We’ve been wanting to visit EBO for some time. It’s not exactly an easy location to get to… a 7hr drive from the nearest town of Esperance, the last 30km of which are off road, and the last 10km being a “4wd only” undulating track through the remote dunes of Nuytsland Nature Reserve. But that remoteness is the appeal.
Spiny cheeked honeyeater
On arriving, we were asked if we’d mind waiting until after sunset to move into our room, to allow time for 2 tiny chocolate wattle bats, who were nestled into the corner of the high ceiling, to wake up and leave for the evening. This proved to be great entertainment as we watched the bats fly in unbelievably tight circles around the room, then finally exit through the open door, fluttering off into the twilight.
We spent the next day & a half wandering the trails around the homestead, which are marked out with flotsam & jetsam from the nearby shore – mainly ropes, nets & buoys. Small birds zoomed over our heads and popped in and out of the vegetation – some of them familiar, but many new to us.
White fronted honeyeater
Each day ended with a nourishing home-cooked meal, interesting conversation with fellow guests and the caretakers, and adding our sightings to the daily bird list. It was a short stay for us of only 2 nights, but in that time we learnt new birds, met new people, and explored a remote and beautiful place that not many get to see.
Silvereye
Raptor
Welcome swallow