Yellow-billed Spoonbills, C Prickett

KWINANA/ROCKINGHAM/MANDURAH BRANCH
APRIL EXCURSION REPORT

WELLARD WETLANDS

There were 11 attendees for our outing at the Alcoa Wellard Wetlands on a cool but fine autumn morning at the end of April. These wetlands normally provide a refuge for water birds during autumn when hot summer weather has dried up other wetlands on the Swan Coastal Plain. However, this year saw significant rainfall events in late summer so we were somewhat unsure as to what we would encounter on our visit. As we made our way to the first bird hide we tried to avoid trampling the conical holes made by antlion larvae that appeared to be everywhere along the track. At the hide we spotted a pair of Black Swans with a single cygnet. We also sighted Musk Ducks, Australasian Darters, Black Ducks, Grey Teal and Eurasian Coots. However, the overall number of waterbirds appeared to be quite low. Welcome Swallows were seen swooping low over the lake.

We then made our way through an avenue of various Eucalypts to Egret Lake. In the canopy we spotted Brown Honeyeaters, Singing Honeyeaters, Silvereyes, Western Gerygone and Weebils. Numerous Rufous Whistlers were calling, their call in complete contrast to the raucous sound of the Red Wattlebirds. Grey Fantails accompanied us along the track, happy to prey on any insects that we disturbed. At Egret Lake it was evident that water levels have dropped again following the top up received from the February rain. No doubt this was due to the warm, dry spell experienced during April. There were a few Pelicans, more Black Swans, Musk Ducks, Little Pied Cormorants and Little Black Cormorants together with several Darters. A few waders were spotted on sand bars exposed as the water level dropped and observation from a closer viewpoint identified them to be five Black-fronted Dotterels and a single Common Sandpiper. A couple of Yellow-billed Spoonbills flew in to feed in the shallows surrounding the sandbars. White-faced Herons and an Eastern Great Egret were also stalking the shallows in search of prey.

A number of raptor species were sighted, including two Wedge-tailed Eagles, Whistling Kites, a Brown Falcon, a Nankeen Kestrel and a juvenile White-bellied Sea Eagle. A flock of Yellow-rumped Thornbills was feeding amongst the dried grass near the turn-off to the Spoonbill Bird Hide. In total we recorded 39 bird species, a typical number for a visit to Wellard Wetlands, though the overall number of water birds was low.

In addition to the birds, we also spotted Painted Lady Butterflies and a large number of Monarch Butterflies feeding on the flowers at the top of a tall Eucalypt.

We made our way back to the first bird hide where we sat down for a well-earned cuppa and snacks. We were surprised to see a Quenda run out of the vegetation surrounding the lake then quickly head back under cover. This was a first sighting of a Quenda at Wellard Wetlands in all of our many visits over the years and an encouraging sign that a population may be established there. We found a nice Golden Orb Weaver (Nephila edulis) spider-web at the side of the bird hide to round off a good morning.

Colin Prickett