Report submitted by Doug Castle
A 16 day road trip using a hire car from Perth airport prior to attending the BirdLife Photography Conference in Freemantle.
Day 1 - Mandurah, Dunsborough
Plenty of accommodation to choose from in this area.
Birds Photographed:
Crested Tern, Great Egret, Osprey, Little Egret, Silver Gull, Australian Ringneck, Brown Honeyeater, Brush Bronzewing, Carnaby’s Black Cockatoo, New Holland Honeyeater, Western Rosella, Yellow-rumped Thornbill.
Western Rosella
Days 2,3,4 - Deepdene/Augusta
Stayed at Wisteria Cottage. Well located and many birds in garden. Close to Cosy Corner for rock parrots and southern emu-wren
https://www.waholidayguide.com.au/wisteria-cottage-augusta
Birds photographed:
Golden Whistler, Grey Fantail, Pacific Gull, Red-winged Fairy-wren, Sooty Oystercatcher, White-browed Scrubwren, Australasian Pipit, Common Bronzewing, Rock Parrot, Silvereye, Southern Emu-wren, White-breasted Robin.
White-breasted Robin
Days 5,6,7 - Porongurups
Stayed at Sleeping Lady. Up market accommodation. Well located to visit Stirling Ranges and Porongorups
https://thesleepinglady.com.au/
Birds photographed:
Grey Shrike-thrush, Blue-breasted Fairy-wren, Golden Whistler, Inland Thornbill, Laughing Kookaburra, Silvereye, Western Spinebill, Western Corella, Tawny-crowned Honeyeater, Rufous Treecreeper.
Western Corella
Days 8,9,10 - Cheyne’s Beach
Stayed at Caravan Park in cabin. Good cabins and caravan facilities. The three key birds are walking distance from park. The staff are helpful in advising locations.
https://www.cheynesbeachcaravanpark.com.au/
Birds photographed:
Black-faced Woodswallow, Grey Butcherbird, Noisy Scrub-bird, Western Bristlebird, Western Wattlebird, Red-winged Fairywren, Splendid Fairywren, Western Whipbird, Red-necked Stint, Crested Tern, White-bellied Sea-eagle, Common Bronzewing, White-cheeked Honeyeater.
Days 11,12,13 - Fitzgerald River National Park
Stayed at Quaalup Homestead. Quirky cabins and caravan park. Closest accommodation to the park and whale watching.
https://www.whalesandwildflowers.com.au/
Birds photographed:
Collared Sparrow-hawk, Dusky Woodswallow, New Holland Honeyeater, Red Wattlebird, Red-eared Firetail, Silvereye, Splendid Fairywren, Striated Pardalote, Western Spinebill, Western Yellow Robin, White-cheeked Honeyeater, Willie Wagtail, Southern Emu-wren,, Grey Currawong
Days 14,15,16 - Narrogin
Stayed at Chuckem Farmstay. Farmhouse in rural setting.
https://www.chuckemfarmstay.com.au/
Visit Dryandra State Forest on drive back to Freemantle.
Birds photographed:
Australian Ringneck, Crested Pigeon, Elegant Parrot, Red-capped Parrot, Regent Parrot, Singing Honeyeater, White-browed Babbler, Yellow-plumed Honeyeater, Yellow-rumped Thornbill, Black-faced Woodswallow, Brown Honeyeater, Golden Whistler, Inland Thornbill, Weebill, Australasian Pipit, Australian Magpie, Australian Raven, Australian Shelduck, Grey Shrike-thrush, Magpie-lark, Pacific Black-duck, Rufous Treecreeper, Rufous Whistler, Scarlet Robin, Baudins’s Black-cockatoo, Purple-crowned Lorikeet, Western Thornbill.
Days 17,18,19,20 - South Freemantle
Attended conference. Highlight birding was Herdsman Lake
Birds photographed:
Australasian Darter, Australasian Grebe, Australasian Shoveler, Australian Reed-warbler, Australian Shelduck, Black Swan, Blue-billed Duck, Brown Honeyeater, Chestnut Teal, Great Egret, Freckled Duck, Great crested Grebe, Grey Teal, Hoary-headed Grebe, Little Black Cormorant, Little Pied Cormorant, Pink-eared Duck, Pacific Black-duck, Yellow-billed Spoonbill, Black-shouldered Kite, Eurasian Coot, Carnaby’s Black-cockatoo, Fan-tailed Cuckoo, Galah, Grey Fantail, Musk Duck, Rainbow Lorikeet, Swamp Harrier, Western Gerygone, Willie Wagtail, Laughing Dove.
Useful links in planning a road trip in the SW corner:
http://birdingwa.iinet.net.au I found this site particularly useful in planning a road trip.
https://www.birdlife.org.au/locations/birdlife-western-australia/bird-guides-wa
