A Glance at the Birds of the Moore River (W.A.)
By F. Lawson, Perth.
Towards the end of October, 1903, I found myself at Mogumber, a station on the Midland Railway, about 60 miles north of Perth.
I here expected to meet my companions on a projected trip to the Wongan Hills. Some delay, however, occurred in their arrival, and in the interim I turned my attention to the avifauna of the Moore River, the east branch of which flows immediately past Mogumber.
On the return of the expedition to the latter place, about a month later, I was again detained, for a fortnight or thereabouts, and I took advantage of the opportunity to carry my investigations to a point some 20 miles further down the river.
As our track to the Wongan Hills practically followed the eastern branch to its sources, some few miles beyond the settlement of New Norcia, I had thus an opportunity of exploring about 40 miles of the course of the stream, a distance comprising about two-thirds of its total length.
Roughly speaking, the Moore flows in a tortuous course from north-east to south-west, About four miles west of Mogumber it receives the north branch, which flows from the direction its name implies. Some 12 miles from its mouth it is joined by the Gin-Gin Brook. These are the only tributaries of any importance. During the rainy season some of the lower reaches of the river expand into small lakes. The upper portions of the Moore call for little comment. The volume of the stream is at all times very moderate, and its valley of no great width. Generally speaking, it is well timbered, and, where not cultivated and cleared, well clothed with scrub and herbaceous plants. Westward of Mogumber, however, in the lower portions, the valley deepens and contracts, and the flow is much augmented, and permanent, until some 20 miles away the valley becomes a veritable gorge, with cliffs exceeding 150 feet in height. For the most part the surrounding country is a succession of sand plains; but at intervals oases of stunted banksia, casuarina, and other trees are encountered. At some few localities, the soil is richer, and the valley expands into small alluvial flats. Here several species of eucalyptus are found, and grow to a large size. In the spring of the year the whole district is clothed with a brilliant and varied flora.
Hieracidea berigora (Striped Brown Hawk).—Not infrequent. More often observed flying over the sand plains than anywhere else.
Cerchneis cenchroides (Kestrel).—Far from common. According to my observations this is a rock-loving rather than a forest species.
Accipiter cirrhocephalus (Sparrow-Hawk).—Frequently seen. A pair had a nest close to Mogumber railway station, but I could not find the exact locality.
Ninox boobook (Boobook Owl).—The familiar call often heard at night near Mogumber.[1]
Corvus coronoides (Crow).—Pairs and family parties pretty frequent.
Grallina picata (Magpie-Lark).—Distinctly rare; and only seen on the upper portions of the river, near to and beyond New Norcia.
Collyriocincla Rufiventris (Buff-bellied Shrike-Thrush).—Frequent on the upper portions of the river, but naturally absent in the region of the extensive sand-plains.
Pteropodocys phasianella (Ground Cuckoo-Shrike).—Observed at Mogumber, but distinctly uncommon.
Graucalus melanops (Black-faced Cuckoo-Shrike).—Fairly common in suitable country.
Micrœca assimilis (Lesser Brown Flycatcher).—Fairly common all along the course of the river. A nest found with three fresh eggs on the limb of a dead bush, about six miles east of Mogumber.
Petrœca goodenovii (Red-capped Robin).—This beautiful species only met with at the sources of the river. Even there it appeared to be extremely local. A nest found containing three eggs. I quite expected to meet with it again on the sand plains west of Mogumber, but the only Robin I encountered was the next species, which occurred in the oases of banksia and other trees. It is a curious fact that P. goodenovii should breed commonly on Rottnest Island, but at present is not known to occur in the intervening country between the latter locality and the Upper Moore River.
Petrœca campbelli (Western Scarlet-breasted Robin).—Fairly common near Mogumber, and as far down the river as I explored. I found it nesting in the banksias quite 15 feet from the ground. It is a much more silent species than P. goodenovii.
Sericornis brevirostris (Short-billed Tree-Tit).—Common amongst the various eucalpyts.
Pseudogerygone culicivora (Southern Fly-eater).—Fairly distributed throughout the course of the river.
Malurus leucopterus (White-winged Wren).—This species occurs, very sparingly and locally, on the sand plains west of Mogumber, where the latter are clothed with patches of rather thicker vegetation than the general rule. Probably this is the extent of its range westward. The further south and the nearer the coast one proceeds the rarer does this species become. Its headquarters in Western Australia are probably the Murchison, Peak Hill, and Gascoyne goldfields.
Malurus splendens (Banded Wren).—Apparently absent from the upper Moore River, but moderately common round Mogumber and lower down the valley. I found it breeding in several places.
Rhipidura tricolor (Black-and-white Fantail).—Scattered pairs encountered both up and down the river.
Sisura inquieta (Restless Flycatcher).—Rather more common and equally well distributed with the last species.
Acanthiza apicalis (Broad-tailed Tit).—Only met with near the source of the river.
Acanthiza inornata (Plain-coloured Tit).—Fairly common near Mogumber, and met with at intervals further west.
Acanthiza chrysorrhoa (Yellow-rumped Tit).—Much more common around Mogumber and the lower portions of the river than near the source.
Cinclorhamphus rufescens (Brown Song-Lark).—Only encountered once; this was near a small lake at the head of the river.
Ephthianura tricolor (Tri-coloured Bush-Chat).—A few pairs met with on the sand plains west of Mogumber; they were all adults; probably returning migrants.
Gymnorhina leuconota[2] (White-backed Magpie).—Pretty common from Mogumber to New Norcia; but to the westward rather rare. At the former locality I saw several nests.
