VOL. 11 (Q) DECEMBER 19!.16 247

AUSTRALIAN BIRD WATCHER 1986, 11,247-257

Notes on Birds of the Wittenoom Area,

By MAX HOWARD, 'Avon Hill', P.O. Box 327, Toodyay, W.A 6566

Summary An annotated list is provided of birds observed within 80 km of Wittenoom, Western Australia, from January 1982 to December 1983. The study area includes the Hamersley Range National Park. One hundred and fourteen species (69 non-passerines and 45 passerines) were recorded. The list is compared with previously published lists for the region, including the National Park. The Fortescue River flats, a scarce wetland habitat in the region, appear to be very important for water birds.

Introduction Wittenoom townsite (22° 14' S, 118° 20' E) is located about 1 450 km north of Perth, and is situated at the base of the Hammersley Range. Wittenoom was founded in about 1938 as an asbestos mining centre. Since the closure of the asbestos mine in 1966, Wittenoom has gradually decreased in population, and now the town has a population of around 100 people. However, tourism brings about 30 000 people during April-October. The town is near the edge of the Hamersley Range National Park which covers 617 606 ha, making it the second largest national park in Western Australia. This study supplements previous information on the birds of the region (Fletcher 1980, Johnstone 1980, Storr 1984).

Table 1 Rainfa111982-1983 and mean annual rainfall for Wittenoom, Western Australia

Month 1982 1983 Mean (all years)

January 253 15 103 February 175 60 81 March 8 44 54 April 1 19 22 May 56 0 37 June 9 1 35 July 0 5 14 August 20 0 7 September 9 3 3 October 4 0 3 November 29 12 8 December 53 37 23 Total 617 196 390 AUSTRALIAN 248 HOWARD BIRD WATCHER

Study area The climate is semi-tropical, with about 390 mm of rain per annum. Rain usually falls in the period December-March, as summer thunderstorms and tropical cyclones. Winter rains from the south sometimes occur during April­ September. Mean annual rainfall and rainfall during the study period are detailed in Table 1, the latter so that breeding records can be related to rainfall during the time of the study (January 1982 to December 1983). The habitats in the study area comprise Mulga Acacia aneura woodland, Eucalyptus woodland, creekside vegetation and open spinifex (Triodia sp.) flats.

• 'Mulga Downs'

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0 20 40 60 80

Figure 1. Map of study area showing locations mentioned in text. W.M.R VOL. 11 (8) DECEMBER 1986 Birds of Wittenoom Area, W.A 249

