The Capes in June – Winter Playground for Seabirds

A Regional Group of BirdLife WA since 2005 Cape Naturaliste to Cape Leeuwin Issue 54 June 2019

Immature Black-browed Albatross, near St. Alouarn Island – Photographer Ian Wiese

The capes in June – Winter playground for seabirds

CONTENTS Page Program 2 Wherever you go there are birds to watch Hoodie Happenings 3 Cockatoo Capers 3 Leeuwin Marine Charters Ocean Charter Excursion Report 4-8 The St. Alouarn Islands Ocean Trip (pages 4-8) Osprey Watch 8 Two Oceans Watch 9-10 Osprey Watch Cape to Cape BirdBlitz 2019 11 Cape to Cape Chatter 12-15 Two Oceans Watch Sightings 16 Birding beyond the Capes 17 Wilson’s Storm-Petrels attracted to whale in Flinders Bay Photographs in this publication are the property of individual photographers or BirdLife Australia. Permission is necessary to reproduce any photographs.

Cape to Cape Bird Group Interested in watching birds around the PROGRAM St. Alouarn Island group off Cape Leeuwin? Register your interest for future trips aboard LEEUWIN MARINE CHARTERS Next trip planned for August (Ensure you are on the list as we wait for a weather window) [email protected]

No excursions planned for July

August walk planned : Half-day excursion – Monti Road, Augusta Date to be advised in July newsletter. We will walk from Monti Road, south down Caves Margaret River-mouth after storms early in June – Photo Christine Wilder Road, into Calkarri firebreak, follow the firebreak back to the top of Monti Road. After morning tea we will ● Cape to Cape BirdBlitz - 2019 ● check out the Hardy Inlet at Colourpatch. The fourth BirdBlitz walk from Injidup south along the Cape to Leader: Roger Crabtree Cape Track was a success with thanks to Rob and Sylvia Mutch. Planned – A BirdLife Birdata Workshop in Margaret River. 2020 BirdBlitz – Hardy Inlet, Augusta Spit and Flinders Bay. Past Issues Visit ‘birdlife western australia publications’ Go to ‘Regional Group Newsletters’ - ‘Capes’ Sunday 4 August Website – http://birdlife.org.au/locations/ The fifth BirdBlitz walk - South of Margaret Rivermouth birdlife-western-australia/publications-wa Meet at 9.00am at the Margaret Rivermouth car park

Leader: Christine Wilder Bring morning tea and chair

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). Convenor – Christine Wilder [email protected] Acting Deputy – Jennifer Hunt

A big thank you to the Office Products crew Tammi, Jarrod and Mick for their generous donations and friendly service ▪ Office Products Depot ▪ MROPD Love your Work Smiler Gale Commercial Centre Auger Way, Margaret River For all your office needs – Free delivery Advertisement – Tammi and Christine – Photo Jarrod Masotto

Misty Margaret River on 22 June – Photo Christine Wilder 2 Hoodie Happenings and other shorebirds

Red-tailed Black-Cockatoo – Photo Hank Durlik

Red-capped Plovers in Busselton – Photo Gillian Richmond

I walked out to Bob’s Hollow on the fine day after the storms (mid-June) but there were no Hooded Plovers (flagged or otherwise), lots of food on the beach of course. During June the cockatoos have been capering around our place in west Margaret River, feeding on the marri nuts. There has been a I did see on the BirdLife portal someone had spotted a few small group of about nine Red-tailed Black-Cockatoos feeding here hoodies on Redgate Beach a few days earlier, so it’s for weeks and White-tailed Black-Cockatoos visiting as well. Today intriguing me if the two flagged hoodies are sheltering (21 June) there was a flock of about eight or nine Baudin’s Black- Cockatoos. I got pictures of the two different feeding techniques locally or will take off inland. with the red-tails chewing out the base and the baudin’s neatly Greg Woodward extracting the seeds from the top. Love it.

