Regent Parrot (Polytelis anthopeplus)

Posted on April 18, 2014 by Tara

The Regent Parrot is one of three species in the genus Polytelis. The parrot is also known variously as the Rock Pebbler, Rock Peplar, Black-tailed Parakeet, Murray Smoker’, Marlock Parakeet and sometimes Regent Parakeet.

Two subspecies are recognised. While the western subspecies (Polytelis anthopeplus anthopeplus) is listed as “lower risk” or “least concern”, the eastern subspecies (Polytelis anthopeplus monarchoides) is listed as endangered.

Regent Parrots are easily seen in Dryandra Woodland & Stirling Range National Park, both of which are an easy drive from Perth, Australia. It was pure magic to watch them bathing in the bird bath at Stirling Range Retreat!

Range:
P.a. anthopeplus: Inland SE Australia, near middle of Murray and lower Darling Rivers and corresponding tributaries in far SE New South Wales and NW Victoria to nearby E South Australia.
P.a. westralis: SW Australia, north to Lake Moore district and east to eastern Goldfields, Balladonia district, and Israelite Bay.

LEARN MORE ABOUT REGENT PARROTS

Environment South Australia

Biodiversity Australia

VIDEO

Beautiful close ups from YouTube!

The Birds Of Stirling Range – Pictorial

Posted on April 17, 2014 by Tara

I’ve already blogged about the Stirling Range National Park but it got too long so I saved the bird photos for this post. Just as a reminder, here are the bird lists that have been recorded here:

Frank O’Connor

Eremaea

Birdlife (has pictures)

Since we have the long Easter weekend coming up, over the next 4 days, I will get caught up on some bird profiles and then move on to the next stop which was Two People’s Bay. So for now, just enjoy some of these beautiful birds!

Regent Parrot

Galah

Elegant Parrot

Dusky Wood Swallows (I think)

Owlet Nightjar

Honey-eater

Elegant Parrot

Singing Honey-eater

Elegant Parrot

Splendid Fairy-wren

Elegant Parrot

Australian Ringneck

Regent Parrots

Western Rosella

Elegant Parrot

Elegant Parrot

Elegant Parrot

Australian Owlet Nightjar

Birding Foxes Lair, Narrogin, Western Australia

Posted on April 7, 2014 by Tara

Foxes Lair is a small reserve on the outskirts of Narrogin, Western Australia. It makes a perfect complement to nearby Dryandra Woodland, especially for parrot watchers.

Google Maps don’t show it but it is where I have made the yellow highlights.

Foxes Lair

It’s well worth planning both a morning visit and an afternoon visit here as you can get different birds. I saw more Carnaby’s Cockatoos & Galahs in the morning and in the afternoon, I got my first look at Red Capped Parrots and Regent Parrots and of course more Port Lincoln Ringnecks.

Here’s a few pics of the birds I saw over 2 days. Sorry about the silhouettes of the Carnaby’s Cockatoos, it was around 5:30am-ish! You can see birds both on the side of the road near the caravan park opposite Foxes Lair and then drive into the reserve where there is a car park and a few trails you can follow.

You can stay in Narrogin where there are several options such as Bella’s Country Place (where we stayed-my review), Albert Facey Motel & Narrogin Motel.