Systematic list Those species recorded breeding are indicated with an asterisk

Emu Dromaius novaehollandiae* Common on Fortescue flats, scarce in Hamers1ey Range. Largest group sighted 16 on 2 April 1983. Small young seen on I September 1982 and 28 July 1983. Many birds were coming into the townsite in September 1983 to drink, due to the extremely hot and dry conditions in the surrounding bush. Hoary-headed Grebe Poliocephalus poliocephalus Scarce, four sightings, largest number being five on Kyalina Pool, , on 9 July 1983. Australasian Grebe Tachybaptus novaehollandiae Scarce, one bird on sewage pond at Marandoo on 23 January 1982. Australian Pelican Pelecanus conspicillatus Scarce, one sighting of nine on Kyalina Pool on 9 July 1983. Darter Anhinga melanogaster Scarce, single birds observed on seven occasions. Little Black Cormorant Phalacrocorax sulcirostris Scarce, seen on two occasions on pools on Hooley Creek; largest number four. Little Pied Cormorant Phalacrocorax melanoleucos Moderately common, seen on pools on Hooley Station and in Wittenoom Gorge; largest group three. Pacific Heron Ardea pacifica* Common on Fortescue flats when flooded; largest group 10. On 14 February 1982 a nesting colony was observed from the air on . White-faced Heron Ardea novaehollandiae Not as common as Pacific Heron. Single birds seen on 15 occasions, also two birds in Wittenoom Gorge on 15 March 1983. Great Egret Egretta alba* Moderately common during the wetter months; largest group four. On 14 February 1982 a nesting colony was observed from the air on the Fortescue flats south-west of Mulga Downs homestead. Rufous Night Heron Nycticorax caledonicus Scarce, single birds in Wittenoom Gorge. Straw-necked Ibis Threskiomis spinicollis* Moderately common during the wetter months; largest flock 55 . Nesting colony sighted on Mulga Downs Station, with Pacific Heron and Great Egret Yellow-billed Spoonbill Platalea flavipes Scarce, mainly on Fortescue flats. Seen on three occasions; largest group six. Black Swan Cygnus atratus Scarce, only four sightings on Fortescue flats and Hooley Station; largest group five. Australian Shelduck Tadoma tadornoides Scarce, mainly on Fortescue flats. Only three sightings; largest group four. Pacific Black Duck Anas superciliosa Common in small numbers during the wetter months; largest group II. Grey Teal Anas gibberifrons Common in small numbers during the wetter months; largest group 25. Pink-eared Duck Malacorhynchus membranaceus Scarce, two seen on 23 January and 18 February 1982. Hardhead Aythya australis Scarce, four sightings; largest group four. Maned Duck Chenonetta jubata* Moderately common during the wetter months; largest group II. Four young birds unable to fly were seen at Kyalina Pool on 7 October 1982. AUSTRALIAN 250 HOWARD BIRD WATCHER

Osprey Pandion haliaetus One bird was seen regularly in Wittenoom Gorge from December 1982 to February 1983. On one occasion it was observed eating a fish about 30 em in length, which it took from a pool in the gorge. Black-shouldered Kite Elanus notatus Scarce, one bird in townsite on 6 August 1983. Black Kite Milvus migrans A regular visitor to the area each year, usually arriving about mid March and departing about October; largest number sighted c. 40. Square-tailed Kite Lophoictinia isura Scarce, one bird flying above Rio Tinto Gorge on 19 March 1982. Whistling Kite Haliastur sphenurus Common in ones and twos all year round. Brown Goshawk Accipiter fasciatus Scarce, single birds observed on six occasions. Wedge-tailed Eagle Aquila audax Common all year round; largest group five. Little Eagle Hieraaetus morphnoides Scarce, one bird seen on 7 February 1983. Spotted Harrier Circus assimilis Moderately common, in small numbers. Sighted in most months of the year; largest group three. Australian Hobby Falco longipennis Scarce, seven sightings of ones and twos. Brown Falcon Falco berigora By far the most common raptor in the area, sighted in all months; largest group three. Australian Kestrel Falco cenchroides Common, seen in most months. On 16 December 1982,25-30 young birds were seen by a pool on Hooley Creek. All these birds had very pale colouration. Little Button-quail Turnix velox Appeared common in small numbers; largest group five. Most birds were flushed from the ground in spinifex. Black-tailed Native-hen Gallinula ventralis Scarce, two sightings; largest group three. Eurasian Coot Fulica atra Scarce, single birds observed on two occasions. Australian Bustard Ardeotis australis* Moderately common, seen in most months. Young birds seen on 21 March 1982 and 8 April 1983, and mating displays observed in December 1982 and January 1983. Bush Thick-knee Burhinus magnirostris Scarce, only two records. Banded Lapwing Vane/Ius tricolor Scarce, only two records: six on 14 February 1982 and four on 10 February 1983, Mulga Downs Station. Red-kneed Dotterel Erythrogonys cinctus Common, seen in all months in small numbers; largest group six. Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus Scarce, three sightings; largest group nine. Marsh Sandpiper Tringa stagnatalis Four birds possibly of this species were sighted feeding on a large freshwater claypan on the Fortescue flats on 10 April 1983. Oriental Pratincole Glareola maldivarum Scarce. three seen on 7 February and two on 9 February 1983. Arrives in the area after suitable rains. VOL. 11 (8) DECEMBER 1986 Birds of Wittenoom Area, W.A 251

