Endemics of Western Australia

Tour Code: AUS04

A 12-day tour in search of the endemic and other birds of the unique eucalyptus forests of the south-western corner of Western Australia.

We hope to run this tour in the future, but have not yet finalised dates and prices. To be added to a waiting list and be informed when details are confirmed, please click on the register interest button, or phone 01962 733051.
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Highlights

Summary

Summary

We begin our birding in the Darling Range, searching for species such as Western Rosella and Red-winged Fairywren as well as several species of honeyeaters. Travelling inland to the last remaining stand of Wandoo bushland we look for specialities such as Rufous Tree-creeper and Collared Sparrowhawk. We then head south to the picturesque Stirling Ranges, renowned for their rich diversity of both birds and wild flowers. Nearby is Cheyne Beach where we’ll search for the ‘big three’, before visiting the stunning tall Karri Eucalyptus forests – home to a superb variety of birds including whistlers, fairywrens and wattlebirds. On our drive back to Perth we’ll visit Sugarloaf Rock to search for Red-tailed Tropicbirds and other seabirds.

  • Western Bristle Bird, Western Whipbird & Noisy Scrub Bird
  • Western Spinebill, Western Thornbill, & Western Yellow Robin in Darling Range
  • Blue-breasted Fairywren & Brown-headed Honeyeater in Dryandra Forest
  • Western Yellow Robin, Regent Parrot, orchids & wild flowers in the Albany area
  • Varied habitats including 4 types of eucalyptus forest, plus heathland & wetland 
  • Drive through the heart of Australia’s ‘wine country’
  • Sea-watching from Cheyne Beach
  • Led by an expert local naturalist guide

Grading

We will be taking many birding walks on this holiday, none of them especially hard and all of them optional.

About the region

The Darling Range is a low range of hills running parallel with the Indian Ocean coast of Western Australia, and stretches for 350 kilometres from north to south. The range consists of some of the oldest rocks on Earth, and one of Australia’s major eucalypt forest regions occurs across the range.

Dryandra State Forest has around 800 species of plants including the beautiful silvery-white or orange-barked Wandoos and Powderbarks.

The picturesque Two People's Bay Nature Reserve is located 20 kilometres east of Albany and holds 188 bird species. It covers 26,000 hectares of forest, heathland, beaches and lakes, and the area was made a reserve to protect endangered species.

The tour ‘in a nutshell’

A 12-day tour in search of the endemic and other birds of the unique eucalyptus forests of the south-western corner of Western Australia.

What birds might I see?

The key bird species that we will be looking for in the Darling Range include such south-west Australian endemics as Red-capped Parrot, Western Rosella, Red-tailed Black-cockatoo (south-west forest race), Long-billed (Baudin's) Black-cockatoo, White-breasted Robin, Red-eared Firetail and Red-winged Fairy-wren.

Among the many bird species we’ll look for in Dryandra are Collared Sparrowhawk, Wedge-tailed Eagle, Painted Button-quail, Brush Bronzewing, Purple-crowned Lorikeet, Red-capped Parrot, Fan-tailed Cuckoo, Tawny Frogmouth, Rufous Treecreeper, Blue-breasted Fairy-wren and Western Thornbill. In the Stirling Ranges some of the species we’ll look for include Western Yellow Robin, Elegant Parrot, Western Rosella, Australian Owlet-nightjar, Crested Shrike-tit and Rufous Songlark.

From our base at Albany we’ll visit Cheyne Beach, home to the ‘big three’ – Western Bristlebird, Western Whipbird and Noisy Scrub-bird. We will also look for the Brush Bronzewing, Long-billed Black-cockatoo, Red-capped Parrot, Red-winged Fairy-wren, White-breasted Robin, Little (Western) Wattlebird, Western Spinebill, Tawny-crowned Honeyeater, Southern Emu-wren and Pacific Gull among many other species.

Anything else?

Dryandra is home to Echidnas and Tammar Wallabies, as well as the striped Numbat – a Western Australian endemic.

Wild flowers, especially orchids, in the Stirling Ranges.

If we are very fortunate we may see Southern Right Whales in the bay at Cheyne Beach.

DETAILED INFORMATION
Itinerary

Outline Itinerary

Day 1
Depart UK
Day 2
Arrive Perth
Day 3
Perth
Day 4
Dryandra State Forest
Day 5/6
Stirling Ranges
Day 7/8
Albany
Day 9
Pemberton
Day 10
Cape Naturaliste
Day 11
Depart Perth
Day 12
Arrive London
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What's Included

What's Included?

  • Flights
  • Accommodation: Accommodation will be in hotels and chalets. The chalets have two separate bedrooms, but share ensuite facilities. Those paying single room supplements will have their own rooms in the chalets, but will share the bathroom facilities. We use chalets for four nights of the accommodation.
  • Food: All meals are included in the tour cost, apart from the first and last evening meal in Perth.
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Why Naturetrek?

Why Naturetrek?

At Naturetrek we craft expertly-guided group and tailor-made wildlife holidays and cruises to all seven continents. On one of our holidays, you can be assured that our passionate team will enable you to experience and enjoy the best of the world's wildlife and natural spectacles in as comfortable and rewarding a manner as possible, caring as best we can for the environment in the process. We are proud to provide:

  • The widest choice of wildlife holidays worldwide
  • Tours managed and led by naturalists, for naturalists
  • Outstanding value and exceptional customer service

Furthermore, as a Naturetrek client, our office team are always to on hand to help you – so if you have any queries about your holiday, whether before or after you have booked, we will be delighted to answer them on the phone. Please just give our team a call!