1. Denham Birdwatching at Shark Bay Shark Bay World Heritage Discovery & Visitor Centre The Shire of Shark Bay includes the western-most point of is well worthwhile. See Contacts panel. Australia. Recognised as a World Heritage Area since 1991 Denham Lookout off the entrance road just south of for the significant history, geology and natural features, Birdwatching the area is the boundary of two major botanical regions: town has waders, gulls and terns. the acacia/mulga area to the north and the eucalypt- around Sewage farm and water supply areas As with many dominated area to the south of Tamala. The wide range of remote or arid areas these often have interesting habitats – ocean, mangroves, islands, coastal, salt lakes, mulga and scrub - support over 165 bird species. They species not seen elsewhere in the area, such as include resident species, migratory waders and passage Shark Bay Wood Sandpiper and duck species. They are Water migrants. Many breed locally or on nearby islands. Authority properties with restricted access, but views through the fence may be possible. Shark Bay Marine Park forms a major part of the World Heritage Area, while Hamelin Pool Marine Nature Reserve is Seas, shores & islands a smaller area on the east side of the bay. Visitors include Wedge-tailed Shearwater (summer), Further information is available at www.sharkbay.org.au while winter visitors include Australasian Gannet, The only town, Denham has accommodation and services. Wilson’s Storm Petrel and perhaps Indian Yellow- Other accommodation is available at Monkey Mia, Hamelin Pool and Francois Peron National Park. Visitor fees apply to nosed Albatross. Osprey, White-bellied Sea-Eagle, reserves. A day pass is available or a holiday pass for up to gulls and terns are among the birds that breed on 4 weeks. the islands throughout the area. Try any of the local beaches between Little Lagoon and Nicholson Spit. Acknowledgements The latter is a large sand / shell bar. There is a wader Information: Nic Dunlop, Les George Local Contact: Les George (08) 9941 2217 roost just north of a few sparse mangroves on the Illustrations / photographs J McMullan and K Lightbody beach. A variety of species, along with cormorants, gulls and terns, can be found here. Contacts (See specific entries also): For more information on less accessible islands see Shark Bay World Heritage Discovery & Visitor Centre: entry at end of sites. Phone (08) 9948 1590; Email [email protected] Dept of Biodiversity, Conservation & Attractions: Boolbardie Country Club (Shark Bay Golf Course) Phone (08) 9948 2226 (Hrs Mon–Fri 8:30–4:30) Phone Jill: 9948 3224 Email available via their website. On Denham - Monkey Mia Rd, 9km from Denham. Visitors are welcome and a birdlist is available. Please respect golfers, especially on club playing Guide No 6AB Chiming Wedgebill by Heather Thorning Thorning Heather by Chiming Wedgebill days (Sat & Wed afternoons). Keep an eye out for Revised March 2018 snakes too. All content is subject to copyright ©. Vegetation includes shrubs and Queries to BirdLife Western Australia. BirdLife Western spinifex. Look for Emu, Banded Australia members are offered a variety of activities and Lapwing, Chiming Wedgebill, services including conservation and research .projects, White-browed Scrubwren, Little excursions, campouts, surveys and social activities. There Crow and honeyeaters. is also a library and books for sale at the office. To view the full range of bird guides visit the website. Banded Lapwing Australia’s voice for birds since 1901 BirdLife Australia is dedicated to achieving outstanding 2. Eagle Bluff & Lagoon conservation results for our native birds and their (approx 19km south of Denham) Access from habitats. With our specialised knowledge and the Denham-Hamelin Rd. At the bluff there is an island commitment of an Australia-wide network of volunteers off the point and a boardwalk. Osprey, Wedge-tailed and supporters, we are creating a bright future for Shearwater, oystercatchers, cormorants, terns and Australia’s birds. gulls are all possible, maybe even Rock Parrot. The birdlife.org.au Lagoon (just north of Eagle Bluff and accessed from BirdLife Western Australia the Eagle Bluff Road) is tidal, easily accessible and 167 Perry Lakes Drive, Floreat WA 6014 has some interesting birds. T 08 9383 7749 | [email protected] birds are in our nature facebook.com/BirdLifeAustralia | @BirdlifeOz Western Australia ABN 75 149 124 774 3. Little Lagoon Chiming Wedgebill, Redthroat, Chestnut Quail- A land-locked birrida, inundated by the sea several Bernier Island thrush, Banded Lapwing, Hooded Robin, Chestnut- thousands of years ago. Surrounding shrubs provide Carnarvon Mangroves rumped Thornbill, Southern Whiteface, babblers and Waders