Here’s where to spot birds in the Margaret River Region
The joyful calls of red-tailed, Carnaby’s and Baudin’s black cockatoos cutting through the stillness of a forest walk. Ospreys catching breakfast while you tuck into your eggs Benedict. Honeyeaters and splendid wrens joining you at the table for morning tea.
Even if you’re a non-birder, the diverse living symphonies of the Margaret River Region bring out the bird nerd in everyone.
Hero image: Tim Campbell.
Across waterways, beaches, wetlands, woodlands and wind-pruned coastal heath, the most striking and elusive rewards await keen twitchers who step softly into the hushed blue hour before dawn. But you’d be surprised what comes of simply sitting quietly in the amber glow of late afternoon and waiting for the feathered locals to come to you. You don’t have to venture far to be awestruck by the prolific, unique birdlife here.
On the northern fringes of Busselton, Malbup Bird Hide offers little windows into a globally significant wetland listed under the Ramsar Convention and the wish lists of countless birdwatchers. A spring visit can bring intimate moments with cygnets and ducklings dabbling among the reedbeds. And in summer, more than 30,000 migratory birds arrive en masse, ready for their close-up.
Where the quiet, meandering corridor of the Blackwood River opens out to the shallow tidal waters of Augusta’s Hardy Inlet, you’ll find deeply immersive interludes with nature. Here, summer low tides draw high numbers of migratory waders and breeding pairs of black swans to the water and master anglers to the skies.
“We’ve had sea eagles and ospreys come in just ten metres from the boat, hit the water and pick up a catch. They’re that close, you can see the eye of the fish in their claws,” says local guide and skipper Graeme Challis of Augusta River Tours, who’s been exploring the river since he was a boy.
Venture to the wild southern end of the Cape to Cape Track (on foot or by road) and you’ll be richly rewarded with rare glimpses of bird behaviour entirely unaffected by humans at Cape Leeuwin. Notable sightings on this untouched, windswept corner include pipits, southern emu-wrens, nankeen kestrels, huge Pacific gulls and, occasionally, sooty oystercatchers and albatross.
“Miles from any fish and chip shop, seagulls catch their own as nature intended here. You see them out on the water bobbing around, ducking down and coming up with small fish. Or smashing shells on the rocky shore and swooping down to snatch their prize,” says Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse keeper Paul Sofilas. “It’s a bit like being on the set of a David Attenborough documentary.”
By far the cape’s biggest drawcard for birders is the stocky little olive-green rock parrot. Endemic to coastal regions of southern Western Australia, these quiet little ground-dwellers are notoriously hard to spot. Your best chance is to head out to Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse before noon.
“Almost every morning, you can see them waddling across the lawn, just quietly going about their business, munching on grass seed. They look so happy and contented. It always makes my day to see them,” says Paul.
You can even do a spot of birding when it’s your feeding time. Down at The Berry Farm, a fresh serve of jam, cream and scones is likely to bring the cheeky New Holland honeyeaters to your table. And in the quiet corners of its surrounding bushland, orchards and colour-filled cottage gardens, a little patience is always rewarded.
“It’s one of my favourites,” says convenor of BirdLife WA’s Cape to Cape Bird Group Christine Wilder. “You’ve got a lot of different habitats in one place, so there’s always something to be seen. Splendid and red-winged fairy-wrens. Western rosellas. Red-eared firetails and Gilbert’s honeyeaters.”
Wherever you go, always observe birds from a respectful distance, follow signage and avoid disturbing their natural feeding, roosting and nesting behaviour.
Want a friendly local to help point your binoculars in the right direction, at the right time? There are plenty of passionate tour guides who’ll happily share their spotting secrets.
Trevor Paddenburg of Cape to Cape Explorer Tours says any time of year is a good time for birding along the coast.
“Spring’s explosion of wildflowers sparks a lot of insect and bird activity. Wrens trilling in the dense coastal heath and square-tailed kites hovering just above us as we hike. Then in summer, when everything goes to seed, you get beautiful Baudin’s black cockatoos foraging in flocks of fifty or more. And when the ocean and sky turn wild and raw in winter, migrating sanderlings descend to feed on our seaweed-rich shorelines.”
Join Margaret River Discovery Co and they’ll pair your favourite wines with a tranquil taste of nature canoeing the Margaret River with expert guide Sean Blocksidge. And if you’re looking to chase something elusive with your camera, born-and-bred local Hank Durlik of Margaret River Exposed will take you into new habitats.
“The rare southern emu-wren has to be one of the hardest birds to photograph. It’s difficult to spot and you’ve got literally three seconds to focus your lens because that’s how flighty it is. But if you get that shot, it makes my day,” smiles Hank.
Get some feathered facetime with the region’s majestic eagles, masterful falcons and fluffy owls in their natural bushland habitat at Western Australia’s largest bird of prey sanctuary, Capes Raptor Centre. Your entry fee supports the care of birds that wouldn’t otherwise survive in the wild, as well as the centre’s active habitat restoration, wildlife rehabilitation and conservation programs.
Take a seat for the twice-daily Flight Display and catch these skilful hunters in action, some swooping silently just inches above your head. Walk the 1km Bird of Prey Trail, and you’ll get to know the rest of the raptor family, their quirky personalities, their stories, seasonal behaviours and tips to spot them in the wild and hear them after dark.
“The barking and boobook owls’ personalities are like dogs. They’re very playful, loyal and affectionate. Whereas the barn, masked and lesser sooty owls are more cat-like. They’re far superior and do everything on their own terms,” laughs Capes Raptor Centre Manager Tara Finch.
Pick a few birdwatching spots, grab your binoculars and ID app and see how many species you can tick. Some, like the scarlet robin, have been known to appear out of nowhere and hang around long enough for you to get the cutest pic of their bright plumage.
