Male Musk Duck performing at the Barrett Street Weir. Issue 38 October 2017

Transcription

1 Issue 38 October 2017 A country group of BirdLife WA Cape Naturaliste to Cape Leeuwin Male Musk Duck performing at the Barrett Street Weir CONTENTS PAGE Program/Bird Week.. 2 Cockatoo Capers/Bird Life.. 3 Excursion Report Bioblitz Cape to Cape Chatter Bird Photo Gallery Sightings Birding beyond the Capes Top Left and Right Musk Duck with Marron Photos Steve Castan Bottom Left Musk Duck with snack Bottom Right Steve Castan and very friendly Musk Duck at the weir Photos Boyd Wykes

2 The Cape to Cape Bird Group was formed on the 22 October 2005 This month we celebrate twelve years of birding the capes It has been rather a wet winter down south Photo Roger Crabtree Australasian Pipit, Leeuwin Lighthouse Photo Alfred Lau Sunday 3 December Half-day excursion: East Augusta Spit Meet at 8.30am at the car park across the road from the viewing platform 100m past Colourpatch Café. From there we will ferry people across in a two-person kayak to walk around the spit at the mouth of the Hardy Inlet. Extra kayaks welcomed. This is an easy walk along the beach and dunes of the spit but do prepare for keeping morning tea, binoculars etc. in a waterproof bag and getting a little wet crossing the narrow cut in the kayak. Lunch afterwards at Colourpatch Café is optional. Local resident Bruce Hamilton from the Lower Blackwood Landcare Group will join us to talk about his interest in the changed conditions in the lower estuary, especially whether the Dead Water is flushing sufficient to keep this area and the Swan Lake healthy for fish breeding and habitat. Leader: Boyd Wykes Note: All the local excursions/campouts/meetings are for BirdLife Australia members and the general public. The leader will always be present at the meeting place and will decide whether or not to proceed. In the event of threatening weather, those planning to attend an excursion (particularly if travelling some distance) are welcome to check conditions with the leader prior to the excursion (use individual mobile contact if given). For details of any of the excursions or meetings please contact: Christine Wilder cwilderone@yahoo.com.au Boyd Wykes majyx@iinet.net.au Birdwatch on a Margaret River private property as a day visitor or camp overnight Arrive after 10.00am Saturday 28 October Depart by 3.00pm Sunday 29 October These activities are planned on the property and nearby bushland (no driving involved): Noon Saturday to noon Sunday Rolling 24 hour Twitch for overnight campers 2.30pm Saturday afternoon 20 minute camp chair ABBC day visitors welcome Saturday night Nocturnal walk for overnight campers 10.00am Sunday morning 20 minute ABBC day visitors welcome Leaders: Terry Scott and Christine Wilder The Capes Twitchathon 28/29 October Register your team to spot birds around the capes region in 12 or 24 hours. The Twitchathon is run on an honour system so you can phone/ team results or present them at the campground on Sunday afternoon. Note: The campground is close to Margaret River town, has no facilities other than a toilet, suitable for self-sufficient campers, camper trailers or small caravans. There may be a wait list. No pets. Details for all activities/twitchathon rules etc. will be sent out to participants closer to the date. There will be prizes. For further information and to register for the above: Christine Wilder - cwilderone@yahoo.com.au 2

