Birding Western Australia
Back online again! We flew from Cape Town to Perth on 9th October, arriving early morning of 10th and headed straight out south towards Albany on the South Coast. It was a much longer drive than we'd anticipated - distances are vast here - and took up most of the day with a few stops en route as we tried hard not to fall asleep at the wheel. Highlights on the road were Australian Shelduck, Wedge-tailed Eagle, Welcome Swallow, Galah, Western Rosella and Crested Shrike-Tit.We arrived at Cheyne Beach at dusk. Our first Kangaroos, Western Grays, were seen beside the road to the campsite. At first light next morning we explored the area having woken to the call of Western Whipbird around our cabin. Red-eared Firetail, Brush Bronzewing, Western Spinebill, Noisy Scrubbird, Red-capped Parrot and Red-winged Fairy-Wren were all added. In the bay Southern Right Whales spouted and tail fluked just offshore. On the beach Sooty Oystercatcher and the first of many Silver Gulls. 12th dawned with high winds and heavy rain which slowed birding considerably. Brown Quail was the only new bird added at Cheyne so we headed back north towards Perth picking up Gray Butcherbird, Varied Sittella (small nuthatch-like bird), Singing Honeyeater, Weebill and Gray Currawong were all added around Dryanda Woodlands.We spent the night at Armadale and birded the nearby Wungong Gorge in the morning adding Rufous Tree-creeper, Red-tailed Black Cockatoo, Brown Honeyeater and Western Gerygone to our list before heading off to the airport. Next stop: Ayers Rock and a drive tonight up towards Alice Springs.Bird species total: 3384Posted 13th October, Armadale, Perth, Australia