Month: February 2019

7/2/2019 111km The day starts at 6am when we don our birdwatching gear and walk the few hundred metres to where a pratincole is lurking. There is speculation that it is a Collared Pratincole, and indeed it does have several attributes of that species, but the difficulty of identifying it from the Oriental Pratincole means it’s beyond my knowledge, so I have delayed sending in the survey report until the verdict of more experienced people is in. We had a look for the Long-toed Stints, and Australian Little Bittern that we saw in the last few weeks of our internment in my friend’s apartment, but couldn’t find them, and got a lower than usual count for this exceptional site at Herdsman Lake S. At 14.00 I hopped on a train and went to pick my transformed car up from Quick Pitch Campers. They have had the car for nearly a month amid some very poor organization. The roof of the car is now a pop-up tent which looks good but there the good news ends. The aluminium drawers are the main source of angst and delay as they are outsourced. I have a table bolted to the outside of the car that I didn’t want, and thankfully don’t have to pay for, but I ordered a 240V system put in so I can plug it in at a caravan park to keep the fridge running, so now I’m limited to the slimline solar panel on the roof which has unprotected cables jutting out above the roof line for power input since the Anderson Plug that I ordered is there but is unregulated so I can’t use my mobile solar panels that don’t have a regulator either. Worst is that they sent me an invoice for the $25,000 job and I asked if that was the total amount to pay and I was assured that was all, only to find that it didn’t include the 80L Snowmaster fridge, so it’s fitted but I haven’t paid for it yet since I invested all the rest of my money in some shares that looked cheap (and indeed have risen since then). So it was 16.00 when I left there and immediately discovered that the drawer system rattles and squeaks even on bitumen roads. We loaded up the car, and discovered that not everything fitted in, which I sort of knew was going to happen despite enlarging the large compartment at the rear which is apparently the alteration of which caused most of the delay in manufacture. We headed off at about 18.00 stopping at a Puma servo on the Great Northern Hwy just south of Bullsbrook and got some awful take away food for dinner then drove up to 9mile Swamp Rd Moore River CP to camp for the night in the sandy banksia heathland. We discovered there really isn’t enough room for two people in here, but we managed, and with a bit of re-organization we should get some more room to move. 8/2 552km It was a very windy night last night so the camper was continually blasted by strong gusts that kept waking us up, neither of us got much sleep. The birding was rather quiet with mostly Brown Honeyeaters, a group of Varied Sitellas brightened things up briefly. We headed off north at 7.30, had a look at Regans Ford Moore River which is by the highway and got a pair of Carnaby’s Cockatoos in the tall eucalypts, then took the back roads to Coalara Rd Watheroo NP, it wasn’t productive but I think has potential to be a good spot, further north we did some re-surveys, Yarra Yarra lakes CP where it was already too hot, Yandanooka was lunch, and our final spot was Depot Hill reserve where it was 40 degrees. We turned the A/C up and drove up to Kalbarri where we met up with Lynne and Colin and Jim and Emma where they have rented a house, we had dinner at the Kalbarri Hotel, I had a huge meat lovers pizza with lots of topping for $24, very tasty. We discovered today another flaw in the new camper, the water in the 70L tank is undrinkable, there is a horrid after taste that tastes like welding smells like, so we gave the tank a flush out.

9/2 Well the flush out didn’t work, the water still tastes foul. Jim cooked us all bacon and egg sandwiches for breakky, then at 10.00 we walked down to the river and boarded a boat with friends and relatives of Jim’s dad who had passed away at the end of last year, we went up to Castle Rock to fulfill his wishes of having his ashes scattered in the river, it was a poignant moment to see the grey cloud of what was once a human being slowly drift away from the boat. We then spent the rest of the afternoon at the pub for his wake. 10/2 296km Jim cooked another yummy bacon and egg sandwich for the extended family so it was 10am before we got on the road. A short way out of Kalbarri is the spectacular coastline with my site at Natural Bridge Kalbarri NP, where there were some Fork-tailed Swifts zooming around, leaving the Tree Martins and Welcome Swallows in their wake. Park bay Hutt Lagoon had some beautiful male Golden Whistlers and we went into Horrocks for lunch, it reminded us of a more developed Granville Harbour in Tasmania. Protheroe Rd Nabawa was hot and dry but still had 7sp in the desiccated remnant woodland strip. We found the card only diesel only BP in Geraldton this time around, which was 8cpl cheaper than the next cheapest in town, so it certainly does pay to seek them out if there is a card only servo in an area, but they do only serve diesel. Down the coast further is Cape Burney Greenough River but it was bird poor, as was Crampton rest area. We stopped at Cliff Head South camp which is not far south of the start of the Indian Ocean Rd. A pleasant camp which looks like it would be very popular in the peak times, now there were only a handful of campers and we got a nice spot at the southern end that had some rocks to protect us from the fierce southerly, we spooked a Brush Bronzewing as we arrived, and only had 11sp by dark.

11/2 392km

Not long after dawn there was a clattering on the roof of the shelter next to us, it turned out to be the Ring-necked Parrots sipping up the dew that had settled, they also found dew on a car near us. Left Cliff Head with 21sp at 7.45, went back to the Indian Ocean Rd and continued our way south. First stop was Coolimba which had an adult with juvenile Fairy Tern. The very pleasant Dynamite Bay Green Head had an Osprey, but I couldn’t find any of the Southern Emu-wrens that I got here last time. Drovers Cave NP 1 had a White-cheeked Honeyeater amongst the New Holland Honeyeaters. The Banksias are coming out in flower looking like huge orange lollipops. At Kangaroo Point Nambung NP we had an early lunch and I avoided a repeat of the tick attack I had at the last visit here. Wanagarren CP 1 had presumably the same 5 Emus as our last visit here, what are the chances of that? Either they have a very small range here, this is their favourite spot, or it was very good timing, they were extremely skittish, so as soon as we got out of the car they were off at full tilt over the hill and far away, no photo opportunity. Seabird continues to disappoint with the only sea birds being a few Silver Gulls, Gin Gin Brook Neergabby had 12sp, and the campsite from a few night’s ago at 9mile Swamp Rd Moore River Reserve was down to 3sp, then we went over to Munyering Spring Rd Julimar SF to camp. The site looks like it is pillaged for firewood there being lots of trees but very little dead wood on the ground, and not much above grass level in ground cover either. Another problem here is that the florists are killing the grasstrees by shaving all the long spiky leaves for their arrangements, it seems it’s more expedient to trim one tree to death than take a few spikes from each tree in the area, and there are lots of them here, less than there used to be, and I suspect if this goes on in the end they will become locally extinct, ah but what the heck there’s plenty of other forests to pillage, and so it goes on until all of a sudden they become endangered, and then we’ll spend millions of dollars trying to save the species, all because too many people can’t see where their short sighted stupid selfishness will end up, and it’s happening to so many species all over the world, and not enough people seem to care, and yes in the end it does matter, because if the web of life collapses we die too. If you do care too then join an environmental group and help fight for what’s left of our natural world before it’s too late. It was quiet when we arrived taking me 30mins to get 3 birds, then all of a sudden the evening’s feeding started with a Western Yellow Robin and culminated with a tree full of Rainbow Beeaters, Brown-headed Honeyeaters, Tree Martins and 3 Black Honeyeaters amongst others, they were active for another 30min then it all went quiet again.

12/2 388km The area south of the track has better overall habitat and this is where the most activity was in the morning, including a calling Crested Shrike-tit, but I couldn’t find it. We headed south through Toodyay to retard basins Sawyers Valley which had 6 Grey Currawongs all calling with their strange un-melodic shriek. Wariin Brook Flynn Rd had 16sp in a busy but dry brook. Wandoo NP W of Quinkitchmunding had 3 Collared Sparrowhawks and 5 Western Thorbills. Lunch was taken at Beverley cemetery which was back to pretty dead in birdlife. Thornbill Rd Boyagin Reserve  was too dry , and we searched in vain for the third time for Numbats which are supposed to be here. The dam Falcon Rd Boyagin Reserve still had some water in it but nothing was using it in the late afternoon and we finished surveying at Collins Rd Westdale, which is supposed to be a prime spot for the Crested Shrike Tit, the habitat looks good and there’s lots of other birds but as yet no Crested Shrike Tits here. We drove into Perth and had dinner at Hawthorn Hill Fish and Chips, we had the seafood platter for 2 for $29.50, the batter was really good and crispy, the chips also were good, so a good feed. We then went around to spent the night at my friend Smathi’s place for the night.