3 Black-Cockatoos on the move, Carbunup Photo Janean Robinson Announcement BirdLife WA has appointed a new Forest Black-Cockatoo Project Co-ordinator. Rebecca Boyland will be taking over from Tegan Douglas who is involved in more general education and citizen science work within BirdLife WA. Adam Peck is Project Co-ordinator for the Great Cocky Count (GCC). The GCC 2018 will be on Sunday 8 April. Black-Cockatoo Information For more information on cockatoo breeding and what you can do on your property to assist them, go online at: Community Wisdom BirdLife WA wants to find out more about changes you may have noticed in the black-cockatoo populations in the time you have been living in your community. This online survey is available from: Baudin s Black-Cockatoo, MR Soccer Field Photo Steve Castan Secrets at Sunrise The Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions Parks and Wildlife (Margaret River) promoted the screening of this well-made documentary at the Margaret River Cultural Centre, coinciding with National Threatened Species Day on 7 September. Clare Forward and Christine Wilder set up a display in the foyer to answer questions about the subject of this film the critically endangered Western Ground Parrot one of the world s rarest birds. Margaret River Agricultural Show BirdLife/Cape to Cape Bird Group had a successful display in the Sustainability Shed on Saturday 14 October. Christine Wilder Keep in touch with Black-Cockatoos and Cockies in Crisis The Southwest Black-Cockatoo Recovery Program is on social media. Keep up with all the latest news and happenings on Facebook and Twitter: Facebook: Southwest Black-Cockatoo Recovery Program Red-capped Parrots (not Western Ground Parrots) Photo Christine Wilder Right At the BirdLife stand at the MR Ag Show Photo Clare Smith 3

4 Wild Yallingup This winter has seen a number of storms and wild weather would not have been a surprise on this excursion. The view from the top of the hill into Yallingup was wild with a huge swell, waves crashing over the rocks and the fantastic ridge rising as backdrop. The sun came out and the bad weather held off as seven of us, including two newcomers, walked up Valley Road to join the sheltered pathway beside Yallingup Brook into the grounds of Caves House, past the limestone cliffs to the small dam, up a track behind houses and backtracking to the picnic tables at Ngilgi Cave for morning tea. Then along the northern track which was fairly steep closer to the lookout. After taking in the view and the requisite photo shoot, we retraced our steps for a short distance then took the Wardanup Track back to the car park, before driving to the nearest ocean car park to look for seabirds. 30 species of birds were recorded. Grey Fantails and Red Wattlebirds were abundant, with good views of Western Spinebill, Golden Whistler, Nankeen Kestrel and Brown Falcon. Splendid Fairy-wrens and Shining Bronze-Cuckoos were heard in several places, but remained unobtrusive. A Tawny-crowned Honeyeater s sweet song was heard amongst the peppermints of the steep brook. Black- Cockatoos and Red-eared Firetails were expected but not heard or seen, which was rather disappointing, and we thought we heard Western Rosellas but couldn t confirm their presence near the cave. Christine Wilder Above Lookout to Canal Rocks and Smiths Beach, The Wardanup track to Ngilgi Cave, The track past Caves House Crested Terns sheltering from the wind All photos this page by Christine Wilder The ridge, Yallingup 4

5 Nankeen Kestrel Photo Roger Crabtree Bird List Yallingup 23 September Pacific Black Duck Common Bronzewing Shining Bronze-Cuckoo Fan-tailed Cuckoo Silver Gull Crested Tern Laughing Kookaburra Nankeen Kestrel Brown Falcon Australian Ringneck Red-winged Fairy-wren Splendid Fair-wren Brown Honeyeater New Holland Honeyeater Tawny-crowned Honeyeater Western Spinebill Red Wattlebird Striated Pardalote Western Gerygone White-browed Scrubwren Yellow-rumped Thornbill Inland Thornbill Rufous Whistler Golden Whistler Australian Magpie Grey Fantail Australian Raven White-breasted Robin Welcome Swallow Silvereye Checking for gulls and terns Photo Christine Wilder Nocturnal pairing Photos Steve Castan 5

