A Regional Group of BirdLife WA since 2005 Cape ...birdswa.com.au/Branches/CapeToCape/Newsletter/Newsletter Issue … · a charter is made by the tour owner/operator. the birds of

A Regional Group of BirdLife WA since 2005 Cape Naturaliste to Cape Leeuwin

Issue 63 March 2020

Black-browed Albatross, south west of Cape Leeuwin – Photo Blake Muller

Note – This issue is being sent earlier than usual to keep readers up to date with developments because of the coronavirus risk

CONTENTS Page Program 2 From the Editor 3 Hoodie Happenings 3 Cockatoo Capers 4 Friends of Carbunup Reserve 5 Seabird Trip Report 6-7 Two Oceans Watch 8 Capes Osprey Watch 9 Sightings 9 Cape to Cape Chatter 10-12 Birding beyond the Capes 13

16 March 2020 In response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) risk,

advice has been provided by the Executive Committee of BirdLife Western Australia and our national office,

that organised regional group gatherings and activities should not occur until further notice. All organised activities occurred earlier this month.

We do have tentative charters advertised. If you book on these you will be kept up to date. The decision to proceed

with a charter is made by the tour owner/operator. We want to continue to read about the birds of the capes

so do send in articles, photographs and sightings for the next issue. Keep well and happy.

Warmest regards to all our readers – Christine Wilder

Whistling Kite (juvenile), Molloy Island – Photo Dean McFaull

Cape to Cape Bird Group PROGRAM

GREAT COCKY COUNT (GCC) SUNSET - SUNDAY 5 APRIL 2020

Instructions as to whether the GCC is to go ahead will be provided by the organisers of the count

Note: All the local excursions/campouts/meetings are for BirdLife Australia members and the general public. The leader will always be present at the meeting place and will decide whether or not to proceed. In the event of threatening weather, those planning to attend an excursion (particularly if travelling some distance) are welcome to check conditions with the leader prior to the excursion (use individual mobile contact if given).

Convenor – Christine Wilder [email protected] Deputy Convenor – Jennifer Hunt

Past Issues Visit ‘birdlife western australia publications’ Go to ‘Regional Group Newsletters’ - ‘Capes’ Website – http://birdlife.org.au/locations/ birdlife-western-australia/publications-wa

Right – Galahs – Photo Michael Richardson

Photographs in this publication are the property of individual photographers or BirdLife Australia. Permission is necessary to reproduce any photographs.

Cape to Cape Bird Group no group activities planned for April

Is your name on the list? LEEUWIN MARINE CHARTERS

Seabird trips from the Augusta Boat Harbour (weather dependent)

Next trip tentatively planned for 18 April (at the discretion of the owner/operator)

Bookings: [email protected]

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From the Editor

Representing BirdLife Western Australia

Living with Wildlife Day display, Augusta – Photo Mark Pierra

March This month leads into the Great Cocky Count (GCC) in early April. Registrations have closed and organisers of this year’s count will let cocky counters know if it will still go ahead in our region.

Meanwhile some of us have been out searching for new cockatoo night roosts. This can be a time-consuming exercise, as it may take several nights before birds are located roosting somewhere in the neighbourhood, and they may not be found in the same place on consecutive nights. Still it is all good fun and for a good purpose.

At the ‘Living with Wildlife Day’ in Augusta, local contacts were made with residents living in areas with possible black-cockatoo roosts, so it was well worth chatting. It was good to meet others who will keep a lookout for Brush Bronzewings. Grahame Feletti and I recently checked around Boranup/Jarrahdene with no success. Here’s hoping these elusive pigeons will be photographed somewhere in the capes this year.

The coronavirus outcome is an unknown at this stage, but I remain optimistic it will be resolved as soon as possible to enable us all to get on with our lives and our environmental work as volunteers, so important for our mental well-being and for the birds.

Christine Wilder

Hooded Plover family, Bob’s Hollow – Photo Jane Scott

Hoodie Happenings And other shorebirds

8 February Happy hoodies indeed, and I was too, when I found this little family at Bobs Hollow!! Three nearly fledged chicks – they took a short flight (50m maybe) from the sand onto the rocks. They seemed very at peace with the world and hopefully should be fine. No tags though .... I wonder if someone will find yellow and blue tags somewhere else?

It does show how lucky you have to be though - when I walked north all along from Contos, there was no sign of any birds anywhere except one Australian Pied Oystercatcher, but when I turned around, there they were half way back along Bobs Hollow beach, along with a Sooty Oystercatcher, a Pied Cormorant and a Crested Tern.

