Birding Southwest

06/02/2025

Settling nicely into the new year while reflecting on some of my favourite moments from last year that were captured on video.
Clips like this one below and the stories to go with them in the link. 😄

I've been taking a lot of audio recordings over the past year or so and am now back into taking photos. But consistently, my favorite captures are videos. It might be because I'm getting both audio and images, or it could be because they tend to gain much more engagement from those reading and viewi

10/01/2025

A Big Year Summary. Lists in the links on the website. Have a look and see if you think this records stands up!

Well. That's a big year in the books. I saw, audio recorded, photographed and videoed more bird species than I ever have before within the bounds of a calendar year. I also spent a large majority of that time showing those birds to other people while establishing myself in a new business ve

18/12/2024

Another month of the year, another blog! Bremer Bay this time.
Don't forget to scroll to the bottom for that list!

Two days later we'd have a similarly grey passing, albeit much closer. Barau's Petrel have been seen with increasing regularity off the Southwest coast and many of those sightings have been during trips to see the Orcas. John Edmond nailed one ripping down the port side on our return journey to ligh

04/12/2024

Western Bristlebird

Not often seen singing from the top of the heath. On a cool morning nearby Cheynes we had a trio engaging in some call and response behaviour!! This one sat up for an extended period giving everyone a chance to not only see one of the Three Skulkers very well but get their fill of photos too!

27/11/2024

I've returned from Ashmore Reef with a few more ticks for WA, my WA year list and a few for Australia!
Read below!

Well, I’ve hit that magic 440 mark. Just took 10 days on a boat to Ashmore Reef and back to top that list on up. I’d given myself a ridiculous two and a half day turnaround from a 16 day east coast tour featuring Dan Terrington, Blue-faced Parrotfinches and Regent Honeyeaters to get up to Broome...

29/10/2024

Its been a big year so far and has the chance to be a record breaking one! Have a read below to see if I might be able to break the WA Big Year record.

I’ve had a very busy year of work so far. It has been a wonderful start to taking over Birding Southwest and guiding on as much of a full-time schedule as is possible. I’ve just about covered the entirety of the huge state of Western Australia during this year so far and have seen a huge majorit...

02/10/2024

After a little break with some holidays (read: birding reccys) packed in, I've been absent from the blog. Click the link below to find out a little bit of what I've been up to - its been fun! There'll be more blogs with a lot more of an Australian and Western Australian birdwatching focus coming soon!

Prior to that dream trip, I was over on the Mentawai islands off of Sumatra. This is another dream trip but one dreamt about by surfers more so than birdwatchers. I was over there with my surfing hat well and truly on, or at least a whole load of zinc smeared over the tips of my ears to make sure th

06/08/2024

George Swann of Kimberley Birdwatching and Rohan Clarke have organised a trip to Ashmore Reef from the 1st-9th of November and there are still a few places left!

This trip will move through WA waters stopping at various islands including Browse Island and the Lacepedes on the way out and back from Ashmore Reef. Ashmore itself is a hotspot for vagrants and rarities in Australia and should be visited by all Australian birdwatchers at least once. Browse and the Lacepedes have had their fair share of rarities show up too. All of these islands boast massive seabird colonies and host nesting turtles amongst idyllic tropical settings.

The waters in between have a unique diversity of marine life with many interesting and rare cetacean, turtle and sea snake species being seen on previous trips. Of course, there are many rare seabirds to see as well.

I’ll be on board, you should be too!

If you want to book contact George Swann on 0429 706 800 or via [email protected]

Photos below from my first trip to Ashmore. More photos of rarities at the link below.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/718576241555767

Cheers,
Louis

03/08/2024

I've just returned from a massive three weeks of guiding including some fun in the Southwest!
Thinking of home and how much I enjoy sharing it with visitors, I wrote the below. It focusses on Dryandra and all its wonders and formalises the private custom trips I do down to the Wandoo in a new addition to the tours page on the Birding Southwest website.

As the golden light cracks over the treetops a diverse and wonderful soundscape is triggered as fifty odd species of birds sing from that remnant Wandoo to start their day. Mornings wandering the wandoo where fifty, even sixty species fill the list in a rapid flurry of calls and colour are the norm.

28/06/2024

Hi everyone!
I've just posted a new blog post to the Birding Southwest website.
Its about the differet species of Bowerbirds I ecountered while guiding through the Midwest & Kimberley.
https://birdingsouthwest.com.au/journal/bowerbirds
Have a read at the link above and let me know your thoughts!
Louis

Bowerbirds are known and named for their impressive architectural structures but do they think about them the same way I do?

14/06/2024

More pelagic trips out of Augusta!

I'll be on board this double-header arranged by Naturaliste Charters Whale Watching as a guide.

Dates are 10th & 11th of August. Come along and join me!

Further information and booking links below.

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/bWQ82GJuSUFQGgqQ/

25/05/2024

Hi All!
I've just posted a new blog to the journal section of the new Birding Southwest website.
Its about making recordings in the field of our unique birds and the equipment I'm currently using. Have a read at the link below and let me know your thoughts!
Louis

Have you ever read a bird field guide? Read the bits where they try to describe a bird call? If you have you’ll be familiar with the onomatopoeic translations of the noises a bird makes. In the Australian Bird Guide (the blue book), a Noisy Scrub-bird has its 'amazingly loud, 10 - 20 clear note te...

08/05/2024

Hello Birding Southwest Community! 🪶

My name is Louis. I grew up in the suburbs of Perth, nearby quiet urban bushlands and surrounded by flower-filled gardens. I studied and worked at the University of Western Australia, and along the way, I have developed a huge (and crippling) passion for Western Australia and its unique birdlife and birding experiences.

I spent a significant part of my younger years around the Albany and Margaret River regions and have got to know those areas and their birds very well in between surfs and dives in the clear blue waters those regions are famous for.

The years in between now and then have had me filling in the gaps around WA. From my first trip to Dryandra back when I started driving, to my first pilgrimages up along the Gibb River Road and out into the Nullarbor not all that long ago, I've been very busy taking in all there is to offer!

With not many of those gaps left for me anymore, I've settled somewhat. These days, when I'm not still out exploring the vast beauty of Western Australia and beyond, you can often find me at my block in Yallingup Siding, where I'm surrounded by the delightful company of the endemic birds and native plants that call that patch of bush home.

You can read more about my origins and how I came to be the current custodian of Birding Southwest below!

In saying that, I'm also thrilled to announce the launch of the new Birding Southwest website! Take a peek at the exciting trips I have planned and learn more about what's in store at birdingsouthwest.com.au. Shoot me an email or comment below if you'd like to get in touch regarding anything you find on there!

I'm so excited to be a part of this little group and share all of my trips with you all!!!

Happy birding 🪽
Louis

Birding Southwest has been rebooted to showcase the regions 17 endemic species, rare specialties and distinct subspecies.

06/05/2024

As the final step in my transition to retirement I would like to formally welcome Louis Masarei, who is taking on the management of Birding Southwest's activities and indeed of this page. Louis is also South West based and will continue to conduct specialised birdwatching tours around the South West and beyond (and no doubt entertain you with more photos and tales of birding adventures). Many thanks to all the followers over the 15 or so years that this page has been operating! Regards Peter