Australian Pratincole Stiltia isabella Scarce, only three records on Fortescue flats; largest group three. Whiskered Tern Chlidonias hybrida Only observed from 19-24 January 1982 on Fortescue flats after heavy rains; 30+ adults were in breeding plumage. One bird was observed to pick up grass, fly around and offer it to another bird on the wing. Gull-billed Tern Gelochelidon nilotica Over 30 seen on flooded country on the Fortescue flats in January 1982, in company with Whiskered Tern. Diamond Dove Geopelia cuneata* Common throughout the area. Courtship displays observed in January and nesting observed on 7 February 1982 and 2 January 1983. 100+ birds flushed from the ground in Wittenoom Gorge in September 1983. Common Bronzewing Phaps chalcoptera* Common in small numbers. Nesting in Wittenoom Gorge on 3 September 1982. Nest built in a large acacia and contained one egg. Crested Pigeon Ocyphaps lophotes Very common throughout the area in moderate numbers. One flock of about 100 observed around Hooley homestead in July 1983. Spinifex Pigeon Petrophassa plumifera* Common resident in parties of up to 30. Displays observed after rain. On 17 September 1982, a nest containing two eggs was found in the townsite. The sitting bird remained very still and allowed a very close approach (I metre) before leaving the nest After the eggs hatched the adult was almost touched before it left to perform a broken-wing distraction display. The nest was located on 31 August 1982 (one egg) and had two eggs on I September; both hatched on 18 September (incubation 17-18 days). Galah Cacatua roseicapilla Common resident, largest group 30. Located over most of the area. Little Corella Cacatua sanguinea Very common resident Flocks of3 000+ birds on pools such as Kyalina, Hooley Creek, Horse Pool and Coppins Pool cause damage to the trees surrounding the pools by stripping them of every green leaf and shoot, and in due course the trees die. Pastoralists have made attempts to cull these flocks, with little success. Budgerigar Melopsittacus undulatus Common in the area after suitable rains. Flocks of 100+ were seen in the Hamersley Range National Park in February 1982. One bird observed going into a hollow in a river gum at Turee Creek on 4 April 1982. Cockatiel Nymphicus hollandicus Moderately common in flocks, seen in most months; largest group 100+. Port Lincoln Ringneck Bamardius zonarius Common resident, usually in small groups of up to six. Black-eared Cuckoo Chrysococcyx osculans Scarce; one observation in June 1982. Horsfield's Bronze-Cuckoo Chrysococcyx basalis The most common cuckoo in the area, arriving after suitable rains. Pheasant Coucal Centropus phasianinus Scarce; one bird in breeding plumage seen at Kyalina Pool on 7 October 1982. Southern Boobook Ninox novaeseelandiae One observed in the National Park, and heard calling in the townsite and in Wittenoom Gorge. Barking Owl Ninox connivens* Scarce; one pair had a territory in an area of thick cadjeputsMelaleuca sp. and river gums in Vampire Gorge. Nesting observed on 11 September 1982. One young bird from previous nesting season was seen with two adults in the same area in May 1982. Tawny Frogmouth Podargus strigoides Two birds observed on 3 March 1982, and dead birds found on roadside in April and June 1982. AUSTRALIAN 252 HOWARD BIRD WATCHER

