambered up to a song perch and belted out a burst of its pretty song for us.

Australia birding report 2023

Western Bristlebird was foraging along a shady section of the sand dunes and showed well.

While birding here, we also noted Spotted Scrubwren, Southern Emu-wren, Red-winged Fairywren, New Holland Honeyeater, Red Wattlebird, and Silvereye. Several raptors were moving around the local area, including White-bellied Sea Eagle, Black-shouldered Kite, Collared Sparrowhawk, Brown Falcon, Nankeen Kestrel, and Australian Hobby. The heat started to build considerably and so we took a break during the middle of the day.

Australia birding report 2023

Black-throated Whipbird initially gave us the run-around, but eventually showed nicely as it sang from an exposed perch.

When we met for our afternoon birding session, we were greeted by very strong winds which made birding almost impossible, the sand from the beach and dunes was getting whipped up and blown all around too. It was all rather inhospitable! We took a drive around the village trying to find some shelter from the wind, and some birds to look at, but not a lot was braving the wind. We did however see a rather cute pair of Brown Quails with a very recent golf-ball-sized hatchling in tow. There were not a lot of options with the wind howling, so we parked the van up and waited near a dirt track to see if we could get lucky. After about 90 minutes of waiting, with a very close Brush Bronzewing, a duo of Black-shouldered Kites, several White-breasted Robins, and a pod of Indo-Pacific Bottle-nosed Dolphins doing their best to distract us, we heard a Noisy Scrubbird calling not too far away. After about another 30 minutes of waiting and hoping, all of us had seen this super-skulker and major tour target! We enjoyed another fantastic dinner and a celebratory one at that. The tough trio of Western Bristlebird, Black-throated Whipbird, and Noisy Scrubbird all seen!

Day 7, 18th October 2023. Birding Cheynes Beach and travel to Augusta

Today was essentially a travel day interspersed with some birding stops, as we made our way from Cheynes Beach to Augusta, via Albany, Mount Barker, and Lake Muir. A final brief walk near our accommodation at Cheynes Beach gave us a big tour highlight in the form of a mother and calf Southern Right Whale – such a huge animal and they were relatively close inshore too. Here we also had nest-building Red-eared Firetails and Ospreys, as well as a hunting Australian Hobby, and a Fan-tailed Cuckoo.

Moving on to Albany, we were treated to some simply incredible views of a stunning adult male Red-winged Fairywren (see trip report cover image), as well as good views of two Spotless Crakes, Swamp Harrier, Musk Duck, Blue-billed Duck (amazing close views), and Australian Reed Warbler. Here we also saw loads of nesting Straw-necked Ibis and Australian Ibis, as well as our first Little Pied Cormorants of the tour.

As we left the coast behind, we cut inland to Lake Muir, where a few strategic stops resulted in sightings of the Critically Endangered (BirdLife International) Baudin’s Black Cockatoo, Carnaby’s Black Cockatoo, and Western Correla. Here we also saw Emu, plenty of Western Rosellas, Splendid Fairywren, Red-winged Fairywren, Inland Thornbill, Western Whistler, and Spotted Scrubwren. There was water in Lake Muir for a change, and many Black Swans and Australian Shelducks were present. In the late afternoon we continued our journey to Augusta, our base for the night.

Australia birding report 2023

The Western Corellas had been feeding along the shore of Lake Muir and so were rather filthy as they flew right by us!

Day 8, 19th October 2023. Birding Augusta (including Cape Leeuwin) to Busselton

We had an interesting morning at Cape Leeuwin with several hundred BMX bike riders who were starting their cape-to-cape bike race. However, the distractions didn’t prevent us from finding our main target bird of the morning, the habitat-restricted and range-restricted Rock Parrot. A pair of birds gave good close views. We then moved up the coast to the Margaret River area, where a walk on a beach resulted in excellent sightings of three Hooded Dotterels at close range. Other birds noted during the morning at the coast included Australian Pied Cormorant, White-faced Heron, Australasian Gannet, Pacific Gull, Greater Crested Tern, Sooty Oystercatcher, and Osprey

Australia birding report 2023

Rock Parrot showed very well at Cape Leeuwin.

After lunch, we continued our journey to Busselton. A short stop in some beautiful Karri and Wandoo woodland near Margaret River gave us a sighting of Common Water Rat (Raikai), Western Whistler, Gilbert’s Honeyeater, and several other forest species. Finally, a stop at an ephemeral wetland near Busselton resulted in good looks at Yellow-billed Spoonbill, Pink-eared Duck, Australasian Swamphen, and several other waterbirds.

