CAPE TO CAPE BIRD GROUP

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1 CPE TO CPE BIRD GROUP Bird-watching on the bank near Rotary Park, Busselton Photo Christine Wilder CONTENTS Page Program. 2 Excursion Reports/Birdlife National Bird Week. 2-6 rticles Birding Beyond the Capes Unusual or interesting sightings Yearly Bird List Thank you for your participation in excursions, meetings and campouts and for contributions to our newsletter this past year. Our paperless readership now goes to more than 125 members and supporters of the Cape to Cape Bird Group and BIRDLIFE ustralia, from Capel, Dunsborough, Busselton, Margaret River, ugusta and all locations between. Have a safe and happy holiday season. See you out birding in 2015!

2 PROGRM 2015 Saturday 17 January Half-day excursion: Wetlands Busselton Meet at 8.00 am at the car park (closest to ocean) in Spinnaker Boulevard, Port Geographe. Water levels vary each summer so I ll be monitoring my favourite wetlands with the intention of visiting two of the best locations for a good variety of shorebirds/waterbirds. Bring morning tea. Leader: Christine Wilder 7-8 February Hooded Plover Surveys Shorebirds 2020 Surveys Monday 16 February Night Walk: Margaret River Meet at 7.00 pm for an excursion to private property at 95 Old Ellen Brook Road, turn off Caves Road almost directly opposite Carters Road. (Note this is not Ellen Brook Road which is a little further north). Look for a Birdlife sign at the gate which will be operated to let cars enter from 6.50 pm to 7.10 pm. The evening will consist of bird-watching, byo picnic dinner and spot-lighting for night birds and mammals. Bring along a torch. Leader: Boyd Wykes Sunday 15 March Half-day excursion: Jewel Cave and Cosy Corner Meet at 8.30 am at the car park at Jewel Cave off Caves Road. We shall bird-watch along the karri walk, have morning tea at the café and continue on to Cosy Corner, looking out for any Bridled Terns. Leader: Roger Crabtree Sunday 12 pril at sunset The Great Cocky Count Get information and register as a volunteer at: great-cocky-count Note: ll the excursions/campouts/meetings are for Birdlife ustralia members and the general public. 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). The leader will always be present at the meeting place and will decide whether or not to proceed. For details of any of the excursions or meetings, please contact: Christine Wilder cwilderone@yahoo.com.au or Boyd Wykes majyx@iinet.net.au. Glossy Ibis with nesting material, Busselton Photo Boyd Wykes EXCURSION REPORTS McCarley s Swamp 27 September Not surprisingly, given the weather forecast, Bernie Masters led a party of just me and my friend icky on a most excellent wade through McCarley s Swamp. With no rain and decked out in waders, we emerged warm and dry from the paperbark glades surrounding this beautiful winter-inundated lake. Just off Tuart Drive near the old Ludlow settlement, Francis and Tony Reeves are restoring much of their property to a wildlife refuge following a long history of utilisation for potato farming and grazing. Page 2