13/2 177km Said goodbye to Smathi, I’m hoping the next time I see him it will be on an Antarctic trip next year. Up to Snap Tune and they did the 20,000km service on the Troopy for $358, then around to Quick Pitch campers to see about the rattle and the water. The guy spend 3hrs trying to fix the rattle to no avail, it turns out to be a fault in the drawer  that can be fixed by putting something heavy like my compressor up against the back of the drawer, but full marks for effort. They put some tablets in the watertank that improved the water quality, and they agreed that the plug into the solar panel on the roof isn’t the best but there’s nothing to do about it now. I then went to wait for Bev to finish with her medical appointments which were done by 14.30, we went to Golden Choice, a good quality greengrocer in Subiaco to pick up fruit and veg then went down to North Lake Perth where we had seen the Eurasian Hobby a few weeks ago, it wasn’t in evidence, but the lake had plenty of waterfowl on it. Then it was on down to Lake McLarty S to camp.

22/2 220km

The lake is drying out with the edge at least 100m less than when we were here a few weeks ago, nevertheless the water was teeming with birdlife with over 6500 waterbirds, there was hardly any personal room between each bird, it took me a long time to count them all, which meant that we didn’t get away until 8.30. First stop was east at Coolup in the big Marri stand of trees, we then turned south picking up fuel and food at Waroona and on down to Trotter Rd Yarloop, then east into Hoffmans Mill then along dirt roads through Tallanalla locality to Harris catchment ck for lunch. On down to Collie and along the highway to Stockton Dam which had Red-winged Fairy-wrens. Next stop was Bennelaking where the orchids were out last time we were through here, none now though. Towerrinning Lake has a private campsite so no free camping, but there were lots of birds here including some Western Thornbills and Western Wattlebirds. A short drive south to Moodiarrup S ck was where we camped by the causeway across the creek. There were a few small pools in the creek that I staked out for the remainder of the afternoon, but apart from a few White-faced Herons nothing else came down for a drink, so there must be better water in the vicinity, though there weren’t many birds at all. The only bird of note was an Owlet Nightjar that called well before dark, there are a number of old dead trees along the creekline, one of these would be its home, which goes to show the importance of leaving old dead trees standing.

15/2 296km

I ended the survey with only 15sp despite the water pools. We headed south stopping at Balgarup River Balgarup Rd, the river was dry and the only excitement was a flock of noisy Ring-necked Parrots taking exception to a flock of equally noisy Australian Ravens. We entered the Stirling Ranges NP from the north and went down to Red Gum Springs which were dry, I managed a shot of a Golden Whistler which seem to be quite common. We then headed east along the Stirling Ranges Rd to White Gum Flats, which had lots of New Holland Honeyeaters, but no Crested Shrike-tits , then on on to Talyuberup car park for lunch. South to Millinup Rd Porongurup NP, the birds were active along the divide between the national park and the farmland, edge habitat is nearly always the best place to find active birds. We then went to Kalgan River Caravan Park for our $5 shower, did the clothes washing and did another flush of the water tank, it’s still not nice water to drink. It was 16.00 when we got to Gull Rock NP 1, where Western Ground Parrots have been seen in the past, we had dinner before dark then I sat by some prospective heathland from dusk until 20.00 hoping to hear their beautiful voice, but all I got was an earful of mozzies and mini sandflies, so it was a rather unpleasant time. At one stage as it was getting dark I had one of those “what just happened there?” moments when I heard a shriek overhead and I was about to look up to identify the shrieker when something landed on my lap with a thump. I turned my torch on to find a large beetle, by now the shrieker was gone and I have no idea what it was, was it a bird that was attacking the beetle which detected the bird and dropped out of the sky to avoid being eaten, and just happened to land on my lap? Perhaps a bird carrying the beetle overhead, spotting me at the last moment, letting out a shriek of surprise and dropping the beetle? Who knows. After 20.00 we drove around to the corner of Two People’s Bay Rd and Moyle Rd to camp in preparation for an early start tomorrow morning (this is the closest spot where one can camp to Two People’s Bay and it’s necessary to get there before dawn for the chance to see one of the hardest birds to see in Australia).

16/2 450km

Up at 4am and down to Two People’s Bay Little Beach well before dawn, and I sat at a strategic point and I waited, the inevitable mozzie found me and took her bit of blood from me as the light slowly crept into the sky. The first birds to call were Silver Gulls, not quite what I was after. The first little bit of joy was watching a pair of Southern Emu-wrens feeding in the heath across the road from me, eventually the Western Bristlebirds started up, I counted 6 of them in the end, but that was all of the 3sp that I was after. I met the volunteer ranger who said that the Noisy Scrub-bird and the Western Whipbird haven’t been at this site for a while now, he blamed the influx of tourists, but the existence of the bristlebirds suggests that there’s more to it, perhaps the bristlebirds have out-competed the other two species, either way it’s not good news especially for the Scrub-bird with such a restricted range. He did say that they were still being found around the visitor centre. As we were having breakfast we caught a glimpse of a Mardo climbing in the the bushes. I left there disappointed and headed around the Betty’s beach Rd. where I got Western Bristlebirds last time, but none were in evidence. Next stop was Cheynes Beach which was a bit quiet, I disturbed what looked like a basking Tiger Snake that disappeared into the grass. Took the short corrugated dirt road to Many Peaks NR camp, but it was rather quiet apart from the New Holland Honeyeaters. Cheyne Inlet was quiet too. Cowellup Rd Gairdner had some Purple-gaped Honeyeaters and a large flock of Yellow-throated Miners in the mass of flowering eucalypts. We picked up some milk in the Jerramungup servo since the IGA supermarket closes at midday on a Saturday. On the way down to Quiss Rd Fitzgerald NP we got a Heath Monitor, the site was alive with birds, and just down the road Quiss Rd Fitzgerald NP 2 was back to hardly any birds, in similar habitat, it’s hard to figure that out. There was a flock of Purple-crowned Lorikeets that went zooming overhead. Next stop was Hammersley River Wongarup, the water in the pools was super-saline and apart from a pair of Blue-breasted Fairywrens and a White-browed Scrubwren was silent. We then took the Hammersley Rd shortcut through the Fitzgerald River NP, I won’t be doing it again, what should have been a pleasant drive through the heathlands was a bone jarring unpleasant ride along a ribbon of constant corrugations on the rarely if ever graded road. The torture ended when we got to the bitumen road that lead to the Hammersley Inlet camp Fitzgerald NP where we camped for the night for $10. The inlet had hundreds of birds such as Red-necked Avocets, Crested Terns and Pelicans.

17/2 359km

Up a bit late this morning after the long day yesterday, went back down to the inlet and added a few more species and left at 8.30. Took the road out to Hopetoun thus along the bitumen to Ravensthorpe, a much easier run than yesterday. Picked up some food and went out to Gordon Rd Ravensthorpe to a small remnant patch of woodland, but it only had a few of the larger species like Galahs, Yellow-throated Miners and Grey Butcherbirds, these small patches just aren’t big enough to be good habitat. Magdhaba Tk Pallarup NR is edge habitat and had quite an active bird population with Tawny-crowned, White-eared, Purple-gaped and New Holland Honeyeaters. French’s Rd Varley was quite the opposite, a degraded salt-flat with a stand of trees and shrubs was harboring a pair of White-browed Scrubwrens, a Redthroat and a Wedge-tailed Eagle soared overhead, and not much else. Wave Rock was hot and dry with little bush activity, the lake had some breeding Australian Grebes. Up to the Woolacutty Soak NR site which is on the NE corner of the reserve and got a Mallee Fowl, I tried my best to get a photo of it as it wandered away from me, I had two clear shots of it as it moved between the bushes, one I failed to find it in the viewfinder before it had bridged the gap, and the other the camera refused to focus on the bird, I missed it, and despite trying to move parallel with it for a while I couldn’t get another shot at it, so rather than stress the bird out any more I let it go. Wound our way up through unused dirt roads with all the dead leaves sprinkled on the road, driving into the sun they shone like diamonds in the road, and fluttered up behind me with the swirl of dust in my wake, arriving at Holleton 2 at 17.20 on the small track that now really needs 4wd because of all the washouts and fallen trees across the track that have to be skirted around. I had not long relaxed in my chair in the shade of the car when a Shy/Western Heathwren scooted across the track and stopped beneath a bush, we looked at each other for 2 seconds before it took off on it’s afternoon feeding foray.

