Galah (Eolophus roseicapilla)

Posted on October 5, 2015 by Tara

One of the birds you are most likely to see in Australia is also one of the most beautiful. The galah Eolophus roseicapilla, also known as the rose-breasted cockatoo, galah cockatoo, roseate cockatoo or pink and grey, is one of the most common and widespread cockatoos, and it can be found in open country in almost all parts of mainland Australia.

Notice how this first Galah’s crest (Nallan Station) is pinker than the other ones?

Galahs are known for their silly, playful nature. If an Aussie calls you a “galah”, they usually don’t mean it as a compliment!

You won’t have to try to hard to find them as they are pretty much all over Australia. I’ve seen them around Perth, Nallan Station, Stirling Range, Tasmania, Melbourne, Brisbane, Bowra Station, Coolmunda, Karara, Girraween just to name a few. They frequent the park a couple blocks from my house and I can usually hear them as they fly overhead in the morning to forage for breakfast.

LEARN MORE ABOUT GALAHS

VIDEOS

Wild Galahs in action – playing and foraging.

Australian Magpie (Cracticus tibicen)

Posted on September 20, 2015 by Tara

The Australian magpie (Cracticus tibicen) is a medium-sized black and white passerine bird native to Australia and southern New Guinea. It’s virtually impossible to visit Australia and NOT see a magpie or “Maggie” as we call them. They are literally everywhere, especially in the major cities. They await you at picnic sites hoping to steal your food. They will swoop on you in breeding season if they think you are a threat to their chicks. They can be annoying if you are trying to photograph other birds and the maggies are scaring them off. But they do have a beautiful melodious warbling sound, it’s one of the first sounds I hear when I wake up in the morning though it is not loud enough to actually WAKE me up!

Don’t worry about trying to find Australian Magpies. In most places in Australia, they will find you!

LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS BIRD

Wikipedia

Birdlife

Birds in Backyards

ABC – Good info on why they swoop!

Magpie Alert – good map showing swooping hotspots! I can see reports in a few streets near me – mostly attacking cyclists. My husband says he was swooped once while on a walk.

State of Queensland (Department of Environment and Heritage Protection)

VIDEOS

Trust me, this is only a small bit of their song, it really is beautiful!

Amazing footage of a swoop on a cyclist from the cyclist himself!

He later appeared on the local news.

And here is a swoop from a spectator point of view, the guy’s Mom really freaks out!

This maggie clearly doesn’t like the postman, maybe he got too many bills that day?

Maybe it’s better to make friends with them!

I don’t approve of allowing cats outdoors where they can kill wild birds. Magpies are extremely clever and seem well in control of this situation but other small song birds wouldn’t have been so lucky.

And I’ll leave you with this adorable clip of a juvenile maggie singing to some rainbow lorikeets!

Rottnest Island – Perfect Day Trip From Perth

Posted on July 4, 2014 by Tara

Rottnest Island makes a great day-trip for eco-tourists and just about anyone! It is easily accessible from Perth and Fremantle by ferry. Rottnest Express departs from Perth’s Barrack St Pier, calls in at Fremantle where you may have to change boats, then docks at Rottnest Island. It’s a very pleasant trip down the Swan River and most people sit up on deck to enjoy the views.

Ferry to Rottnest Island

If you have the flexibility, there are often Tuesday specials for this day trip from Fremantle.

For a day trip, if you can’t do Tuesday special it’s probably better to book a ferry package that includes whatever excursions you want on Rottnest. The Adventure Tour is great because it includes a trip around the island on a smaller tour boat that gets you very close to fur seal colonies and other wildlife.

Rates for 2 adults

Here’s a few pics of what you can expect – ospreys, fur seals, dolphins and more!

You will arrive back on land in time for lunch. Rottnest Island has several options such as Subway for those on a budget and a few nicer sit-down cafes.

We came here hoping to see Rock Parrots which are known to be present near the lighthouse (see photo above taken from the boat). It’s easily walkable from the restaurant area. While you are walking, keep an eye out for other wildlife such as quokkas, peacocks and other birds. Check out the bird list here.

Unfortunately, we didn’t see the Rock Parrots this time, they are pretty elusive and even the local Quokka Tour Guide didn’t know anything about them. Watch your time as you don’t want to miss your ferry back, it’s a long way to swim! Of course Rottnest does have some nice accommodation if you prefer a longer visit!

