Western Australia - September 2025
Dates: September 10 - 21, 2025
Leader: Max Breckenridge
E-bird
Total Species: 142 birds
Click Here to view list.
Overall Summary
Our group for this inaugural trip was made up mostly of Australian birding veterans, some with several trips to the island continent under their belts. We united at the Pan Pacific Hotel in the clean and modern capital of Western Australia, Perth. We went on to enjoy a busy nine-day exploration of the southwestern corner of this enormous state. We had an excellent time and great success on the birding front, all despite the last bit of wintry weather raking the south coast with showers and cold winds. This tour focuses primarily on seeking out the Western Australian endemics and near-endemics. We saw all but one of our targets (the Western Fieldwren was heard only), including views of the “three skulkers,” which is quite exceptional. Along with excellent birds, we had great encounters with several enigmatic marsupials and sampled some of the wonderful food and drink on offer in this unique part of Australia.
Our first afternoon of birding was spent at Herdsman Lake, where we racked up a healthy list. A Wandering Whistling-Duck had lived up to its name and wandered far south of its normal range—it was pleasantly received, along with a pair of Pink-eared Ducks and a second pair with several ducklings. Roosting Tawny Frogmouths are always a treat to see, and we had close looks at numerous other local species, including Black Swan (the Western Australia state bird), Australasian Shoveler, Yellow-billed Spoonbill, Australian Hobby, Gray Fantail, Weebill, and Western Gerygone.
We departed Perth for Narrogin the next morning, but not before enjoying a very birdy morning at Ellis Brook Valley Reserve, where the sandy coastal plain meets the forested hills on Perth’s eastern edge. Here, the desirable Red-eared Firetail was seen beautifully among many other new species. Splashes of color were everywhere, with birds and wildflowers putting on a great display—male Splendid Fairywrens and Red-capped Robins certainly drew gasps. On the road to Narrogin, we struck gold not far west of the Perth outskirts when we stopped for a roadside party of black cockatoos. Much to my surprise, they turned out to be the scarce and endangered Baudin’s (Long-billed) Black-Cockatoos! We had extended views of a trio extracting seeds from the large gumnuts of a marri tree with their uniquely adapted long upper mandibles. A flock of Red-tailed Black-Cockatoos back by the van was an added bonus to this fortuitous stop.
Our time in the wheatbelt town of Narrogin was spent primarily in the nearby Dryandra woodland. Despite blustery and occasionally wet conditions, we had a great time, with close looks at most of the specialties here. Highlights included a pair of the scarce Western Shrike-tits feeding low down, nesting Western Yellow Robins, Blue-breasted Fairywrens, Western Thornbills, Australian Ringnecks, several perched Regent Parrots, cute Purple-crowned Lorikeets (common), Dusky Woodswallows, piping Rufous Treecreepers, and a great Echidna sighting. Other mammals seen included a diurnal Yellow-footed Antechinus (a species of tiny carnivorous marsupial), mobs of Western Gray Kangaroos, a few quick Western Brush Wallabies, Common Brushtail Possums, and at least two Woylies during a spotlighting session.
Heading south from Narrogin, we traveled via Frankland River on our way to Albany, where Wayne spotted a very obliging Western Corella that stole the attention away from some antique tractors. Localized flooding meant we did not do a great deal more birding en route to Albany, other than a quick stop for a slightly distant Blue-billed Duck, where the heavens duly opened.
Once in Albany, we based ourselves at a great waterfront hotel for the next four nights and enjoyed several excellent restaurants nearby. From there, we made a number of excursions to the east, with Cheynes Beach being our primary focus for the first two mornings. Here, among the stunning coastal heathland, resides a selection of fantastic birds, including what are often referred to as “the three skulkers”—Western Bristlebird, Western Whipbird, and Noisy Scrub-bird. They are the bane of many good tour leaders, as they are frequently heard but seldom seen—particularly the Scrub-bird. Nevertheless, we persevered successfully and came away with better-than-average views of the scrub-bird and its ear-splitting song. The Western Bristlebird performed much more obligingly, and the Western Whipbird was eventually tracked down near Corackerup Nature Reserve. Skulkers aside, we added a host of other specialties to our growing list while exploring the heathland. Brush Bronzewing, White-breasted Robin, Brown Quail, and the stunning Western Spinebill were around the caravan park itself, as were several vociferous Fan-tailed Cuckoos and Shining Bronze-Cuckoos. Western Wattlebirds and White-cheeked Honeyeaters dominated the patches of flowering banksia, and after several careful checks, we eventually located the infamous Honey Possum, which fed obligingly almost at our feet. In the bay, a Southern Right Whale was observed, as were several striking Pacific Gulls and some Sooty Oystercatchers. We swapped Blue-breasted for Red-winged Fairywrens in the heathland and also encountered a pair of tiny Southern Emuwrens at close range. North of Cheynes Beach, we visited the distinctive stunted mallee habitat around Corackerup Nature Reserve and Stirling Range National Park. Memorable encounters included a confiding Southern Scrub-Robin, smart-looking Purple-gaped Honeyeaters, a darling Scarlet Robin, the scarce Square-tailed Kite, and a pair of Hooded Plovers along the edge of a saline lake.
