Jimmy and I had planned a while back to continue our Australia Day tradition from 2017 where went out to Dryandra. This year we planned to go to Tutanning nature reserve (another remnant Wheatbelt nature reserve) as I have never seen a wild Tammar wallaby and Jimmy has seen them each time he has been there.
It’s about 2.5hrs from my place and Jimmy kindly agreed to leave after my kids were down for the night. We planned to drive there, spotlight and then head back in the wee hours.
We drove out taking it slow over the hills trying to make sure we didn’t hit any roos. Despite all our care – we were dive bombed by a Tawny frogmouth who wedged itself in the grill and died instantly. It was a night for frogmouths as we saw 4 more in the reserve.
As we got to the reserve at 10pm, we thought we might have some problems with trees across roads as there had been some pretty strong winds with the tail end of the weather from Cyclone Joyce earlier in the week. We were able to get around them but the roads need careful attention as some might need a 4WD or careful driving in Jimmy’s SUV. We saw a couple of Western grey kangaroos throughout the reserve.
We drove through the reserve to the Eastern part where Jimmy had seen Tammar wallabies before – funnily enough on Tammar Rd!
We didn’t initially see any wallabies driving through the section so we parked up and headed out on foot. Jimmy caught something in his lights and we both saw something small on the ground and then jump onto dead branch just off the ground. We first thought mouse or maybe Mardo (Yellow-footed Antichinus) but then it scooted up a nearby Sheok moving very quickly – we then realised it was a Red-tailed Phascogale (Phascogale calura). We both got some quick photos as these critters often move very quickly and especially in the white light of our spotlights.
This was my third ever sighting, but the first time I was ever able to get a photo. It skipped around the branches of the tree but then settled on a main branch allowing us great views and better photos.
We were then pretty much satisfied with our night and anything else was a bonus! Not long after, we spotted our first Tammar wallaby – they are smaller than kangaroos and look very attractive. They are quite skittish and hang out in areas of thick undergrowth. I got a couple of shots before it sped off.
We then headed onto the boundary track that borders a farm – we saw other Tammars but they didn’t stay for better viewings. We then headed up another road seeing a few more, but they stayed well clear of us.
I also got a chance to try out my new toy – Echo Meter Touch 2 for Android – a bat detector you plug into your mobile! Take a listen to what I think might be a bat – identifying them is a bit of a black art and very technical as you have to analyse the acoustics of the calls.
Below is what a call looks like on my phone app and on some specialist acoustic analytical software Kaleidoscope. I think the frequency of the call is between 28-50 KHz which I thought might make it a south-western freetail bat, but I have asked for help from experts. {edit} I have since had advice that the call comes from a Gould’s wattled bat (Chalinolobus gouldii) which is very widely distributed through Australia.
We then spotted a small white frog sitting motionless on the track. Not 100% sure of the ID at the moment and it can be pretty hard to tell with just photos – I can’t even work out if it is a Sand frog (Heleioporus psammophilus) or White-footed trilling frog (Neobatrachus albipes).
Jimmy then spotted a lovely Western-spotted frog (Heleioporus albopunctatus) in the field so we jumped the fence for a closer look.
We headed back to the car with Jimmy taking his shoes off – going bush in socks! – as he was determined to get a better shot of a Tammar.
I then found another Western spotted frog – the greenish eye shine on the ground is quite distinctive when you shine a headtorch.
We headed home and I finally got to bed at 4am! A long night but very successful.
Wildlife Watching in Australia 
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