6 Outdoor classroom at the weir Photo Joyce Hegney Christine Wilder with Rod Smith Photo Joyce Hegney This year s NCMRR Bioblitz was held at Barrett Street Weir with Cape to Cape Bird Group involved in bird-watching activities. Thanks to Rod Smith and Joyce Hegney from BirdLife s Community Education group (Perth) for supplying extra binoculars ensuring Year 3 students each had a pair of binoculars to enhance their bird-watching experience on the Schools Bioblitz Day. Sunday 17 September Community Bioblitz Day Christine Wilder, Boyd Wykes and families recorded the following: Bird Walks (1 hour) 8.30am 3.30pm Pacific Black Duck 1 2 Musk Duck 1 (m) - Common Bronzewing 1 (m) - Shining Bronze-Cuckoo 1 - Laughing Kookaburra - 3 Baudin s Black-Cockatoo 1 - Australian Ringneck 4 2 Red-winged Fairy-wren 3 1 Splendid Fairy-wren 1 - Brown Honeyeater 2 - Red Wattlebird 1 - Spotted Pardalote 1 - Striated Pardalote 1 1 Western Gerygone 1 1 White-browed Scrubwren 1 - Inland Thornbill 3 - Golden Whistler 2 - Grey Shrike-thrush 1 - Australian Magpie 3 4 Grey Fantail 1 3 Scarlet Robin 1 - Silvereye 2 - That evening Clare Forward (Parks and Wildlife) and Christine Wilder led one of three nocturnal walks and spotlighted three Western Ringtail Possums. Birds were not recorded on that walk. Wednesday 20 September Schools Bioblitz Day The Schools Bioblitz comprised ten classes x 30 minute sessions. Boyd Wykes and Joyce Hegney led walks with Margaret River Primary School (five classes). Rod Smith and Christine Wilder led walks with Karridale, Cowaramup and St. Thomas More Primary Schools, Margaret River Independent School and Montessori School. Rod Smith, Christine Wilder and students counted the following: Pacific Black Duck 2-A Musk Duck 1-A Fan-tailed Cuckoo 1-A Laughing Kookaburra 1-A 2-C Australian Hobby 1-F White-tailed Black-Cockatoo 2-A 2-B Carnaby s Black-Cockatoo 1-A Galah 1-F Australian Ringneck 2-A 3-B 2-C 2-E 1-F Purple-crowned Lorikeet 4-A Regent Parrot 1-A Splendid Fair-wren 1-B Brown Honeyeater 1-A Gilbert s Honeyeater 1-A Striated Pardalote 1-A Western Gerygone 1-A 1-B 1-C White-browed Scrubwren 1-D Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike 1-B Golden Whistler 1-A 1-B 1-E Grey Shrike-thrush 2-D Australian Magpie 3-A Grey Fantail 1-C 3-F Australian Raven 2-A 1-B A-Before Sessions, B-Session am, C-Session am, D-Session am, E-Session am, F-Session pm A total of 31 bird species was recorded over the two days. Thanks to Caroline Hughes and Tracey Muir for organising these events. Christine Wilder Joyce Hegney and Christine Wilder Photo Rod Smith Joyce Hegney and Boyd Wykes Photo Rod Smith 6

7 Quarry Beach with the right breeze Photo Roger Crabtree I heard the Horsfield s Bronze-Cuckoo again on 26 September for a few minutes in the she-oaks on the reserve behind our house in Quindalup. Just couldn t locate it. My original sighting was earlier in September when the bird sat in full view on our Silver Princess tree calling for five minutes and I got a great viewing and listening experience. Kate Dawson Australian Ringneck feeding on Guildford Grass Photo Peter St. Clair-Baker I observed an Australian Ringneck pulling up Guildford Grass and eating the bulbs. It is amazing how birds adapt to new food sources. Peter St. Clair-Baker A friend asked me if it is known that Australian Ringnecks and Common Bronzewings eat minced meat. He was visiting a neighbour in Riverslea (a suburb of Margaret River) who puts out mince for the magpies and saw a ringneck picking it up and appearing to eat it and then a bronzewing flew in and had a peck at it? Lesley Pathe Ringnecks and magpies take food from the dog s food bowl next door. Ringnecks, magpies and ravens have snapped up small chicken pieces I have thrown to the neighbour s dog. Over many years ringnecks have fed on Mandarins, Lemons, Apricots, Figs and Peaches here in a Margaret River garden. Western Rosellas like the blossom of the Navel Orange. Christine Wilder I assisted Shaun Molloy and students to install pit-traps at Lake Cave to survey fauna in this lovely patch of forest. Overhead, a half dozen Australian Ringnecks were feeding on the larvae of psyllid bugs on jarrah leaves. Pardalotes and many honeyeaters feed on sugary lerp coverings that are produced by some psyllid species. However, the psyllids infesting the trees on this day produced a hard, semitransparent covering that was not the focus. The parrots snipped a small crescent cut through the covering and extracted the small larvae underneath with their tongues. A very small reward for the effort but presumably worth-while in terms of nutrients. Boyd Wykes Brown Skua, Sugarloaf Rock lookout, 29/8/17 Photo Michael Sayers Australian Ringneck feeding in eucalypt Photo Boyd Wykes 7