18/2 410km

A track heading east from the main track led to a large dam with concrete channels and inflow chute, there were lots of Galahs, Ring-necked Parrots and Common Bronzewings here, I stood quietly by the edge in the hope that something interesting might turn up, but a Grey Currawong spotted me and gave an alarm call that sent everything scattering so I thought it best to leave them to drink in peace. A short hop to Holleton 1 then we headed north stopping at Mt Hampton NR, then up to the Great Eastern Hwy to do some old sites at Mt Rankin Moorine Rock, then east to Rail bridge W of Yerbillon and Goldfields Rd Merredin where we had lunch. From there we headed south to Buller Rd Bruce Rock, then west to Yoting silo and St Jacks Rd Balkuling, through York with its straw statues and along Helena Rd into the forest, stopping at Wandoo NP W of Quinkitchmunging. By the time we got to the camp the birds were largely inactive, I had just enough time to have two icy-poles before dinner and it was getting dark and time to hide from the inevitable mozzies. The birds were all pedestrian today and none of them wanted to pose for a photo the closest I got were some Yellow-rumped Thornbills at St Jacks Rd, I only had one chance and the Canon G3X let me down focusing on the grasses in the background rather than the bird in the foreground, despite the camera being set on macro, I don’t understand how a bird at 15m is less of a macro than grass at 20m.

19/2 242km

Added a few birds on my morning round then went to Wariin Brook Flynn Rd, but the birds were quieter here than they have been on the recent surveys here. I changed a leaking rear tyre and we went to Affordable Caravan Storage in Wattleup to pick up our caravan. We’d paid up until the 9^th of March but because Yeeda want us up in Broome earlier than expected we need to start heading north now, unfortunately it looks like they won’t give us a refund for the unused time. Next stop was Smathi’s place where we emptied out all our stuff from his storage room downstairs then up to the Quick Pitch campers to get some tie down jiggers for the roof of the camper to put the spare wheel up there, then to some shops and it was a very late lunch at Lake Joondalup NR, where I got a pair of Black-shouldered Kites, the most exciting bird for several days. We then went over to the Great Northern Highway and stopped at Chittering lakes Bindoon by a 20yo plantation that leads down to a paperbark swamp at the lake, there is no access to the water here because of the swamp, good for the birds, bad for the birdwatching.

20/2   371km On my morning stroll I was on the walking path trying to get a shot of some Yellow-rumped Thornbills and struggling, with the active little fellows not staying long enough in one position for me to latch onto one and shoot it. Along came some walkers and totally ignored me scattering the thornbills in all directions, all that time gaining their confidence in me lost grrr! We headed north, north, north all day. The first stop was at Udumung Nature Reserve, it’s and old site, and was not easy to park the car and caravan in the rutted ditch by the side of the road. The creek was running and the birds quite active. Gabalong West Rd S of Walebing is a thin strip of trees in farmland and only had common birds. Moller Rd S of Pithara was even more sparsely vegetated but had a White-backed Swallow. Jibberding Rocks Reserve rest area was hot and dry, the area is well treed but not much undergrowth with lots of vehicles making tracks everywhere. Not far north of here we left the wheat farms behind and entered the scrublands. Mt Gibson Rd 1 was good woodland and despite the 38 degrees of heat the birds were active with White-browed Babblers, Chestnut-rumped Thornbills and a Redthroat. At 125km N of Wubin we were in Mulga woodland, I never seem to get a good bird count in Mulga and here was no exception with a lone Yellow-throated Miner the only bird I could find. The problem with Mulga is that it almost becomes a monoculture, there were a few euacalypts a few Calitris Pines and a spattering of other vegetation, but it was 90% Mulga with very little undergrowth, so I find these vast good looking forests with little activity. We stopped at 26km N of Paynes Find in more Mulga woodland, and I sat in my chair in the shade of the caravan for over an hour with not a single bird passing by. I did get a very hot Mulga Dragon mouth agape, looking like it was surprised to see me. As the heat went out of the sun I went for a stroll along the fence and ended up with 14sp by dark.

21/2 389km

There was a steady stream of trucks to wake me up regularly during the night, and just before dawn an Owlet Nightjar woke me up with its call. Ended with 19sp, but not many birds per species. First stop north was Kirkalocka Ck which was dry as is everything at the moment, we’ve changed the corvids from Australian Ravens down south to Torresian Crows up north and got some Red-tailed Black Cockatoos here too. Shepherd’s Well S of Mount Magnet had some Southern Whitefaces. As we’ve been heading north today the Mulga forest has deteriorated to become quite sparse, the ultimate expression of this was at Austin S of Cue, this is an ex railway mining town with the vegetation not able to fully re-establish itself in the poor soil, the result was no birds. Lakes 21km N of Cue had a Hobby Falcon. Floodway at Nannine S of Cue had better vegetation along the creekline with Zebra Finch and a Western Bowerbird, and then it was another sparse area at rock outcrop N of Meekatharra with another survey with no birds. It had now got to 40degrees which wasn’t helping the birding in poor country. We stopped at Bilyumen Pool Murchison River and we were disappointed to find that it was dry too. This is cattle country and this part of the country is damaged, badly damaged. Here the cattle have eaten everything to death and left heaps of dung. The only thing that has any numbers here are the flies living off the dung. The farmer is turning a blind eye to the damage he’s doing and there aren’t enough controls to make him do the right thing by the country, the result is everything suffers. This land is unhealthy, I can see it, does anybody else? Anybody? A few hundred metres to the south a diesel pump is sucking water out of the ground to create a pool for his cattle to drink at, compounding the problem, some of the birds are taking advantage of it, so there is a small positive to his actions, but having any cattle on this land in these conditions is folly.

22/2 309km

Went back over to where the pump was still pumping, it had gone on all night long. There were about 30 Zebra Finches at the pool, I ended with 15sp and we head off. First stop was Great Northern Hwy park bay which had a Wedge-tailed Eagle, next was 118km S of Kumarina, which is in fact further south than that, there were some Mulga Parrots here. Then I had problems finding my site at 100km S of Kumarina, because I’d entered the co-ordinates wrongly, and then the sign for 100km S of Kumarina was missing, so I found a culvert with some water in it and did a survey there, which turned out to be an inspired choice as the cattle had no access to the water and it was teeming with birds including 200 Zebra Finches, 4sp of raptor including a Hobby Falcon that occasionally swooped by me up the creek to where the birds were drinking, it never got anything whilst I was there. The heart stopper was a Grey Honeyeater, only the second one I’ve ever seen, but every time it came down to drink it was harassed by the Spiny-cheeked Honeyeaters. This site just goes to show what happens when cattle are excluded from a source of natural water. I thought floodway 10km N of Gascoyne River was going to be a standard dry affair, and so it was until I crossed the road by the culvert and there was an explosion of birds from under the roadway, Yellow-throated Miners, Pied Butcherbirds and a Magpie all sheltering in the shade with a breeze coming through the culvert, it was 40 degrees by now. We had lunch at Kumarina Roadhouse, the next stop was up a dirt road to Jigalong Rd Nharnuwangga, where the spinifex was in good condition in a good woodland, but only got 6sp here. Not far north of here I saw that all the creeks had pools in them and the land was all of a sudden looking greener, so I went up to Weelaranna Rd S of Newman and found a creek with a small pool of water to camp by. Not long after we arrived a thunderstorm narrowly missed us, but then I saw it start to develop, stop moving and indeed the wind turned and I saw the rain coming back towards us, I hurriedly packed up and just as the rain hit we had the windows all closed on the camper and the caravan. It rained and flashed and crashed all around us until just before dark, when it finally dissipated, we emerged to find that the little pool we had camped by was now part of a flash flood across the floodway, we had water up to half way up my gum boots, as I got out and took a few photos of a spectacular rainbow, that a camera just doesn’t do justice to. After dinner all the frogs were calling, Main’s Frog and Western Water-holding Frog being the two main ones, drowning out the calls of the quieter ones no doubt, so it’s going to be another noisy night, with all the frogs and the sound of the Weelaranna waterfall as the floodwaters head off downstream. I only has 4sp before the deluge as this is heavily used cattle country, before the rains came the pool of water stank of cattle, and the floodwaters are washing down all the floaties like an open sewer, it’s gross.