3 Despite these disturbances, Bernie has documented colonial nesting by thousands of waterbirds at this site since the 1970s. Not this year. ll was quiet as we approached and we knew the birds were elsewhere by the luxuriant foliage on the trees long before we observed the empty nests from previous years. Nevertheless, the birding was enjoyable with over twenty species recorded including displaying Musk Duck, Blue-billed Duck, ustralasian Shoveler and Swamp Harrier. When driving home around the asse- Wonnerup Estuaries, icky and I were delighted to find hundreds of ibis (Glossy, Straw-necked and ustralian White) and cormorants (Little Black and Little Pied) festooning the paperbarks with their nests in two small swamps next to Layman Road, near the marina in Busselton. re these the birds that previously nested at McCarley s Swamp? lthough many nests had quite mature nestlings, some Glossy Ibis in particular were still gathering nesting material. My thanks to Bernie Masters for arranging our visit and thanks also to Tony and Francis Reeves for hosting our visit to their special property. Boyd Wykes asse River Delta bird hide, Busselton and Malbup bird hide, Wonnerup 4 October The early morning weather looked threatening, with light rain falling on a core group of nine who began the walk from the Rotary Park car park in Busselton, heading for the asse River Delta bird hide. Skirting the asse River and wetlands and well before reaching the hide, bird numbers spotted mounted quickly a good indication for the day ahead. The asse River Delta hide provided excellent viewing of the wetlands with a variety of ducks seen including Blue-billed Duck, Hardhead, ustralasian Shoveler and Pinkeared Duck. Raptors were also well represented with Whistling Kite, Swamp Harrier, Nankeen Kestrel and ustralian Hobby observed. couple of odd identifications were briefly discussed a Yellow Crane (at a distant construction site) and a Screaming Blue Kite (a local Sky-diver!!) but not officially recorded. fter a pleasant morning tea back at the car park, and with the weather steadily improving, the group moved on to the Malbup bird hide at Wonnerup. Spotting highlights included a pair of Elegant Parrots attending a tree hollow, two Whitefaced Heron chicks and a pair of Nankeen Kestrels. The group enjoyed a great morning of birding, and with a total of 63 bird species recorded, it further highlights the value of the asse- Wonnerup wetland system in Busselton. Straw-necked Ibis feeding chick Photo Boyd Wykes Poor weather early in the day doesn t always mean a bird excursion won t be successful! Thanks to my co-leader Roger Cornes. Michael Sayers Page 3

4 iew from the Malbup bird hide Photo Christine Wilder Bird List Bird Hides asse River () Malbup (M) Musk Duck Black Swan (Pair + 1 cygnet) M ustralian Shelduck M ustralian Wood Duck M Pink-eared Duck ustralasian Shoveler Grey Teal M Domestic Duck Pacific Black Duck (+ 10 chicks-) M Hardhead Blue-billed Duck ustralasian Grebe Hoary-headed Grebe M Rock Dove Laughing Dove Common Bronzewing M Crested Pigeon M ustralasian Darter M Little Pied Cormorant M Little Black Cormorant ustralian Pelican M White-faced Heron (2 chicks) M Eastern Great Egret ustralian White Ibis M Straw-necked Ibis Yellow-billed Spoonbill White-bellied Sea-Eagle M Whistling Kite M Swamp Harrier Nankeen Kestrel (Pair) M ustralian Hobby Purple Swamphen Dusky Moorhen Eurasian Coot M Silver Gull Galah M Purple-crowned Lorikeet ustralian Ringneck (28) M Red-capped Parrot M Elegant Parrot (pair at hollow) M Shining Bronze-Cuckoo M Laughing Kookaburra M Sacred Kingfisher M Splendid Fairy-wren M White-browed Scrubwren Western Gerygone M Yellow-rumped Thornbill Striated Pardalote M Red Wattlebird M Brown Honeyeater New Holland Honeyeater Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike M Dusky Woodswallow Grey Butcherbird M ustralian Magpie M Grey Fantail Willie Wagtail M ustralian Raven M Magpie-lark M Little Grassbird Silvereye M Welcome Swallow M Tree Martin M Inside the asse River Delta bird hide Photo Christine Wilder Page 4