8 Like Jenny Kikeros, I have taken an interest in the cut at Augusta, taking progressive photos since it was first made. The East Augusta side of the river-mouth formed part of my Hooded Plover surveys before 2013 when I passed that section on to Boyd Wykes. Hardy Inlet was on Birds Australia s (now BirdLife Australia) preliminary Important Bird Areas list. I was unable to commit to doing regular surveys at that time, not sure if anyone actually took it on or has regularly monitored the birdlife of the inlet over a long period. Algae build up Photo Jenny Kikeros Mike and I walked around the spit early in September and were sad to see the amount of debris on the beach side and the river side. We collected three large Tangaroa Blue bags full. There was a large amount of small plastic pieces on the river side (we did not manage to collect it all). I took the photo above on 24 August to show the algae build up in the river on the east side of the cut. I have also collected some resin pellets near the mouth mid-september. The taller vegetation that was on the opposite bank held firm for a long time but has given way and the high bank is being eroded. The mouth is widening. It has eaten into the west and east side. It is amazing to see the changes on both sides each day and the sand movement. When we walked around the spit, roughly the same time of year as when the river was cut for the third time in August 2013, the amount of algae and lack of water movement in the eastern section was very disturbing. We both commented if this is what it is like when we have spring tides and the river is flowing what is summer and autumn going to be like? Mike and I walk the dog along the beach (well there really is no beach on many days) from Deere Street along to the small jetty/boardwalk. Take care when walking in the vegetation as there are lots of snakes, which were scattered, but as the habitat disappeared into the ocean, are now more confined. This year the sea water went into the frog ponds numerous times. I have pictures of our son and his mate (aged 9) catching tadpoles in that wetland, he is now 25. I still hear the beautiful Southern Emu-wrens calling there but I don t feel there are as many. In the past I chartered the Miss Flinders for BirdLife groups and accompanied school children on a Blackwood River Houseboat, both vessels going up river to Molloy Island. Low tides mean sand is exposed up and down the inlet and a variety of bird species, including migratory shorebirds, make use of these bars. Waterbirds fly between wetlands north-east at Scott River and the inlet too. I have kept records on the inlet and the old spit. Hooded, Redcapped and Sand Plovers, three species of tern, two species of oystercatcher and Rock Parrots were regularly seen on the old spit. On recent low tides (6-8 October) the sand bar inside the spit was exposed so far that people were walking from the track that extends from the end of Pericles Street, East Augusta, halted only by a small stretch of water alongside the spit, something I have not seen before. I was leading a BirdLife campout in Augusta that weekend and the birdwatching group saw a small number of cormorants, gulls and terns roosting on the sand bar inside the spit. My interest in the river was first raised when I was tree planting/surveying birds on saltland on a farm east of Katanning (in the upper catchment). It s not always about numbers and surveys though and over time I have been compiling an early history on birds and people connected with birds within the capes. If anyone has historic or progressive photographs showing the old Blackwood River-mouth or early personal accounts of birdlife of the Hardy Inlet, Swan Lake, Deadwater, or anywhere within the capes, I would love to hear about it. Please contact me at: cwilderone@yahoo.com.au. Christine Wilder (Records, history or photos will be acknowledged. Thanks to Mary and Cyril Craigie, Barry Darnell, Terry Scott and Augusta Museum for information provided so far on bird history. Christine Wilder) A Red-Capped Plover runner was seen and an adult a short distance away at end of Deere Street on 14 October. I am hoping the mouth continues to move east but I don t think I will be alive when it gets back to where it was before this cut. Jenny Kikeros View to the cut/spit/sand bar from the Augusta Hotel, 8/10/17 Photo Christine Wilder 8