Before leaving Albany, we checked out a nearby wader roost and had good looks at Great Knot and several Fairy Terns. The evening before, we were able to find a pair of the threatened Western Ringtail Possum nearby. Heading west, we birded along the coast near Walpole and then at the impressive Gloucester Tree near Pemberton. Here, among the towering karri trees, were tens of Purple-crowned Lorikeets, White-breasted Robins, several families of Red-winged Fairywrens, and a pair of gorgeous Western Rosellas. An Emu beside the road was a nice way to cap off the day as we rolled into our beautiful lakeside lodge for the night.
Our final full day was highlighted by a very successful morning visit to Cape Leeuwin, where an obliging little flock of Rock Parrots was well received. A flock of Baudin’s Black-Cockatoos beside the road was also a welcome sighting after seeing mostly Carnaby’s Black-Cockatoos in the preceding days. We made it back to Perth in the early afternoon and enjoyed one final meal at an excellent Peruvian restaurant in town. It had been a great tour in fantastic company, with everything running very smoothly in this wonderful part of a great country.
Day-by-Day Summary
September 12 - (AM) Perth; (PM) Herdsman Lake
September 13 - (AM) Ellis Brook Valley Reserve, Wandering; (PM) Dryandra, Narrogin, Dryandra (spotlighting)
September 14 - (AM) Dryandra; (PM) Foxes Lair NR
September 15 - (AM) Dryandra, Kojonup; (PM) Frankland River, Nunijup Lake, Albany
September 16 - (AM) Cheynes Beach, Arpenteur NR; (PM) Cheynes Beach
September 17 - (AM) Cheynes Beach, Arpenteur NR; (PM) Cheynes Beach, Lake Seppings
September 18 - (AM) Boxwood Hill, Corackerup NR, Stirling Ranges NP; (PM) Bluff Knoll Cafe, Salt River Road
September 19 - (AM) Little Grove - Rushy Point, Torndirrup NP, Ocean Beach; (PM) Walpole, Pemberton - Gloucester Tree
September 20 - (AM) Cape Leeuwin; (PM) Capel, Perth
September 21 - (AM) Departures
Wildlife Seen:
MAMMALS:
Short-beaked Echidna (Tachyglossus aculeatus) - Excellent looks at an adult on our first afternoon in Dryandra.
Yellow-footed Antechinus (Antechinus flavipes) - Brief, but clear views of an adult scurrying around fallen timber on our first afternoon in Dryandra.
Southern Brown Bandicoot "Quenda" (Isoodon obesulus) - A single seen briefly beside the track at Rushy Point near Albany.
Common Brushtail Possum (Trichosurus vulpecula) - Good looks at two adults while spotlighting in Dryandra.
Honey Possum "Noolbenger" (Tarsipes rostratus) - After much searching and waiting at several different stands of flowering banksia, we eventually had amazing views of an adult (with joeys in the pouch) in Arpenteur NR near Cheynes Beach.
Western Ringtail Possum (Pseudocheirus occidentalis) - Great looks at a confiding pair in a tree beside the road while spotlighting near Albany.
Brush-tailed Bettong "Woylie" (Bettongia penicillata) - Poor views of at least two individuals hopping away while spotlighting at Dryandra.
Western Gray Kangaroo (Macropus fuliginosus) - Commonly seen most days of the trip, sometimes into the hundreds.
Western Brush Wallaby (Macropus irma) - At least two different individuals seen briefly crossing the road at Dryandra on consecutive days.
Red Fox (I) (Vulpes vulpes) - A single crossing the road near Narrogin one morning.
European Rabbit (I) (Oryctolagus cuniculus) - Singles at various locations.
Southern Right Whale (Eubalaena australis) - Distant, but clear views of an adult surfacing numerous times in the bay on our first morning at Cheynes Beach.