Jane Scott

9 March Came across a hoody party yesterday at Contos! 9 adults and 3 juveniles. Have entered details on the BirdLife beach nesting birds portal. The birds were at the northern end of Contos Beach. They moved to the waterline and some birds did crazy jumping/spinning movements repeatedly, lifting up their feathers. I can only count 11 birds in the photo but there were definitely 12 birds. 12 is a record for me I think. So lovely to see.

Natalie Bell

Pictured – 11 of the 12 Hooded Plovers at Contos Beach

Photo Natalie Bell ____________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________

If you see Hooded Plovers on any beach please report them as soon as possible, especially if you find a nest or adults/chicks. Also check for leg flags – Last year two birds were released – one with a yellow BA flag, one with a blue

BA flag. BirdLife WA [email protected] (08) 9383 7749 3

Baudin’s Black-Cockatoos – Photo Claire Timmons

10 March Yesterday at 6.45pm a noisy group of White-tailed Black-Cockatoos gathered in trees behind our house in Augusta. We saw five but there were more. Had the appearance of a pre-roost gathering, then a few minutes later they flew quietly north, over trees behind the primary school.

13 March A big group of Black-Cockatoos around us at about 9.15am, in trees over the road, even settling in our Bullich. Up to 100 birds then flew, circled and departed for the industrial area. Photo below is of about half the mob and that is not a Palm Cockatoo even though photographed in a palm tree. We noted a small raptor circling higher in that same direction. We have neighbours complaining about these noisy and destructive birds and lamenting that they are protected! One said "You're a greenie, can't you get them to move away from here". Welcome to Augusta (‘Disgusta’).

Roger Crabtree

There are actually huge flocks of Carnaby’s Black-Cockatoos flying about the Meelup Farmhouse whenever I have been there.

Jane WebbWare

White-tailed Black-Cockatoos, Augusta – Photo Roger Crabtree

Baudin’s Black-Cockatoo, Augusta (note the raised feathers)

Photo Roger Crabtree

7 March At dusk I checked along a walk trail in Augusta where I found seven Baudin’s Black-Cockatoos (including one young begging) feeding on the huge honkey nuts in the marris on the road verge. I checked the introduced eucalypts by the housing sub-division, as Black-Cockatoos can choose night roosts in introduced eucalypts. Heard Red-tailed Black-Cockatoos and Baudin’s Black-Cockatoos calls coming from the direction of the northern end of the airstrip but did not follow them as the birds flew across paddocks in the direction of the Leeuwin ridge when the sun was setting. 8 March Invited Jenny Kikeros to investigate the most likely roost site. It was around 6.45pm that one short call was heard, then eight Baudin’s Black-Cockatoos, including one begging youngster, pre-roosted in the eucalypts, but had not moved on in darkness by 7.30pm, so declared a night roost. 9 March Jenny and I checked the roost site and no Black-Cockatoos heard or seen. Several Galahs (one begging monotonously) heard roosting in the same place. 10 March Full moon. 12 March 32 Baudin’s Black-Cockatoos at a pre-roost on the west side of Leeuwin Road. This flock then flew west towards the ridge and I flew home for dinner!

Christine Wilder

Carnaby’s Black-Cockatoos drinking at a dam at Meelup Farmhouse

Photo Jane WebbWare

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● Friends of the Carbunup Reserve ● Thursday 12 March

The group on the powerline track – Photo Christine Wilder

Twelve members of the birding group met at the dieback station in Vickery Street, to carry out two 20-minute surveys in the Carbunup Reserve. This summer has been noticeably dry and there appeared to be very little available blossom. Some unburnt honkey nuts were seen on the ground in the burnt section.

Only two Red Wattlebirds were counted in Carbunup on the day. In the February newsletter I reported 237 Red Wattlebirds migrating in a northerly direction in Augusta, possibly coinciding with the finish of marri flowering, and now there are no familiar calls of wattlebirds in my street.

Our first survey was conducted in the area west of the powerline, which had a prescribed burn in October 2019. Nine species were counted during the survey and a Common Bronzewing was seen in that section after the survey was completed.

The second survey was conducted in an area west of the Bussell Highway. It was a little later in the morning and there were not many birds calling at all.

Thanks to Janean Robinson and Adrian van den Ouweland for their hospitality and an informative morning tea with volunteers from St. John Ambulance giving a defibrillator demonstration.