5 The ussie Backyard Bird Count (BBC) Bird Week Margaret River 25 October ustralians have been celebrating National Bird Week for more than 100 years. This year the goal of the ussie Backyard Bird Count (BBC) was for bird counters to spot a total of 100,000 birds, providing Birdlife ustralia with data to form a more detailed picture of the current state of ustralian birdlife. t the end of Bird Week 2014, people from every corner of ustralia had contributed over 20,000 records of more than 800,000 birds and it was one of the most successful Bird Weeks ever. On 25 October at am six of us conducted a 20 minute count in the Unallocated Crown Land (UCL) bounded by Railway Terrace and Samworth Street in Margaret River. Midday is not generally the best time for birdwatching but an excellent total of twelve species was recorded and later entered on the BBC website. fter the count we took a short trip round the corner to the home of Boyd Wykes and Karen Majer for a lunchtime barbecue. Thanks to the bird counters and to Karen and Boyd for contributing to a most enjoyable day. BBC results: 25 October Baudin s Black-Cockatoo 1 ustralian Ringneck (28) 1 Elegant Parrot 1 Laughing Kookaburra 1 Red-winged Fairy-wren 3 Western Gerygone 1 Striated Pardalote 1 Red Wattlebird 3 Grey Shrike-thrush 1 Grey Fantail 1 ustralian Raven 2 Silvereye 2 Christine Wilder Entering results of the count on the website Photo Therese Sayers Ten Mile Brook Dam 23 November To end our year, eight members of the Cape to Cape Bird Group met up with the Busselton Naturalists Club at the Ten Mile Brook Dam. Led by Bernie and Carolina Masters, the Nats hiked over 7km from Rotary Park at the bottom of town, up the Margaret River to the well-appointed picnic area. They made good time to join us for lunch and a walk around the vicinity. Our decision not to participate in the hike was confirmed as we might not have arrived until dinner time, strolling as we do when watching birds. The highlight bird record was an adult male Golden Whistler drinking and bathing at the brook edge in full view. fter lunch we led the Naturalists bus to Witchcliffe for a walk in the mosaic of bush blocks on the edge of town that we hope the Shire will soon amalgamate and manage as a reserve for the rapidly expanding Witchcliffe illage. Boyd Wykes Page 5

6 STUDENTS FOCUS ON ENIRONMENT Jess delivering the message on black cockatoos Photo Christine Wilder Bird List Ten Mile Brook Dam Musk Duck Pacific Black Duck Little Pied Cormorant Little Black Cormorant Western Rosella ustralian Ringneck (28) Shining Bronze-Cuckoo Laughing Kookaburra Splendid Fairy-wren White-browed Scrubwren Western Gerygone Inland Thornbill Spotted Pardalote Striated Pardalote New Holland Honeyeater White-naped Honeyeater Golden Whistler Grey Shrike-thrush Grey Fantail ustralian Raven Western Yellow Robin White-breasted Robin Silvereye Welcome Swallow Tree Martin On 2 December students from a number of schools in Margaret River and Cowaramup celebrated final term and their involvement in the Cape to Cape Catchment Group s Our Patch Environmental Education Program in the grounds of the historic Ellensbrook Homestead, where Tracey Muir (Education Officer for the Catchment Group) organised student sessions on a number of topics including black cockatoos. Birdlife Western ustralia s Threatened Black Cockatoo Project Officer Dr. Jessica Lee and Great Cocky Count Project Officer Matt Byrne travelled down from Perth to present six cockatoo sessions to enthusiastic students. Congratulations to the Catchment Group for organising a really enjoyable day. Early the next morning Jess, Matt and I were lucky enough to record all three species of black cockatoo near my home in Margaret River. Christine Wilder Bird List Witchcliffe town bush Red-winged Fairy-wren Western Gerygone Grey Fantail ustralian Raven Western Yellow Robin Matt encouraging local participation in the Great Cocky Count Photo Christine Wilder Page 6

7 For the past few weeks about twenty black cockatoos have been seen regularly coming to feed at the end of my road in ugusta. I have noticed that for the last three years the cockatoos come at about this time of year. Jenny Kikeros Cockatoo at Deere Street Photo Jenny Kikeros BLCK COCKTOOS WIDESPRED On 20 October I took a walk at Yallingup where I saw a number of cockatoos in a paddock feeding on the grass. I could not get close enough to identify them as Baudin s or Carnaby s but I am guessing at least forty birds were present. Jenny Kikeros In November I came across a pair of Baudin s Black-Cockatoos that had secured a hollow and were seen mating. couple of days later I saw a bird going in and out of the hollow. Then I think it was the male perched next to the hollow rubbing his neck all around it. I wondered if he was claiming his territory. Hank Durlik On 28 November I saw at least seventy cockatoos feeding in freshly cut pasture in Forest Grove. t first I identified several Baudin s Black-Cockatoos, but just as the flock started to fly off over the trees I spotted what looked like a Carnaby s Black-Cockatoo. It is often a challenge to identify these cockatoos! Four Red-tailed Black-Cockatoos were also present in nearby trees. Christine Wilder Early in December I spotted a large group of about sixty black cockatoos feeding at ground level on the edge of the bush west of Margaret River. I walked quietly and slowly, virtually amongst them, and to my surprise all had short bills of Carnaby s Black-Cockatoos. Terry Scott Note No detailed information on breeding locations or remote sites are reported. Spot the difference! Birdlife W s Cockatoo Models for display purposes Photos Christine Wilder Page 7

