CRRP SURVEYS – NOTES
DATE: 2.11.14
Time:
7:00 – 10:00am WST
Weather:
Fine, mild; overcast early morning, clearer later. Forecast was for 23°C.
High tide, receding.
Walks: See maps for details (available from Pam if you wish).
1 Riverton Bridge to Bannister Creek (including area between Riverton and Shelley Bridges).
2 Kent Street Weir – Greenfield St Bridge Loop.
3 Kent St Rec area and Wilson Park Lake, including wetlands north-east of Castledare and Fern Road.
4 Lambertia Flats (east of Bannister Creek) and salt pan area.
5 Banksia Hill to Kent St Weir
6 Masons Landing – Liege St Wetlands - Greenfield Street Bridge – Billabong – Nicholson Rd.
NOTES:
Thanks;
 To members of BirdLife Western Australia and others, who again provided invaluable assistance.
 Also to CRRPV members who accompanied them, or helped provide morning tea, to set up and
clear away.
Number of surveyors: 20
Overall species total this survey: 77 (compared to overall average of 61.9 for previous surveys; 66.3 for
Nov surveys only).
This is the highest record of species ever recorded (previous high was 73 in April 2007).
Total birds: 1890 birds (1916 in April 2014; 1493 in Nov 2013).
New species added - nil.
Species breeding: 13. Another 2 species (Striated Pardalote, Sacred Kingfisher) listed as being at nests but
breeding not confirmed.
Of interest:
 Common Bronzewing – if recorded is usually in the Banksia Hill – Ferndale Flats areas; this time
only recorded at Liege St Wetland.
 Australian White Ibis (38) – highest ever recorded; NB occurred in bigger numbers before we
started counting.
 Eastern Osprey – two soaring over Banksia Hill / Ferndale Crescent.
 Buff-banded Rail – first breeding record for surveys – seen along Fern Road.
 Carnaby’s Black-Cockatoo (2) – first November record for surveys.
 Horsfield’s Bronze-cuckoo – only the third record in 24 surveys.
 Sacred Kingfisher (16) – highest ever; previous high 10 in Nov 2012.
 Rainbow bee-eater (7) – steady decline in numbers since Nov 2011.
 Splendid Fairy-wren – again recorded in Liege St area; also in reveg area below Bebbington Park.
 White-browed Scrubwren - seen in area of dense Morning Glory regrowth along west side of Adenia
Lagoon. Also Wilson Wetlands area.
 Weebill (32) – highest ever; previous high 29 in Nov 2011.
 Striated Pardalote (73) – highest ever; previous high 44 in Nov 2009 & Nov 2013
 Western Wattlebird – only three other survey records.
 White-winged Triller often recorded on November surveys but not this time.
 Grey Fantail (22) – highest ever record; previous high 20 in April 2013.
 Australian Raven (104) – highest ever; previous high 84 in April 2011; possibly just more mobile
but interesting that biggest numbers were on Routes 1 & 2, both of which go close to shopping
centres / fast food outlets.
 Little Grassbird (15) – highest ever; previous high 9 in Nov 2013.
Other variations:
Low than usual numbers:
 Eastern Great Egret (1) – usually 4 – 7 recorded.
 Silver Gull (9) – usually 30 – 40.
 Tree Martin (16) – again well down in numbers but similar to past two surveys.
Higher than usual numbers:
 Australian Wood Duck (43) – close to highest ever (44).
 Rock Dove (10) – may belong to a local pigeon fancier, or an off-shoot of the flock at Wesfeeds?
 Spotted Dove (21) – close to highest record (22 in Nov 2010).
 Black-winged Stilt (27) – not seen in these numbers since Nov 2010.
 Galah (90) – 99 in April 2009; usually 30 – 40 seen in Nov.
 Brown Honeyeater (112) – close to highest record (116 – Nov 2010).
 New Holland Honeyeater (31) – highest Nov record.
 Rufous Whistler (25) – Second highest record (28 in Nov 2011).
 Australian Reed-Warbler (11) – second highest record – 13 in Nov 2011.
 Silvereye (145) – highest for a Nov survey; second highest record overall -189 in April 2014.
Total species recorded on all surveys still stands at 107.