9 For those who have not joined BirdLife Australia and therefore don t receive their excellent newsletters and magazines, I d like to share an interesting story in the September edition of Australian Birdlife (Vol. 6 No. 3), a piece in the Birds in Focus section, page 24 titled Where Eagles Dare. Satellite tracking of a Little Eagle from Canberra has confirmed that this species is a long-distance traveller. The first ever Little Eagle to carry a small satellite transmitter stayed for nearly a year within an area of 65 square kilometres, around where it had nested, then shot off to Daly Waters in the Northern Territory, travelling 3,300km in 3 weeks, at speeds of up 55 km/hour. The article referred to a previous record of a Little Eagle banded in Margaret River that was recovered in Gippsland Victoria. That prompted me to look up the details on the Commonwealth Government s Australian Bird and Bat Banding website, which I have reproduced here. Ostrich on Canebrake Road Photo Jenny Kikeros On 13 October Jane Scott and I were on our way back from Canebrake when we found this bird standing in the middle of Canebrake Road not that far from where it intersects with Osmington Road. I stopped, waited, tooted. Initially the bird came towards me then moved a bit to the side and we drove round it. Not what you see every day in Australia. Jenny Kikeros Note: I believe Ostriches are kept on a farm in Osmington. Ostrich eggs are sold in a local supermarket. Ostrich have been seen on several occasions and some years ago when conducting bird surveys at a vineyard between Caves Road and Bussell Highway for Ian Rooke I saw several Ostrich. I did a double check to make sure I wasn t hallucinating and sure enough there they were in a paddock with the cows. Christine Wilder Longest distance travelled for a Little Eagle (prior to the recent record above): 2,885 km Band Banded in March 1991 at Eagles Heritage, 3km south of Margaret River, WA (-33 deg 58 min, 115 deg 4 min). Recovered at: 5 km north of Newry, Victoria (-37 deg 53 min, 146 deg 54 min). Recovery method: Collided with a moving road vehicle. Recovery status: Was dead and the band was removed. Longest age: 25 years 11.2 months Band Banded in November 1966 at Jindabyne, NSW (-36 deg 25 min, 148 deg 37 min). Recovered at: south west side of Black Mountain (below Tower), ACT (-35 deg 17 min, 149 deg 7 min) in October 1992 after moving 134 km. Recovery method: Found dead, cause unknown. Recovery status: Was dead and the band was removed. I m certainly going to think twice about what might be happening when I see Little Eagles around here in the future. Looks like they may be out-travelling our Grey Nomad tourists and over an impressively long life span. Boyd Wykes References: Australian Bird and Bat Banding Scheme: /banding-data BirdLife Australia, Australian birdlife. Vol. 6 No. 3. September Printgraphics. Ostrich on a jaunt Photo Jenny Kikeros 9

10 Above and Below Eastern Osprey Photos Peter St. Clair-Baker Walkers, fishers and dogs about Photo Wally Smith The Hillview Hooded Plover pair had two chicks, at a guess in the eleven to twenty day age range, observed on 29 September. There was some activity on the beach during school holidays including track walkers and fishing groups. Tracks on the beach indicated one dog present recently with a fishing group. Wally Smith On 12 September I saw a pair of Hooded Plovers and four Sanderlings at Prevelly Beach. I also had a lovely surprise to see a Red-eared Firetail bathing in our bird bath and the first pair of Dusky Woodswallows arrived here a couple of days before that as well. Does that mean summer is here? I went for a paddle on the river on 27 September. It was quite windy so taking photographs was a challenge. A pair of Eastern Osprey is nesting in an old marri and I think it must be a fairly serious nest because the pair engaged in mating while we were watching. It was a beautiful morning on the river on 2 October and I again saw the ospreys, this time one incubating while the other kept company from a nearby branch in the tree. I counted 26 Sanderlings on the beach on 12 October and participated in Tangaroa Blue beach clean-up on 14 October when I saw a pair of Hooded Plovers and a gull s nest with eggs. Peter St. Clair-Baker Hooded Plovers and snakes about Photos Christine Wilder Opinions, statements or views in this newsletter are those of the Editor or individual contributors and may not be those of BirdLife Australia. Every effort has been made to check the accuracy of content. If you notice any errors or inaccuracies please contact the Editor. Apologies In Issue 37 page 16 the photo of the Jurien fossil was credited to Geoff Hedstrom. This should read Jeff Hedstrom. Apologies for the error. 10

