It is exciting to receive observations from those in the community, especially when the observation is unusual. The sighting of a Western Netted Dragon in the Toodyay area is one such sighting.
The Little Black Cormorant is more common on inland waters than coastal. However, it can also be found on coastal estuaries and is quite prolific in the southwest of the state.
A solitary, large, graceful white bird of 80 to 90cms, the Yellow-billed Spoonbill, can be observed in shallow water on the edges of the Avon River.
True to its name, the Broad-banded Sand-swimmer skink’s most striking feature is its pattern of rich brown to purplish bands. These markings flow from the back of its neck to the tip of its tail, a tapestry of branched and broken lines.
The Barking Owl and the Southern Boobook are of the ‘hawk-owl’ species. Although very similar in colouring and looks, the Barking Owl is much larger, with measurements of 35 to 45cms compared with the Southern Boobook of 25 to 35cms. Even though it is more common in the Pilbara area, the Barking Owl has been heard very, very occasionally within our Shire.
The Masked Owl is not a common species around our Shire, however, it has been observed in open farmland with large trees, woodlands and timbered watercourses with paperbark woodland being a preferred habitat.
With our earlier rains the frogs are now calling and what a great sound it is following a long, hot summer. One such frog is the Moaning Frog which has a call that can cause sleep-less nights with its long and rising low moan if residing too close to the house. It is found in swampy and sandy areas from as far north of the state as Geraldton, east to Cape Arid and Rottnest Island – a vast area.
Easily recognised by its distinctive heart-shaped facial disc and pale, often ghostly, plumage, the Barn Owl is not often seen except as a white flash at night when caught in a vehicle’s headlights on country roads.
Finding a ‘snake’ in the home is a frightening experience but could it be a Legless Lizard?
The Boobook is the smallest of the Australian owls found in a variety of habitats and landforms from rainforest to arid areas, woodlands of the Wheatbelt, heath, Jarrah, Karri and Tingle forests.
The decline and disappearance of some frogs species may be partly due to a chytrid fungus.
With it’s distinctive black, fine, long, down-curved bill and striking bands of browns and red on the male, the gorgeous Western Spinebill is found in the lower southwest mainland of the State from Jurien Bay to Israelite Bay.
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