Tag: Blue Wren female

Harrisdale Swamp

Harrisdale Swamp is a Bush Forever nature reserve, south of Perth, within the City of Armadale. The reserve is relatively large and is part of Jandakot Regional Park. It is rich in flora and fauna, which is the main reason for visiting this place. Anyone with a keen interest in wildlife, wildflower photography (more on this below) will find great delight at this reserve.

It has some interesting history, dating back to World War II, when the area was used for growing potatoes to feed soldiers. More on this here. Fortunately, it was declared a reserve in 1991 due to its high conservation values.

There are walking trails within the reserve. Some of them are impassable in winter during heavy rains. There are no facilities within the reserve.

Birdlife is abundant there. When the wildflower season is over, I will be paying more attention to the various birds within the reserve. I already spotted numerous Blue wrens and heard Golden whistlers but I need to go back and hopefully take pictures of them.

Orchids at Harrisdale Swamp (blooming in August)

I was visiting Harrisdale Swamp weekly this year (2024). After sufficient rain I was delighted to discover and photograph 11 types of orchids growing there. There are more types of orchids growing there, but some of them were not flowering, like Red Beaks. Many native wildflowers, other than orchids grow there too.

Pterostylis crispula Slender snail orchid (left above), Pterostylis sanguinea Dark banded greenhood (above middle), Diuris corymbosa Common donkey orchid (above right).

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Leporella fimbriata Hare orchid (above left), Pterostylis recurva Jug orchid (above middle), Cyrtostylis huegelii Midge orchid (above right).

Pterostylis vittata Banded greenhood orchid at Harrisdale Swamp

Prasophyllum parvifolium Autumn leek orchid (above left), Pterostylis vittata Banded greenhood orchid (above middle), Pterostylis ectypha Thick sepaled Snail Orchid (above right).

Caladenia flava Cowslip orchid at Harrisdale Swamp
Pheladenia deformis Blue Fairy orchid at Harrisdale Swamp

Caladenia flava Cowslip orchid (above left), Pheladenia deformis Blue Fairy orchid (above middle), Ericksonella saccharata Sugar orchid (above right).

More orchids

In autumn 2025 (May) I was happy to find bunny orchids in Harrisdale Swamp! These are Common Bunny Orchids Eriochilus dilatatus subsp. multiflorus.

Various wildflowers

Philotheca spicata Pepper and Salt at Harrisdale Swamp

Philotheca spicata Pepper and Salt (above left), Bossiaea eriocarpa (above middle), Brachyloma preissii (above right).

Conostylis prolifera (above left), Drosera pallida (above middle), Running Postman Kennedia prostrata (above right).

Adenanthos obovatus Basket flower (above left), Boronia dichotoma (above top right), Calytrix fraseri (above bottom right).

Stylidium brunonianum Pink Fountain Triggerplant (above left), Stylidium utricularioides Pink Fan Triggerplant (above middle), Lobelia tenuior (above right).

Thysanotus multiflorus (above left), Regelia ciliata (above middle), Scholtzia involucrata (above right).

Banksia menziesii Firewood banksia (above)

Fungi

In winter, after a good rain, you can see plenty of fungi in the bush.

Snakes and lizards

Western Crowned snake (above left), Western Limestone Ctenotus (above right).

Birds

Blue wren female (above left), Blue wren male (above right).

Millers Point bush camp

Where is Millers Point bush camp?

Millers Point bush camp ground turned out to be much better than we expected. Located on the shore of Beaufort Inlet, it is easily accessable, being only 6km dirt road from Borden-Bremer Road, 50km west of Bremer Bay in the Great Southen region of Western Australia.

Not just overnight stop

Millers Point bush camp can be used as a base to explore all the beautiful beaches around Bremer Bay, or you can stay at the camp, relaxing and enjoying the nature. The inlet is beautiful.

There are many birds to watch there, both on shore and in the trees and bushes.

Above: Silvereye (top left), Blue Wren male (top middle), Blue Wren female (top right), Galah (bottom left), Welcome Swallows (bottom right).

There are easy bush walks around and 4WD tracks nearby to test your limits. One of the attractions at Millers Point camp is Crocodile Rock, which is part of 1,5km walk to the lookout. It is particularly impressive at sunrise. I took this picture just before 5am. Things that you do when you want to take good photos :).

You can also go fishing and kayaking at the inlet.

Small boat on the shore of Beaufort Inlet at Millers Point campground

The beauty of camping at the inlet is that you don’t need to walk far to enjoy sunset. This was pretty much the view from our camping spot at Millers Point bush camp.

Cost and facilities

The campground has basic facilities, like renovated toilet (well-stocked with toilet paper) and bins. The cost is $10 per night per person (no charge for kids), which is only half of what we would have paid staying at the national park with the same facilities for a family of 4. Friendly on-site care-taker Frank collects the money and looks after the place quite well. The camp area is quite big, with no defined spots, so you are almost guaranteed to have one, even when arriving late.

Dogs and campfires (in season) are allowed.

In conclusion

We spent wonderful 3 nights at Millers Point over the Xmas period, enjoying the place and the company of friendly neighbors (Liz and Hank). It is one of those places that we would like to visit again.