Peter St. Clair-Baker

If you see Hooded Plovers on any beach in the south west Since Christmas, a number of Red-tailed Black-Cockatoos, at times please check for leg bands – with young birds, have been seen regularly in our garden in One bird has a yellow BA flag, one with a blue BA flag Ashton Street, west Margaret River. This is the first year I have If you notice these two birds please report sightings to - seen the red-tails almost daily for this long, since living here in BirdLife WA at [email protected] or (08) 9383 7749 Margaret River from 1980 on. Jeremy Merchant

On 20 June I counted 14 Red-capped Plovers situated A huge noisy mob of these guys (Baudin’s below) are still doing between Guerin Street and Morgan Street on the East the rounds in Kevill Road East! Busselton Foreshore – a dog lead free beach. I haven’t seen Claire Timmons the Australian Pied Oystercatchers for several days now and likely they have moved on.

There is a pair of small birds that I see amongst the dried sea rocket further inland on the beach looking like a sandpiper or stint.

On 21 June the Australian Pied Oystercatchers were on the beach and at least thirty or more plovers – some Red- capped and what looked like Hooded Plovers too. I will try and get photos to confirm. Roslyn Hanlon ______

Baudin’s Black-Cockatoos – Photo Claire Timmons

______3 Excursion Report – 16 June LEEUWIN MARINE CHARTERS around the St. Alouarn Island Group

Heading towards Antarctica – Photo Terry Scott

Before we hit the open ocean we made our way to rocks favoured by New Zealand Fur Seals (at least thirty). Surprisingly a small flock of Ruddy Turnstones flew out several times from one of the lower rocks. The question – why aren’t they in the northern hemisphere Group on board ‘Diversion’ – Photo Blake Muller right now? Perhaps they are overwintering.

WOW! WOW! WOW! Out in the fray the waves were BIG, exhilarating and sometimes a Bird group investigates around the St. Alouarn Island Group little rough, so we made our way back to St. Alouarn Island, with an immature Black-browed Albatross performing round the boat

The beauty of the Leeuwin Marine Charters vessel is its exclusivity on the return. Back at the island, the sea-eagle remained perched, for a birding group of twelve. The flat-decked “Diversion” is well but then took off especially for the photographers in the group. suited to specialised groups and local/owner David Muller is a On towards a narrow section of the long flat Seal Island and highly experienced skipper (a member of Augusta Volunteer another close encounter when the sea-eagle landed on a rock in Marine Rescue). front of us. It looked to be feeding on something? Around ten Pied

Weather is a major factor when organising these trips and after a Cormorants were roosting nearby. week of storms, rain and eight metre swells, the 3.5 metre swell As a finale, Dean threw out the last of the fish from the esky, and seemed like a breeze. Out in open water, past the islands, the we felt we could reach out and touch the many gannets by now waves were massive and spectacular – at times seeming to be circling the boat, magnificent birds when close, and the Pacific higher than the boat - but this boat can handle it easily. Pelagic Gulls really put on a show too, another impressive bird in flight. trips are always a treat and this, our first trip out to the islands, didn’t disappoint. Because of the ocean conditions, it was unwise to return via the

usual circuit through the lighthouse passage, but we will definitely As we made our way out of the Augusta Boat Harbour we be doing more of these trips, and in calmer weather conditions encountered dolphins and several whales close in shore, then a will check out the other rocky islets of the St. Alouarn Island Wilson’s Storm-Petrel appeared and danced behind the boat like a Group. little ballerina? As expected, the more common Crested Terns,

Silver Gulls and Pacific Gulls flew close by to check us out. My thanks to Dave Muller, Blake Muller and Dean McFaull for

their assistance in putting this first charter together. Our first stop was in the lea of St. Alouarn Island where a White- bellied Sea-Eagle was tucked out of the wind, amongst the Christine Wilder vegetation, about halfway to the top. A pair of Sooty Oystercatchers landed on rocks close to the shoreline.

