The Stirling Ranges are about 100km north of Albany. I decided to detour and head up there as I visited a caravan park there in my 2016 WA trip and loved it. The Stirling Range Retreat is right on the edge of the park and contains eucalyptus mallee woodland and heath areas. To the north is open pasture land and the hills. All of which make a very nice mix of vegetation and native bush and means there are a lot of birds and bird species. It was as lovely as I remembered. My routine was quickly established once I arrived at the park - camera, walk, drink tea. I did this all day, every day. Just wandered around looking for birds. I loved it. I also slept very well!
Whilst the birds fly all around the park, they tend to have their own little patches of territory which makes sense given the different habitats represented here. My priority was parrots, 7 species of which live here. The 2 most glamourous are the Regent and Elegant (appropriate names I think). The Regent is a big bird while the Elegant Parrot is pretty small. The Regent Parrot can be heard calling frequently from the tree tops but you have to get close to hear the chirps of the Elegant species. Both of them, however, feed on grass seeds and so can be found on the ground fairly regularly. The eastern part of the caravan park (which overlaps with the National Park) has more gum trees and native grasses and is where, if you are quiet, you can find them. Many times I saved myself the trouble of photographing these beautiful creatures just by not looking where I was going. Sigh. I did, however, get the hang of creeping around and eventually was able to photograph them. My favourite was of an adorable Elegant Parrot climbing in a clump of grass.
Elegant Parrot (Neophema elegans)
Regent Parrot (Ploytelis anthopeplus)
The more infrequently seen parrot but probably my favourite was the Red-capped Parrot. There were a lot of juveniles around which don't have a red cap but adult or juvenile, their plumage is stunning. I have seen them several times since I reached Western Australia but still don't have a cracker shot. I am going to enjoy keeping on trying.
Red-capped Parrot (Purpureicephalus spurius)
The Ringneck and Galah are very common in lots of areas of Australia and were present here as well. The Ringneck subspecies are so interesting. I have photographed the Cloncurry and Port Lincoln subspecies and here I found the 28 subspecies. It is so named because of its call but I don't really understand why. You can tell if it is a 28 because it has a red bar above its bill. Great to see them. I just have the Mallee Ringneck to go!
28 Ringneck (Barnardius zonarius semitorquatus)
The Carnaby Black Cockatoo and the Purple-crowned Lorikeet were by far the most difficult to photograph. I only saw the cockatoo flying past. The lorikeet were obviously present as they screeched and cackled as they zoomed about the park in small groups. On following that noise, I could find the gum trees they were feeding in and then I just had to keep trying. Not my best, but so wonderful to see them.
Purple-crowned Lorikeet (Glossopsitta porphyrocephala)
There is a bird that attracts visitors to the park just by sunbathing all day. It is the nocturnal Owlet-Nightjar and lives (just as it did in my 2016 trip) in dead tree hollows in the centre of the caravan park. In the afternoons, it props its self up in a hollow and basks in the sun. Very reliable, which is a joy for a bird photographer. Unfortunately, while the bird is impossibly cute, it doesn't do anything else. Unless you can see it at night, your photography possibilities are limited. One shot is all you need.
Australian Owlet Nightjar (Aegotheles cristatus)
Honeyeaters are very common in the area with the Yellow-plumed and New Holland being most seen. The Red Wattlebird and Brown Honeyeater are not so numerous but probably the loudest. I wanted to see the Gilbert's Honeyeater. I found it by the bird bath and saw it several times. Unfortunately, the New Holland Honeyeater would chase it off so it was a bit tricky.
Gilibert's Honeyeater (Melithreptus chloropsis)
New Holland Honeyeater (Phylidonyris novaehollandiae)
Other very common birds were the Dusky Woodswallow and the Tree Martin. Both took a little tracking as neither stay stationary for long. They both spent the day socialising and zooming about and gave a real character to the place. I loved watching them.
Dusky Woodswallow (Artamus cyanopterus)
Tree Martin (Petrochelidon nigricans)
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