Birdwatching in the Central Wheatbelt BIRDWATCHING Cunderdin in the Central A

Birdwatching in the Central Wheatbelt BIRDWATCHING Cunderdin in the Central A. Cunderdin, located between Meckering and Tammin, Magpie-lark provides several good birding opportunities. Wheatbelt Close to the town, areas worth birding are the golf course Contacts: and Cunderdin Hill. The railway reserve corridors east and west of the town are important habitats and dispersal Department of Parks & Wildlife (DPaW), Merredin corridors for local bird species. Phone: (08) 9041 6001 Betty Stokes Ph (08) 9635 1265

B. Kadjari Flora Reserve is a small privately owned Lesley & Michael area of heathland. From 2.5km west of Cunderdin, take Ph (08) 9293 4757 Coleman Rd to the south. The reserve is on the west side of the road, approx. 4km from the highway. Acknowledgements: Illustrations/photographs by Judy Blyth, Frank O’Connor, Georgina Steytler, K Franklin, Pam Free, Susan Tingay

Cover photograph by David Free.

Local data by L & M Brooker

Guide No. 18AB Revised October 2014

BirdLife Western Australia members are offered a variety of activities and services including conservation Brown Goshawk and research projects, 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 C. Bulgin Rock Reserve is 19 km to the west. visit the website. From the highway travel south on Coleman Rd, then right into Bulgin Rd. This is a granite outcrop set in sheoak woodland. The reserve is sign-posted and is a Australia’s voice for birds since 1901 pleasant picnic spot in spring. BirdLife Australia is dedicated to achieving outstanding conservation results for our native birds D. Kennedy Reserve is located at the corner of and their habitats. With our specialised knowledge the Cunderdin-Quairading Road and Mills Road, and the commitment of an Australia-wide network of volunteers and supporters, we are creating a bright A guide on where to see birds in the Central approximately 18km south of Cunderdin. The reserve is future for Australia’s birds. Wheatbelt area sign-posted but visitors are asked to ring Mr and Mrs Kennedy on 9635 1881 before visiting. No vehicle access birdlife.org.au is allowed to this small reserve which has never been cleared. It covers unusual breakaway country with orchids and wildflowers in spring and a variety of bird BirdLife Western Australia species. 167 Perry Lakes Drive, Floreat WA 6014 T 08 9383 7749 | [email protected] facebook.com/BirdLifeAustralia | @BirdlifeOz ABN 75 149 124 774 birds are in our nature Western Australia Tammin E. Yorkrakine Rock Nature Reserve is located CENTRAL WHEATBELT REGION 25 km north of Tammin on Tammin-Wyalkatchem Rd. It is a spectacular granite outcrop surrounded BIRD WATCHING SITES by largely untouched wheatbelt woodland. There To is a well maintained access road to the base of the Mukinbudin M. Billyacatting Trayning Rock rock and picnic facilities. Over ninety species of Nungarin-Wyalkatchem Rd Q. Lake Campion birds have been recorded here. The rock is one of Wyalkatchem Nature Reserve R. Sandford Rocks To Boodarockin To the few remaining large tracts of vegetation in the Nature Reserve central wheatbelt and species rare in other parts Rd of the wheatbelt can be seen here. Species include Westonia Common Bronzewing, Red-capped Robin, White- Burracoppin NW Rd Chandler-Merredin Rd T. Lansdowne Hill eared Honeyeater, Grey and Pied Butcherbirds, Grey E. Yorkrakine K. Durokoppin Rock Reserve S. Burracoppin Shrike-thrush and White-browed Babbler. Reserve Nature Reserve

Kellerberrin-Trayning J. Kodjin Tammin-Wyalkatchem Rd Tammin-Wyalkatchem Reserve Merredin N. Merredin I. Woolering Mission Rd Peel Rd Peak Reserve Reserve F. Hunt’s Well & Tammin Railway Dam Travel O. Totadgin Teasdale Rd P. Maughan Nature 3 km south from Tammin along Tammin South Rd Great EasternL. Baandee Highway Rock Collgar S Rd Reserve

