Kwinana Rockingham Mandurah Branch, 23 February 2025

The February excursion was to Penguin Island. It was a pleasant morning, and twelve people took the ferry ride to Penguin Island. We found some construction work going on there, including decking around the picnic area and a few new seats.

KRMB Committee member Pauline Dilley is a volunteer there and leads the group. First, we saw the King’s Skinks, a Buff-banded Rail and plenty of Pelicans. Other birds spotted were Pied Cormorants, Little Pied Cormorants, Australian White Ibis, Ruddy Turnstone (one male was in breeding plumage), Pied Oystercatchers and two Sooty Oystercatchers. Other bird species included Silver Gulls, Caspian Terns, Great Crested Terns, Bridled Terns, Roseate Terns, Whistling Kite, Feral Pigeons, Willie Wagtails, Australian Ravens, and Welcome Swallows. Many of the Bridled Terns had flown recently, but one of the island volunteers said quite a few returned later. Unfortunately, we didn’t see them. Also seen were Golden Orb Spiders and a Stingray, possibly a smooth Stingray. 

Daniel was busy with his insect collecting and studying shells and a giant Sea Hare found along the beach. After the walk around the island, we stopped under the trees in the picnic area for our usual morning tea and biscuits.

You can look on the photos from the walk on Facebook:

Sophie Xiang’s post: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/165a5yqKge/

Daniel’s post: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/18mANDt6D6/

Nick Smith’s post: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1BikZnEoby/

Ailsa Rabone and Gillian Beadell