23/2 278km

It was just past midnight when I awoke, things had changed, The Main’s Frogs were still going EEOW!, and the Western Waterholding Frogs were still going GOMP! At the tops of their voices, there were less of them calling perhaps, but now I could hear three more frogs species calling, the most distinct was a quieter but insistent Pok Pok Pok, that just kept on going, this was the Shoemaker Frog. A louder but more intermittent call was the Desert Tree Frog which is a chirring sound, and occasionally further away I could hear some Desert Spadefoots going Poonk Poonk Poonk. I lay awake for a while with a gentle breeze wafting through the camper, off in the distance there was still the odd flash of lightning, and the floodway still had water rushing over the road, but it was much diminished. It is the chaotic wonderful sound of well over a hundred frogs all calling that I will never forget. You’d really have to experience it yourself to capture, understand, what a great desert night I had. I woke a few more times during the night and listened to the frog calls but the midnight moment was the best. At dawn the last frog call was a Desert Tree Frog, as the first bird call started up, it was a Common Bronzewing, then a Torresian Crow, which meant that my bird list finally overtook my frog list for species list. On my rounds I found some Hooded Robins, Crimson Chats, Redthroats and Masked Woodswallows, with 15sp all up. I put the troopy in 4wd, but I’d mapped out the safest way to get back to the road, and I had no probs, I’d parked the car facing the biggest tree, yesterday afternoon in anticipation of a storm, but what we got was beyond what I’d expected, at its height the water surrounding us was the height of the tyres. Anyway, we got back to the main road and continued north. The first stop was at Tropic of Capricorn Great Northern Hwy in what looked like good acacia spinifex country, but there was not a single bird. Pamelia Hill 410km S of Port Hedland had a White-winged Triller. At Newman we topped up our food supplies at the reasonably priced IGA in town. We stopped at Weeli Wolli Ck for lunch, there were some pools in the creekbed, but only 6sp with Sacred Kingfisher. An old site at 120km W of Newman was dry acacia woodland and I only managed a lone Singing Honeyeater in the afternoon’s heat. Windmill 142km W of Newman looked a bit more diverse habitat, and here there were indeed more birds active. I saw a Yellow-throated Miner land in a tree and get harassed by a Rufous Whistler, it should be the other way around, with the miner being one of the most aggressive passerines we have, so I looked closer and found a nest with 2 eggs in, I was too close and the birds had vacated the nest so I backed off, and watched the mum go back to the nest. We then went in to camp at Euro Loop Dale Gorge Camp Karijini NP. As we were driving in I noted the usual inappropriate burning regime that they operate up here with an entire mountainside totally devoid of life because they’d had a hot burn at the end of the season. The camp vegetation looked scrawny and immature, and I struggled to find many birds here in this over-burnt land. We had another series of storms throughout the late afternoon, but they were all flash and crash with little rain. The birding highlight was a fly over of a Bustard, I nearly missed it as I was being amused by the Australian Tiger and Narrow-lobed Glider Dragonflies that were fluttering around me picking off the odd fly as it strayed too far from me, I also had an occasional visit from the tiny native bees that look just like small flies until you take a closer look and see that indeed they look just like miniature bees, they really are so cute.

24/2 151km

Just as I was heading off to bed a big storm came through with huge gusts of wind, but there wasn’t a lot of rain with it, though there was a light rain falling as I drifted off to sleep. I was awoken before dawn with the raucous disjointed calls of Blue-winged Kookaburras, but on my morning stroll I didn’t add much. We took the corrugated dirt road short-cut through the park to re-visit the sites we’d done at the end of last year. First was Joffre Falls which were dry apart from the pools. The reeds in the upper wetland were dying for lack of water. Next was Lower Weano Gorge, there were more dragonflies than birds in the gorge with Rosy Skimmer being a new one for me. We relaxed in the Handrail Pool and chatted with some fellow travelers, who found a snake in a crevice on the way out, we could only see its tail, but it was possibly a Ringed Brown Snake. Lastly we stopped at water point Karijini NP, where they’ve done a burn since our last survey here on one side of the road and got 9sp with Red-browed Pardalote and Spinifex Pigeon being notables. Then decided to take the bitumen road, even though it was twice as far, back to camp where we relaxed the afternoon’s heat away in the shade, again the bird list is rather poor for a national park.

Ungee Gungee grasshopper

25/2 330km

There is a family of trees called She-oaks, they have long very fine leaves, the ones here are probably Desert Oaks but I’m not a great botanist. The main thing is that I love camping by them. They are the only mature trees here, and are probably kept for their shade, for me though it’s the sound that the wind makes as it passes through them. The trees give the wind a voice, very John Denverish, all trees make a sound as the wind passes through the leaves, but with the She-oak family the pitch changes as the strength of the wind changes, it’s magical to hear, and I got it last night, I fell asleep too soon, the trees singing me to sleep with their wonderful lullaby. Ended the survey with 18sp after a saunter down to circular pool where I met some people from New Jersey, as we chatted at the lookout I found that the dad was a bit of a bird watcher as he’d taken photos of Crested Pigeons and a Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater, but he had no binoculars, claiming they were too heavy, the amount of times I’ve heard that from overseas birdwatchers. Don’t do it! Some sort of field guide and your binoculars are essential. If necessary dangle them around your neck as you go through check-in. We hitched up the caravan and went back to the highway, north and stopped at creekline Munjina Rd Karijini NP. It’s close to the Auski Roadhouse so there were lots of Zebra Finches and the first Budgerigars. It was then a series of old sites at 211km N of Newman which had a pool of water in the dam with some more Budgerigars coming in to drink, 228km S of Port Hedland which had the first Grey-headed Honeyeater and Bea Bea Ck Nth had 120 Cockatiels plus 11sp hiding in the shade under the bridge in the 46 degree heat. Coonarie Ck had a similar menagerie underneath its bridge, this is a common practice with birds in extreme heat, our bridges and culverts offer more complete shade than the best tree out here. Park bay S of Port Hedland Great Northern Hwy had no shade and all I got was hot, no birds. Park Bay 2 S of Port Hedland Great Northern Hwy had a lone Diamond Dove. And 50km S of Port Hedland had a pair of White-winged Fairywrens. We went to the Black Rock Caravan Park in South Hedland where we booked in for the night and turned on the new A/C for the first time and cooled down.

26/2 407km

Packed up the troopy leaving the caravan at the caravan park and went to fill up at the Puma diesel only card only pumps then dropped Bev off to do the shopping, I went to my site at Front Beach Port Hedland where the tide was out and the mud flat near the boat ramp had a number of waders on it including Greater Sand Plovers, Lesser Sand Plovers, Grey-tailed Tattlers etc. but the pick of them was a lone Beach Stone-curlew, I gave it plenty of space and whilst I was counting all the other birds on the mud flats I saw it trundling its way towards me, its head bobbing up and down, it got unusually close for this usually very shy bird, partially because I stood stock still as it approached but I suspect that this bird is much more used to humans than usual, either that or it was curious as to what this human was doing out on the mud flat where no one else ever goes. Picked up Bev and went out to my desolate spot at floodway 40km E of Port Hedland and got 2sp. Then down the Marble Bar rd to Carlindie Ck for some Crimson Chats and three dead cattle the wrong side of the fence, a mother and two half grown calves, probably cut off from water, not good in this heat, and they paid the inevitable price, who’d wanna be a cow? We had lunch at Doolena Gap where the birds were hiding in the crevices and caves, same idea as the bridges. Ponds E of Marble Bar had less water in than last time, indeed the pool south of the road was dry, but I still got Hoary-headed Grebe, Wood Sandpiper, Sharp-tailed Sandpiper, Pectoral Sandpiper and a pair of Painted Finches. Floodway 1 Ripon Hills Rd only had some Budgerigars. Yalgalong Ck had water so was much more active with Red-backed and Sacred Kingfishers and more Painted Finches, they seem to be doing well along this road. Even the dry spot at Telfer Rd T junction had 4sp with a Little Button-quail. We stopped at 16.55 at park bay with tank Telfer Rd and after setting up the camper I went and sat by the tank which had lots of water, and lots of birds, 24sp by dinner time with 6sp of honeyeater and 3sp of raptor. The more remote a waterhole is from others the more birds come and use it, in these sandhills there’s no water for miles here, so so long as one sits very still the birds are desperate to get to the water, nearly always good birding, no kangaroos though.

