VOL. 11 (Q) DECEMBER 19!.16 247 AUSTRALIAN BIRD WATCHER 1986, 11,247-257 Notes on Birds of the Wittenoom Area, Western Australia 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' -s-..,. lu lt?ERSt.t:;.-- R..q"V. L_j G'«' .N' ~I) -$ 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, Hooley Station, 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 Mulga Downs Station. 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.