Cape Leeuwin and Augusta

Visited: all year round

Recommendation: This whole area is so wonderful and one of my favourite places to visit. The wildlife takes a bit of searching for but the stunning scenery keeps you occupied until you find the animals.

Augusta is a lovely little town with incredible views of the Southern Ocean and some million dollar homes right on the shore. On the north western coast is the Indian Ocean and they meet at the tip of the most south western point of Australia - Cape Leeuwin. The meeting of these oceans makes for a changeable weather system and the area is considerably cooler than notoriously sticky Perth.  

My first stop was Cape Leeuwin. I knew that it was my best chance to see the Rock Parrot. These tiny parrots have eluded me so far on the south coast and indeed I had looked for them here on previous visits and didn't see them then either. I was hopeful and amazingly, I saw one before I even entered the tourist attraction. I guess getting there 2 minutes after they opened helped! Inside I found several groups and counted a wonderful 17 birds altogether. Very similar to the Elegant Parrot, these birds were so cute as they chattered away while feeding on the grass and flowers. 

On another visit, I found them by the waterwheel bathing and drinking from the freshwater that still trickles from the wheel. 

Rock Parrot (Neophema petrophila)

Back in Augusta, I walked along the river and the peppermint gums were in flower and smelled incredible. There has been a lot of restoration work here and it is a haven for lots of waterbirds. Unphotographable, but I did get glimpses of cormorants and pelicans as I walked. I sat on a bench next to a small pond and watched the ducks for a while until my attention was caught by a White-breasted Robin. What a lovely environment.