If you are looking for Rock Parrots, the yellow-highlighted area is the best place to look.

Hotel Review: Comfort Hotel, Perth City

Posted on July 2, 2014 by Tara

Comfort Hotel Perth City is situated in East Perth, and offers affordable, clean hotel and studio rooms. Just 15 minutes walk to Perth CBD or use the free public transport (CAT BUS) nearby. A good buffet breakfast and other meals are available at Bluerock Cafe, located on site.

While you could use Choice Rewards points to stay here, at 25,000 points a night I don’t think they represent a good value. You would do better to book on their website if they have a special running or use Pointshound or Rocketmiles to earn miles with your booking. I think that Choice Rewards points are best saved for Europe.

If you like Korean food, there is a Bulgogi Restaurant just a couple blocks away that offers meat you cook yourself at the table which was good fun. I thought it was hilarious that there is a buzzer to call the waiter at each table even though it’s a small restaurant and easy to get the waiter’s attention with a wave.

Also in the area are some interesting old buildings and mini-parks.

King’s Park, Perth

Posted on July 1, 2014 by Tara

King’s Park in Perth is easily accessed by free CAT buses from downtown. Once you are there, have a look for a nice variety of bird species. Full bird list can be found here. You can also download a nice brochure with bird pics to help you identify them.

Although it looks close to the city, be aware that the park is on top of a hill.

We were there late in the afternoon but still managed to see Carnaby’s Cockatoos, Rainbow Lorikeets, Ravens and more!

You can also enjoy wonderful views overlooking the city.

Neil Hawkins Park, Joondalup, Western Australia

Posted on June 26, 2014 by Tara

Neil Hawkins Park in Joondalup is less than half hour’s drive from Perth and offers excellent birding!

There’s something for everyone, whether you are interested in water birds frolicking on beautiful Lake Joondalup……………………………….

………………………………Pigeons & Kookaburras in the trees…………………………

…………………………..or a chance to see parrot species that aren’t native to Western Australia yet managed to end up here and flourish. Rainbow Lorikeets are native to east coast Australia and Long-billed Corellas are native to the south & eastern coasts of Australia. If you aren’t planning a visit to these areas it’s nice to still be able to enjy these beautiful birds in the wild!

I really enjoyed watching the Corellas foraging in the grass and they weren’t afraid to let us come close!

Destination: Yanchep National Park, Western Australia

Posted on June 19, 2014 by Tara

There are so many things to love about Yanchep National Park in Western Australia! The scenery is stunning, it’s easily accessible from Perth, accommodation is reasonable and of course there are lots of beautiful birds to watch!

At less than an hour’s drive from Perth, there is no reason even business travelers can’t sneak in a day trip to commune with nature but if you have time it’s well worth spending a couple days here.

Fees apply though these appear to be built into the room rates if you are staying at Yanchep Inn.

You can download a full brochure here but I will point out a few of the highlights. It’s a small park and easily walkable.

On the left side of the map, you can see the hiking trail that circumnavigates the lake. It takes about half an hour but you will want to take it slower than that to keep an eye out for birds. It’s a well-marked trail with bridges and planks to keep you safe. Really active people may want to hike all the way to the Crystal Caves (right side of map).

The Koala Park is right next to the Yanchep Inn and park volunteers give very interesting talks at certain times of day and are happy to answer any questions.

There’s a nice gift shop with a good variety of nature-themed and Aussie-made souvenirs. even if you don’t like shopping the display is worth a look. It doubles as a visitor centre and the staff are happy to offer advice on what to do and see in the park. Just near the gift shop is a small cafe for coffee, snacks and ice cream.

Since we stayed two nights at the Yanchep Inn, I will review it on a separate post.

Red-capped Parrot (Purpureicephalus spurius)

Posted on April 9, 2014 by Tara

The Red-capped Parrot (Purpureicephalus spurius), also called the Pileated Parakeet is an Australian species of broad-tailed parrot. I took the first 3 shots at Foxes Lair. The middle one is a juvenile.

The species occurs from the Moore River southwards in southwestern Australia. Its natural habitat is Marri (Corymbia calophylla), but has adpated to farmland, orchards and suburban landscapes in Perth. Sadly some farmers consider them a pest and will shoot them.

Bird watchers have the best chances of seeing them at Foxes Lair, Dryandra Woodland, Stirling Range and a few lucky people in the Perth area see them in their backyards! Use your miles to get to Australia, then any of these destinations is a few hours drive from Perth.

