Endemic Birds of Southwest WA

Starting and ending in Perth we visit the best birding and wildlife spots in the southwestern corner of Australia. On the way to spectacular Cape Leeuwin we bird at various inland and coastal wetlands. A full day at the Cape and surrounding heathland and forest allows us to enjoy the scenery and look for several of the endemics and other birds. We then visit the enchanting karri forests of Greater Beedelup NP and towering tingle trees at Walpole. Here we explore the canopy of the forest from the elevated walkway at Valley of the Giants Treetop walk. Beaches and inlets reveal waterbirds and waders as we travel east to Cheynes beach. A special place, this small coastal settlement is surrounded by national park and heaving with birds and wildlife. Travelling back inland we visit the dramatic Stirling Ranges and continue to the Dryandra National Park, home to many woodland birds and the elusive numbat. From here it’s back to Perth via a couple special spots.

Among many other species, we hope to see the sixteen endemic birds occurring in Southwest WA, namely Baudin's and Carnaby's Black Cockatoos, Red-capped Parrot, Western Corella, Western Rosella, Noisy Scrub-bird, Western Bristlebird, Western Wattlebird, Gilbert's Honeyeater, Western Thornbill, Red-winged Fairy-wren, White-breasted Robin, Western Fieldwren, Western Spinebill, Western Shrike-tit and Red-eared Firetail. We also hope to find some near-endemics best seen in WA like Rock Parrot, Rufous Treecreeper, Western Yellow Robin, Spotted Scrubwren and Western Whipbird (Black-throated). The latter, formerly a distinct species, has recently been lumped back with other Western Whipbird sub-species occurring further east.

Mammals we look for include Western Grey Kangaroo, Western Ringtail Possum, Qenda (Southern Brown Bandicoot), Quokka, Numbat, Echidna and Honey Possum.