habitat for many small birds such as Australasian honeyeaters are some species you might encounter. Pipit, White-browed Scrubwren and Splendid, (a) Hamelin Pool Caravan Park: (08) 9942 5905 Dorre Island Variegated and White-winged Fairy-wrens. North West Coastal Highway hamelinpoolcaravanpark.com Accessible: Tearooms offer lunches, refreshments. Tours of the (a) from Stella Rowley Drive via unsealed 2WD track Old Telegraph Station are also offered (small fee (turnaround available) to a shelter and mangrove applies) and there is access to ancient stromatolites Dirk Hartog areas along the creek. Best birding areas are along Island Herald Bluff (oldest living fossils in the world). the creek, at the mouth of the creek or where it (b) Hamelin Station Stay: 08 9948 5145 5 joins the lagoon and along the beach south of the 4 [email protected] Peron Monkey Mia creek mouth. Look for Common Sandpiper, Sacred 3 Faure Is Purchased by Bush Heritage Australia in 2015, this Denham Kingfisher and mangrove species such as Mangrove 1 area is now managed for priority species. Over 100 Grey Fantail, Yellow White-eye, and Striated Heron. Eagle species have been recorded here, including the Bluff 2 (b) via Monkey Mia Rd for the east end of the lagoon, Useless threatened Western Grasswren. A lake provides extra where there are facilities close to a shallow, clear Loop species. pool which attracts swimmers, canoeists, fishermen 6 and sail-boarders. Australian Pied Oystercatchers Hamelin feed in the lagoon and Silver Gull is often present. Better as a coffee / lunch stop perhaps. Redthroat Tamala Mulga-Eucalypt Line 4. Francois Peron National Park National Park and camping fees apply. A large area that is accessible only by high clearance The walk leads to red sand hills and a lookout, then Further information on islands: 4WD, although Peron Homestead can be reached on to a bird hide and the beach. Allow 2 to 3 hours The following islands are not readily accessible but by 2WD. Turn-off is approx. 4km from Denham, as patience will often be needed for some of the are important wildlife reserves. along the Monkey Mia Rd. There are some excellent shyer species. Look for Western Grasswren, mangrove areas such as Big Lagoon and Herald White-winged and Variegated Fairy-wrens, Emu, Dirk Hartog, Dorre and Bernier Islands have breeding Bight, where waders may be seen. See map. Chiming Wedgebill, Southern areas for Pied Cormorant, Osprey, White-bellied Malleefowl have been reintroduced to the peninsula Scrub-robin and Crested Sea-Eagle, Australian Pied Oystercatcher, Silver Gull and can still be seen. There are several campsites Bellbird. and Caspian, Bridled & Fairy Terns. Dirk Hartog Island with limited facilities (no caravans), a small is home for the black and white form of the White- Western Grasswren interpretive centre, which includes information on winged Fairy-wren, the rare sub species of both the Project Eden conservation project. Southern Emu-wren and Variegated Fairy-wren as On the beach, a spit further 5. Monkey Mia well as a variety of raptors. to the right is worth exploring, especially in summer, Park visitor fees apply for shorebirds and terns. Bar-tailed Godwit, Common Dolphin Resort (Variety of accommodation options) Faure Island, owned and managed by Australian Greenshank, Grey Plover, both Lesser and Greater (08) 9948 1320 [email protected] Wildlife Conservancy, has been used to restock Sand Plovers, Curlew Sandpiper, Ruddy Turnstone, Visitor Centre for information: 9948 1366; open daily several nationally threatened mammals. It is a Key Terek Sandpiper, Fairy Tern and Eastern Reef Egret 7:00am-3:00. Ask for a bird list and walk trails. Biodiversity Area and annual bird surveys are carried are among possible sightings. World famous for its Bottlenose Dolphins, Monkey out to monitor the many species of seabirds and migratory shorebirds which use the mangroves, Mia also has much to offer the keen birder. Start 6. Hamelin Pool mudflats, cliffs, lagoons and heaths. by looking in the car park for Western Grasswren Hamelin Pool Caravan Park and Hamelin Station Stay and White-browed Babbler, and around the Visitor have a variety of options for accommodation and NB Some of the smaller islands in the gulfs have Centre for Australian Pelican, Pied Cormorant, White- bird-watching in this area. Casual visits on the way to Australia’s only white-bellied morph of the Wedge- plumed Honeyeater, Variegated and White-winged or from Denham are welcomed by both. For safety, if tailed Shearwater which may be confused with Fairy-wrens. stopping along the way, please do not stray beyond migrating Hutton’s or Streaked Shearwaters. An easy 3km walk across coastal dunes is an sight of your vehicle. On arrival call at reception for