11 Australasian Grebe, Franklin Wetlands Photo Christine Wilder Painted Button-quail Photo Steve Castan The water level at the Franklin wetlands, visible from the Vasse Bypass, is really high at present. On 29 September I took a short walk along the tracks to check the birdlife. Australasian Grebes were nesting. Two Australian Shelduck ducklings were swimming out in the middle of one of the lagoons and adults were seen in the distance. There were a number of Grey Teal and Pacific Black Ducks. Straw-necked and Australian White Ibis were roosting in the trees and feeding in surrounding paddocks. Yellow-rumped Thornbills, Splendid Fairy-wrens, Western Gerygones, Grey Fantails, Brown Honeyeaters, a Whitebrowed Scrubwren and lots of Silvereyes were seen. Welcome Swallows and Tree Martins joined the Silver Gulls flying over the wetlands. There were several Australian Ravens, a Grey Butcherbird, a Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike and Australian Magpies too. A Common Bronzewing crossed the track, ringnecks flew past and there were eight Little Corellas near the water s edge. A Black-shouldered Kite and Brown Goshawk both made an appearance. The bird was calling in the heath, close to Contos Road near the Cape to Cape Track. It called for ages. I wasn t sure what it was so walked up and got two good views of it running between the scrub. Went back later and saw the Painted Button-quail running across the road and then slinking around the scrub - elusive little bird and an interesting sighting for the Cape to Cape track on 1 October. Steve Castan In fifteen minutes I saw 25 species with no effort at all. This wetland was completed last year by the City of Busselton and the re-vegetation is already doing well, providing habitat for a variety of the more common species of birds. Christine Wilder Painted Button-quail, Ruabon Photo Terry Scott Australian Pied Oystercatcher on nest Photo Christine Wilder Shelduck duckling in the middle of the wetland Photo Christine Wilder BirdLife Australia s ethical birding guidelines promote the welfare of birds and their environment, where observers are encouraged to practice minimum disturbance to nesting birds and birds in general, and be aware of the impact photography, camera flash and playing bird call apps can have on birds. 11

12 Bird Photo Gallery Birds around Kilcarnup Road, Mentelle Road and Daleep Spring Road Clockwise Western Gerygone, Tree Martin, Shining Bronze-Cuckoo, Red-winged Fairy-wrens and Grey Teal Photos Steve Castan 12

13 Square-tailed Kite at Cape Naturaliste Lighthouse Photo Eleanor Bollam Thank you for sending articles, photos, unusual/interesting sightings from the capes region for inclusion in newsletters. All contributions are acknowledged. Send photos as jpeg (less than 1mb), maximum six photos each , confirm photographer. DON T EMBED photos or articles in please, but send as attachment, articles preferably as PDF. to: cwilderone@yahoo.com.au Christine Wilder - Editor Here are the reported sightings: Australian Pied Oystercatcher 13, near Deere Street, Augusta, 21/9/17 Rod Smith, Joyce Hegney and Christine Wilder 1 on nest, 1 nearby, Redgate Beach, 3/10/17 Christine Wilder, David Cox Ruddy Turnstone 9, Sarge Bay, 21/9/17 Rod Smith et al Common Sandpiper 1, in front of Turner Caravan Park, Augusta, 21/9/17 Rod Smith et al Painted Button-quail 1, in heath metres from Contos Road (photo), 1/10/17 Steve Castan Brown Skua 1, Sugarloaf Rock, 29/8/17 Michael Sayers Australasian Gannet 1, Flinders Bay, 14/9/17 Roger Crabtree 4, Barrett Point, 21/9/17 Rod Smith et al Square-tailed Kite 1, Cape Naturaliste Lighthouse, last week of August Eleanor Bollam White-bellied Sea-Eagle 1, attacked in air by Silver Gulls, Broadwater, 27/9/17 Christine Wilder Little Corella ~70, Hardy Inlet foreshore, 21/9/17 Rod Smith et al Pair inspecting hollow, West Margaret River, 4/10/17 Christine Wilder Elegant Parrot 2, Riverslea, 4/9/17 Jenny Buckingham Rock Parrot 3, Leeuwin Lighthouse, 21/9/17 Rod Smith et al Yellow-crested Cockatoos, Hong Kong Photos Alfred Lau Caspian Terns, Woodman Point Photo Rod Smith Australian Pied Oystercatchers near Deere Street Photo Rod Smith Right Cattle Egret just north of Capel, 8/10/17 Photo Bernie Masters 13