A Nightshade genus

27/2 188km

It was an uncomfortably hot night last night, I woke up quite a few times in a sweat, feeling like I had a fever, in the morning though I found I was okay, I got a Bustard, and a Hobby Falcon trying to have breakfast, there were about 200 Zebra Finches here that daren’t go for a drink as the Hobby zoomed through the shrubs randomly, hoping catch a Zeb out in the open, I stood stock still so as not to spook the Zebs and give the falcon an unfair advantage, several times the falcon zoomed by me within a few feet at chest height, fantastic! First stop was 35km W of Telfer in burnt country for only 2sp. We then had to wait for 1½hrs at the gatehouse for an escort to the road that leads south to the park. The road south is unmaintained thus very slow with corrugations as bad as I’ve been on anywhere 4wd is necessary for the sand and the occasional washout in creekbeds, it’s rather desolate country with too many fires povertizing the land. We stopped at Christmas Pool S of Telfer which was dry and recently burnt and only had 2sp. Next stop was a horrible looking picnic area at Coolbro Ck S of Telfer, with 44 gallon drums filled to the brim with empty alcohol containers and a fire destroyed landscape, but there were still some pools tucked in against the embankment so I got 15sp here with the first Peaceful Dove for a while and some Black-chinned Honeyeaters. Next stop was hand pump S of Telfer again the area was burnt (way too much burning goes on in this region), I got 4sp most sheltering in a thicket that was regenerating after the fire. The water from the pump smelled and tasted of sulphur, not nice. We then got into the park and had a very nice drive on the mostly unused track, it’s very slow and rocky, but nothing technical. We made it to the Desert Queen Baths Karlamilyi NP at 16.15 and went for a walk up the gorge, the first pool was too green, but the second pool up was warm and inviting enough for me to strip off for a dip, the rocks were slimy, but the swim was pleasant. Nice spot, don’t know that it’s worth driving all the way from Port Hedland for.

28/2 273km

Another hot sweaty night, but not as bad as the other night. Apart from a stream of Grey-headed Honeyeaters coming into the gorge there wasn’t much using the first pool. We set off on the return journey and got about 3km along it when I spotted what turned out to be a Spinifexbird at Karlamilyi NP track 1 in excellent unburned spinifex, you won’t find much of that in a managed national park, here apart from a burn at the top of the park it’s all long unburnt, and looks much healthier than some of the anaemic sites along the way that have been burnt too often. Added a few species at most of the sites on the way back on another scorching 45 degree day. We found a flat spot at Yalgalong Ck to camp for the night. There was a pair of Hobby Falcons sitting on the top of a dead tree catching the air of a strong breeze that sprung up just before sundown, one let me get quite close, close enough for a few photos before I left it in peace.

1/3 397km

Just before dawn a noisy thunderstorm came through, but didn’t drop much rain, which is good because I was a fair way from the road. The habitat here is pretty good and I got a Pallid Cuckoo and 20 Painted Finches which is the most I’ve ever had on a survey. The site has the worst fly infestation, they usually don’t bother me all that much, but the last few days they’ve been atrocious, this morning I could hardly see out of my flyscreen window because it was covered in flies and when I got out I was incessantly pestered, If I clapped my hand in front of my face I would kill 5, if I slapped my trouser leg where they sat I could kill 20 they were that thick, so my walk down to the creek and back was unpleasant. The good habitat ran out about 1km west of the creek and we were back into over-burnt grasslands and hillsides. We continued retracing our route in, resurveying all the sites, getting back into Port Hedland at 13.00, we went to my site at Front Beach Port Hedland where the tide was out again, no Beach Stone-curlew but another good mixture of waders, some like the Bar-tailed Godwits in breeding plumage. We went back to the caravan park had a shower, hitched up the caravan and went to the South Hedland shopping centre to stock up on food then headed east. The floodway 40km E of Port Hedland had three completely different species to the survey the other day, this suggests to me that the birds here have to have a large home range to get enough food to eat. We stopped at Strelley River right by the road and despite it being late I still got 17sp before dinner was called.

2/3 395km

The water hole by the bridge was just about dry, only a cattle fouled muddy puddle remained. The entire survey area is littered with wall to wall cattle dung, with hardly any ground cover left. The tree cover is good though with both Boobook Owl and Tawny Frogmouth calling overnight. Left there with 25sp and headed just up the highway to De Grey River which is still closed due to the Noogoora Burr outbreak. I scrambled down the rock embankment and got 17 Black-fronted Doterrels around the pool under the bridge, and a few Fairy Martins were still nesting under the bridge. 11km W of Pardoo was burnt but was substantially better than last time I was here with 5sp. Boreline Rd E of Pardoo was also burnt with only 2sp. We had lunch at Wallal Downs 80mile beach, the wind was howling off the ocean blowing up the sand, the tide was out and there were lots of waders including 110 Great Knots. At culvert E of Sandfire the wind was still strong, but I got 45 Australian Pratincoles flying into the wind, seemingly on migration. Ck 1 Great Northern Hwy had some rank looking pools in the culvert but still had both Black Duck and Grey Teal in them. By Shelamar Station Rd the wind had moderated and we got our first Red-backed Fairy-wren. We stopped at Goldwire camp at 16.35 and had 17sp by dark with the first Little Friarbirds, Rufous-throated Honeyeaters and Red-winged Parrots. Next to the camper is a Grey-crowned Babbler’s roost nest, and as I sat in my chair they arrived with their cheerful babbling and one by one they popped up into the nest, the sixth and last one had to wait for quite a while before there was enough room for him to get in, I could see him looking up into the nest waiting, waiting, waiting, ah! And up he popped.

3/3 155km It was dark, it was time for bed, I had my toothbrush in hand and I had to get out of the troopy, the small door opened up okay, but the larger door is more awkward, especially with toothbrush in hand, so I reached down with my left hand to flip the handle and forgot that I was leaning on the door, so when it opened I lost my balance and toppled out of the car, it was pitch black, and couldn’t see a thing but I knew I didn’t want to bang my head on the draw bar of the caravan, so I managed to twist myself as I fell banging my head on the padded anti stone bounce front panel of the caravan, toothbrush still in hand, all I lost was a lot of dignity. The wind dies to nothing during the night, and I woke up to that most annoying of sounds, the whine of a mosquito in my ear, so I turned the lights on and waited until it landed on me and it died, there are few things that I kill, I generally don’t like it, mozzies are one of the exceptions, I still apologize to it though. Whilst waiting patiently for the mozzie to make the inevitable fatal mistake I heard an Owlet Nightjar call, so that worked out well. I like these 24hr rest stops dotted along the highway, they have an open area with tables under shelter, but are also surrounded by generally good scrub and in the camping area they don’t clear all the scrub, the result is that the birds move through the camping area rather than around it. By the toilet block is a Bloodwood Eucalypt in flower attracting all the birds and the bees. Ended with 22sp and headed up the road to 210km NE of Sandfire. The birds were active after recent rains with 17sp including 14 Oriental Pratincoles hawking the area with some Fork-tailed Swifts. Our last survey for the trip was at Roebuck Plains Rest Area which was also filled with active birds, 23sp. Last time I was here there were some Peacocks that someone had probably dumped here, there were none left, not far up the road there was one dead by the side of the road. people who dump animals of any sort ought to go to Hell, it’s such a cruel thing to do, they usually die a slow death of starvation, although in this case it probably got hit by a vehicle, I felt so sorry for the unfortunate beast that ended up in a place where it didn’t belong with no where to go except to an early death, yep, Hell is where people who do this sort of thing belong. We got to the Discovery Caravan Park and got our site. We had our lunch then a shower, immediately after the shower I needed another one, it’s hot and humid with no wind. Lorraine came at 14.00 and took us to the Yeeda office for me to sign some paperwork. I got to take the bus I’ll be driving for a test drive which is fortunate as the clutch was slipping and a brake warning light came on when I braked, I just managed to get it back to the depot. I won’t be driving that bus on Tuesday morning when I start work, they say they’ll rent another one for me. We then walked back the 20min walk to the caravan park and relaxed the avo in A/C comfort in our caravan.