Cracticus destructor (?) (Butcher-Bird).—I observed pairs of Cractius in many places up and down the river. I think they were referable to this species, but am not absolutely certain.
Pachycephalus occidentalis.—Found in the thicker scrubs, but far from plentiful.
Climacteris rufa (Rufous Tree-creeper).—Not uncommon amongst the eucalypts.
Sittella pileata (Black-capped Tree-runner).—Little parties often seen, both up and down the river.
Myzomela nigra (Black Honey-eater).—A few met with in open country sparsely clothed with dwarfed banksias, not far from the junction of the north branch of the river.
Acanthorhynchus superciliosus (White-browed Spinebill).—As far as I could see, this beautiful species was absent from the immediate neighbourhood of Mogumber and the country to the east. I first encountered it 10 miles down the river, and more commonly still further to the west. It seemed partial to the oases of banksia and the scrub verging on the sand plains.
Zosterops gouldi (Green-backed White-eye).—Common, and breeding throughout the course of the river.
Glycyphila fulvifrons (Fulvous-breasted Honey-eater).—A few pairs on the slopes of a range of hills to the north of Mogumber. To my surprise it was absent from the sand plains.
Glycyphila ocularis (Brown Honey-eater).—Common in all suitable localities.
Manorhina obscura (Dusky Miner).—A few parties met with near Mogumber.
Acanthochæra Carunculata (Red Wattle-Bird).—Pretty common, both up and down the river.
Pardalotus ornatus (Red-tipped Pardalote).—Common amongst the eucalypts.
Hirundo neoxena.—A few pairs generally met with around homesteads. I was told of colonies of either this species or Petrochelidon ariel breeding in the culverts of the railway line some few miles away.
Petrochelidon nigricans (Tree-Martin).—Common, and breeding in many places amongst the white gums.
Petrochelidon ariel (Fairy Martin).—I did not actually see this species, but photographed a group of nests in a recess of a limestone cliff, about three miles west of Mogumber. They were probably nests of the previous year.
Anthus australis (Pipit).—Not uncommon on the sand plains and in open country.
Artamus cinereus (Grey-breasted Wood-Swallow).—Wood-Swallows were not common, but I think the few I saw belonged to this species.
Mirafra horsfieldi (Bush-Lark).—A few pairs met with on the sand plains some twelve miles west of Mogumber.
Podargus strigoides (Frogmouth).—A nest containing young found near the source of the river. It was in the fork of a limb some 15 or 20 feet from the ground.
Merops ornatus (Bee-eater).—Not uncommon to the west and near Mogumber. The native name is "Berrin-berrin."
Halcyon sanctus (Sacred Kingfisher).—Common, and breeding, especially near Mogumber.
Cuculus pallidus (Pallid Cuckoo).—A few observed, or heard, up and down the river.
Calytporhynchus baudini (White-tailed Cockatoo).—Pretty common, and very noisy. I met with flocks every day. There were many young birds amongst them. At a station some fifteen miles west of Mogumber three nesting-places were pointed out to me. In each case a hollow limb of a gum tree was utilized, at heights of from 20 to 40 feet. They were inaccessible without a lot of trouble, in the absence of a rope ladder. Probably they contained eggs of a second brood, as the females flew out of the nest-hole in two instances.
Licmetis pastinator (Western Long-billed Cockatoo).—At Mogumber I saw an individual in captivity that had been obtained some 30 miles or so further north. I was told by an old resident that formerly this species was not uncommon in the neighbourhood.
Barnardius semitorquatus (Yellow-collared Parrakeet).—Pretty common, and breeding amongst the eucalypts.
Phaps elegans (Brush Bronze-wing).—At Mogumber I saw the survivor of a pair in captivity. This was formerly a common species, but its disappearance is attributed by residents to the number of domestic cats now running wild in the bush.
Rallidæ (Rails).—Near Mogumber are several swamps, and some five miles south is Lake Wannamool, a large and reedy area of water. In the breeding season these swamps contain a lot of water and vegetation, and are frequented by a number of aquatic birds. I was, however, in default of shooting, not able to identify the majority of them.
Fulica australis (Coot).—A pair on a pool at the sources of the river.
Burhinus grallarius (Stone-Plover).—Heard at night. This species used to breed commonly, and still does so to a smaller extent, at Bindoon, some 14 miles to the south of Mogumber.
Eupodotis australis (Wild Turkey or Bustard).—Occasionally seen.
Zonifer tricolor (Black-breasted Plover).—Near New Norcia I observed several Plovers on a large cultivated paddock. They appeared to be of this species.
Notophoyx novæ-hollandiæ (White-fronted Heron).—Not uncommon near the Moore River and neighbouring swamps; breeding in several places. I climbed one tree containing several nests. The most accessible one contained the unusual number of eight eggs. Four, however, clearly belonged to a different parent, who may have perished accidentally or otherwise.
Botaurus pœciloptilus (Bittern).—Pairs were inhabiting the swamps to the north of Mogumber, where their curious notes might be heard any day.
Podicipes poliocephalus (Hoary-headed Grebe).—Observed on a pool at the sources of the river and also near Mogumber.
Chenopis atrata (Black Swan).—This species frequents Lake Wannamool, where it is said to breed. It is also met with at Bindoon.
Anas superciliosa (Wild Duck).—A few on the lower reaches of the river west of Mogumber, and a nest found at one of the swamps the day I left the district.
- ↑ The "familiar call" cannot always be attributed to the Boobook Owl, because other Owls emit similar sounds. See Dr. E. A. D'Ombrain's paper in this issue.—Eds.
- ↑ ? G. dorsalis.—Eds.