Bird survey July
The park looks good, thanks to a reasonably wet June. Waters level are high in the two main lakes and the dam, but all other freshwater bodies are dry including the wetlands near the FoWP Compound. Volunteers are back at work, with their recent…
Bird Survey 31 May/1 Jun
48 species were observed including and a pair of Dusky Woodswallows seen flying overhead – the first record of this species in the Park. Recorders noted that as areas of vegetation mature and become more established, new bird species are appearing, some of which…
Bird survey April
Water levels have dropped over the last month. Nevertheless, none of the larger waders were present. However, encountering both an Eastern Yellow Robin and an Eastern Spinebill was notable, and at least eight Black-fronted Dotterels were sighted around Saltwater Lake. Moreover there were many…
Bird Survey 1 Mar
A dry February has seen the lake levels drop somewhat, and the southern chain of ponds has no water to speak of. The good news is that Westgate Biodiversity – Bili Nursery teams have been weeding extensively throughout the park, which accordingly looks terrific….
Bird survey 6 July
Thanks to continuing rains, water levels and quality in the fresh water lake are very high with consequent reduced numbers of several species of water birds. The salt lake level now reads .83 m – up .03m from last survey. Vegetation throughout the park…
Bird survey 2 March
Thanks to better-than-average summer rainfall, the large Freshwater and Saltwater Lake levels are high, as before, bringing small numbers of diving feeders such as Little Pied and Little Black Cormorants, Hardheads, Australasian Grebes and Hoary-headed Grebes, the latter present in higher numbers. Teal are slightly more common now, while…
New bird species list out
The total number of bird species recorded in the Park is now 162 and in 2019, 88 bird species were observed – more than half!
Dec bird survey
The large Freshwater and Saltwater lakes have risen lately, which suits diving feeders, such as Hardheads, Australasian Grebes and Hoary-headed Grebes – suggesting aquatic invertebrates and other small prey are plentiful in the former. With several eucalypts flowering lightly, numerous nectar feeders are present, especially Rainbow Lorikeets,…
August bird survey
Over 40 mm of rain in July turned the park around; vegetation recovered rapidly, although many dead trees and shrubs remain from the preceding dry months. Resident species such as Superb Fairy-wrens and White-plumed Honeyeaters are present in high numbers, along with a dozen…
April 2019 bird survey
After many dry months and just 3 mm of rain in March, Westgate Park is severely stressed, with numerous dead shrubs and trees, especially narrow-leafed peppermints and banksias. Although some eucalypts, including the large Ironbark near the windmill, are flowering, the dry conditions appear…