In the shelter of St. Alouarn Island – Photo Christine Wilder

White-bellied Sea-Eagle on St. Alouarn Island – Photo Ian Wiese

Looking for fur seals – Photo Christine Wilder

The Leeuwin Light – Photo Hank Durlik Bird List – St. Alouarn Island Group – 16 June Sooty Oystercatcher 3 Ruddy Turnstone 10 Silver Gull numerous Pacific Gull 12 Crested Tern 6 Wilson’s Storm-Petrel 1 Black-browed Albatross 1 (immature) Australasian Gannet 25 Pied Cormorant 10 White-bellied Sea-Eagle 1

Looking for birds – Photo Terry Scott

White-bellied Sea-Eagle on Seal Island – Photos Hank Durlik

Above-St. Alouarn Island, Below-Seal Island – Photos Christine Wilder

Australasian Gannet – Photo Terry Scott

▪ It was a great trip – l look forward to the next one Immature Black-browed Albatross Photo David Novy (FujiFilm X-Pro2) – Dean McFaull ▪ Thank you so much for organising the boat trip. It was WOW!!! Lots of fun and I saw birds I hadn’t seen before. David is an excellent skipper – Jennifer Smith ▪ Great day out … Thanks again for your invitation – I really enjoyed it – Terry Scott ▪ It was a good day – David Novy ▪ Nothing too exciting from me in the way of photos … it was a fantastic day none the less and thank you for organising it. You can see why the lighthouse is every fisher’s friend – Hank Durlik

Immature Black-browed Albatross – Photo Ian Wiese

Overwintering Ruddy Turnstones – Photo Ian Wiese

Sea-eagle and oystercatcher on Seal Island – Photo Ian Wiese

Immature Black-browed Albatross – Photo Hank Durlik Left – “Diversion” – Photo 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.

Photos clockwise from bottom left – Sea-eagle and Silver Gull, Sea-eagle landing, Sea-eagle and lighthouse, Turnstones and fur seals, Australasian Gannets and Crested Tern – Photos Dean McFaull

Pacific Gull, Seal Rocks – Photo Robert Pickard

7 Osprey Watch

Seabirders at work – Photo Christine Wilder

Eastern Osprey nest on Molloy tower – Photo Christine Wilder

Meelup - One osprey at or near nest at Meelup Picnic area, (seems to be there about one day in three – could be different birds each time, i.e. one of the pair) and around for the month of June. Ian Wiese Gnarabup - Single osprey at Gnarabup on 1 July (see photo). Keith Mann Molloy Island - Zero birds at the Molloy Microwave Tower when checked on 28 June. Dave Muller

Immature Black-browed Albatross, St Alouarn Island Photo Robert Pickard

Eastern Osprey, Gnarabup – Photo Keith Mann

Pacific Gull, off Augusta Boat Harbour – Photo Robert Pickard

Eastern Osprey – Photo Christine Wilder Leeuwin Lighthouse – Photo Christine Wilder 8

Two Oceans Watch 1

Giant-Petrel sp. (juvenile) – Photo Ian Wiese

I saw this Giant-Petrel, flying close to shore, at Sandpatches

Skua (or jaeger) – Photo Ian Wiese (Sugarloaf Rock) on 13 June. Michael Morcombe’s Field Guide says “Southern Giant-Petrel – Juvenile dark morph is entirely dark During the storm on 6 and 7 June, I went to Pt. Picquet, blackish-brown and takes up to eight years to reach adult with the wind blowing 40 knots from the north at the time, plumage.” It also says “Adult dark morph – Grubby brown with mottled white underparts.” Morecombe also says the juvenile and photographed an adult Black-browed Albatross and a light morph is similar to the adult. The Australian Bird Guide skua. These were both at least one kilometre out heading (Menkhorst et al) shows juveniles as dark without showing north. juvenile light morph. The Australian Bird Guide mentions ‘fresh’ and Google used it as ‘fresh out of the nest’. David Mills’ (from UK) comment on the skua is interesting: Ian Wiese “The skua (or jaeger) is either an immature Arctic or Pomarine Skua, though both should now be up with us – in Nearly all Giant-petrels occurring in Australian waters are juvenile Scotland or further north in the Arctic – where they spend (first year) or immature birds, these being more wide-ranging than the summer months here, from April until October”. the adult birds which remain a little closer to their Antarctic/sub- Antarctic breeding grounds in the winter months. I didn’t think the wind was strong enough to blow the skua all the way down here! All Northern Giant-Petrel (NGP) juveniles are dark brown, as are most juvenile Southern Giant-Petrels (SGP). They are very difficult Ian Wiese to tell apart, even at close range from a boat. The only way they