Christine Wilder

Walking north and parallel to the highway – Photo Christine Wilder

Carbunup Reserve – Photos Janean Robinson

Bird List 1 – Carbunup Reserve – 12 March 8.48am 33.70171S 115.18472E

White-tailed Black-Cockatoo 1 Australian Ringneck 8 Red-capped Parrot 1 Western Gerygone 1 Inland Thornbill 1 Red Wattlebird 1 Grey Butcherbird 1 Australian Magpie 4 Grey Fantail 6

Bird List 2 – Carbunup Reserve – 12 March 9.20am 33.70267S 115.18410E

Australian Ringneck 3 Red-capped Parrot 2 Western Gerygone 1 Red Wattlebird 1 Grey Fantail 3 Australian Raven 1

Interesting nest (sideways magpie?) – Photo Alfred Lau

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Black-browed Albatross – Photo Jann Lane

Trip Report – 14 March LEEUWIN MARINE CHARTERS

Seal Island, the Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse, into open ocean in the south west,

returning via Flinders Island and St. Alouarn Island

This trip was brilliant with a very relaxed group of eight birders on board with a small number of photographers, and the weather was co-operating too after some big winds during the week.

As per usual the birds arrived in similar order – firstly the Australasian Gannets flew in close – really spectacular birds, then came shearwaters and then albatrosses. Most of the shearwaters looked like Flesh-footed Shearwaters with four Black-browed Albatrosses and one Indian Yellow-nosed Albatross. A single shearwater flew round the boat before heading off – Hutton’s Shearwater.

On Flinders Island two compact groups of shorebirds were seen moving back and forth in time with each wave swirling onto the rock platform.

The Bridled Terns were flying in loose groups around St. Alouarn Island and a White-faced Heron roosted on a rock platform close to the island shoreline.

Thanks to photographers Blake Muller, Wendy Eiby, Georgia Clifford and Jann Lane. And as always thanks to Dave Muller and Blake Muller for a very safe and comfortable journey in a spectacular location.

Christine Wilder

Seabird Trip from Augusta Boat Harbour and return 14 March Bird species (Alphabetrical Order) Australasian Gannet 6 Adults, 3 Juveniles Australian Pied Oystercatcher 4 (flying over harbour) Black-browed Albatross 4 (2 Adults, 2 Immatures) Bridled Tern ≥200+ Crested Tern 41 Flesh-footed Shearwater 25 Hutton’s Shearwater 1 Indian Yellow-nosed Albatross 1 Pacific Gull 4 (3 Adults, 1 Juvenile) Pied Cormorant 2 Silver Gull 9 Sooty Oystercatcher 3 White-faced Heron 1 (on St. Alouarn Island) Awaiting photo identification of shorebirds on Flinders Island (results in next issue) Fur Seals 50 approx.

Group on board ‘Diversion’ – Photo Christine Wilder

Looking at shearwaters – Photo Christine Wilder

Left - The thrill of sea-birding – Photo Jann Lane

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Black-browed Albatrosses and shearwaters Photos Blake Muller

Australasian Gannets Terns and gulls on Flinders Island

Photos Jann Lane

THIS NEWSLETTER IS BEING SENT OUT EARLY PHOTOGRAPHS FROM THIS SEABIRD TRIP

FROM OTHER PHOTOGRAPHERS WILL BE INCLUDED IN THE

NEXT ISSUE

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Two Oceans Watch

Albatrosses and shearwaters on Augusta fishing charter

Photos Dave Muller

8 March - Dave Muller of Leeuwin Marine Charters reported six Black-browed Albatrosses, two Indian Yellow-nosed Albatrosses and a number of shearwaters seen on an Augusta fishing charter.

Pacific Black Ducks at Eagle Bay – Photo Jane WebbWare

10 March - These ducks have been living on the beach at Eagle Bay for the past three or four years and can be seen year-round.

Jane WebbWare

White-faced Heron, Canal Rocks – Photos Ian Wiese

I photographed this White-faced Heron about half-way between Yallingup and Canal Rocks. I was surprised to see it so far out to sea, I don’t know if this is normal. In the second shot you can see Canal Rocks in the background. I was photographing sharks as the salmon season is with us.

Ian Wiese 13 March Hidi and I went to Sugarloaf Rock. It was extremely windy, and the scope was nearly blowing away! The Red-tailed Tropicbird was a miss, as expected, however, we saw two Australasian Gannets. The picture quality is low due to distance and the wind.