14 Rhinoceros Hornbill East Malaysia A highlight of our recent trip to East Malaysia was a couple of days on the Kinabatangan River, south of Sandakan in Sabah. It s a birder s paradise! With extended early morning and late afternoon cruises from our lodge accommodation in small boats with quiet motors, we were treated to a feast of birds 6 of Sabah s 8 hornbills, 5 kingfisher species, herons, storks and a host of others such as Blue-throated Bee-eater and Black and Red Broadbill, as well as various reptiles and mammals including wild Orangutans on boths days, which was special. In other places it was interesting to spot a few almostfamiliar small birds Pied Trillers and Pied Fantails at the Kota Kinabalu Mangrove Wetland right in the city, and Black-capped White-eyes on the lower slopes of Mt Kinabalu, along with the more exotic sunbirds, flowerpeckers and my favourite, the Chestnut-capped Laughing Thrushes, to name a few. At Mulu National Park in Sarawak the highlight, of course, was the Bat Exodus from Deer Cave each evening, with Bat Hawks lining up on nearby perches ready to swoop as the bats emerged. A couple of other good sightings here were a brightly coloured Chestnut-breasted Malkoha (a cuckoo relation) and a pair of very handsome Asian Paradise Flycatchers which I spotted from the canopy walkway. But gardens were generally much more rewarding for my bird spotting than the thick leafy canopy of the rainforest where much can be heard but little seen. My camera is much too small for good photos, but I did manage a few. Jane Scott Right from top - Stork-billed Kingfisher, Bat Hawks, Crested Serpent Eagle, Oriental Pied Hornbill All photos this article Jane Scott 14