can be separated is by bill colour. The NGP has a pink tip to the bill, which is otherwise a horn/green colour; this makes the bill look two-tone and dark-tipped. The tip of the SGP's bill is green, closer in colour (though greener) than the rest of the bill, so the bill looks uniform in colour. However the strength of the colouration is variable, making images like this tricky.

Your bird looks more like a Southern Giant-Petrel, but these are rarer in south-west WA, so I'd be hesitant to say categorically that it's an SGP. Most birders, including me, are happier recording such sightings as 'Giant-petrel sp.'.

Interestingly on 3 July a Southern/Northern Giant-Petrel was seen off the Durham and Northumberland coasts – the first ever record in Britain – and a long way north of WA!! David Mills Giant-Petrel – Photo Ian Wiese References: Menkhorst, P., Rogers D., Clarke R., Davies G., Marsack P., and Franklin K. (2017). ‘The Australian Bird Guide’. (CSIRO Publishing, Clayton South, Victoria). Morcombe, M. (2000, reprinted 2002). Field Guide to Australian Birds. (Steve Parish Publishing).

2 July, Cape Naturaliste: The pale bill, very white underwing and grey around the nape and hood are the features that you can see on this image on the left, that make it a Shy Albatross. David Mills

Shy Albatross, Cape Naturaliste, 2/7/19 – Photo Ian Wiese 9 Two Oceans Watch 2

Soft-plumaged Petrel, Pt. Picquet – Photo Ian Wiese

I went to Pt Picquet on 26 June – forecast was 100km/hr gusts! There were shearwaters – probably too far out to ID, albatrosses – mostly Indian Yellow-nosed, and one or more Giant-Petrels. Also one I couldn’t identify and I have lots of photos of the bird as I was

Albatrosses and shearwaters off Augusta, 5/4/19 – Photo Dave Muller puzzled. Ian Wiese

I am not an expert (David Mills repeatedly corrects my Fantastic! The first images are of a Soft-plumaged Petrel - a first guesses!), but it looks to me that these are Black-browed for you! They are likely to be seen in mid-winter during decent on- Albatrosses (above). The ones with the black tip to the beak shore winds, but being fairly small, quick-flying 'gadfly' petrels they can easily be missed by most observers. The second and third are juveniles, and the ones with the yellow orange beaks images show best the identifying features - dark mask, white chin are older. and forehead, grey breast band, white underparts, darkish

underwing (and upperwing, etc). Being a spring/summer visitor to There seem to be a couple with grey coloured beaks but I WA myself, I have only ever seen one in WA - off Canal Rocks in am not sure if this is just the effect of them looking straight September 2017. at the camera (Menkhorst et al, pages 46-47). The albatrosses are all Indian Yellow-nosed Albatrosses, while the Most of the cues for ID of the shearwaters are missing all dark birds are Giant-Petrel species - too distant to specify when they are sitting in the water like that (feet, tail). Southern or Northern. However the Australian Bird Guide (page 62) says that the David Mills Flesh-footed Shearwater has a pale bill with a dark tip, whereas the Wedge-tailed Shearwater has a dark bill (can appear light in reflected light), so I am going for the Flesh- footed Shearwater. Ian Wiese

Reference: Menkhorst, P., Rogers D., Clarke R., Davies G., Marsack P., and Franklin K. (2017). ‘The Australian Bird Guide’. (CSIRO Publishing, Clayton South, Victoria).