Australian Owlet-nightjar Aegotheles cristatus* Scarce, only two records. Nest containing three eggs located in Wittenoom Gorge on 10 September 1982. Spotted Nightjar Caprimulgus guttatus Common, often found dead on roads during the tourist season. Whilst driving at night I observed many birds flying up from the roadway. Eleven were recorded in an 80 km drive from Coolawanyah Station to the townsite on 18 March 1983. This species also hawks insects under the lights in the town. Fork-tailed Swift Apus pacificus Scarce; several flocks of up to 200 were sighted in February 1983. Feral Pigeon Columba Iivia Two records of a single bird in the townsite; it may have been a domesticated bird. Peaceful Dove Geopelia placida* Very common in townsite, Wittenoom Gorge, Kyalina Pool and Malay Well. Nesting observed on 20 October and 14 November 1983. Copulation observed in February 1983 and March 1983 (attempt). Courtship displays observed in February, November and December. Blue-winged Kookaburra Dacelo leachii Common resident in small numbers. One observed flying into a hollow in an old termite nest on 10 September 1982, but an inspection revealed no eggs. Red-backed Kingfisher Halcyon pyrrhopygia Uncommon; small numbers seen in the area. Sacred Kingfisher Halcyon sancta The most common kingfisher in the area; largest group six. One observed carrying food on 4 April 1982. Rainbow Bee-eater Merops ornatus Nine sightings; largest group seven. Tree Martin Cecropis nigricans* Common resident in small numbers. Always about 20 around the town. A nest containing one young was observed in a portable generating plant at Hooley homestead on 7 August 1982. The nest was built on a small ledge and was a tunnel about 20 em long with a chamber at one end. The entire structure was open at the top and lined with grass. Fairy Martin Cecropis ariel* Not observed, but several old nests were found at three different locations. Richard's Pipit Anthus novaeseelandiae Common resident in small numbers over most of the area. Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike Coracina novaehol/andiae Common resident in small numbers. One bird carrying food on 31 January and 20 July 1982. White-winged Triller La/age sueurii* Common most of the year but not seen June-August Nesting observed on 27 February (three young, one week old) and 30 December 1982 (two eggs) and on 8 January 1983 (unable to check contents). At one nest over a period of four hours the female performed 90% of parental feeding visits to the young. Males sighted in breeding plumage on 27 May 1982 and 23 March 1983. Red-capped Robin Petroica goodenovii Nine records; all but two sightings were in mulga scrub. Hooded Robin Meianodryas cucullata* Common in small numbers. Nesting observed on 5 January 1983 (no eggs). Rufous Whistler Pachycephala rufiventris* Common resident. Young birds just out of the nest being fed on 20 February and male carrying food on 30 December 1982. Grey Shrike-thrush Col/uricinc/a harmonica Common in small numbers, mainly in gorges. Crested Bellbird Oreoica guttura/is Only heard and seen on one occasion. VOL. 11 (8) DECEMBER 1986 Birds of Wittenoom Area, W.A 253

Yellow-throated Miner Manorina jlavigula Plate 56 Photo Michael Seyfort

Variegated Fairy-wren Malurus /ambeni* The most common wren in the area. A young bird which had just left the nest was caught in Wittenoom Gorge on 8 September 1983. Males in breeding plumage sighted on 8 January, 27 May, 2 September and 16 September 1982 and 8 January and 27 November 1983. Willie Wagtail Rhipidura leucophrys* Very common resident Nesting observed on 6 February (Mulga Downs Station: four young), 14 February (Mulga Downs: young had just left nest), 27 February (Marandoo: two young), 30 September (Coolawanyah Station: two eggs) and 28 December 1982 (Mulga Downs: three eggs), and on 28 October 1983 (townsite: three young). Grey-crowned Babbler Pomatostomus temporalis Eight sightings, largest group nine. Spinifexbird Eremiornis carteri Eight records; probably fairly common but difficult to observe. Rufous Songlark Cinclorhamphus mathewsi* Very common in the area after suitable rains. Can be heard calling all day around the townsite. On 27 February 1982 a nest was located on the lawn ofMarandoo campsite. It was later abandoned probably because of human interference. White-winged Fairy-wren Malurus leucopterus Uncommon, five sightings. Males in breeding plumage sighted on 23 May, 12 June and 13 September 1982. AUSTRALIAN 254 HOWARD BIRD WATCHER