Alfred Lau

Australasian Gannet, Sugarloaf Rock – Photo Alfred Lau

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Capes Osprey Watch

Eastern Osprey in nest tree at Siesta Park – Photo Lulu Paxton

First sighting – 12 March – Quindalup Karen Liversidge and I observed two ospreys in Quindalup. One osprey was on the nest in a Norfolk Pine and the other on the telephone pole. Very used to having people around as I parked my car right underneath and it was still there when we left. The one in the tree is possibly a new fledgling from the last season. It did have a little fly around and then came back to the tree. The birds were quite noisy so we heard them before we spotted them.

Second sighting – 12 March – Siesta Park One osprey at the nest in the Norfolk Pine in Siesta Park. We could see the nest from the car park but only spotted the osprey once we walked towards the drain. It did nothing but sit there for half an hour staring at the nest.

Lulu Paxton

Turner Caravan Park osprey roost site monitoring Roost site check approx. 5pm 9/3/20 – 4 ospreys 10/3/20 – 4 ospreys 11/3/20 – 4 ospreys 12/3/20 – 2 ospreys (juveniles) 13/3/20 – 4 ospreys 17/3/20 – 1 osprey (juvenile) 18/3/20 – 2 ospreys (juveniles)

Christine Wilder

Eastern Osprey on telegraph pole at Quindalup – Photo Lulu Paxton

Right – Eastern Osprey in nest at Quindalup – Photo Lulu Paxton

Western Rosella – Photo Michael Richardson

● Sightings ●

Thank you for sending articles, photos, unusual/interesting sightings from the capes region (or beyond) for inclusion in newsletters. All contributions are acknowledged. To ensure megabytes are kept to a minimum when attaching to emails, please send photos as jpeg (NOT MORE THAN 1MB EACH), maximum three photos each email or if large numbers of photographs send via Dropbox. DON’T EMBED photos/articles in email but send as attachment, articles preferably in Word. Confirm photographer. Email to: [email protected]

Christine Wilder - Editor

Here are the reported sightings:

Whimbrel 1, on rocks by Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse, 10/3/20 – Christine Wilder, Laurie Sorensen and Carroll Bryan Common Sandpiper 3, Quarry Bay, Cape Leeuwin, 11/3/20 – Jo and Paul Mincham Ruddy Turnstone 4, on rocks by Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse, 10/3/20 – Christine Wilder, Laurie Sorensen and Carroll Bryan White-bellied Sea-Eagle 1, juvenile, flying low over corner of Silverwood Road and Bussell Highway, Metricup, 12/3/20 – Christine Wilder Collared Sparrowhawk 1, flying out from Colourpatch, Augusta, circling, dipping close to the water in channel and flying to East Augusta (unusual to see), 16/3/20 – Christine Wilder Rock Parrot Two groups of around 12 birds in each group, Quarry Bay, 11/3/20 – Jo and Paul Mincham

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Juvenile Whistling Kite – Photo Dean McFaull

Whistling Kite encounter

25 February Had a great close encounter with a Whistling Kite (juvenile). It flew up, startled from the ground, where it appeared to have been eating something, landing in several well-lit and easy to photograph positions. I think it really wanted to get its photo taken. So graceful and quiet. I was blessed to get interesting photos even though I was walking the dogs.

Dean McFaull

Western Spinebill nest diary continued …

3 March Nightfall and all well, two healthy little chicks and mum sitting in the nest with them. This morning, no parents to be seen and two dead chicks in the nest. One was so near to fledging! We’re devastated. I wondered if it was possible something could have taken mum and the chicks died of cold overnight?

I’ve since seen the mum. She has a feed at the fuchsia, then flies over to check the nest and flies off. I’m hypothesising that with the very sudden finish of the marri flowering, they were struggling to keep the food up. There were longer and longer gaps between feeding over the previous day or so. Chicks were often begging. Maybe they called it quits. My initial gut feeling that it was opportunistic, but way too late in the season, was right perhaps? Our garden is totally deserted by birds with no marri and not much else to eat. This time last week it was like an aviary! I’m not used to the quiet, freaks me out!

Marg Moir

Opinions, statements or views in this newsletter are those of the Editor or individual contributors and may not be those of BirdLife Australia. Every effort has been made to check the accuracy of content. If you notice any errors or inaccuracies please contact the Editor.

Juvenile Whistling Kite – Photo Dean McFaull

Common Bronzewings, Augusta garden – Photo Roger Crabtree

Australian Ringneck, Margaret River – Photo Michael Richardson

BirdLife Australia’s ethical birding guidelines promote the welfare of birds and their environment, where observers are encouraged to practice minimum disturbance to nesting birds and birds in general, and be aware of the impact photography, camera flash and playing bird call apps can have on birds.