Soft-plumaged Petrel at Pt. Picquet Photo Ian Wiese Indian Yellow-nosed Albatrosses, Pt. Picquet – Photos Ian Wiese

10 Cape to Cape Track BirdBlitz 2019

At the Injidup lookout

Wendy checking raven’s nest

BirdBlitz Walk – 30 June South from Injidup

The meeting point for our walk was the car park at the southern end of Cape Clairault Road. It was a small group of five and we agreed to head south along the Cape to Cape track through the vegetation and up onto the ridge overlooking the ocean where we would then turn north and come down the sand dunes and return along Injidup beach, Looking for gannets giving us a good cross section of habitat. BirdBlitz Count – South of Injidup – 30 June The weather looked like it might spoil the outing but as it Common Bronzewing 1 turned out we were very fortunate to only have one light Australian Pied Oystercatcher 2 shower come through late in our walk. Silver Gull 11 Pacific Gull 2 A superb view from the lookout started our viewing and Crested Tern 42 listing and once we started walking we were soon pointing Australasian Gannet (offshore) 2 out birds and trying to identify numerous sounds. Pied Cormorant 3 Splendid Fairy-wren 3

Many bush birds were seen in the vegetation and a range of Inland Thornbill 1 Spotted Scrubwren 3 ocean birds recorded. Red Wattlebird 1

Golden Whistler 2 The listing of seventeen species shows that our outing was Australian Magpie 6 a success and the area worth another visit. Australian Raven 4 White-breasted Robin 1 Rob and Sylvia Mutch Welcome Swallow 4 Silvereye numerous

Looking south

All photos this page – Christine Wilder

Injidup Beach from the top of the dune 11 Wilson’s Storm-Petrels in Flinders Bay 2

I was wondering if the Humpback Whale close inshore was removing parasites by slapping and if the Wilson Storm- Petrels were feeding on them. I have heard that being close to the fresher water in the river-mouth helps the whales remove parasites too, which don't flourish as well in the comparatively warmer waters compared to the Antarctic environment. Or maybe it was flicking off parasites or bits of skin. A second thought was that the slapping was stunning small fish and thus attracted the storm-petrels.

The position of the whale makes me think the former may be the case.

We wondered too if the whale was unwell. Leonie McFaull

Wilson’s Storm-Petrels in Flinders Bay 1

I took a video on 18 June, near the beach along Albany Terrace, just past Flinders Bay Caravan Park. A Humpback Whale was slapping its fluke on the water and then all these Wilson’s Storm-Petrel’s came in. There were gull’s at first and then ten or more storm-petrels about 150 metres offshore. Lovely! Dean McFaull

Purple-crowned Lorikeets, Kevill Road East, end of June Photos Claire Timmons Wilson’s Storm-Petrels attracted to whale in Flinders Bay

Photos Dean McFaull

Red-necked Avocets at sunset on Hardy Inlet Photo Dean McFaull Common Greenshanks landing near the avocets – Photo Dean McFaull

Resident and migratory waders Frigatebird at Contos

On my Blackwood River cruise home on 19 June, it was a On 13 June I was south of Contos bay on coastal rocks fairly high tide and right on sunset. There were no mud checking fishing spots when a black seabird flew low islands anywhere and I was wondering to myself where do directly overhead, travelling south into the wind. It had the waders go when there is nowhere to feed – I suppose longish unmistakable narrow wings unusually bent and a they sit on an island or shoreline somewhere. noticeable white belly. It hardly beat its wings, almost gliding and soaring. As it was flying away from me, I Suddenly a flock of 150 Red-necked Avocet flew in through couldn’t see its tail or bill. the sunset light and landed in shallow water and started to feed, preen and clean. About five minutes later another 50 After consulting my bird identification books I am joined the group, then off in the distance I heard the piping absolutely positive it was a Lesser Frigatebird that had three note call of the Common Greenshank. I haven’t seen obviously wandered away from its usual habitat further any for weeks so their familiar call was a welcome north. sound. They came and landed with the avocet and merged Terry Scott in amongst them. There were eight and a happy little group they made. On closer inspection of the avocets, I spotted three Banded Stilts camouflaging themselves also. It was a good night and I managed to get some video footage of them all. Dean McFaull

Banded Stilt – Photo Dean McFaull

Red-necked Avocets, Hardy Inlet – Photo Dean McFaull

Right – Cormorants and stilts at “the sticks”, Augusta Photo Dean McFaull

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.