B. Kadjari Narrembeen Rd Narrembeen

Tammin Lakes Merredin- to Hunts Well (w) on the south side of the road. The Flora Cunderdin Reserve A. H. well is one of those sunk by the early explorer, C. C. F. (w) Hunt’s F. (d)Tammin Kellerberrin Well C. Bulgin Cunderdin-Quairading Rd Tammin South Rd Railway Dam Hunt on his expeditions into the wheatbelt in the Rock mid 19th century. Travel another 4.5 km east from Reserve

Doodenanning Rd the well along the Old Goldfields Rd to Tammin D. Kennedy Ralston Rd Reserve G. Charles Railway Dam (d), a much larger reserve which Gardner Bruce Rock-Merredin Rd consists of heathland surrounding a small granite Goldfi elds Rd Reserve White-browed Babbler outcrop. It is worth a visit for wildflowers in spring. Bird species include Weebill, Yellow-throated Miner, I. Woolering Reserve is located approximately K. Durokoppin Reserve is another DPaW reserve Yellow- and Chestnut-rumped Thornbills, Common 10 km north of Kellerberrin on the Kellerberrin- located north of Kodj Kodjin. Its southern boundary is Bronzewing, Crested Bellbird and Mulga Parrot. Trayning Road. on Harvey Road and it is spread between Mission Rd A wander through this small DPaW reserve will and Kellerberrin-Trayning Rd. This is an extensive G. Charles Gardner Reserve. Located 16 km south produce many interesting birds including Grey Fantail, reserve and one of the largest in the wheatbelt. There on Ralston Road, this DPaW flora reserve has large Jacky Winter, White-browed Babbler, Rufous Whistler, are many different vegetation types ranging from amounts of low heathland. Notable birds are White- Mulga Parrot and possibly Red-capped and Western Salmon Gum woodland to heathland. Common species winged Fairy-wren, Chestnut-rumped and Yellow- Yellow Robin. Look out for orchids in spring. include Weebill, Grey Fantail, Red-capped Robin, rumped Thornbill, White-fronted Chat and Southern Jacky Winter, White-browed Babbler, Mulga Parrot, Scrub-robin. J. Kodj Kodjin Reserve is located on the corner of Wedge-tailed Eagle, Brown Goshawk, Yellow-rumped Maley Rd and Mission Rd and can be accessed by Thornbill and White-eared Honeyeater. Because of its turning off either Kellerberrin-Trayning Rd or Mission size, this reserve offers opportunities for rare wheatbelt on the Great Eastern H. The town of Kellerberrin, Rd and parking along Maley Rd. This is a spectacular species including Blue-breasted Fairy-wren, Western Highway, offers good opportunities for Yellow- reserve of remnant vegetation and includes many Yellow Robin, Southern Scrub-robin, Malleefowl (active throated Miner, foraging in the Eucalypts of the different ecotypes ranging from dense melaleuca mound 2011) and Purple-crowned Lorikeet. car park opposite the supermarket. Just north of scrub to open grassland and dense woodland. The the town, Kellerberrin Hill offers a great vantage key bird here is Western Yellow Robin with at least L. Baandee Lakes are 21 km east of Kellerberrin. In point of the surrounding area and good birding one family group occurring. Also look out for years of high rainfall, these lakes are home to a great opportunities. Travel north up Moore St (it becomes Chestnut-rumped Thornbill, Jacky Winter and diversity of waterbirds including Red-necked Avocet, Kellerberrin – Trayning Rd) and turn left into Red-capped Robin. This reserve is also the last Black-winged Stilt, Banded Stilt, Black-tailed Native-hen Cemetery Rd. The reserve is well sign-posted. locality record of Grey