Rottnest Island Birding Trip

On Saturday May 1st 2010 three of us (John Graff, Mark Newman and myself) headed to Fremantle to catch the ferry to Rottnest Island. We departed at 0730 and returned at 1645. The weather was overcast for most of the day. Our targets were the Rottnest specialties (Peafowl, Common Pheasant, Rock Parrot) as well as any waders or seabirds that happened to turn up.

We dipped out on Rock Parrot and Peafowl but had good sightings of both male and female Common Pheasant. We suspect that the Peafowl may have been culled out of existence (or any that are left are hiding really well). Given how common they used (and the fact that they stand out like a sore thumb) this is unusual. The following is my list for the day (Common Pheasant being my only lifer):

• Common Pheasant;
• Galah;
• Welcome Swallow;
• White-browed Scrubwren;
• Red-capped Robin;
• Silver Gull;
• Silvereye;
• Crested Tern;
• Pied Cormorant;
• Australian Raven;
• Australian Shelduck;
• Singing Honeyeater;
• Brown Skua;
• Laughing Dove;
• Spotted Dove;
• Eastern Osprey;
• Australian Pelican;
• Ruddy Turnstone;
• Australian Magpie;
• Caspian Tern;
• White-fronted Chat;
• Red-necked Stint;
• Black-winged Stilt;
• Grey Plover;
• Banded Lapwing;
• Pacific Black Duck;
• Grey Teal;
• Spotless Crake;
• Australian Pied Oystercatcher;
• Nankeen Kestrel;
• Red-necked Avocet;
• Australasian Gannet.

The Common Pheasant takes my list to 211 (bird 210 was a Wood Sandpiper that I photographed and needed a second opinion).