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Tawny Frogmouth family near Hairy Marron Café

Margaret River – Photo Jill Cornes

Birds in Margaret River, Busselton and Vasse

Here is a photograph of the Tawny Frogmouth family we saw near the Hairy Marron Café at Margaret River on 12 February.

We also saw three Red-kneed Dotterel at the Busselton bird hide (near the Pioneer Museum) on the 14 January and have sent that photograph too although it is a bit distant.

There are still seven Banded Lapwing at Vasse, quite close to the road or on the sandy cleared area. We always look out for them.

Jill and Roger Cornes

Red-kneed Dotterels with Pied Stilt – Photo Jill Cornes

Pacific Gull – Photo Brian Trainer

The Red Wattlebird appears at the feeder and

New Holland Honeyeaters disappear Taken in Margaret River garden – Photos Terry Scott

Previously reported in the Cape to Cape Bird Group newsletter issue 61 page 13: The very tiny ‘Tawny Frogmouth’ chick was picked up by Dean McFaull. According to carers Kerry and Dave Bell (FAWNA), the tiny chick, named ‘Groucho’, was a divine bird to raise, and grew up to be a very healthy Australian Owlet-Nightjar, released on 24 February. Dean has a million photos of ‘Groucho’ and Leoni and Dean shared the journey from beginning to release (see photo below).

‘Groucho’

Single frame photo from video taken by Dean McFaull

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Birds seen on a trip on the Blackwood River

(Augusta River Tours)

On the 2 March I took a trip up the Blackwood River from town jetty to Molloy Island and return on Graeme Challis’s Augusta River Tours ‘Dolphin Discoverer’. The trip was very enjoyable because of Graeme Challis’s excellent knowledge of the river and its wildlife.

Christine Wilder Bird count from 2:00pm-4:00pm:

Black Swan 803 Pacific Black Duck 4 Musk Duck 12 Australian Pied Oystercatcher 13 Red-necked Avocet 11 Grey Plover 16 Sanderling 20 Silver Gull 98 Pacific Gull 2 Caspian Tern 5 Crested Tern 18 Australian Pelican 138 Eastern Great Egret 3 White-faced Heron 1 Australian White Ibis 7 Yellow-billed Spoonbill 16 Little Pied Cormorant 9 Great Cormorant 2 Little Black Cormorant 71 Pied Cormorant 12 Eastern Osprey 4 White-bellied Sea-Eagle 1 Whistling Kite 2

White-fronted Chat (Left) and Spotless Crake (Above)

Waste-Water Treatment Plant, Busselton – Photos Mick Cross

Crested Tern – Photo Brian Trainer

One good tern …

This Crested Tern was saved by a local fisherman from hooks and fishing line. It has befriended him and comes up to him for a fish...so cool.

Brian Trainer

Crested Tern and fish – Photo Brian Trainer

Left – Nearly fledged Hooded Plover chicks, Bobs Hollow Photo Jane Scott

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BIRDING BEYOND THE CAPES Wherever you go there are birds to watch

Wedge-tailed Eagles Recently my son spotted a pair of Wedge-tailed Eagles feeding on a kangaroo carcass in a paddock out towards Nannup. We set up a camera nearby and here's the results.

Terry Scott

Wedge-tailed Eagles on carcass Photos Terry Scott and Lloyd Scott

Rock Parrot, Bremer Bay – Photo Dean McFaull

Cape Arid and Cheynes Beach Chris Tate and I recently went on a bird watching trip to Poison Creek, Cape Arid, looking unsuccessfully for Western Ground Parrots. On the road through to Balladonia, it was terrible, as there had been fires through that area earlier on. When we went through Esperance we visited a couple of salt lakes and were amazed at the amount of Hooded Plovers in the area. We counted fifty in one group. According to the locals they can be seen in numbers of hundreds. We also saw them at Cape Arid, on salt lakes not on beaches. It would be interesting to know what the Hoodie count was around Esperance this year.

Another interesting place we visited was Cheynes Beach where we saw lots of birds, even heard and saw a Noisy Scrub-Bird. No photos, but we did get some good shots of Brush Bronzewings.

Mick Cross

Wilson’s Storm-Petrel, Bremer Canyon – Photo Dean McFaull

Wandering Albatross, Bremer Canyon – Photo Dean McFaull

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