PERTH BIRDING LOCATIONS
https://www.destinationperth.com.au/article/thu-05132021-1048/perths-birds-and-where-find-them
https://www.perthwalkabout.com/Great-Outdoors/perth-birds.html
https://www.perthwalkabout.com/Great-Outdoors/perth-birds-part-2.html
Herdsman Lake
One option is the Maurice Hamer car park. Turn off Pearson Street into Falcon Avenue, then right into Lakeside Road. The car park is on the left, opposite Heron Place. This is one of the waterbird refuges which never dries up and 140 species have been recorded here.
Lake Monger
The walk around the lake will take 2-3 hours. This is a good opportunity to see many species of ducks, waterbirds, and some bushbirds. Spotless Crake is often seen depending on the water level.
King's Park
One option is to leave your vehicle in the car park at the northern end of Forrest Drive, opposite the Pioneer Women’s Memorial in the Botanic Gardens, near the junction of Lovekin Drive. There should be a variety of bushbirds in the area.
Lake Claremont
One option is go to the Lake Claremont Golf Club car park off Davies Road, Claremont. Look for waterbirds and bushbirds around this pleasant suburban lake.
Alfred Cove Nature Reserve
One option is the carpark at Troy Park, accessed from Burke Drive, nearest Canning Highway. Alfred Cove Nature Reserve forms part of the Swan Estuary Marine Park and is a significant feeding site for migratory waders. The area of samphire within the actual cove is worth checking for feeding birds which are often well-camouflaged by the vegetation. Birds move up and down the shoreline between here and Point Walter and numerous bushbirds make use of trees and shrubs further away from the water. A large number of bird species have been recorded in this reserve.
Bibra Lake
One option is park in the first car park at the southern end of the lake off Progress Drive. This car park is between Hope Road and Gwilliam Drive. Bibra Lake is a part of the Beeliar Wetlands chain and a large number of bushbirds and waterbirds can be seen here. Over 130 bird species have been recorded in this reserve.
Victoria Dam
Go to the car park beside the information board at the entrance to the dam. From Perth, travel east along Welshpool Road and Welshpool Road East to the T-junction at Canning Road, turn right and travel for about 400 m to Masonmill Road. Continue along this road for about 600 m, following the signs to the dam past the rose nursery, to the entrance to the car park. Follow the walking track down to the dam.
Wungong Gorge
Park in the first car park for Wungong Dam at the end of Admiral Road, off Albany Highway. Over 90 species of birds have been recorded here including Red-eared Firetail, White-breasted Robin and Red-winged Fairy-wren.
Coodanup, Mandurah
There is a car park at end of John St near the Nairns Bird Hide. Travelling south-east on Pinjarra Rd turn right into Wanjeep St, left into Beacham St, which becomes Peel Parade, and proceed to John St. This is about a 1 hour drive from Fremantle.
Yanchep National Park
Yanchep National Park is about a 1 hour drive north of Perth. Park near the Lakeview picnic area inside the Park. There is an entry charge for vehicles. Proceed through the entrance gate and go left at the roundabout where there is a large parking area. There should be a variety of bushbirds and waterbirds. Yanchep National Park is part of the Northern Swan Coastal Plain Key Biodiversity Area for birds including Carnaby’s Black-Cockatoo.
Rottnest Island
Rottnest has a variety of habitats, including the shallow salt lakes, the coast, fresh water swamps, woodland and heath. There are 49 species that are regularly seen and more than 112 when vagrants are included.
You can walk down to the salt lakes where you should have good views of the waders, then across the golf course where pheasants and Red-capped Robins are often seen. A regular bus service travels the Island at a small cost. The earliest Rottnest Express leaves at 7:30 am from ‘B’ Shed, Victoria Quay, Fremantle. Most ferries leave the island about 4:00 pm.
Penguin Island
Catch the ferry from Mersey Point Jetty, off Arcadia Drive, Shoalwater for Penguin Island. The ferries travel hourly between 9:00 am and 4:00 pm. Shoalwater is about 40 minutes drive south of Fremantle.
You can walk to the various places of interest on the island, and if you wish, you can attend the penguin feeding in the DBCA facility housing injured or orphaned penguins (additional cost). Bridled Tern, Little Penguin and Buff-banded Rail are often seen here and it is a haven for nesting sea birds. There is a nice picnic area on the island but no shop, so take all food and drink requirements. Also there are nice beaches and it is a good swimming area.
SOUTH WEST WA BIRDING LOCATIONS
Dryandra
Dryandra is one of the most important remnant bushland in the wheatbelt, and has over 100 species of birds including Crested Shrike-tit and Bush Stone-curlew.
Dryandra is 164 km south-east of Perth and 22 km north-west of Narrogin. From Perth, travel down Albany Highway and just past North Bannister turn left to Wandering. Travel 3 km past Wandering and turn into Fourteen Mile Brook Road for 25 km and then turn left into Williams York Road for 3 km. The campsites are on a first-in first-served basis and cannot be booked. There are toilets and gas barbeque facilities. Take your own water. Other accommodation is available in Narrogin including a caravan park with full services.
Stirling Range Retreat
The area has a long bird list including Western Whipbird, Western Yellow Robin, Rufous Treecreeper, Elegant and Regent Parrots, Owlet Nightjar and Crested Shrike-tit. Stirling Range Retreat is on Chester Pass Road, and has a range of chalets and camping facilities. There are always wildflowers here and it is well-known for its rich diversity of flora and fauna. Book your own accommodation at the retreat (phone 08 9827 9229) - this is a popular area. Visit the Stirling Range Retreat website for details.
Cheynes Beach
Cheynes Beach is a fishing village on the edge of Waychinicup National Park, east of Albany. It has a caravan park with cabins as well as caravan and camping facilities. When you book your camp site, please mention that you are with BirdLife Australia. Cabins will be popular for that weekend and there is a minimum 4-day booking, so book early. The Cheynes Beach Caravan Park phone number is 08 9846 1247 and their address is 12 Bald Island Road, WA 6328.
Albany
Albany is not only on the cooler south coast, about 400 km south of Perth, but has excellent bird watching. It has a wide variety of habitats from the ocean (sheltered and open), waders, shorebirds, fresh water lakes and bush birds in many different vegetation types. Albany is also central to other birding locations such as Two Peoples Bay, Cheynes Beach, Waychinicup and Torbay and Wilson Inlet. Kalgan River Chalets and Caravan Park: the park telephone number is 08 9844 7937 and their website http://www.caravan-wa.com.au/krccp.html.
Cheers, Keith 0407 190 471