Red-backed Kingfisher, 16 June – Photo Steve Castan Grey Butcherbird – Photo Terry Scott

Possible Barking Owl Red-backed Kingfisher again

Adrian and I spotted a juvenile Barking Owl on our morning When driving back from Augusta on 16 June, rounding the walk along firebreaks around the Carbunup Reserve on southern roundabout of the Margaret River perimeter road, 17 May (around 8am). I spied a kingfisher perched in the same place as the Red- backed Kingfisher I saw on 9 May. When I stopped to check It was in a marri tree adjacent to the vineyard. We knew – sure enough it was the same species. I wondered if it was something was stirring up all the smaller birds and I thought the same bird and had it remained there during the week of at first it might be a Southern Boobook, but the colours rough storms early in June? There was another bird further seemed incorrect. When looking up in the Australian Bird down the powerlines, which I thought was another Guide, we confirmed it was a juvenile Barking Owl. Wish we kingfisher, but I didn’t get a good enough look had a good camera, because it gave us a beautiful stare. unfortunately. I contacted Steve Castan as I knew he wanted to photograph it. We both watched it fly down We left the scene before it did!! from its perch high on the light pole to catch what looked Janean Robinson like a Mole Cricket. How lucky were we? Reference: Menkhorst, P., Rogers D., Clarke R., Davies G., Marsack P., and Franklin K. Checking again on 21 June, I saw two of these kingfishers (2017). ‘The Australian Bird Guide’. (CSIRO Publishing, Clayton South, Victoria). with Dusky Woodswallows on the wires further south of the roundabout. After a couple of minutes the kingfishers flew west and I didn’t see them again. Storms and high tides at Augusta Christine Wilder

We visited the Blackwood River-mouth between showers On 3 July at 11am, on the powerline between the southern on 7 June where there was a very high tide with the town roundabout and the maze, saw a kingfisher that looked a jetty nearly under. There was hardly any sandbar, but at bit different so went back and put the binos on it to confirm least 120 Red-necked Avocets crowded onto it and also a Red-backed Kingfisher was still there. these Australia Pelicans (amazing what comes back when Roger Crabtree humans depart). Roger Crabtree

Red-capped Parrot, Augusta garden, 1/7/19 – Photo Roger Crabtree

Australian Pelicans at the river-mouth, Augusta – Photo Roger Crabtree

14 Buff-banded Rail at Flinders

Just thought I would let you know, I was very excited to see a Buff-banded Rail at the bottom of Redman Brook in the swamp section before it flows into the sea at Flinders Bay.

The Shire of Augusta-Margaret River together with the Augusta Coast Care Group have cleared a lot of weeds and the coast care group will be doing planting there later this month to give birds of this sort natural cover in and around the brook. Herbie Whittall

Brown Goshawk – Photo John Galvin

Brown Goshawk – Augusta garden

Little Eagle – Photo Steve Castan Here is a picture of what I believe to be a young Brown Little Eagle feeding on possum Goshawk that came and perched on the back of an outdoor chair on my verandah in Augusta. I’d seen the bird flying

around the garden the day before but this day it came up to 12 June – A Little Eagle on the road near Redgate winery the house for a visit and seemed completely unaware of my (Boodjidup Road) feeding on a Common Brushtail Possum. I presence or just ignored me, so I sat down and it was an didn’t get shots of it eating but it flew up and stayed arm’s length away across the table. around. I moved the possum well over to the side of road so the eagle could come back later for lunch. I couldn’t believe it and sat looking at it in stunned awe for Steve Castan around five minutes, then thought I’d had an amazing

experience that nobody would believe or appreciate, especially me being so close, so I took a chance and went inside to get a camera. I thought if the bird flies off, well so be it, I’d enjoyed being so close up and personal.