Australia birding report 2023

Hooded Dotterel was foraging along a big sandy beach.

Day 9, 20th October 2023. Birding Busselton and travel to Perth for the end of the tour

We spent our final day of the tour traveling from Busselton to Perth, where the tour ended. On the way we spent some time birding at a wetland in Busselton, where we had excellent views of a pair of Musk Ducks in a courtship display, and we saw plenty of other waterfowl, including Australasian Shoveler, Hardhead, Hoary-headed Grebe, Nankeen Night Heron, Dusky Moorhen, Australasian Swamphen, and Yellow-billed Spoonbill. We also had Whistling Kite and a flock of Little Corellas going over. A surprise sighting of a Masked Lapwing was followed by an excellent look at a couple of juvenile Banded Lapwings.

Australia birding report 2023

Two juvenile Banded Lapwings showed well for us in Busselton.

Near Perth, we called into a coastal wetland, where we were greeted by a pair of Ospreys at a nest. While scanning the sandflats and estuary we found Fairy Tern, Caspian Tern, Greater Crested Tern, Australian Pied Cormorant, Eastern Cattle Egret, Red-capped Plover, and Pied Oystercatcher. As we checked a pond near the coast, we found plenty of Common Greenshanks, Pied Stilts, and a Buff-banded Rail. After a final lunch, we continued our journey back to Perth, where the tour ended. Lots of great birds were enjoyed on the tour. “Bird of the Trip” was a tough one to pick, with Noisy Scrubbird, Tawny Frogmouth, Red-winged Fairywren, Spotless Crake, Carnaby’s Black Cockatoo, and Red-eared Firetail all being popular.

Australia birding report 2023

It is hard to look beyond Splendid Fairywren as being one of Australia’s best-looking birds. They are dazzlingly beautiful, and we enjoyed repeated sightings of this popular stunner on our Western Australia birding tour.

Australia birding report 2023

Restless Flycatcher gave us some great views while we were birding at Dryandra Woodland.

Bird ListFollowing IOC (13.2)

Birds ‘heard only’ are marked with (H) after the common name, all other species were seen. The following notation after species names is used to show conservation status following BirdLife International: CR = Critically Endangered, EN = Endangered, VU = Vulnerable.

Common NameScientific Name
Cassowaries, Emu (Casuariidae)
EmuDromaius novaehollandiae
Ducks, Geese, Swans (Anatidae)
Black SwanCygnus atratus
Australian ShelduckTadorna tadornoides
Pink-eared DuckMalacorhynchus membranaceus
Maned DuckChenonetta jubata
Australasian ShovelerSpatula rhynchotis
Pacific Black DuckAnas superciliosa
Grey TealAnas gracilis
Chestnut TealAnas castanea
HardheadAythya australis
Blue-billed DuckOxyura australis
Musk DuckBiziura lobata
Pheasants & Allies (Phasianidae)
Brown QuailSynoicus ypsilophorus
Frogmouths (Podargidae)
Tawny FrogmouthPodargus strigoides
Cuckoos (Cuculidae)
Horsfield’s Bronze CuckooChrysococcyx basalis
Shining Bronze CuckooChrysococcyx lucidus
Pallid CuckooCacomantis pallidus
Fan-tailed CuckooCacomantis flabelliformis
Pigeons, Doves (Columbidae)
Rock DoveColumba livia
Spotted DoveSpilopelia chinensis
Laughing DoveSpilopelia senegalensis
Common BronzewingPhaps chalcoptera
Brush BronzewingPhaps elegans
Crested PigeonOcyphaps lophotes
Rails, Crakes & Coots (Rallidae)
Buff-banded RailHypotaenidia philippensis
Dusky MoorhenGallinula tenebrosa
Eurasian CootFulica atra
Australasian SwamphenPorphyrio melanotus
Spotless CrakeZapornia tabuensis
Grebes (Podicipedidae)
Australasian GrebeTachybaptus novaehollandiae
Hoary-headed GrebePoliocephalus poliocephalus
Great Crested GrebePodiceps cristatus
Stone-curlews, Thick-knees (Burhinidae)
Bush Stone-curlewBurhinus grallarius
Oystercatchers (Haematopodidae)
Pied OystercatcherHaematopus longirostris
Sooty OystercatcherHaematopus fuliginosus
Stilts, Avocets (Recurvirostridae)
Pied StiltHimantopus leucocephalus
Red-necked AvocetRecurvirostra novaehollandiae
Plovers (Charadriidae)
Banded LapwingVanellus tricolor
Masked LapwingVanellus miles
Red-capped PloverCharadrius ruficapillus
Hooded Dotterel – VUThinornis cucullatus
Black-fronted DotterelElseyornis melanops
Sandpipers, Snipes (Scolopacidae)
Common SandpiperActitis hypoleucos
Common GreenshankTringa nebularia
  