Rufous-crowned Emu-wren Stipiturus ruficeps Scarce and difficult to observe. Three sightings in dense spinifex at the base of the Hamersley Range near Bee Gorge. Striated Grasswren Amytornis striatus• Scarce; three pairs calling to each other (probably defending territories) on 3 September 1982. A nest containing two young was observed near Bee Gorge on 5 September 1982. I have always observed this species in breakaway country with spinifex. Weebill Smicrornis brevirostris* Common in small numbers. Nesting observed in townsite on 20 August 1982, but nest destroyed by wind. Chestnut-rumped Thornhill Acanthiza uropygialis Always sighted in mulga scrub; largest group six. Varied Sittella Daphoenositta chrysoptera Five birds seen in January 1983 in mulga scrub on Mulga Downs Station. Black-tailed Treecreeper Climacteris me/anura Six records. Appeared common in small numbers in Bee Gorge. Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater Acanthagenys rufogularis Uncommon, seen in small numbers. A regular visitor in the townsite during hot dry months. Yellow-throated Miner Manorina jlavigula Common resident in small numbers; largest group seven. Singing Honeyeater Lichenostomus virescens• Common resident. Nesting observed on 7 February (adults feeding young) and 29 May 1982 (Range Gorge, nest with no eggs; two eggs on 12 June). Grey-headed Honeyeater Lichenostomus keartlandi* Common resident. Nesting observed on 4 July (National Park, two eggs) and 3 October 1982 (Wittenoom Gorge, young just out of nest). White-plumed Honeyeater Lichenostomus penicillatus* Very common and very aggressive in defence of territory. Nesting observed on 19 March (Marandoo: two young), 2 May (Hooley Station: young left nest), 21 May (townsite: young just left nest), 28 May (Mulga Downs Station: two eggs), 4 June (Mulga Downs: one young) and 18 July 1982 (Hooley Station: two eggs), and on 19 April 1983 (townsite: nest being built). Black-chinned Honeyeater Me/ithreptus gu/aris Resident, seen in small numbers. Brown Honeyeater Lichmera indistincta Common resident. Pied Honeyeater Certhionyx variegatus Seen on three occasions. Males observed chasing females in Range Gorge on 29 May 1982. Crimson Chat Ephthianura tricolor* Common in the area after suitable rains. Nesting observed on 7 February 1982 (Hamersley Range National Park: two young). The male performed 75% of feeding visits to the young. The nest was built so that direct sunlight did not fall onto the young at any time during the day. Mistletoebird Dicaeum hirundinaceum Common in small numbers. Red-browed Pardalote Pardalotus rubricatus• Common resident in small numbers. Nesting observed on 29 May (Bee Gorge), 4 June (Bee Gorge) and 13 September 1982 (Wittenoom Gorge). Painted Firetail Emblema picta* Very common resident, building its nest in the top of spinifex clumps (similar to nests of Striated Grasswren, and easily overlooked). Nesting observed on 15 March (Wittenoom Gorge: four eggs), 4 June 1982 (Hamersley Range National Park: three eggs), and on 11 August 1983 (Wittenoom Gorge: three eggs). Birds in pairs in Wittenoom Gorge on 22 July 1983. VOL. 11 (8) DECEMBER 1986 Birds of Wittenoom Area, W.A 255