8 Blue-billed Duck family Photo Barbara Bremner SPOTTING THE PRDLOTE Young Black-shouldered Kite Photo Barbara Bremner THE SSE RIER DELT BIRD HIDE I thought I would let you know about interesting sightings at the asse River Delta bird hide at Pioneer Cove. On 23 October I saw a Black-shouldered Kite surveying the area for dinner and shortly after the kite flew away there was screeching by the side of the river and all the ducks (dozens of them) congregated around the area, but the second the screeching stopped they shot back to the other side of the waterway. I ve also watched with amusement the male Blue-billed Ducks performing their mating ritual. Following this, a few weeks later, I ve observed mum and dad taking the tiny balls of black fluff swimming. I have finally solved the mystery of the small red-rumped bird that has caught me by surprise, flying up out of the grass in my vegie patch. In the past I have only seen its red rump and brown back from about ten metres away, but today (6 December) by chance, I saw it going into the grass. It is a Spotted Pardalote and the reason it is flying in and out almost under foot is that it has a nest in the side of a sand hole next to my tap. If you look carefully you can just make out the hole at the base of the wall. I just caught the pardalote flying out of the hole in the attached photo a bit blurry unfortunately. It seems to be coming back every ten minutes with a beak full of lerps. Peter St. Clair-Baker The Whistling Kite is always around and I ve been lucky enough to get some good photographs. On one occasion I witnessed an attack by a Magpie-lark and saw the kite flying upside down showing his talons in selfdefence. This all happened very fast. Barbara Bremner Right Spotted Pardalote right of photo flying out of tunnel hidden in shadows in grass Photo Peter St. Clair-Baker Page 8

9 20 minute count in burnt site: Baudin s Black-Cockatoo 1 ustralian Ringneck (28) 1 Western Gerygone 2 Inland Thornbill 1 Red Wattlebird 2 Brown Honeyeater 2 Golden Whistler 1 ustralian Magpie 2 Silvereye 2 Whistling Kite Photo Barbara Bremner THINGS HOT UP IN UCL I have recorded the birds in Unallocated Crown Land (UCL) in Margaret River for around 17 years. hazard reduction burn was carried out in part of the UCL in late October. t 6.00 am on 29 October, the morning after the cool burn, I conducted a 20 minute count in a section of the burnt area to see if any birds were present. The understorey was still smouldering but the canopy was relatively untouched by the fire and some bird species were feeding in it. number of small moths were seen amongst the blackened logs. On 14 November I watched 25 Baudin s Black- Cockatoos searching the burnt ground for marri fruit. There were green, brown and burnt marri fruit on the forest floor. The cockatoos were picking up green and brown marri fruit which I presume dropped (naturally or by parrots/cockatoos) from the upper unaffected canopy after the fire was out. While I was watching the cockatoos, other species were recorded: ustralian Ringneck (28) 1 Laughing Kookaburra 1 Western Gerygone 2 Striated Pardalote 1 Brown Honeyeater 2 Western Yellow Robin 2 Christine Wilder Welcome Swallow, Deere Street ugusta Photo Roger Crabtree Left Baudin s Black-Cockatoo (male) with fruit Photo Christine Wilder Page 9

