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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Andrew Whitehouse" data-source="post: 1552502" data-attributes="member: 3550">Day Nine: June 27th, Oyster Bay to Cheyne Beach, WAGlad you're enjoying the report Mike.Early the next morning I had a short walk around Oyster Bay near to where I was staying.  Several Common Bronzewings were giving great views around the caravan park and a couple of Ospreys were again seen well.  Fortuitously I then met a couple out walking their dogs who actually turned out to be quite knowledgable about birds (perhaps a bit of a rarity in the southwest).  They gave me a few tips that helped to set up the rest of the day's birding.  One species I'd ask them about was White-breasted Robin, an endemic that I'd thus far been unable to find.  They told me I should look just a short distance further along the track and, lo and behold, about a minute later I was watching one hopping about along the trail.  These aren't as brightly coloured as some of the Australian robins but are really smart and engaging birds all the same.Returning along the track I found a couple of fairywrens flitting about in the low vegetation and soon identified these as a female and eclipse male Red-winged Fairywren.  I then had one of those 'Oh my God' moments when out popped an absolutely gleaming breeding plumage male, which had an almost 'glow in the dark' electric-blue crown.  Finally I'd seen a 'real' fairywren and it was even more stunning than I'd expected.The couple had tipped me off an another species that could be found around the entrance to the caravan park so off I went in search.  Eventually, perched in a tall tree, I found a dashing male Australian Hobby.  Soon after I found the female and both birds gave good views for quite some time.I headed off then to continue my search for the skulkers.  My destination was Cheynes Beach, which I'd been told was a better bet than Two People's Bay, particularly for the scrub bird.  I arrived there mid-morning, by which time the weather was already rather windy.  There's a shop at the caravan park and I went in to see if anyone there knew anything about birds.  I wasn't too optimistic that anyone would but the lady at the counter immediately produced a large folder detailing sightings over a number of years.  She said that Noisy Scrub Bird could always be heard around the caravan park and a quick wander outside demonstrated the truth of this.  One was belting out its song from thick cover just by the entrance.  It also became apparent why this site is recommended as a place to see the scrub bird because this individual's territory included some quite broad roads and tracks that it would have to cross from time to time.I thought I would take a walk across the heathland towards Back Beach.  The wind meant that there was very little activity from passerines.  The first notable bird I saw was a Brown Falcon gliding across a slope persued by a Nankeen Kestrel.  I made my way down to Back Beach, which is a very lovely spot.  Looking out to sea I noticed several Crested Terns and Australasian Gannets.  Then, piquing my interest in seawatching somewhat, I saw a couple of albatrosses flying out of the channel between the headland and Bald Island.  The birds were quite distant so I decided to make my way around the headland to get closer views.  I spent a good hour or two seawatching productively from here.  Eventually some albatrosses began to appear again and I was able to identify four Yellow-nosed Albatrosses and two Black-browed Albatrosses.  Splendid birds as always.  In the distance I could see some dark looking petrels but these were way beyond the island.  Luckily one came through the channel at much closer range and was clearly a Great-winged Petrel, gliding in steep arcs over the water.  I also saw three Brown Skuas at various distances.  The best bird was a real surprise.  I noticed a storm-petrel darting over the waves quite close to the shore.  Its dark underparts, white saddle and direct, swallow-like flight readily identified it as Wilson's Storm-petrel - a first for me.  As well as the seabirds, the channel was also being traversed by at least three Humpback Whales, which came quite close to the shore at certain points, bashing their tail flukes against the water.  A further bonus came as I walked back along the edge of the heathland towards the beach.  A nightjar flew up from cover, showing quite rufous plumage and white ovals on the primaries, identifying it as a Spotted Nightjar.  So some good birds, although not necessarily the ones I was looking for.  The remainder of the day was spent searching for the Noisy Scrub Bird by the caravan park.  It seemed to be sauntering slowly along the scrub by the main road, but was never particularly close to any of the tracks.  While I was looking I had absolutely crippling views of a Red-eared Firetail, which I managed to call in by imitating its thin, slightly mournful whistle.  I was even more impressed with this bird than I had been with the previous day's sighting.  I hung around till nightfall, hoping that the scrub bird would scuttle across a track, but it lurked doggedly within cover until it was too dark to see.</blockquote>

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