Painted Firetail Emblema picta Plate 57 Photo: Michael Seyfort

Star Finch Neochmia rujicauda Two sightings, one of one bird and the other of four. Zebra Finch Poephila guttata* Very common in large numbers, building nests in every possible location. A number of nests under the eaves of houses (townsite: 15-22 July 1982, 27 March and late July 1983; Coolawanyah homestead 30 September 1982) and a workshop (Wittenoom Gorge 19 September 1983). Also nesting on 14 July (Wittenoom Gorge) and 6 August 1982 (townsite). Contents of nests not known. Spotted Bowerbird Chlamydera maculata Common resident in moderate numbers. Whilst photographing this species it was heard to imitate calls of the Brown Falcon, Kestrel and crow and a eat's meow. Australian Magpie-lark Gral/ina cyanoleuca* Very common resident Nesting observed on 31 January (Hamersley Range National Park: two young), 30 September (Coolawanyah Station: two young), 25 December (Hooley Station: nest being constructed) and 28 December 1982 (Mulga Downs Station: two young), and in January 1983 (townsite: nest under construction). Observed carrying food on I September 1982. Masked Woodswallow Artamus personatus* Uncommon vagrant prior to December 1982, when a nesting colony of 20+ birds was located on Mulga Downs Station. Several nests were located: two with two eggs, one with three eggs, one empty and two being built. By the middle of January 1983 all birds had departed and were not sighted again. A courtship display was observed in which the male extended its wings and fanned its tail from side to side close to the female. AUSTRALIAN 256 HOWARD. BIRD WATCHER

Black-faced Woodswallow Artamus cinereus• Common resident in moderate numbers. Nesting observed on 6 February 1982 (near townsite: two young) and 12 January 1983 (Coolawanyah Station: nest being constructed). On 12 November 1983 a nest was built on a small ledge of a power pole in the town. The young fledged and nesting recommenced in the same nest on 26 December 1983. Little Woodswallow Anamus minor• Common resident, always sighted around the gorges or not far away. Nesting observed on II January 1982 (Hamersley Range National Park: two young). Pied Butcherbird Cracticus nigrogularis Common resident. Australian Magpie Gymnorhina tibicen Uncommon, noted in small numbers; largest group five. Little Crow Corvus bennetti Common; large flocks of 300+ observed spiralling up and down in May 1982. Torresian Crow Corvus orru Very common resident

Discussion Between Roy Hill and Mulga Downs Station, the Fortescue River has no major channel but goes underground, forming a series of long claypans on its floodplain. When flooded this is an important feeding and nesting area for many wetland birds such as Pacific Heron, Great Egret and Straw-necked Ibis. Wetland habitats are scarce in the Hamersley Range National Park, and the as a whole has few wetland areas. Thus the importance of the Fortescue flats cannot be understated. Breeding ofland birds also appears to be correlated with rainfall: there were many more breeding records in 1982 (above-average rainfall) than in 1983 (below-average rainfall). A total of 114 species (69 non-passerines, 45 passerines) has been recorded from the area covered in this paper. I consider that I was able to record most of the resident species, this being borne out by Johnstone (1980) who recorded 135 species for the National Park. There were 30 species recorded by Johnstone which were not sighted by me: Great Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo, Black-breasted Buzzard Hamirostra melanosternon, Collared Sparrow­ hawk Accipiter cirrhocephalus, Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus, Buff-banded Rail Rallus philippensis, Australian Crake Porzana fluminea, Spotless Crake Porzana tabuensis, Wood Sandpiper Tringa glareola, Common Sandpiper Tringa hypoleucos, Flock Bronzewing Phaps histrionica, Red-tailed Black­ Cockatoo Calyptorhynchus magniji.cus, Mulga Parrot Psephotus varius, Bourke's ParrotNeophema bourkii, Pallid Cuckoo Cuculus pallidus, Barn Owl Tyro alba, Singing Bushlark Mirafra javanica, Ground Cuckoo-shrike Coracina maxima, Grey Fantail Rhipidura fuliginosa, Western Gerygone Gerygone fusca, Inland Thornhill Acanthiza apicalis, Slaty-backed Thornhill Acanthiza robustirostris, Redthroa t Sericornis brunneus, Clamorous Reed-Warbler Acrocephalus stentoreus, Brown Songlark Cinclorhamphus crura/is, Black Honeyeater Certhionyx niger, White-fronted Honeyeater Phylidonyris albifrons, Orange Chat Ephthianura aurifrons, Striated Pardalote Pardalotus striatus and Grey Butcherbird Cracticus torquatus. Many of these are resident and occur north to Hooley Station, e.g. Bourke's Parrot, Grey Fantail, Western Gerygone, Slaty-backed Thornhill, Inland Thornhill and Striated Pardalote. Species sighted by me and not included in Johnstone's paper were Little Black Cormorant, Yellow-billed Spoonbill, Australian Shelduck, Square­ tailed Kite, Banded Lapwing, Marsh Sandpiper, Oriental Pratincole, VOL. 11 (8) DECEMBER 1986 Birds of Wittenoom Area, W.A 257