10 HOODED PLOER UPDTE There have been a number of recent sightings of Hooded Plovers at Deepdene, Hillview, Cape Clairault, Skippy Rock and Gnoocardup reported by Jenny Kikeros. Two other sightings of Hooded Plovers were reported by Boyd Wykes when out with visitors at local beaches. On 10 October one pair recorded at Hamelin Bay and on 11 October another pair at the beach north of Contos spring. The nnual Hooded Plover Surveys will be conducted on the weekend of 7-8 February ny sightings of Hooded Plovers within the capes (or elsewhere) are valuable at any time during the year. If you do see birds on any beach and/or evidence of breeding within the capes or you wish to volunteer for surveys, please Marcus Singor on: msingor@iprimus.com.au Birding at Ten Mile Brook Dam Photo Christine Wilder BIRDING BEYOND THE CPES I led a Birdlife campout to Cervantes early in November, visiting Lesueur National Park, Smoke Bush Reserve, Lake Thetis, Kangaroo Point and several small wetlands west of Jurien. total of 83 bird species was seen over the weekend. One of the special birds to see in the area is the Rufous Fieldwren. During two reccies beforehand I recorded fieldwrens in Cervantes, Lesueur, Badgingarra and Coomallo and early in spring friends Joy and Don Williams recorded birds breeding at Badgingarra. When making our way to the campout Jane Scott and I heard a fieldwren at our lunch stop along Bibby Road. On the actual campout weekend fieldwrens were located in Lesueur and Cervantes. Hooded Plovers in formation at Boodjidup Beach in May Photo Boyd Wykes ll fieldwrens heard or seen were close to tracks, one even calling next to a toilet block, meaning disturbance by birdwatchers having to walk into the heath to find them was unnecessary. Cervantes is a great base for bird-watching in Nambung, Lesueur and Badgingarra National Parks. Christine Wilder Page 10

11 UNUSUL OR INTERESTING SIGHTINGS I appreciate receiving unusual or interesting sightings, articles and photographs (including panorama scenes) from the capes region. Birding highlights from visits to places outside the capes for Birding beyond the capes are always welcome. ll contributions will be acknowledged. Rufous Fieldwren at Cervantes Photo John McMullan WHEN THE CROWDS WERE GONE Christine recommended I come back at a quiet time to see the Rufous Fieldwren, so I came back. Rufous Fieldwren the wind had died down the crowds were gone the sun set slowly over the sea two rare rufous fieldwrens danced down the boardwalk toward me and flitting from tree to tree posed and whistled and chortled and as I was about to go, I d got my photos nother birder arrived to share my joy John McMullan Please to me at: cwilderone@yahoo.com.au In the last issue I reported that Peter St. Clair- Baker recorded a Shining Bronze-Cuckoo in West Margaret River. I apologise as the number should have read around forty Shining Bronze-Cuckoos and according to Peter, listening to that many cuckoos calling was definitely a one off experience. Early in October, Dick Shore mentioned that a Spur-winged Plover had once again been seen in Busselton. The black feathers on the crown continued down the back and sides of the neck on the bird. On 8 December Terry Scott reported that a friend had seen a completely black butcherbird south east of Margaret River town. Terry subsequently saw the bird but as yet has been unable to photograph it. n Eastern Reef Egret has been seen around Point Picquet. I read recently in the MR Mail (page 4 of 20 ugust edition) and the ugu(sta Margaret River Times (page 6 of 31 October edition) that a House Sparrow was seen in a Gnarabup resident s garden, reported to the Department of Food and griculture s Pest and Disease Information Service, Busselton and subsequently captured. The House Sparrow is a declared pest in Western ustralia. This bird quite possibly arrived from overseas on a cargo ship passing close to our coast. Rufous Fieldwren at Cervantes Photo John McMullan Page 11