The bird sat there while I got up, went inside and came out again to sit down and it didn’t even flinch at my movements so I took a few snaps and sat there for about another five minutes before it flew off.

I felt so privileged to enjoy this close up experience with such a beautiful creature as the photo does not do justice to how majestic the goshawk actually was. John Galvin

Left – Pallid Cuckoo, Burnside Road, near the Organic Farm, 5/6/19 Photo Steve Castan

Ocean adventures departing daily from Augusta Pacific Gull, Ellis Street Jetty, Augusta – Photo Christine Wilder ▪ Private Charters ▪ Whales Dolphins Seals Seabirds ▪ ▪ Snorkelling Diving Fishing ▪ ● Sightings ● ◄ Leeuwin Marine Charters ► Call or book online Thank you for sending articles, photos, unusual/interesting LEEUWINCHARTERS.COM.AU ▪ 0488 156 629 sightings from the capes region (or beyond) for inclusion in newsletters. All contributions are acknowledged. Plan your adventure today To ensure megabytes are kept to a minimum when attaching to Advertisement emails, please send photos as jpeg (NOT MORE THAN 1MB EACH), maximum three photos each email or if large numbers of photographs send via Dropbox. DON’T EMBED photos/articles in email but send as attachment, articles preferably in Word. Confirm photographer. Email to: [email protected] Christine Wilder - Editor

Here are the reported sightings:

Black Swan ~100, ephemeral wetland on Jindong Treeton Road, 21/6/19 – Allan McSwain Lesser Noddy 1, found injured on Smith’s Beach (after storms in first week of June) – Suzanne Strapp (FAWNA) via Steve Castan Crested Pigeon 2, corner of Lukes and Palmdale Roads, Augusta, perched on powerline, 14/6/19 – Roger Crabtree Immature Black-browed Albatross – Photo Ian Wiese Pallid Cuckoo 1, perched on powerline on Burnside Road, near the Organic Farm, 5/6/19 – Steve Castan Pied Stilt ~60, Broadwater, 18/6/19 – Clare Forward Banded Lapwing 1 adult pair, park opp. Butter Factory Museum, 12/6/19 – Gillian Richmond 1 adult pair, park opp. Butter Factory Museum, 18/6/19 – Christine Wilder Square-tailed Kite 1, Basildene estate, Margaret River, seen regularly in June – Roger Cawsey Masked Owl 1, west of Bussell Highway/south of Rosa Brook Road, 16/6/19 – Clare Forward Barn Owl 1, Stevens Road, west Margaret River, for at least a week till 3/7/19 – Sandy Thomas Southern Boobook 1, East Busselton, 18/4/19 – Roslyn Hanlon Regent Parrot 6, Yalgardup Place, Margaret River, 24/6/19 – Christine Wilder Crested Shrike-tit 2 calling in west Margaret River garden, over three days 3/6/19 to 5/6/19 – Jennifer Hunt Pair together on branches of Peppermint tree in garden, west Margaret River (foraging in leaves, fluttering wings in display, chattery calls), Red-winged Fairy-wren, sheltering from the squalls 27/6/19 – Jennifer Hunt McCauley’s Farm – Photo Hank Durlik

16 BIRDING BEYOND THE CAPES Wherever you go there are birds to watch

The before and after photos of a snake incident Several species of finches at a small waterhole in Kununurra Photos Alice Skilton (via André Courtis)

Male Red-capped Robin and Fan-tailed Cuckoo at Boyagin Rock Photographer Kathy Rutgers

Above and Right – Australian Pelicans at Meningie, SA in April Photos Mary Whittall 17