Australian Pratincole, Gull-billed Tern, Pheasant Coucal and Feral (probably domestic) Pigeon. Of the 10 species (excluding Feral Pigeon) sighted by myself and not included in Johnstone's paper, all but two (Little Black Cormorant and Pheasant Coucal) were observed within a few kilometres of the National Park I have also unconfirmed reports from townspeople that the Pheasant Coucal occurs in Wittenoom Gorge, which is just outside the Park boundary. Although it falls within the boundaries of the study area I did not make any observations around the townsite of Tom Price. Storr (1984) listed the following confirmed sightings for the Tom Price area but which were not recorded by me or by Johnstone (1980): Wandering Whistling-Duck Dendrocygna arcuata, Dusky Moorhen Gallinula tenebrosa and Grey Honeyeater Conopophila whitei. Storr also listed Magpie Goose Anseranas semipalmata (sighted 1952), Letter-winged Kite Elanus scriptus (sighted 1951) and Elegant Parrot Neophema elegans (sighted 1959) as rare and infrequent visitors. Fletcher (1980) recorded 161 species within c. 300 km of Port Hedland, an area encompassing Wittenoom. Excluding his 45 or so marine and coastal species, this is a very similar total to that recorded by me. Of this remainder, only the Black-fronted Plover Charadrius melanops, Inland Dotterel Peltohyas australis, Red-necked Avocet Recurvirostra novaehollandiae, a few migrant waders, White-backed Swallow Cheramoeca leucosternum, Welcome Swallow Hirundo neoxena and Calamanthus Sericomisfuliginosus were not recorded by me or by Johnstone (1980) but may occur in the area covered by this paper since some were recorded just outside it (see also Storr 1984). Fifteen species recorded by me and a further 16 recorded by Johnstone were not recorded by Fletcher. Adding together all the species recorded in the Hamersley Range National Park, in Storr (1984) and those observed by me at Wittenoom and adjacent areas, gives a total of 151 species for the study area. This is rich by Pilbara standards (277 species for the entire region: Storr 1984) and reflects the diversity of habitats. These 151 species also compare with 121 recorded in the Edgar Ranges Reserve (south-west Kimberley), 128 for Drysdale River National Park (north Kimberley), 219 for the Mitchell Plateau area (north­ west Kimberley) and 146 for the Cockleshell Gully Reserve (south-western Australia). Acknowledgements I am grateful to Ron Johnstone (W.A Museum) for his advice on the manuscript, and to the following people who assisted me in this survey: Snow Brosnan (Hooley Station), Jim Hooson (Mulga Downs Station), Michael Morcombe, the Parsons family (Coolawanyah Station), Ian Solomon (former ranger Hamersley Range National Park), Leslie Styles (artist and bird enthusiast of Wittenoom), and finally my wife Elaine. References Fletcher, T. (1980), 'Birds of the Pilbara Region, Western Australia, 1967-1972', Aust Bird Watcher 8, 220-231. Johnstone, RE. (1980), 'Birds of the Hamersley Range National Park, Western Australia', in Muir, B.G. (Ed.), Fauna Survey of the Hamersley Range National Park, Western Australia, National Parks Authority, Perth. Storr, G.M. (1984), 'Birds of the Pilbara Region, Western Australia', Rec. West Aust Mus. Suppl. no. 16. •