Gulls, Terns, Skimmers (Laridae)
Silver GullChroicocephalus novaehollandiae
Pacific GullLarus pacificus
Caspian TernHydroprogne caspia
Greater Crested TernThalasseus bergii
Fairy Tern – VUSternula nereis
Gannets, Boobies (Sulidae)
Australasian GannetMorus serrator
Anhingas, Darters (Anhingidae)
Australasian DarterAnhinga novaehollandiae
Cormorants, Shags (Phalacrocoracidae)
Little Pied CormorantMicrocarbo melanoleucos
Australian Pied CormorantPhalacrocorax varius
Little Black CormorantPhalacrocorax sulcirostris
Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carbo
Ibises, Spoonbills (Threskiornithidae)
Australian White IbisThreskiornis molucca
Straw-necked IbisThreskiornis spinicollis
Glossy IbisPlegadis falcinellus
Yellow-billed SpoonbillPlatalea flavipes
Herons, Bitterns (Ardeidae)
Nankeen Night HeronNycticorax caledonicus
Eastern Cattle EgretBubulcus coromandus
White-necked HeronArdea pacifica
Great EgretArdea alba
White-faced HeronEgretta novaehollandiae
Little EgretEgretta garzetta
Pelicans (Pelecanidae)
Australian PelicanPelecanus conspicillatus
Ospreys (Pandionidae)
OspreyPandion haliaetus
Kites, Hawks, Eagles (Accipitridae)
Black-shouldered KiteElanus axillaris
Square-tailed KiteLophoictinia isura
Wedge-tailed EagleAquila audax
Brown GoshawkAccipiter fasciatus
Collared SparrowhawkAccipiter cirrocephalus
Swamp HarrierCircus approximans
Whistling KiteHaliastur sphenurus
White-bellied Sea EagleIcthyophaga leucogaster
Kingfishers (Alcedinidae)
Laughing KookaburraDacelo novaeguineae
Sacred KingfisherTodiramphus sanctus
Bee-eaters (Meropidae)
Rainbow Bee-eaterMerops ornatus
Caracaras, Falcons (Falconidae)
Nankeen KestrelFalco cenchroides
Australian HobbyFalco longipennis
Brown FalconFalco berigora
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinus
Cockatoos (Cacatuidae)
Red-tailed Black CockatooCalyptorhynchus banksii
Baudin’s Black Cockatoo – CRZanda baudinii
Carnaby’s Black Cockatoo – ENZanda latirostris
GalahEolophus roseicapilla
Western CorellaCacatua pastinator
Little CorellaCacatua sanguinea
Old World Parrots (Psittaculidae)
Regent ParrotPolytelis anthopeplus
Red-capped ParrotPurpureicephalus spurius
Western RosellaPlatycercus icterotis
Australian RingneckBarnardius zonarius
Elegant ParrotNeophema elegans
Rock ParrotNeophema petrophila
Purple-crowned LorikeetParvipsitta porphyrocephala
Rainbow LorikeetTrichoglossus moluccanus
Scrubbirds (Atrichornithidae)
Noisy Scrubbird – ENAtrichornis clamosus
Australasian Treecreepers (Climacteridae)
Rufous TreecreeperClimacteris rufus
Australasian Wrens (Maluridae)
Blue-breasted FairywrenMalurus pulcherrimus
Red-winged FairywrenMalurus elegans
Splendid FairywrenMalurus splendens
Southern Emu-wrenStipiturus malachurus
Honeyeaters (Meliphagidae)
Western SpinebillAcanthorhynchus superciliosus
Tawny-crowned HoneyeaterGliciphila melanops
New Holland HoneyeaterPhylidonyris novaehollandiae
White-cheeked HoneyeaterPhylidonyris niger
Brown HoneyeaterLichmera indistincta
Brown-headed HoneyeaterMelithreptus brevirostris
Gilbert’s HoneyeaterMelithreptus chloropsis
Singing HoneyeaterGavicalis virescens
Yellow-plumed HoneyeaterPtilotula ornata
Red WattlebirdAnthochaera carunculata
Yellow-throated MinerManorina flavigula
Bristlebirds (Dasyornithidae)
Western Bristlebird – ENDasyornis longirostris
Pardalotes (Pardalotidae)
Spotted Pardalote (H)Pardalotus punctatus
Striated PardalotePardalotus striatus
Australasian Warblers (Acanthizidae)
WeebillSmicrornis brevirostris
Western FieldwrenCalamanthus montanellus
Spotted ScrubwrenSericornis maculatus
Western GerygoneGerygone fusca
Inland ThornbillAcanthiza apicalis
Western ThornbillAcanthiza inornata
Yellow-rumped ThornbillAcanthiza chrysorrhoa
Whipbirds (Psophodidae)
Black-throated WhipbirdPsophodes nigrogularis
Woodswallows, Butcherbirds & Allies (Artamidae)
Dusky WoodswallowArtamus cyanopterus
Australian MagpieGymnorhina tibicen
Grey ButcherbirdCracticus torquatus
Grey CurrawongStrepera versicolor
Cuckooshrikes (Campephagidae)
Black-faced CuckooshrikeCoracina novaehollandiae
White-winged TrillerLalage tricolor
Sittellas (Neosittidae)
Varied SittellaDaphoenositta chrysoptera
Shriketits (Falcunculidae)
Western ShriketitFalcunculus leucogaster
Whistlers & Allies (Pachycephalidae)
Western WhistlerPachycephala fuliginosa
Rufous WhistlerPachycephala rufiventris
Grey ShrikethrushColluricincla harmonica
Fantails (Rhipiduridae)
Willie WagtailRhipidura leucophrys
Grey FantailRhipidura albiscapa
Monarchs (Monarchidae)
Magpie-larkGrallina cyanoleuca
Restless FlycatcherMyiagra inquieta
Crows, Jays (Corvidae)
Australian RavenCorvus coronoides
Australasian Robins (Petroicidae)
White-breasted RobinQuoyornis georgianus
Western Yellow RobinEopsaltria griseogularis
Jacky WinterMicroeca fascinans
Scarlet RobinPetroica boodang
Swallows, Martins (Hirundinidae)
Welcome SwallowHirundo neoxena
Tree MartinPetrochelidon nigricans
Reed Warblers & Allies (Acrocephalidae)
Australian Reed WarblerAcrocephalus australis
Grassbirds & Allies (Locustellidae)
Little GrassbirdPoodytes gramineus
Brown SonglarkCincloramphus cruralis
Rufous SonglarkCincloramphus mathewsi
White-eyes (Zosteropidae)
SilvereyeZosterops lateralis
Flowerpeckers (Dicaeidae)
Mistletoebird (H)Dicaeum hirundinaceum
Waxbills, Munias & Allies (Estrildidae)
Red-eared FiretailStagonopleura oculata
Wagtails, Pipits (Motacillidae)
Australian PipitAnthus australis
Total seen152
Total heard only2
Total recorded154