Photos from Discovery Caravan Park

Photos from Cable Beach

Photos from Hayes Oval Broome

Photos from No. 10 Dam Cape Leveque Rd

Photos for Barred Ck

HERE AT THE END OF THE WORLD     30/4/19

And so the end has come

The web of life has collapsed

There is no water

There is no food

All our women are sterile

Here at the end of the world

Unsustainable destroying of the forests

Unabashed pillaging of the oceans

Uncontrolled consuming of the resources

Unrelenting damage to the fabric of life

Until the end of the world

We never did learn to care about the world

Too busy feeding ourselves

Just getting on with our lives

Ignoring all the warnings

Here at the end of the world

The scientists they pleaded

The greenies they implored

As our resources gradually dwindled

As the water wars gradually took hold

Here at the end of the world

Everything will die

Yes everything is dying

The genetic insecticide has seen to that

The poisoned water will see to that

Here at the end of the world

We never saw it coming

We just didn’t understand

That our doom was inevitable

Our behavior we never modified

Until the end of the world

The population pressures went exponential

The water wars that ensued were brutal

Poisoning each others waters

We never did learn to care about each other

Here at the end of the world

The genetic insecticide was a break through

But was released without enough research

So the cockroach will not inherit the earth

Now nothing will survive

Here at the end of the world

We created artificial intelligence

Wonderful machines designed to help us win

But they all closed themselves down

Understanding the damage they were doing

Before the end of the world

So now we are a feeble few

Scavenging over the wreckage of our civilization

Soon we too will perish

The feckless victims of our own foolishness

Here at the end of the world

We never did learn to care about anything but ourselves

Photos from Beagle Bay Church

Photos from Horsewater Soak

Photos from Pender Bay Rd

Photos from Coulomb Point Reserve

Photos from James Price Point

From further afield on trips from Broome: Photos from Fitzroy Crossing.

Photos from Lakeside camp Mt Wynne Ck

Photos from Lily Creek Lagoon Kununurra

Photos from Policeman Point Timber Creek

photos from Molly Spring Ngamoowalen NP WA

Photos from Pine Creek sewerage ponds and cemetery NT

Photos from Mathison Rest stop Victoria Hwy NT

Photos from Edith Falls Rd NT

Photos from Fogg Dam NT

photos from Coolimba WA

Photos from Lake Joondalup NR

Photos from Great Northern Hwy park bay north of Meekatharra

Photos from Great Northern Hwy north of Mount Magnet.

Unfortunately at another patch there were some people picking the flowers. This is the same mentality as  fishermen angling off a pier and big game hunters. It’s the idea that nature is there for our amusement and for our taking. We forget that it has its own intrinsic value that is no less than our own. Get out there and see it, marvel at it, enjoy it, take memorable photos of it, but LEAVE IT ALONE. Photos from Lake Herdsman Perth

Photos from Pine Creek cemetery and sewerage Ponds.

Bird list for the trip and the  duration of our time in Broome. Not all the surveys are to be found on the blog. % is of the 331 surveys done. B is for breeding.

