1. VASSE RIVER DELTA BIRD HIDE Birdwatching around Busselton Parking and toilets are available at Rotary Park on The Busselton area is an excellent one for birding Causeway Rd in the centre of Busselton. Cross the with its great range of habitats - forest, heath, Birdwatching Vasse River via the old railway walking bridge to wetlands and ocean - where over 200 species have Arthur and Norah Breeden Park. been recorded. 41 of these are included on lists of Once over the Vasse River, take the footpath along species protected by international agreement. around Busselton Peel Tce to the Busselton Pioneer Museum. There Twelve of the fifteen species endemic to the south- is a well-hidden pathway immediately beyond the west of Western Australia can be found here; ten are museum fence, along the Vasse River to the Pioneer common or moderately common. Cove Bird Hide where over 60 species have been seen, including Blue-billed and Pink-eared Duck, Local Contacts Australasian Shoveler and Nankeen Night-Heron. Cape to Cape Bird Group From the bird hide cross the grassy area to the reed (Christine 0427 312 848) AUSTRALIA beds behind houses at the end of Carey Street where Australian Reed-Warbler, Little Grassbird, City of Busselton Buff-banded Rail, Australian Spotted Crake and Spotless Crake, Yellow-billed Spoonbill and Purple Swamphen may be seen. Acknowledgements: Please respect the privacy of Illustrations / photographs by John Anderson, Judy residents and watch out Blyth, Alan Collins, Pam Free, Frank O’Connor, Susan for Tiger Snakes Tingay. Guide No 22AB; Revised June 2014. All content is subject to copyright ©. Yellow-billed Spoonbill Queries to BirdLife Western Australia. 2. VASSE & WONNERUP ESTUARIES BirdLife Western Australia members are offered These estuaries vary from fresh to brackish a variety of activities and services including water. The area is a RAMSAR listed site and a Key conservation and research projects, excursions, Biodiversity Area (KBA). Up to 33,000 birds and campouts, surveys and social activities. There is also 60 species have been recorded at times. Interesting a library and books for sale at the office. To view the Maris Lauva by Shoveller Australian sightings include Black-tailed Godwit, Wood full range of bird guides visit the website. Sandpiper and Pacific Golden Plover. Black Bittern was recorded here historically but is still possible. Low, dense, fringing vegetation provides a breeding refuge for many species of waterfowl. In the swamps Australia’s voice for birds since 1901 nearby ibises, egrets and Yellow-billed Spoonbill BirdLife Australia is dedicated to achieving outstanding breed while Black Swan breeds at the northern conservation results for our native birds and their end of the Wonnerup Estuary. You should also see habitats. With our specialised knowledge and the commitment of an Australia-wide network of volunteers some of the following: Australian Pelican, Little and supporters, we are creating a bright future Egret, Nankeen Night-Heron, Osprey, White-bellied for Australia’s birds. Sea-Eagle, Swamp Harrier, Red-necked Avocet and Whiskered Tern. Little Grassbird, though elusive, will often be heard calling from dense shrubs and reeds. birdlife.org.au From Rotary Park travel eastwards along Peel BirdLife Western Australia 167 Perry Lakes Drive, Floreat WA 6014 Terrace which soon becomes Layman Road so that T 08 9383 7749 | [email protected] birds are in our nature Vasse Estuary is on your right all the way. facebook.com/BirdLifeAustralia | @BirdlifeOz WesternAUSTRA AustraliaLIA ABN 75 149 124 774 2A LAYMAN PICNIC AREA – MALBUP CREEK By continuing along Layman Road and crossing the 4B estuary near Lockville House, you will reach Capel Wonnerup House (National Trust) on the left. 4A Approximately 100 m beyond this is Layman Picinic 4C Area car park. The picnic area is among Tuarts, which shelter many species of bush-birds. Across the road Dunsborough 2 Tuart3 Dr from the picnic area car park is a path which leads to the Malbup Bird Hide; especially good when water Yallingup Layman Rd 2A Caves Rd 2 levels are at their optimum. The hide overlooks 5 Busselton 1 Abba River Malbup Creek where it joins the Abba River and the Bussell Hwy Vasse Estuary. Busselton Bypass Queen Elizabeth Rd Take mosquito repellent and beware of Tiger Snakes in the area. 6 Vasse Hwy Vasse River Caves Rd Caves Bussell Hwy Carbunup River Wood Sandpiper 4 LEEUWIN-NATURALISTE NATIONAL PARK 4B CAPE NATURALISTE This park comprises sections of the 80 km coastal This area, 13 km north-west of Dunsborough, is a strip between Cape Naturaliste and Cape Leeuwin. good place in winter to watch for seabirds. Southern The coast is noted for steep cliffs and rolling surf. Giant-Petrel, Indian Yellow-nosed Albatross, Flesh- 3 LUDLOW TUART FOREST Banksia - Jarrah – Marri woodlands dominate with footed Shearwater and Australasian