15 Couldn t find the Grey Honeyeater I lamented. John looked at me quizzically. Where did you look? he asked. At the rest point on the way into the Hamersley Gorge, I replied. The rest point on the way into Hamersley Gorge? That s where I found the Striated Grasswren and Spinifexbirds. John said. You ve got the wrong coordinates. It was clear there had been a misunderstanding and I had been to the wrong place. The photos on Graeme Chapman s website were taken way back in 1970, so I suspect it s not easy to get a photograph of this bird added Nigel. Grey Honeyeater Photo John McMullan Looking for a Legend I flick through the pages of Pizzey and Knight s The Field Guide to the Birds of Australia until I come to the Grey Honeyeater. The entry confirms the perception I already have about this bird. Rare, little known, nomadic.. Similar species, Western Gerygone, thornbills. I ve waited six years for this moment and I m excited. I took up birding around 2011 by joining the weekly excursions around Perth. I soon realised that my interest was not so much about the story of each bird or species, but the thrill of getting a great photo. My twitching was about the thrill of the photo and keeping tally of how many Western Australian birds I was up to. But each had to be a good photo or it didn t count. I learned this was best achieved in the first hour of sunlight because that was when the light was soft and the birds sluggish. I joined campouts to get the birds I didn t already have. The number of lifers I needed soon shrank and so my interest shifted to rare birds. On top of the list was the Grey Honeyeater. At every excursion and campout, I hung on every word about Grey Honeyeater sightings. I lost count of the times I went to Paynes Find where the bird had been sighted. I learned about the Eremophila tree so I could look for Grey Honeyeaters feeding when they were in bloom. But I now had the GPS co-ordinates for a site just south of Hamersley Gorge. Sure fire, I was reassured. Can t miss. It s been there every time someone s been there! someone else observed. I tingled with excitement. The co-ordinates lead me to a rest stop on the road into Hamersley Gorge and my wife Olivia and I were soon wading through spinifex needles (which pierced our inadequate sneakers) to get to a dry creek bed. I was high with anticipation, but there was not a Grey Honeyeater to be seen, just Brown Honeyeaters and Grey-Headed Honeyeaters. After half an hour of fruitless searching, I journeyed the 70 kilometres back to the Tom Price Caravan Park. That night my birding friends, John Delaporte, Nigel Sutherland and Alan Watson joined me. The next day we set off on the 70 kilometre return journey with John s new co-ordinates in our GPS s. We trudged around the site John led us to, nothing. They were everywhere last time I came he observed. Let s cross the road, we saw one there last time. We crossed the road. Nothing. We moved to the rest stop on the way into the Hamersley Gorge (more spinifex needles poking into my inadequate sneakers). We looked for the Striated Grasswren and Spinifexbird. Nothing a great female Hooded Robin, but no rare birds. On the way home, we revisited the Grey Honeyeater site. And what happened next is one of the reasons why I love birding. There was no Grey Honeyeater, but we got the most amazing sighting and photos of an Australian Owlet- Nightjar when it unexpectedly popped out of a hollow. As we drove back to Tom Price I experienced the sweet and sour feelings that over the years I had become familiar with. To make matters worse, when Alan edited his photos that night, it transpired that one of the photos he took at the co-ordinate site was of a Grey Honeyeater. It had been there and I had missed it! The following day we bumped our way around Karijini. The gloom was descending. The good sightings of quality birds were swamped by the absence of the Grey Honeyeater. Even the ubiquitous Spinifex Pigeon couldn t change my mood. I d travelled 1700 kilometres and was mentally examining my travel plans for the next twelve months. I tried to talk the group into staying out till dark, but failed. Rare, little known, nomadic rang in my ears. I knew I wouldn t sleep well that night. Next day we stuck with our routine and followed the trails around the caravan park. As usual John was the first to spot it. There s the Grey Honeyeater. He exclaimed. I saw where he was looking. It was a silhouette in the sun. Miraculously, the bird flew across the path and the sun was behind me. I lined it up and focused my little zoom Nikon and pressed the button. I looked into the view finder and waited for the five photos to load. The bird was nowhere to be seen. I looked back and the bird was gone. It had fluttered back to the silhouette position. Thank goodness it eventually flew back across the path. I raised the camera, focussed and pressed the button. After an agonising five seconds, the images in the view finder came up. The bird was there. I raised the camera, focused and took another set of shots just to make sure. I d photographed the legend. It was time to look for a new legend! John McMullan 15

16 Striated Heron, Carnarvon Photo Michael Sayers Carnarvon Here are photos I took on our recent trip to Carnarvon. The Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike was on a typical nest on a rightangled fork at the Carnarvon Space and Technology Museum on 20 September and the Striated Heron was seen at Oyster Creek, Carnarvon. Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike, Carnarvon Photo Michael Sayers (Taken with zoom) I also include a photo taken by Therese Sayers of the two Royal Spoonbills we saw at the Water Treatment Plant in Carnarvon. Michael Sayers Royal Spoonbills, Carnarvon Photo Therese Sayers Striated Heron, Carnarvon Photo Michael Sayers Bush Stone-curlews, Brookton Photo Terry Scott Zebra Finches, Hamelin Station Photo Alfred Lau Right Red-backed Kingfisher, Carnarvon Photo Alfred Lau 16

17 Wedge-tailed Eagle with kill (a goat kid) Orange Chat WARROORA AND WOORAMEL Terry Scott recently spent time at Warroora Station and Wooramel Station and a selection of his photographs are featured on this page. Red-backed Kingfisher Black-tailed Native-hen Barn Owl White-winged Fairy-wren pair Right White-winged Fairy-wren 17