One of the delights of the south coast of Western Australia are the beautiful blue seas and squeaky white sand. We have miles of white sand along the coast near Broome, but the sand does not squeak like the fine sand in the south. Between Walpole and Denmark there are some great walking trails with spectacular views and the photo above is from the Conspicuous Cliffs, which you can reach in a conventional vehicle. Australasian Gannets were visible from the cliff tops and we have seen Hooded Plovers there in the past. Heading from Walpole east it is 13 kilometres/8 miles to the Conspicuous Cliffs and then continuing on you come to another beautiful beach called Peaceful Bay. Peaceful Bay is 30 kilometres/18 1/2 miles from Walpole and offers a small protected bay surrounded by the nearby Southern Forests-Walpole Wilderness.
Peaceful Bay rocks
Silver Gulls at Peaceful Bay
Peaceful Bay is easily accessible by conventional vehicle and part of the Bibbulmun Track, which stretches 1000 kilometres/621 miles from the Perth Hills to Albany on the south coast, runs along the coast there. During our visit earlier this year the weather was typical of the south of Western Australia and was quite changeable at short notice and rather windy. Peaceful Bay does offer some protection from some of the wind and a few birds were encountered whilst in the area. We were delighted to find that both Pied Oystercatchers and Sooty Oystercatchers were readily feeding on the beach at Peaceful Bay.
Pied Oystercatchers
Sooty Oystercatcher
Sooty Oystercatcher and Pied Oystercatcher feeding together
There were several adult Pacific Gulls out at sea collecting food while the juvenile Pacific Gulls stayed close to shore. Silver Gulls were scattered along the coast as far as you could see.
Juvenile Pacific Gulls
Pacific Gull and Silver Gull
In the ocean there was a large rock that was being used by birds as a roost and there were several birds present including Little Pied Cormorants, Pied Cormorants, Caspian Terns, Crested Terns and Pacific Black Ducks!
Pacific Black Ducks and Crested Tern at sea
Close to the beaches we discovered Red-winged Fairy-wrens, Australian Ravens, New Holland Honeyeaters, Silvereyes, White-browed Scrubwrens, Brush Bronzewings and Grey Fantails. Although it was not the busiest place for birds it was a very picturesque location and well worth the visit!
On a side note this is my 400th post for 10000birds.com and I am wondering if I will make it to 400 birds this year! I have a way to go, but it is only the end of April!
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