Currawong in this shire. and perhaps even a Hooded Plover. Trayning Species List Brown Falcon Australian Hobby M. Billyacatting Rock is the largest nature reserve Emu Peregrine Falcon OSP in the WA wheatbelt. Almost all of the wheatbelt birds can be seen here. An impressive site with its Malleefowl T Purple Swamphen towering rock and expanse of undisturbed bush, it Stubble Quail Spotless Crake can be accessed by travelling 7 km north of Kwelkan Black-tailed Native-hen (on Nungarin – Wyalkatchem Rd), via Kwelkan North Musk Duck Dusky Moorhen Rd and Billyacatting Rd. Look for Redthroat, Mulga Black Swan Eurasian Coot Parrot, Purple-crowned Lorikeet, Western Yellow Australian Shelduck Robin, Crested Bellbird, White-eared Honeyeater, Australian Wood Duck Australian Bustard Blue-breasted Fairy-wren, Southern Scrub-robin and Pink-eared Duck Bush Stone-curlew Peregrine Falcon. Malleefowl and the wheatbelt race Australian Shelduck Australasian Shoveler Black-winged Stilt of the Western Rosella are Grey Teal Banded Stilt other possibilities. Pacific Black Duck Red-necked Avocet Black-tailed Native-hen Hardhead Red-capped Plover Blue-billed Duck Inland Dotterel Australasian Grebe Black-fronted Dotterel Hoary-headed Grebe Hooded Plover Red-kneed Dotterel Rock Dove * Banded Lapwing Laughing Dove * Common Sandpiper IA White-eared Hoeyeater Common Bronzewing Common Greenshank IA Merredin Crested Pigeon Sharp-tailed Sandpiper IA There are a large number of reserves around Merredin Tawny Frogmouth Painted Button-Quail and the DPaW regional office can be of assistance in Common Bronzewing Little Button-quail providing more information. Some localities to visit Spotted Nightjar are: Australian Owlet-nightjar Gull-billed Tern Whiskered Tern Fork-tailed Swift N. Merredin Peak Reserve is a large reserve just Silver Gull north of Merredin on the Chandler – Merredin Rd. Australasian Darter Red-tailed Black-Cockatoo Birds include White-browed Babbler, White-eared Little Pied Cormorant Honeyeater, Blue-breasted Fairy-wren, Malleefowl, Shy Carnaby’s Black-Cockatoo T Heathwren, Redthroat and Crested Bellbird. White-necked Heron Major Mitchell’s Cockatoo OSP Eastern Great Egret Galah O. Totadgin Rock, located 11km south of Merredin White-faced Heron Western Corella on the Bruce Rock Rd is well worth a visit. There Nankeen Night-Heron Little Corella is another old well and a picnic area set in a small Glossy Ibis Cockatiel reserve comprising woodland and heathland Australian White Ibis Purple-crowned Lorikeet surrounding a large granite outcrop. Species include Straw-necked Ibis Regent Parrot Southern Boobook, White-eared Honeyeater, Weebill, Yellow-billed Spoonbill Western Rosella R Chestnut-rumped Thornbill, Blue-breasted Fairy-wren Australian Ringneck and Southern Scrub-robin. Black-shouldered Kite Mulga Parrot Square-tailed Kite Budgerigar P. Maughan Nature Reserve is a DPaW reserve Whistling Kite Elegant Parrot Carnaby’s Black-Cockatoo which contains dense mallee and heath and is a good Brown Goshawk spot for Southern Scrub-robin. From the highway east Collared Sparrowhawk Horsfield’s Bronze-Cuckoo Spotted Harrier Black-eared Cuckoo of Merredin, travel 8.5 km south down Narembeen Rd, Nankeen Kestrel then turn right down Collgar South Rd for another Wedge-tailed Eagle Shining Bronze-Cuckoo 4.5 km. Blue-breasted Fairy-wren and WesternYellow Little Eagle Pallid Cuckoo Robin are also found here. Nankeen Kestrel Fan-tailed Cuckoo Q. Lake Campion Nature Reserve is 41 