This charming bi-lingual book is about an Aboriginal legend of the Red-capped Parrot which is called “Kaawar” in their language. I bought a copy at the gift shop at Yanchep National Park but it can also be ordered online.

Kaawar book

LEARN MORE ABOUT RED-CAPPED PARROTS

VIDEOS

Foraging in the grass at Bremer Bay, WA

Short but a good close up of a wild bird. Most videos were of captive parrots so I took the best I could find!

Wungong Gorge & Bungendore Park, Western Australia

Posted on March 30, 2014 by Tara

Located less than an hour’s drive from downtown Perth, Wungong Gorge & Bungendore Park offer easy birding accessible to both eco-tourists and day-trippers.

Admiral Road is one of the easiest places to see Baudin’s Black Cockatoos and Red-tailed Black Cockatoos. You can see more details, GPS coordinates and a bird list here.

The one thing to consider is that they tend to hang around the trees on the left side of the road as you enter from the Albany Highway which is the east side of the road so if you go there in the morning, you are likely to end up with a bunch of silhouette photos! The back-lighting did make the red tails glow nicely in a couple shots! The trees are in private property so please respect the owner’s privacy and don’t disturb them. You will be able to hear and see the Cockatoos just fine from the road. Because of the morning back-lighting, I would make an effort to come here in the afternoon next time.

There are some picnic areas with an information board on Admiral Road. I thought I had a better photo of it but looks like I missed.

Not sure what kind of Fairy-wren this is but the 2nd pic is an Australian Ringneck.

I have no idea what this was but it looked pretty cool! Very creative to say the least!

Wungong Gorge and/or Bungendore Park make a great introduction to new birders because it is so easy to get to and there are plenty of birds that can be seen easily. The picnic areas are family friendly and there are a couple bed & breakfasts nearby. If you’re in Perth for business, why not take an afternoon to come out here and connect with nature? For very keen birders, you could make an easy stop here enroute to Dryandra Woodlands!

Hotel Review: Holiday Inn Perth City Centre

Posted on March 24, 2014 by Tara

No matter where you stay in Perth, you are likely to get sticker shock from the prices. This is where having a free night certificate from the Chase IHG Visa comes in very handy! At the time we stayed, room rates were over $300! Not a bad deal for a $49 annual fee! Of course you can always use 35,000 points for a free room as well.

The location is excellent – right downtown and walking distance to almost everything. What you can’t walk to, you can get to using the free CAT buses. There are plenty of restaurants in all price categories nearby and we enjoyed our dinner of Mexican takeaway from across the street. If you aren’t up for a taxi fare, bus # 37 will drop you a couple blocks away. The Rottnest Ferry terminal is also only a few blocks away.

1 – Mexican Takeaway
2 – Bus 37 from airport
3 – Rottnest Ferry

The staff were very friendly and happy to show us things like where to catch a CAT bus or how to get to Hertz and the Coles Supermarket so we could stock up for the trip. Rooms are pretty much cookie-cutter Holiday Inn, clean, reliable and free internet for IHG Rewards members.

The one criticism I have is the cost of parking. They offer $20 self-parking nearby or $35 valet under the hotel, both of which I thought were too expensive. The cheapest I could find was the Wilson garage at 517 Hay Street. If you know your rego number (unlikely if you are renting a car) you can book online for $7. Otherwise there is a night rate of $10 if you only park between 1700-0600.

I also have a full guide to using Perth as a gateway city to Western Australia and a guide on how to get to Australia using airline miles.

Miles To The Wild

Create unforgettable eco-tourism and birding adventures using miles & points!

Tag Archives: Perth

Galah (Eolophus roseicapilla)

LEARN MORE ABOUT GALAHS

VIDEOS

Australian Magpie (Cracticus tibicen)

LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS BIRD

VIDEOS

Rottnest Island – Perfect Day Trip From Perth

Hotel Review: Comfort Hotel, Perth City

King’s Park, Perth

Neil Hawkins Park, Joondalup, Western Australia

Destination: Yanchep National Park, Western Australia

Red-capped Parrot (Purpureicephalus spurius)

LEARN MORE ABOUT RED-CAPPED PARROTS

VIDEOS

Wungong Gorge & Bungendore Park, Western Australia

Hotel Review: Holiday Inn Perth City Centre