4 Day Dampier Peninsula

A short 4 day trip from the 19th to 22nd April with Frances Taylor and Clare Gifford was a knockout trip. We found Gouldian Finches on the first day drinking at a puddle on the Cape Leveque Road and then again at our campsite over the next two days with a total of 23 birds observed. It’s great to see this species doing well on the Peninsula. Rose-crowned Fruit Doves showed very well and mangrove birds like Shining Flycatcher and Mangrove Golden Whistler were very obliging. The northern end of the Dampier Peninsula has such a range of rich habitats in close proximity that it’s entirely possible to see Beach Stone Curlew one minute, Gouldian Finch and Chestnut-backed Button Quail the next. Talking of these spectacular Button-Quail—we saw them too!! On the raptor front, Square-tailed Kites were seen regularly, often floating over dense mangrove forest. Sea Eagles, Brahminy Kites and Ospreys are incredibly common up here, it easy to become blasé about these handsome birds of prey. Our trip total was over 120 species with some cracking views of some rare and difficult ones. Good luck Clare & Frances on future birding trips.