Summer in Western Australia can present challenging conditions when birding, even around Perth. Morning easterlies with sea breezes in the afternoon, very hot, dry days, fewer birds and more snakes.
Even so, an afternoon spent at Wungong Dam in the heat of summer still yielded some nice sightings.
Highlights were the WA endemic Red-winged Fairy-wrens as well as their bolder cousins, the Splendid Fairy-wrens. Splendids are often found in hot and dry regions and whereas the Red-wings prefer a cooler, damper climate and stick to the south-west of the state.
Conspicuous absences were: White-breasted Robins, Scarlet Robins, Rufous and Golden Whistlers, Red-eared Firetails, Western Spinebills and Western Rosellas. The robins in particular normally can't contain their curiosity with humans. Do these birds migrate south in the hotter months? Or were they simply resting in the hot afternoon?
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| Splendid Fairy-wren male losing his breeding plumage |
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| Birds that are predominantly nectar feeders like this Silvereye find other food sources in Summer |
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| New Holland Honeyeater searching for insects |
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| Female Splendid shows her red lores |
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| Birding is the best when they come to you! |
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| Female Red-winged Fairy-wren lives in the understory close to water |
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| Ring-necked Parrot |
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| Western Gerygone in the treetops |
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| Magpie |
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| Camera-shy pair of Red-winged Fairy-wrens |
Male wrens always look a bit sad when they are losing their breeding colour. You're lucky to have both Splendid and Red-winged in your area.
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