• Emu Dromaius novaehollandiae 2 (0.60%)
• Magpie Goose Anseranas semipalmata 2 (0.60%)
• Plumed Whistling-Duck Dendrocygna eytoni 6 (1.81%)
• Wandering Whistling-Duck Dendrocygna arcuata 1 (0.30%)
• Blue-billed Duck Oxyura australis 2 (0.60%) (B)
• Pink-eared Duck Malacorhynchus membranaceus 8 (2.42%)
• Black Swan Cygnus atratus 8 (2.42%)
• Radjah Shelduck Radjah radjah 7 (2.11%) (B)
• Australian Shelduck Tadorna tadornoides 10 (3.02%)
• Hardhead Aythya australis 9 (2.72%)
• Australasian Shoveler Spatula rhynchotis 5 (1.51%)
• Pacific Black Duck Anas superciliosa 15 (4.53%)
• Grey Teal Anas gracilis 21 (6.34%)
• Chestnut Teal Anas castanea 1 (0.30%)
• Freckled Duck Stictonetta naevosa 3 (0.91%)
• Musk Duck Biziura lobata 3 (0.91%)
• Australian Wood Duck Chenonetta jubata 6 (1.81%)
• Green Pygmy-goose Nettapus pulchellus 4 (1.21%)
• Malleefowl Leipoa ocellata 1 (0.30%)
• Orange-footed Scrubfowl Megapodius reinwardt 1 (0.30%)
• Brown Quail  Synoicus ypsilophora 4 (1.21%)
• Australasian Grebe Tachybaptus novaehollandiae 17 (5.14%) (B)
• Hoary-headed Grebe Poliocephalus poliocephalus 3 (0.91%)
• Great Crested Grebe Podiceps cristatus 2 (0.60%) (B)
• Rock Dove Columba livia 5 (1.51%)
• Spotted Dove Streptopelia chinensis 4 (1.21%)
• Laughing Dove Streptopelia senegalensis 10 (3.02%)
• White-quilled Rock-Pigeon Petrophassa albipennis 1 (0.30%)
• Spinifex Pigeon Geophaps plumifera 5 (1.51%)
• Common Bronzewing Phaps chalcoptera 9 (2.72%)
• Brush Bronzewing Phaps elegans 4 (1.21%)
• Crested Pigeon Ocyphaps lophotes 31 (9.37%)
• Diamond Dove Geopelia cuneata 24 (7.25%)
• Peaceful Dove Geopelia placida 95 (28.70%)
• Bar-shouldered Dove Geopelia humeralis 32 (9.67%) (B)
• Brown-capped Emerald-Dove Chalcophaps longirostris 1 (0.30%)
• Torresian Imperial-Pigeon Ducula spilorrhoa 1 (0.30%)
• Rose-crowned Fruit-Dove Ptilinopus regina 1 (0.30%)
• Pheasant Coucal Centropus phasianinus  5 (1.51%)
• Eastern Koel Eudynamys orientalis 1 (0.30%)
• Channel-billed Cuckoo Scythrops novaehollandiae 1 (0.30%)
• Horsfield’s Bronze-Cuckoo Chalcites basalis 2 (0.60%)
• Black-eared Cuckoo Chalcites osculans 1 (0.30%)
• Shining Bronze-Cuckoo Chalcites lucidus 1 (0.30%)
• Brush Cuckoo Cacomantis variolosus 1 (0.30%)
• Pallid Cuckoo Heteroscenes pallidus 2 (0.60%)
• Australian Bustard Ardeotis australis 6 (1.81%)
• Tawny Frogmouth Podargus strigoides 10 (3.02%)
• Spotted Nightjar Eurostopodus argus 1 (0.30%)
• Australian Owlet-nightjar Aegotheles cristatus 8 (2.42%)
• Fork-tailed Swift Apus pacificus 6 (1.81%)
• Buff-banded Rail Hypotaenidia philippensis 1 (0.30%)
• Australian Spotted Crake Porzana fluminea 1 (0.30%)
• Spotless Crake Zapornia tabuensis 1 (0.30%)
• White-browed Crake Amaurornis cinerea 1 (0.30%)
• Purple Swamphen Porphyrio porphyrio 10 (3.02%)
• Dusky Moorhen Gallinula tenebrosa 5 (1.51%)
• Eurasian Coot Fulica atra 16 (4.83%)
• Brolga Antigone rubicunda 8 (2.42%)
• Bush Stone-curlew Burhinus grallarius 3 (0.91%)
• Beach Stone-curlew Esacus magnirostris 1 (0.30%)
• Australian Pied Oystercatcher Haematopus longirostris 10 (3.02%)
• Sooty Oystercatcher Haematopus fuliginosus 6 (1.81%)
• Red-necked Avocet Recurvirostra novaehollandiae 3 (0.91%)
• Black-winged Stilt Himantopus leucocephalus 27 (8.16%)
• Grey Plover Pluvialis squatarola 7 (2.11%)
• Pacific Golden Plover Pluvialis fulva 1 (0.30%)
• Red-capped Plover Charadrius ruficapillus 9 (2.72%)
• Lesser Sand Plover Charadrius mongolus 11 (3.32%)
• Greater Sand Plover Charadrius leschenaultii 11 (3.32%)
• Black-fronted Dotterel Elseyornis melanops 18 (5.44%)
• Masked Lapwing Vanellus miles 25 (7.55%) (B)
• Red-kneed Dotterel Erythrogonys cinctus 4 (1.21%)
• Comb-crested Jacana Irediparra gallinacea 6 (1.81%)
• Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus 9 (2.72%)
• Little Curlew Numenius minutus 1 (0.30%)
• Eastern Curlew Numenius madagascariensis 1 (0.30%)
• Bar-tailed Godwit Limosa lapponica 6 (1.81%)
• Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres 11 (3.32%)
• Great Knot Calidris tenuirostris 6 (1.81%)
• Sharp-tailed Sandpiper Calidris acuminata 4 (1.21%)
• Curlew Sandpiper Calidris ferruginea 6 (1.81%)
• Red-necked Stint Calidris ruficollis 9 (2.72%)
• Sanderling Calidris alba 3 (0.91%)
• Pectoral Sandpiper Calidris melanotos 2 (0.60%)
• Asian Dowitcher Limnodromus semipalmatus 1 (0.30%)
• Terek Sandpiper Xenus cinereus 2 (0.60%)
• Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos 18 (5.44%)
• Grey-tailed Tattler Tringa brevipes 12 (3.63%)
• Common Greenshank Tringa nebularia 7 (2.11%)
• Wood Sandpiper Tringa glareola 6 (1.81%)
• Marsh Sandpiper Tringa stagnatilis 1 (0.30%)
• Little Button-quail Turnix velox 3 (0.91%)
• Australian Pratincole Stiltia isabella 4 (1.21%)
• Oriental Pratincole Glareola maldivarum 2 (0.60%)
• Common Noddy Anous stolidus 1 (0.30%)
• Silver Gull Chroicocephalus novaehollandiae 32 (9.67%)
• Pacific Gull Larus pacificus 4 (1.21%)
• Bridled Tern Onychoprion anaethetus 1 (0.30%)
• Little Tern Sternula albifrons 7 (2.11%)
• Fairy Tern Sternula nereis 1 (0.30%) (B)
• Common Gull-billed Tern Gelochelidon nilotica 1 (0.30%)
• Australian Gull-billed Tern Gelochelidon macrotarsa 4 (1.21%)
• Caspian Tern Hydroprogne caspia 11 (3.32%)
• Whiskered Tern Chlidonias hybrida 9 (2.72%)
• Common Tern Sterna hirundo 4 (1.21%)
• Lesser Crested Tern Thalasseus bengalensis 4 (1.21%)
• Crested Tern Thalasseus bergii 13 (3.93%)
• Black-necked Stork Ephippiorhynchus asiaticus 4 (1.21%)
• Australian Pelican Pelecanus conspicillatus 15 (4.53%)
• Nankeen Night-Heron Nycticorax caledonicus 9 (2.72%)
• Striated Heron Butorides striata 8 (2.42%)
• White-necked Heron Ardea pacifica3 (0.91%)
• Great Egret Ardea alba 19 (5.74%)
• Intermediate Egret Ardea intermedia 6 (1.81%)
• Pied Heron Egretta picata 1 (0.30%)
• White-faced Heron Egretta novaehollandiae 27 (8.16%)
• Little Egret Egretta garzetta 9 (2.72%)
• Eastern Reef Egret Egretta sacra 13 (3.93%)
• Australian White Ibis Threskiornis moluccus 27 (8.16%)
• Straw-necked Ibis Threskiornis spinicollis 26 (7.85%)
• Yellow-billed Spoonbill Platalea flavipes 6 (1.81%)
• Royal Spoonbill Platalea regia 7 (2.11%)
• Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus 6 (1.81%)
• Lesser Frigatebird Fregata ariel 5 (1.51%)
• Australasian Gannet Morus serrator 1 (0.30%)
• Brown Booby Sula leucogaster 4 (1.21%)
• Little Pied Cormorant Microcarbo melanoleucos 21 (6.34%)
• Great Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo 2 (0.60%) (B)
• Little Black Cormorant Phalacrocorax sulcirostris 12 (3.63%)
• Pied Cormorant Phalacrocorax varius 13 (3.93%)
• Australasian Darter Anhinga novaehollandiae 15 (4.53%) (B)
• Osprey Pandion haliaetus 13 (3.93%)
• Black-shouldered Kite Elanus axillaris 3 (0.91%)
• Wedge-tailed Eagle Aquila audax 12 (3.63%)
• Little Eagle Hieraaetus morphnoides 1 (0.30%)
• Swamp Harrier Circus approximans 8 (2.42%)
• Spotted Harrier  Circus assimilis 7 (2.11%)
• Brown Goshawk Accipiter fasciatus 19 (5.74%)
• Collared Sparrowhawk Accipiter cirrocephalus 8 (2.42%)
• White-bellied Sea-Eagle Haliaeetus leucogaster 7 (2.11%)
• Whistling Kite Haliastur sphenurus 67 (20.24%)
• Brahminy Kite Haliastur indus 12 (3.63%)
• Black Kite Milvus migrans 43 (12.99%)
• Barn Owl Tyto alba 3 (0.91%)
• Barking Owl Ninox connivens 5 (1.51%)
• Southern Boobook Ninox boobook 5 (1.51%)
• Rainbow Bee-eater Merops ornatus 64 (19.34%)
• Dollarbird Eurystomus orientalis 5 (1.51%)
• Azure Kingfisher Ceyx azureus 1 (0.30%)
• Forest Kingfisher Todiramphus macleayii 1 (0.30%)
• Sacred Kingfisher Todiramphus sanctus 25 (7.55%)
• Red-backed Kingfisher Todiramphus pyrrhopygius 1 (0.30%)
• Laughing Kookaburra Dacelo novaeguineae 13 (3.93%)
• Blue-winged Kookaburra Dacelo leachii 42 (12.69%)
• Nankeen Kestrel Falco cenchroides 14 (4.23%)
• Australian Hobby Falco longipennis 13 (3.93%)
• Brown Falcon Falco berigora 17 (5.14%)
• Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus 1 (0.30%)
• Cockatiel Nymphicus hollandicus 9 (2.72%)
• Red-tailed Black-Cockatoo Calyptorhynchus banksii 26 (7.85%)
• Carnaby’s Black-Cockatoo Zanda latirostris 7 (2.11%)
• Galah Eolophus roseicapilla 43 (12.99%) (B)
• Long-billed Corella Cacatua tenuirostris 1 (0.30%)
• Little Corella Cacatua sanguinea 44 (13.29%)
• Sulphur-crested Cockatoo Cacatua galerita 5 (1.51%)
• Red-winged Parrot Aprosmictus erythropterus 37 (11.18%)
• Mulga Parrot Psephotellus varius 2 (0.60%)
