Roebuck Plains

Visited: late dry season

Recommendation: If you are driving south from Broome to Port Hedland, you will pass through the Roebuck Plains. It is worth keeping a good eye out for wildlife. There is no telling what you might see.

I drove along the long road south through the plains in the vague hope of seeing the Yellow Chat. This is supposedly one of the best places in the country to see them. I didn't see very much until I passed a small dam close to the road on a farm. Photography was pretty tricky but I did see Bustards, Brolga as well as several terns. My eye was then caught on the other side of the road by a raptor bouncing around on the grass. It took me a while to pick is as a Spotted Harrier. It was hunting on the ground and it did catch a couple of small critters. The rufous colour indicates this is a juvenile bird and it was definitely not as polished as an adult.

Spotted Harrier (Circus assimilis)