South Coastal WA – Cheyne’s Beach and Bremer Bay

Cheyne’s Beach

11 – 14 November 2018

Our next stop was less than 50 kilometres away so we had another leisurely start, with a final walk to the beach before we headed off for Cheyne’s Beach. Cheyne’s is a small settlement of mainly fishing shacks (and some quite nice looking houses up on the hill), with a caravan park that services the part-time community.

The main reason for visiting this spot is, of course, the birding. A number of WA endemics can be found here so Mick spent most of the time out with the camera. Our spot in the caravan park had a nice, filtered, view of the beach, and with plenty of bush around, it made a nice place to stay. Unfortunately the weather on our second morning wasn’t great, with fine misty rain falling, but Mick still managed a very early morning bird walk.

Great granite boulders overlook the park.

A young roo has an engorged tick on its lip.

A curious roo. A couple of the large males looked quite scary.

The heath has a wide variety of nectar rich flowers.

Hakea cucullata

Banksia coccinea. Many species were in bloom and thankfully, not as hard to spot as the birds.

New Holland Honeyeaters were the most numerous.

New Holland Honeyeater

Tawny-crowned Honeyeater

White-cheeked Honeyeater

This is a wonderful birding location. The caravan park is right next to the Arpenteur Nature Reserve and has easy access to habitat containing the sought after Noisy Scrub-bird, Western Whipbird and Rufous Bristlebird. The caravan park owners are very helpful and will provide information about recent sightings. It is very important to familiarize yourself with the calls of these three birds and to allow a few days to find them. I found a Rufous Bristlebird territory the first morning but only heard the bird. The second morning I saw it singing in the open for a couple of minutes but missed the shot due to water on my lens. The third morning I managed to get a record shot. This all happened between 5:00 and 5:15am. I would have loved another crack at the Western Whipbird. I saw it briefly but it was too deep in the heath to photograph. Mick.

Around the caravan park; Red Wattlebird...

Usually very shy, the Brush Bronzewing is quite easily seen around the caravan park here.

Common Bronzewing courting behaviour.

White-breasted Robin

Back out in the heath; Carnaby's Black-Cockatoo.

Female Southern Emu-wren.

As I listened to a Noisy Scrub-bird calling in the heath, this male Southern Emu-wren continually popped up close by.

It's possible there was a nest nearby.

The only skulker I was able to photograph. Rufous Bristlebird.

Juvenile Western Spinebill.

Carnaby's Black Cockatoo BIF

The weather really didn't improve much but Mick still managed to get out a few times with the camera, including two very early morning starts which were moderately productive. Hoping for better weather, we set off for Bremer Bay, another relatively short drive away.

Bremer Bay

14 – 16 November 2018

Arriving in Bremer Bay to clear skies and warm(ish) temperatures we seized the opportunity to have a good look around during our two night stay. We walked a couple of sections of the Estuary Walk on the afternoon we arrived and again the next morning. We also followed a tourist driving route which took us to some of the most beautiful beaches and bays including Back Beach, Blossom’s Beach (named after a cow), Fishery Beach Marina, Short Beach and Native Dog Beach. At some of these we were the only ones there, while the warmer weather saw a few people out enjoying the sun at others.

This Grey Plover was very wary and kept its distance.

It was great to find a Red-capped Parrot feeding down low.

Fishery Beach Marina

Fishery Beach Marina

Beach washed sea bird, not sure what species.

Native Dog Beach

Native Dog Beach pano.

We also visited the Tooreburrup Lookout for a great view over the area. Bremer Bay is certainly worth a visit, especially if the weather is good. Unfortunately for us the afternoon saw the wind come up and the temperature drop significantly. Oh well, it was nice while it lasted.