RUDDY TURNSTONE (Australia)

Photographed on Rottnest Island, Western Australia April 2015

(Already 269)          RUDDY TURNSTONE               Arenaria interpres

Australia                (404)

Also commonly known as Turnstone, even though there are two types of Turnstones. It breeds in the northern parts of Eurasis and North America and migrates to countries in the southern hemisphere. 22-24 cm. In Australia found around the coastline of the mainland and Tasmania.

MUTE SWAN (Australia)

Photographed in Northam, Western Australia April 2015

(Already 270)          MUTE SWAN           Cygnus olor

Australia                (403)

A native to much of Europe and Asia, and infrequent visitor to northern Africa; introduced to North America, Australia and southern Africa. In Australia range is Northam Weir, Avon River, WA and reported at Lake Leake (TAS). 125-170 cm. Called 'mute' as not as noisy as other swans. The total native population of swans is about 500,000, of these 350,000 are in the former Soviet Union, 22,000 in the UK. For many centuries in Britain swans were breed for food, the owners would mark or brand the beak or feet and these marks were registered with the crown. A Royal Swanherder was appointed and any birds not branded were considered property of the crown.

WESTERN CORELLA

Photographed at Beverley, Western Australia, April 2015

  561            WESTERN CORELLA             Cacatua pastinator

 AUSTRALIA          (402)

Also known as Western Long-billed Corella. c. 47 cm. Found in wheat; sheep farming country, with remnant native forest; woodland, scrub, sand plain heath. Endemic to sw. WA, Albany-Boyup Brook region of far s. WA, ne. of Perth, between Northam and Dongara; Moora and Burkina in w. and e.

Note: The Western Corella occurs in the SW of WA. It consists of two geographically separated subspecies: Butler's Corella (Cacatua pastinator butleri) found in the northern wheat fields of SW WA; and Muir's Corella (Cacatua pastinator pastinator) in a small pocket around Lake Muir, in the far south. The Lake Muir population was down to 100 hundred birds but has recovered considerably. The northern birds are smaller than the southern birds.

Photographed near York, Western Australia April 2015

Butler's Corella, photographed at Beverley November 2016

 

Muir's Corella, photographed at Lake Muir, November 2016

WESTERN THORNBILL

Photographed in Dryandra Woodlands, Western Australia April 2015

560            WESTERN THORNBILL             Acanthiza inornata

Australia         (401)

This is the plainest of the hornbills. It is endemic to sw. WA: from c. Hill R. -Moora s. and e. to Stirling Ras. NP. Found in tall forests to open woodlands; coastal scrubs.

WESTERN GERYGONE

Photographed in Dryandra Woodlands, Western Australia April 2015

559          WESTERN GERYGONE        Gerygone fusca

Australia        (400)

10-11 cm. Found in drier open forests, woodlands; coastal, inland eucalypt, mulga, other acacia scrubs. Ranges in e., c. and w. Aust: e. to near coast between c. Rockhampton (Q) and Sydney (NSW); s. coast Vic; Eyre Pen. (SA); w. coast from Esperence-NW Cape (WA)

LITTLE EGRET

Photographed at Busselton, Western Australia, March 2015

558            LITTLE EGRET              Egretta garzetta

Australia        (399)

56-65 cm; wingspan c. 90 cm. Found in tidal mudflats, saltmarshes, mangroves, freshwater wetlands, sewerage ponds. Ranges across Tasmania and Victoria; NSW except nw. corner; Queensland except sw third; top half of NT. se. corner of SA, e. and n. WA.

RED-WINGED FAIRY-WREN

Photographed at Cheyne Beach March 2015

557         RED-WINGED FAIRY-WREN             Malurus elegans

Australia         (398)

Also known as Marsh Wren. Found in thick club and swamp vegetation, often with sword-grass and tea-tree, on margins of streams, freshwater swamps; swamp-woodlands; understory in jarrah-karri forest; moist gullies ranges; nearby eucalypt woodlands; coastal dune vegetation; well-vegetated gardens, orchards. 14-16 cm.

COLLARED SPARROWHAWK

Juvenile Collared Sparrowhawk, photographed at Cheyne Beach March 2015

556         COLLARED SPARROWHAWK               Accipter cirrhocephalus

Australia      (397)

Range all over Australia, including Tasmania, widespread, uncommon but may be seldom recognised as similar to Brown Goshawk. Found in forests, woodlands, river margins, inland scrubs, timbered gorges, farmlands, shelter belts, leafy suburban gardens. 30-40 cm, wingspan 76 cm.

GILBERT'S HONEYEATER

555           GILBERT'S HONEYEATER           Melithreptus chloropsis

Australia           (396)

Was known as Swan River Honeyeater but just renamed as none are found in the Swan River area. Also known as the Western White-naped Honeyeater, and local indigenous names Jingee, Bun-geen, and Berril-berril. Was considered a subspecies of White-naped Honeyeater but recently elevated to separate species. Was named Swan River Honeyeater by John Gould in 1844 but the adoption of the name is contentious as they are not found near the Swan River and suggestions have been to name it the Western White-naped Honeyeater or just Western Honeyeater, however it has now been renamed Gilbert's Honeyeater. Indigenous to sw. corner of WA, from Moora in the north, through Jarrah forest belt to Broomehill, the Stirling Range and along coast to Stokes Inlet. Found in sclerophyll forests. 

RUFOUS TREECREEPER

Photographed at Mount Stirling Retreat and Caravan Park, Western Australia, March 2015 

554        RUFOUS TREECREEPER              Climacteris rufa

Australia         (395)

Also known as 'woodpecker'. Endemic to s. WA/SA: n. to Shark Bay, inland to Laverton-Vokes Hill, e. to Eyre Pen. (SA) except for unsuitable habitat on Nullarbor. Found in jarrah-karri forests in humid sw WA; timber on watercourses; golf courses, parks; wandoo and salmon-gum woodland associations. 15-17.5 cm.

WESTERN BRISTLEBIRD

Photographed at Cheyenes Beach, Western Australia March 2015

553           WESTERN BRISTLEBIRD               Dasyornis longirostris

Australia         (394)

Also known as Brown Bristlebird. Endemic to s. WA: confined to Two People's Bay NR-Waychinnicup R., e. of Albany; Fitzgerald R. NP near Hopetoun. Found in dense, low, closed coastal heaths; open heaths with dense clumps of shrubs, eucalypt thickets; tall swampy heaths. Its area has been much reduced by fire. Considered endangered.