12 Here are the latest reported sightings: White-necked Heron 1 at Wickham Road, Margaret River, 23/10/14 Christine Wilder Common Sandpiper 1 at Smiths Beach, 17/8/14 Roger Cornes Purple-crowned Lorikeet Small flock in West Margaret River, 1/12/14 and 8/12/14 Christine Wilder Southern Boobook 2 on 26/10/14 and 1 on 15/11/14 at West Margaret River Christine Wilder 1 road-killed at Scott Road, Karridale, 6/12/14 Terry and Marg Scott Rainbow Bee-eater Several at Reinscourt, 8/10/14 Julie Howes; 5 at Hereford Place, Margaret River, 24/10/14 Christine Wilder; Up to ten birds with active burrows at Forest Grove, early December Hank Durlik; Six or more birds near Karridale, 10/12/14 Hank Durlik Black-faced Woodswallow at East ugusta Photo Roger Crabtree Pied Cormorant, Hardy Inlet Photo Roger Crabtree agrant species can fly from passing ships (photo taken from Ellensbrook Homestead car park) Photo Christine Wilder References for Yearly Bird List (see Page 13) =bba River/Capel Wetland B=Blackwood (Surveys-Hardy Inlet) C=Carbanup D=Dunsborough Lakes E=Elmore Lagoon H=Heath ugusta K=Karri ugusta M=Malbup Bird Hide N=North Westbay R=Rapids Conservation Park (Canebrake) S=Samworth St (BBC) T=Ten Mile Brook Dam =asse Bird Hide W=Wilyabrup Cliffs X=Witchcliffe town bush Page 12

13 Cape to Cape Bird Group Yearly Bird List January to December species Emu Caspian Tern EN Musk Duck DNT Crested Tern E Freckled Duck Pacific Gull BW Black Swan DMN Silver Gull BDEN ustralian Shelduck CDMN Baudin s Black-Cockatoo KRS ustralian Wood Duck BDMR White-tailed Black-Cockatoo B Pink-eared Duck Galah BDM ustralasian Shoveler Little Corella D Grey Teal DEM Purple-crowned Lorikeet Domestic Duck Western Rosella CHNTW Pacific Black Duck BDEMNRT ustralian Ringneck BCDMNRSTW Hardhead D Red-capped Parrot CMNR Blue-billed Duck Elegant Parrot MNS ustralasian Grebe D Shining Bronze-Cuckoo BMRT Hoary-headed Grebe BDMN Fan-tailed Cuckoo KR Rock Dove Southern Boobook R Laughing Dove Laughing Kookaburra MRST Common Bronzewing CDM Sacred Kingfisher M Brush Bronzewing W Rainbow Bee-eater Crested Pigeon M Rufous Treecreeper R ustralian Owlet-nightjar R Splendid Fairy-wren CDHMRT ustralasian Gannet W Red-winged Fairy-wren KRSX ustralasian Darter BDMR White-browed Scrubwren CHKRTW Little Pied Cormorant BDEMNT Western Gerygone CDMRSTX Little Black Cormorant BDT Yellow-rumped Thornbill D Pied Cormorant BN Western Thornbill CR ustralian Pelican BDMN Inland Thornbill CHKRT Eastern Great Egret CD Spotted Pardalote KT White-necked Heron N Striated Pardalote CDMRST White-faced Heron DMN Western Spinebill CKNR ustralian White Ibis DMN Red Wattlebird BCDKMNRS Straw-necked Ibis DN White-fronted Chat D Yellow-billed Spoonbill DN Brown Honeyeater BCR Eastern Osprey N New Holland Honeyeater BCDHNRTW White-bellied Sea-Eagle MN White-naped Honeyeater CKT Whistling Kite DM aried Sittella C Collared Sparrowhawk N Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike MN Swamp Harrier Golden Whistler CHKRT Wedge-tailed Eagle C Rufous Whistler C Little Eagle N ustralian Magpie CDHMNW Nankeen Kestrel M Grey Fantail BCDEHKNRSTX ustralian Hobby Willie Wagtail BDM Peregrine Falcon HR ustralian Raven BCDMNRSTWX Purple Swamphen D Magpielark CDMN Black-tailed Native-hen Scarlet Robin CR Dusky Moorhen D Western Yellow Robin CTX Eurasian Coot DMN White-breasted Robin CHRT ustralian Pied Oystercatcher B Grey Shrike-thrush CKST Black-winged Stilt E Dusky Woodswallow N Banded Stilt Grey Butcherbird BCMN Red-necked vocet Little Grassbird Red-capped Plover E Silvereye BCEHKMRSTW Black-fronted Dotterel D Welcome Swallow BDHMT Red-kneed Dotterel Tree Martin CDMRT Common Sandpiper B Red-eared Firetail C Common Greenshank (Compiled by C Wilder December 2014) Page 13