Mammal List

Common NameScientific Name
Kangaroos, Wallabies, and Allies (Macropodidae)
Western Grey KangarooMacropus fuliginosus
 
Numbats (Myrmecobiidae)
NumbatMyrmecobius fasciatus
 
Dasyures (Dasyuridae)
Yellow-footed AntechinusAntechinus flavipes leucogaster
 
Echidnas (Tachyglossidae)
Short-beaked EchidnaTachyglossus aculeatus
 
Hares and Rabbits (Leporidae)
European RabbitOryctolagus cuniculus
 
Old World Mice and Rats (Muridae)
Common Water Rat (Rakali)Hydromys chrysogaster
 
Oceanic Dolphins (Delphinidae)
Indo-Pacific Bottlenose DolphinTursiops aduncus
 
Bowhead and Right Whales (Balaenidae)
Southern Right WhaleEubalaena australis
Total8

Reptile List

Common NameScientific Name
Monitor Lizards (Varanidae)
(Gould’s) Sand GoannaVaranus gouldii
Heath GoannaVaranus rosenbergi
 
Skinks (Scincidae)
Shingleback LizardTiliqua rugosa
Western BluetongueTiliqua occipitalis
King’s SkinkEgernia kingii
 
Elapid Snakes (Elapidae)
DugitePseudonaja affinis
 
Pythons (Pythonidae)
(Southwestern) Carpet PythonMorelia spilota imbricata
Total7
Australia birding report 2023

(Southwest) Carpet Python is an attractive snake, we saw two individuals out sunning themselves during the tour.

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