Mangrove Bay

Visited: late dry season

Recommendation: This is a fabulous place to see wildlife with 3 distinct areas. What you will see will largely depend on the tides as well as the season. 

On the other side of the car park is the short track and boardwalk to the bird hide. It also overlooks coastal tidal mudflats but they're not quite as exposed. Information signs say that the birds come to this area to roost when the tide fills the beach areas. Like most bird hides, you need to sit and be patient. It wasn't too long before birds started to fly in and make use of the rocks to perch or hunt from. 

Pacific Reef-Heron (Egretta sacra)

The last area of interest was the bush that was around the car park and in between the beach and the bird hide and it was just as busy. As soon as I got out of my van I saw a bustard in the dunes which you don't really expect. 

Australian Bustard (Ardeotis australis)

It really paid off knowing some of the bush bird calls and songs as I was able to pinpoint what was where. Firstly, the Rufous Fieldwren was singing low down and would occasionally pop up and call to another from the top. I saw one with a very odd bill deformity.

Rufous Fieldwren (Calamanthus campestris)

There were fairywren also calling from all around. Sitting and drinking tea in my van meant I could be semi-hidden from them and wait. Sure enough, they too came out briefly right in front of me.

White-winged Fairywren (Malurus leucopterus)

Other highlights were brief views of the Pied Honeyeater and a stunning Spotted Harrier circling overhead.

And a juvenile kestrel that was so red/orange, it almost glowed!

Nankeen Kestrel (Falco cenchroides)

One evening, I was late leaving the national park and planned to go spotlighting on my way out. I had been in the car park as it started to get dark and was leaving to drive along the main road. I saw an incredible 4 Spotted Nightjar sitting on the road. I flushed the first one, I saw the second and the third, got out of the van to try and walk up to them and get photographs. They both took off, although one did fly right past me and I got a great look at the bird with the white bars on the wings. It was absolutely stunning. Trying harder, I crept up really quietly to the fourth one but it took off as well and none of them returned which was such a shame but what a fantastic experience.