Birds of Western Australia

The first week of 2023, we visited Perth, Western Australia, Australia. 

Perth sits on the riverside of Swan River. 

True to its name, the river is home to Black Swans. In fact black swans breed in southwest Australia (where Perth is), and southeast Australia. We spotted black swans several times in family group during our hike around Mounts Bay at Perth. We also saw a family of Australian Pelican. The more common birds along the river bank include Australian pied cormorant, Australian magpie, Australian wood duck, Restless Flycatcher, which resemble their counter parts in other places.

The Australian species vary from their counterpart elsewhere somewhat, but not a whole lot. For example, the Australian Pelicans are very similar to American Pelicans, that's why we could identify them on the first sight. The differences are in their bills, Australian Pelicans have pale pink bill,  American Pelicans have reddish-orange bills; and in their plumages, black and white vs. white.

a family of black swans - grey swans are juvenile 

Australian Pelicans

Australian pied cormorant

Australian Magpie

Australian Wood duck 

Restless Flycatcher

The other place we saw several new species of Australian birds is the Yanchep National Park, which is about 50km north to Perth. The most unique birds we saw are the pink and grey birds, first at the Park near the parking lot. It is called Galah in Australia, and pink and grey Cockatoo.

Later we saw many more Galahs in the park. In fact it is one of the common birds in Australia. We saw them at Pinnacle Desert,  in the tree in front of our rented house at Kulin, and on the road at Kondinin, the small towns in the outback.

Galah

Pink and grey Cockatoo  - Galah at Pinnacle DEsert

We also saw Laughing Kookaburras in the park. In the Koala boardwalk area, as we were looking for Koalas, a flock of the birds landed on a tree nearby, and started calling - laughing! This type laughing is for claiming territory.

Later in the park,  flock of Galahs and large flock Laughing kookaburras flew in the sky, while making loud calls, apparently warning each other for territory claims.

Laughing kookaburras

There are a few other birds - red wattle bird, Australian ringneck, straw necked ibis, splendid fairywren,  Australian Swamphen. Ringneck is obviously some type of parrots, with the distinctive blackhead, and a yellow ring at neck. The swamphen is very similar to waterhen in Singapore, except that it has black plumage, blue eyelid, and red beak.

Australian Ringnecks are pretty common in the Perth area and outback. We saw them flying from time to time but did not get a good picture of them flying.

Red wattle bird

Australian Ringneck ( a type of Parakeet)

Straw necked ibis

splendid fairywren

Australian Swamphen

On the coastline, we saw mostly seagulls, Australian pied cormorants, but happened to see little Corellas, cute white birds with crown on the beach near Penguin island

Little Corella

Australian Pied Cormorants

Cape Peron