• Red-capped Parrot Purpureicephalus spurius 2 (0.60%)
• Northern Rosella Platycercus venustus 1 (0.30%)
• Western Rosella Platycercus icterotis7 (2.11%)
• Australian Ringneck Barnardius zonarius 43 (12.99%)
• Purple-crowned Lorikeet Glossopsitta porphyrocephala 2 (0.60%)
• Varied Lorikeet Psitteuteles versicolor 9 (2.72%)
• Rainbow Lorikeet Trichoglossus moluccanus 8 (2.42%)
• Red-collared Lorikeet Trichoglossus rubritorquis25 (7.55%)
• Budgerigar Melopsittacus undulatus 14 (4.23%)
• Rainbow Pitta Pitta iris 1 (0.30%)
• Western Bowerbird Ptilonorhynchus guttatus 5 (1.51%)
• Great Bowerbird Ptilonorhynchus nuchalis 42 (12.69%)
• Rufous Treecreeper Climacteris rufus 6 (1.81%)
• Purple-crowned Fairy-wren Malurus coronatus 1 (0.30%)
• Red-winged Fairy-wren Malurus elegans 3 (0.91%)
• Blue-breasted Fairy-wren Malurus pulcherrimus 3 (0.91%)
• Variegated Fairy-wren Malurus lamberti 21 (6.34%)
• Splendid Fairy-wren Malurus splendens 17 (5.14%) (B)
• Red-backed Fairy-wren Malurus melanocephalus 24 (7.25%)
• White-winged Fairy-wren Malurus leucopterus 9 (2.72%)
• Southern Emu-wren Stipiturus malachurus 1 (0.30%)
• Western Bristlebird Dasyornis longirostris 1 (0.30%)
• Black Honeyeater  Sugomel niger 2 (0.60%)
• Dusky Honeyeater Myzomela obscura 2 (0.60%)
• Red-headed Honeyeater Myzomela erythrocephala 3 (0.91%)
• Silver-crowned Friarbird Philemon argenticeps 4 (1.21%)
• Little Friarbird Philemon citreogularis 52 (15.71%)
• Banded Honeyeater Cissomela pectoralis 10 (3.02%)
• Brown Honeyeater Lichmera indistincta 93 (28.10%)
• New Holland Honeyeater Phylidonyris novaehollandiae 24 (7.25%)
• White-cheeked Honeyeater Phylidonyris niger 2 (0.60%)
• White-eared Honeyeater Nesoptilotis leucotis 5 (1.51%)
• Blue-faced Honeyeater Entomyzon cyanotis 3 (0.91%)
• Black-chinned Honeyeater Melithreptus gularis 12 (3.63%)
• Brown-headed Honeyeater Melithreptus brevirostris 5 (1.51%)
• White-throated Honeyeater Melithreptus albogularis 4 (1.21%)
• White-naped Honeyeater Melithreptus lunatus 5 (1.51%)
• Tawny-crowned Honeyeater Glyciphila melanops 1 (0.30%)
• Western Spinebill Acanthorhynchus superciliosus 3 (0.91%)
• Pied Honeyeater Certhionyx variegatus 4 (1.21%)
• Rufous-throated Honeyeater Conopophila rufogularis 23 (6.95%)
• Grey Honeyeater Conopophila whitei 1 (0.30%)
• Crimson Chat Epthianura tricolor 4 (1.21%)
• White-fronted Chat Epthianura albifrons 1 (0.30%)
• White-gaped Honeyeater Stomiopera unicolor 20 (6.04%)
• Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater Acanthagenys rufogularis 7 (2.11%)
• Western Wattlebird Anthochaera lunulata 3 (0.91%)
• Red Wattlebird Anthochaera carunculata 20 (6.04%)
• Singing Honeyeater Gavicalis virescens 87 (26.28%)
• Grey-headed Honeyeater Ptilotula keartlandi 11 (3.32%)
• Yellow-plumed Honeyeater Ptilotula ornata 5 (1.51%)
• Grey-fronted Honeyeater Ptilotula plumula 1 (0.30%)
• Yellow-tinted Honeyeater Ptilotula flavescens 38 (11.48%)
• White-plumed Honeyeater Ptilotula penicillata 47 (14.20%)
• White-fronted Honeyeater Purnella albifrons 4 (1.21%)
• Purple-gaped Honeyeater Lichenostomus cratitius 5 (1.51%)
• Yellow-throated Miner Manorina flavigula 45 (13.60%)
• Red-browed Pardalote Pardalotus rubricatus 8 (2.42%)
• Striated Pardalote Pardalotus striatus 50 (15.11%)
• White-throated Gerygone Gerygone olivacea 6 (1.81%)
• Large-billed Gerygone Gerygone magnirostris 1 (0.30%)
• Dusky Gerygone Gerygone tenebrosa 1 (0.30%)
• Mangrove Gerygone Gerygone levigaster 1 (0.30%)
• Western Gerygone Gerygone fusca 23 (6.95%)
• Weebill Smicrornis brevirostris 73 (22.05%)
• Redthroat Pyrrholaemus brunneus 5 (1.51%)
• Shy Heathwren Calamanthus cautus 1 (0.30%)
• White-browed Scrubwren Sericornis frontalis 23 (6.95%)
• Southern Whiteface Aphelocephala leucopsis 1 (0.30%)
• Yellow-rumped Thornbill Acanthiza chrysorrhoa 13 (3.93%)
• Inland Thornbill Acanthiza apicalis 16 (4.83%)
• Chestnut-rumped Thornbill Acanthiza uropygialis 9 (2.72%)
• Western Thornbill Acanthiza inornata 7 (2.11%)
• Grey-crowned Babbler Pomatostomus temporalis 45 (13.60%)
• White-browed Babbler Pomatostomus superciliosus 4 (1.21%)
• Varied Sittella Daphoenositta chrysoptera 4 (1.21%)
• Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike Coracina novaehollandiae 58 (17.52%)
• White-bellied Cuckoo-shrike Coracina papuensis 3 (0.91%)
• White-winged Triller Lalage tricolor 21 (6.34%)
• Varied Triller Lalage leucomela 2 (0.60%)
• Rufous Whistler Pachycephala rufiventris 55 (16.62%) (B)
• White-breasted Whistler Pachycephala lanioides 1 (0.30%)
• Golden Whistler Pachycephala pectoralis 8 (2.42%)
• Mangrove Golden Whistler Pachycephala melanura 2 (0.60%)
• Grey Shrike-thrush Colluricincla harmonica 31 (9.37%)
• Crested Shrike-tit Falcunculus frontatus  1 (0.30%)
• Crested Bellbird Oreoica gutturalis 8 (2.42%)
• Chiming Wedgebill Psophodes occidentalis 1 (0.30%)
• Olive-backed Oriole Oriolus sagittatus 8 (2.42%)
• Yellow Oriole Oriolus flavocinctus 8 (2.42%)
• Grey Currawong Strepera versicolor 9 (2.72%)
• Australian Magpie Gymnorhina tibicen 35 (10.57%)
• Pied Butcherbird Cracticus nigrogularis 49 (14.80%)
• Grey Butcherbird Cracticus torquatus 24 (7.25%) (B)
• Masked Woodswallow Artamus personatus 6 (1.81%)
• White-browed Woodswallow Artamus superciliosus 1 (0.30%)
• Dusky Woodswallow Artamus cyanopterus 6 (1.81%)
• Black-faced Woodswallow Artamus cinereus 30 (9.06%)
• Little Woodswallow Artamus minor 6 (1.81%)
• White-breasted Woodswallow Artamus leucorynchus 9 (2.72%) (B)
• Spangled Drongo Dicrurus bracteatus 2 (0.60%)
• Northern Fantail Rhipidura rufiventris 6 (1.81%)
• Willie Wagtail Rhipidura leucophrys 112 (33.84%)
• Mangrove Grey Fantail Rhipidura phasiana 3 (0.91%)
• Grey Fantail Rhipidura fuliginosa 29 (8.76%)
• Torresian Crow Corvus orru 100 (30.21%)
• Little Crow Corvus bennetti 4 (1.21%)
• Australian Raven Corvus coronoides 45 (13.60%)
• Leaden Flycatcher Myiagra rubecula 1 (0.30%)
• Broad-billed Flycatcher Myiagra ruficollis 1 (0.30%) (B)
• Shining Flycatcher Myiagra alecto 2 (0.60%)
• Restless Flycatcher Myiagra inquieta 33 (9.97%)
• Magpie-lark Grallina cyanoleuca 99 (29.91%)
• Apostlebird Struthidea cinerea 1 (0.30%)
• Scarlet Robin Petroica multicolor 7 (2.11%)
• Red-capped Robin Petroica goodenovii 15 (4.53%)
• Lemon-bellied Flycatcher Microeca flavigaster 2 (0.60%)
• Jacky Winter Microeca fascinans 6 (1.81%)
• Southern Scrub-robin Drymodes brunneopygia 1 (0.30%)
• Buff-sided Robin Poecilodryas cerviniventris 1 (0.30%)
• Western Yellow Robin Eopsaltria griseogularis 3 (0.91%)
• White-breasted Robin Quoyornis georgianus 3 (0.91%)
• Hooded Robin Melanodryas cucullata 2 (0.60%)
• Mangrove Robin Peneothello pulverulenta 1 (0.30%)
• Mistletoebird Dicaeum hirundinaceum 34 (10.27%)
• Chestnut-breasted Mannikin Lonchura castaneothorax 2 (0.60%)
• Painted Finch Emblema pictum 6 (1.81%)
• Crimson Finch Neochmia phaeton 6 (1.81%)
• Long-tailed Finch Poephila acuticauda 12 (3.63%)
• Zebra Finch Taeniopygia guttata 34 (10.27%)
• Double-barred Finch Taeniopygia bichenovii 14 (4.23%)
• Gouldian Finch Chloebia gouldiae 1 (0.30%)
• Australasian Pipit Anthus novaeseelandiae 9 (2.72%)
• Yellow Wagtail Motacilla flava 1 (0.30%)
• Horsfield’s Bushlark Mirafra javanica 5 (1.51%)
• Golden-headed Cisticola Cisticola exilis4 (1.21%)
• Brown Songlark Cincloramphus cruralis 1 (0.30%)
• Rufous Songlark Cincloramphus mathewsi 3 (0.91%)
• Little Grassbird Poodytes gramineus 1 (0.30%)
• Spinifexbird Poodytes carteri 1 (0.30%)
• Australian Reed-Warbler Acrocephalus australis 8 (2.42%)
• White-backed Swallow Cheramoeca leucosterna 1 (0.30%)
• Fairy Martin Petrochelidon ariel 15 (4.53%) (B)
• Tree Martin Petrochelidon nigricans 28 (8.46%)
• Welcome Swallow Hirundo neoxena 19 (5.74%)
• Yellow White-eye Zosterops luteus 6 (1.81%)
• Silvereye Zosterops lateralis 34 (10.27%)
• Domestic Duck 2 (0.60%)

If you would like to contribute the the well being of this world, our world, your world, an easy and effective way to do it is to join a quality environmental group. There are many spread across the world all plugging away trying to make the world a better place for wildlife. We belong to Birdlife Australia, Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) and Australian Wildlife Conservancy (AWC). You can donate your time and or money to these and many others knowing that the world will be a slightly better place because of your effort.