1. Blackwood River Walk Birdwatching in Bridgetown-Greenbushes District An easy 3-4km return walk along the Blackwood Birdwatching River with seating to enjoy the quiet ambience and Bridgetown-Greenbushes District birdlife. Start at the car park at the River Park next The Bridgetown-Greenbushes Shire is a comfortable three hour drive (256km) south of Perth. Bridgetown is nestled to the main bridge and follow the boardwalk across around along the Blackwood River Valley and is surrounded by the river. Turn left for a shorter walk to a creekline attractive rural landscapes and healthy native Forest or right to walk to Gifford Rd and back among Conservation Areas and National Parks. Greenbushes sits Bridgetown Marri and Jarrah trees and views to the river with on the highest point in the area among native forests 15km Melaleuca thickets. Look for waterbirds along the north of Bridgetown. Both towns were settled early and river: Purple Swamphen, Eurasian Coot, Australasian have a long pioneering heritage. Greenbushes and Hoary-headed Grebes and cormorants. Along the track, Western Rosella, Red-capped and Elegant A brochure entitled ‘Your Guide to Walk Trails— Greenbushes-Bridgetown-Hester’ and other information are Parrots, Golden Whistler, Red- available from the Bridgetown Visitor Centre on Hampton eared Firetail, Red-winged and St (Ph: 08 9761 1740). The Greenbushes Discovery Centre Splendid Fairy-wrens, Fan-tailed also has information on the various walk trails around town Cuckoo, Striated Pardalote and (Ph: 08 9764 3883) sometimes Crested Shrike-tit can be found. Western Rosella Acknowledgements Support (male) by the Shire of 2. Rifle Range Rd Bridgetown-Greenbushes Drive about 3km south from the main bridge over the Blackwood River, then turn right into Rifle Range Illustrations / photographs Rd. Drive 500m and turn right along a track (turnoff Judy Blyth, Ron Johnstone, Keith Lightbody, Susan Tingay marked ‘50’) and park in a small clearing. Explore several creekline tracks through dense vegetation Local Contacts: for Red-eared Firetail and Red-winged Fairy-wren. Erica: Mob: 0437872954 Email: [email protected] Gillian and Eric: Mob: 0447046751 Options to walk or drive 1km further along the main Bridgetown Visitor Centre: Ph 08 9761 1740 track to a T junction, turn left and back through old growth forest to Rifle Range Rd, with many birding Guide No 10AB spots along the way. Masked Owl, Tawny Frogmouth Produced November 2018 and Red-tailed Black-Cockatoo can be found here. All content is subject to copyright ©. Queries to BirdLife Western Australia. BirdLife Western Australia members are offered a variety of activities and Scarlet Robin services including conservation and research projects, (male) excursions, campouts, surveys and social activities. There is also a library and books for sale at the office. To view the full range of bird guides visit the website. Lightbody Keith by female Black-Cockatoo Red-tailed 3. Sunnyside Reserve Australia’s voice for birds since 1901 Follow Tweed Rd along the south side of the Blackwood River, then turn left BirdLife Australia is dedicated to achieving outstanding into Sunnyside Reserve opposite the Carbunup Rd conservation results for our native birds and their habitats. With our specialised knowledge and the turnoff. An interesting mix of vegetation provides commitment of an Australia-wide network of volunteers good habitat for a variety of birds, including and supporters, we are creating a bright future for waterbirds, Sacred Kingfisher, Scarlet Robin, Australia’s birds. Splendid Fairy-wren, Shining Bronze-cuckoo, birdlife.org.au Western Rosella, White-naped Honeyeater, Dusky Woodswallow, Red-tailed and White-tailed Black- BirdLife Western Australia 167 Perry Lakes Drive, Floreat WA 6014 Cockatoo and Tawny Frogmouth. T 08 9383 7749 | [email protected] birds are in our nature facebook.com/BirdLifeAustralia | @BirdlifeOz Western Australia ABN 75 149 124 774 4. Old Abattoir Walk Drive 4.5km along the Boyup Brook Rd from Steere St turnoff and then left into the forest down a track BRIDGETOWN-GREENBUSHES BIRD SITES signposted with this walk to the car park. An easy walk track past the gazebo picnic area takes you through Jarrah and Marri forest to Krsuls Rd then Southampton Rd back along the creekline (1.7km). Other tracks are Greenbushes Boyup Brook Rd clearly signposted and a little more challenging. Brown A great place to enjoy the wildflowers as well as 9. Greenbushes Pool Seymour Rd Western, Yellow-rumped and Inland Thornbills, Red 10. Schwenke Dam Wattlebird, Grey Shrike-thrush, Grey Fantail, Striated Greenbushes Spring Gully Rd and Spotted Pardalotes and Kendall Rd Western Gerygone. South Western Hwy Bridgetown Boyup Brook Road Cascades Rd Jayes Rd Western Thornbill 5. Wandoo Valley Walk Hester Rd 5. Wandoo Valley Walk Turn right off the Boyup Brook Rd at Winnejup Rd Maranup Ford Rd Peninsular Rd 4. Old Abattoir and drive 1km, then turn right along the powerline Blackwood River Walk Dalmore Rd Winnijup Rd Flax Road track to the car park. Three well-signposted loop walks (1.0–3.7km) take you through delightful open Marri and Wandoo woodland, Jarrah forest and Bridgetown upland wetland then along creeklines with banksia 1. Blackwood River Walk 6. Winnejup Reserve and ancient grass trees. A large variety of bush Blackwood River 3. Sunnyside birds can be found in the different habitats. Look for Reserve Western and Inland Thornbills, Striated Pardalote, CarbunupTweed Rd 8. Karri Gully Walk 2. Red-capped Parrot, Weebill, Dusky Woodswallow, Rifl e Range Western Spinebill, Elegant Reserve Rd Parrot and Red-tailed Brockman Hwy Black-Cockatoo. Mokerdillup Rd 7. Bridgetown Jarrah Park Elegant Parrot 7. Bridgetown Jarrah Park 6. Winnejup Reserve Enjoy a scenic drive along Brockman Highway for Old growth trees, fallen logs, banksias, tall shrubs Travel about 15km along about 20km to Bridgetown Jarrah Park. Turn right and moist creekline habitats attract a variety of birds Winnejup Rd from the Boyup Brook Rd to the at the sign and drive along a short track to the including Red-winged Fairy-wren, Spotted Pardalote, Winnejup Bridge. Park over the bridge on the left secluded picnic area with toilets. The four loop White-breasted and Yellow Robins, White-browed side and look for waterbirds along the river. Four walks (0.8—5.9km) meander along Maranup Brook Scrubwren, Western Rosella, Crested Shrike-tit, Red- cormorant species and Australasian Darter have and take you through differing habitats with four of tailed Black-Cockatoo, Western and Red Wattlebirds, been seen here as well as Australasian Shoveler, Grey the main tree species present (Karri, Jarrah, Marri Western Gerygone and Varied Sittella. Teal, Musk Duck and Nankeen Night-Heron. Walk and Blackbutt) and an abundance of wildflowers in around the sandy track through open woodland spring. with old growth Jarrah and Bull Banksia, then low shrubland to find Golden and Rufous Whistlers, Elegant and Red-capped Parrots, Western Rosella, Rainbow Bee-eater, Dusky Woodswallow, Tree Martin, Golden Whistler Red and Western Wattlebirds, Scarlet Robin, Singing Western Spinebill (male) Honeyeater and Western Spinebill. (male) Bird List Bird List 8. Karri Gully Drive another 4.5km west along Brockman Highway to the Karri Gully car park on the right. There are Emus & Cassowaries Button-Quail picnic tables and toilets at this delightful rest stop Emu U Painted Button-quail R among towering Karri trees and tall shrubs. Follow Ducks, Geese & Swans Little Button-quail R the Bibbulmun Track north through the forest Blue-bill Duck R O Gulls, Terns & Noddies to Guy Rd and back, or take the left fork along Black Swan M Silver Gull R the Bibbulmun Track parallel to the highway for Australian Shelduck C Pelican about 1km or so, then back to the car park. Both Hardhead R Australian Pelican U ways provide good opportunities to see the noisy Australasian Shoveler U Herons, Egrets & Bitterns Purple-crowned Lorikeet, especially when the Karri Pacific Black Duck C Nankeen Night-Heron U is flowering, and the elusive Crested Shrike-tit. Northern Mallard U White-necked Heron R White-browed Babbler, Red-winged and Splendid Grey Teal C Australlian Little Bittern R O Fairy-wrens, White-browed Scrubwren, White-naped Musk Duck M Great Egret R IA Honeyeater, Common Bronzewing, Varied Sittella, Australian Wood Duck C White-faced Heron C Red Wattlebird and Striated and Spotted Pardalotes Pheasants & Quail Ibis & Spoonbills can be found here. Stubble Quail R Australian White Ibis ` U Brown Quail R Straw-necked Ibis U Grebes Yellow-billed Spoonbill U Australasian Grebe C Cormorants & Shags Hoary-headed Grebe U Little Pied Cormorant C Great Crested Grebe R Great Cormorant U Pigeons & Doves Little Black Cormorant M Laughing Dove U * Pied Cormorant U Common Bronzewing C Darter Purple-crowned Crested Pigeon R Australasian Darter U Lorikeet Cuckoos Eagles, Kites & Goshawk Horsfield’s Bronze-Cuckoo U Mi Sp Su Black-shouldered Kite U Shining Bronze-Cuckoo M Mi Sp Su Square-tailed Kite U Mi Su 9. Greenbushes Pool Fan-tailed Cuckoo M Mi Sp Su Wedge-tailed Eagle C Drive into Greenbushes and turn into Spring Gully Rd Pallid Cuckoo R Mi SP Su Little Eagle U off Blackwood Rd and Telluride St, then drive or walk Frogmouths Swamp Harrier U about 1km to the Greenbushes Pool. An attractive Tawny Frogmouth U Brown Goshawk M pool and wetland setting with boardwalk, picnic Owlet–nightjars Collared Sparrowhawk U tables, BBQ and toilets. A variety of birds are found Australian Owlet-nightjar R Whistling Kite U here including White-breasted Robin, Red-winged Crakes, Rails & Swamphens Masked Owls Fairy-wren, Western Spinebill and Red-eared Firetail. Buff-banded Rail R Masked Owl U O Various walking and driving tracks from the pool join Australian Spotted Crake U Barn Owl R the Greenbushes Loop Walk to Dumpling Gully and Spotless Crake U Hawk–Owls the Bibbulmun Track taking you through different Purple Swamphen C Southern Boobook M habitats, including sheoak woodland with prospects Dusky Moorhen M Bee-eaters of finding Western Yellow Robin Eurasian Coot C Rainbow Bee-eater M Mi Su IA and White-browed Babbler.