km NNE Barking Owl Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike of Merredin on the Chandler-Merredin Rd. There Southern Boobook White-winged Triller are large numbers of waterbirds in good seasons, Eastern Barn Owl including Banded Stilt, Hoary-headed Grebe, Australian Shelduck, Red-necked Avocet and Gilbert’s Whistler R Red-backed Kingfisher Golden Whistler Common Greenshank. Bush birds to be seen include Sacred Kingfisher Emu, Mulga Parrot, Red-tailed Black-Cockatoo, Rufous Whistler Grey Shrike-thrush Elegant Parrot, Black-eared Cuckoo, Redthroat, Jacky Rainbow Bee-eater Winter, Varied Sittella and White-winged Fairy-wren. Crested Bellbird Rufous Treecreeper Masked Woodswallow Splendid Fairy-wren Sacred Kingfisher Black-faced Woodswallow Westonia White-winged Fairy-wren Dusky Woodswallow Blue-breasted Fairy-wren R. Sandford Rocks Nature Reserve is 11 km NE Grey Butcherbird Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike of Westonia on Boodarockin Rd. Over 90 species Pied Butcherbird White-browed Scrubwren have been recorded here. A copy of the nature trail Australian Magpie Shy Heathwren guide is available from the Westonia Shire office Grey Currawong Redthroat and a bird hide about 100 m north of the carpark Weebill is a recent addition. Species seen include several Grey Fantail Western Gerygone raptors, Malleefowl, Regent, Mulga and Elegant Willie Wagtail Yellow-rumped Thornbill Parrots, Black-eared Cuckoo, Southern Boobook, Chestnut-rumped Thornbill Australian Raven Crested Bellbird, Redthroat, Western Yellow Robin, Inland Thornbill Little Crow Jacky Winter, Blue-breasted Fairy-wren and Grey Southern Whiteface Currawong. Southern Scrub-robin has been seen on Restless Flycatcher the eastern side of the rock and Shy Heathwren is Spotted Pardalote Magpie-lark present along the northern boundary. The wheatbelt Striated Pardalote Yellow-rumped Thornbill species of the Western Rosella is seen occasionally. Jacky Winter There are parking and picnic facilities available. Pied Honeyeater Red-capped Robin Singing Honeyeater Hooded Robin S. Burracoppin Nature Reserve is 1.2 km south of White-eared Honeyeater Western Yellow Robin the highway down Hunt St. This DPaW reserve has Purple-gaped Honeyeater Southern Scrub-robin a wide range of habitats varying from woodland to Yellow-plumed Honeyeater Australian Reed-Warbler Southern Scrub-robin heathland and consequently a variety of different White-fronted Honeyeater Little Grassbird bird species. Yellow-throated Miner Rufous Songlark Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater Brown Songlark T Lansdowne Hill is another nearby reserve 2 km Red Wattlebird west of Burracoppin along Burracoppin North West Crimson Chat Silvereye Rd. It contains a granite tor, water reservoir and White-fronted Chat quaint derelict stone cottage. It has Redthroats and Black Honeyeater White-backed Swallow Blue-breasted Fairy-wrens. There are also Dwarf Tawny-crowned Honeyeater Welcome Swallow White-fronted Honeyeater Grass Trees (Xanthorrhoea nana) at the base of the Brown Honeyeater Fairy Martin hill. Tree Martin White-cheeked Honeyeater Mistletoebird BIRD LIST CODES Brown-headed Honeyeater Gilbert’s Honeyeater (Previously named White-naped Status IA Protected Zebra Finch by international Honeyeater) * Introduced agreement White-browed Babbler Australasian Pipit R Rare OSP Other Specially T Threatened Protected Chestnut Quail-thrush R Varied Sittella Mistletoebird WA endemics shown in bold