Western Australian Birds

In May 2012 I returned to holiday with friends in Denham, Shark Bay, Western Australia. Starting in Perth I drove north to Cervantes, then to Denham, where I planned to view the Transit of Venus on the 6th June. Unfortunately the weather intervened dramatically and I missed what I wanted to do, but I nevertheless enjoyed the company, some sunshine, rain and a brilliant boating trip to Faure Island, off Monkey Mia. I returned via Geraldton, on to Perth and then home. With patience, a great selection of birds were to be found.

The Willy Wagtail was a delightful creature and remarkably tame, showing no fear of humans. It chased after me as I walked, patrolled around my feet when I knelt down and listened intently as I spoke words of encouragement to it right at my feet! Clearly it knew I would flush some juicy food items from the grass (see the picture below for evidence).

Thick-billed Grasswren

Australian Ringneck (semitorquatus)

Banded Lapwing, Cervantes

Chiming Wedgebill

A thirsty Crested Pigeon

Emus at waterhole

Galah (roseicapilla)

A tree of Galahs (and others)

Long-billed Black Cockatoo

Nankeen Kestrel

Osprey on watch at Cervantes

Osprey in Lake Thetis, Cervantes

Red-capped Plover, Faure Island

Splendid Fairy Wren (f)

Splendid Fairy Wren (m) in moult

Splendid Fairy Wren (m) in non-breeding plumage

Varied Sittella

Wedge-tailed Eagle

"Western" Magpie (f) (dorsalis)

White-browed Babblers preening

White-faced Heron (with fish dinner)

Willy Wagtail (with a juicy grasshopper)

Yellow White-eye, Monkey Mia

Zebra Finch at waterhole

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