Gannet are a Rottnest Teatree common on the coastal cliffs. few of the species recorded. Other birds to be seen This can be reached by continuing south along are Western Spinebill, Tawny-crowned Honeyeater, Layman Road and turning left into Tuart Drive. Southern Emu-wren and Red-eared Firetail. Alternatively, from Rotary Park, near the Vasse River Bridge, drive along Causeway Road to the roundabout. Turn left onto Bussell Highway. Western Yellow Robin 4C SUGARLOAF ROCK Approximately 6 km from Busselton turn left into Tuart Drive. There are several roads and tracks off During summer, Red-tailed tropicbirds may be the bitumen which provide access to the forest. Look observed very occasionally from the lookout on the for Whistling Kite, Collared Sparrowhawk, Splendid mainland. Breeding birds are monitored by DPaW Fairy-wren, Spotted Pardalote, Western Gerygone, staff but there are concerns with people disturbing Inland Thornbill, Scarlet Robin and Grey Butcherbird. the site by swimming across to the island. Please report details of this behaviour (date, time, number 4A MEELUP - CASTLE ROCK - EAGLE BAY of people, photo, car rego) to Busselton DPaW office 9752 5555. Along the access road to Cape Naturaliste there are picnic areas, roads and tracks to explore. One In the winter look out for seabirds including of these, Meelup Road, should provide sightings of Australasian Gannet and Indian Yellow-nosed Western Gerygone Western Rosella, White-breasted and Western Yellow Albatross. This is also a good place for Nankeen Robin, Golden Whistler and Splendid Kestrel and Southern Emu-wren and at certain times, Fairy-wren. This stretch of coast is also good for dolphins and whales may be seen close to shore. seabirds, especially after winter storms. 5. Yallingup Bird List Australasian Darter M Little Pied Cormorant C From the main car park at the beach, a short walk Emu U Great Cormorant M up Valley Road will take you to the Ghost Trail, Little Black Cormorant C along Yallingup Brook. Please do not access private Stubble Quail U Pied Cormorant M property further on (approx 100 m uphill from the Brown Quail U bridge on the trail). Chestnut Teal Australian Pelican M Musk Duck U Black Bittern R There are several short walks around Yallingup, Freckled Duck R White-necked Heron U including sections of the Cape to Cape Track – try Black Swan C Great Egret M IA exploring Torpedo and Quenda Tracks for Southern Australian Shelduck C Cattle Egret R IA Emu-wren, Red-eared Firetail, Western Spinebill, Australian Wood Duck C White-faced Heron C White-bellied Sea-Eagle White-breasted Robin and Western Rosella. Pink-eared Duck C Little Egret M Australasian Shoveler U Eastern Reef Egret U IA Grey Teal C Nankeen Night-Heron U Chestnut Teal R Glossy Ibis U IA Red-eared Firetail Northern Mallard R Australian White Ibis C Pacific Black Duck C Straw-necked Ibis C Hardhead U Royal Spoonbill R Blue-billed Duck U # Yellow-billed Spoonbill M 6. Ambergate Reserve This 75ha reserve of remnant Banksia – Jarrah – Marri Red-tailed Tropicbird R Osprey M woodland, 10km from Busselton, is jointly managed Black-shouldered Kite M N by Busselton Naturalists Club and Geographe Australasian Grebe M Square-tailed Kite U Catchment Community Nursery. It has a 4km walk Hoary-headed Grebe M White-bellied Sea-Eagle M IA Great Crested Grebe R Whistling Kite M trail covering four sections, each of which is burnt Tawny Frogmouth on an 8 – 10 year cycle to maintain ecological health Brown Goshawk U and keep fuel loads reasonably low. Drive south on Rock Dove C * Collared Sparrowhawk U Queen Elizabeth Avenue from the Busselton Bypass, Laughing Dove M * Swamp Harrier M cross over Ambergate Road and continue to the car Spotted Dove R * Wedge-tailed Eagle M park at Doyle Road. This reserve is good for birds Common Bronzewing M Little Eagle M of prey. Other species to look for include Southern Brush Bronzewing M Nankeen Kestrel M Emu-wren, Singing Honeyeater, Golden Whistler and Crested Pigeon U Brown Falcon U Regent Parrot. Australian Hobby U Red-necked Avocet Tawny Frogmouth M Peregrine Falcon U OSP Australian Owlet-nightjar R Purple Swamphen M Buff-banded Rail U Wilson’s Storm-Petrel U IA Baillon’s Crake U Southern Emu-wren Black-browed Albatross U T IA Australian Spotted Crake U Shy Albatross U T IA Spotless Crake R Indian Yellow-nosed Albatross M T IA Black-tailed Native-hen R Southern Giant-Petrel M IA Dusky Moorhen M Please use the footbath and the Flesh-footed Shearwater M IA Eurasian Coot C Phytofighter, installed near the interpretive shelter, to Little Shearwater U help prevent the spread of dieback. White-headed Petrel U Australian Pied Oystercatcher U Little Penguin R Sooty Oystercatcher U As you drive through farmland, keep an eye Black-winged Stilt C out for species which prefer more open areas, such Australasian Gannet M Banded Stilt M N as Banded Lapwing.