Whale Watching
Migrating humpback and southern right whales
make their way along the south coast from July through to October.
Whale sightings
can be made from many beaches, and whalewatching lookouts including -
Conspicuous Cliff,
10 km west of the Valley of the Giants, offers a carpark, picnic and toilet
facilities, and a whale-watching lookout which affords magnificent views of the
coastline, ocean and beaches. District Map West C8
Lowlands Beach,
28 km east of Denmark, is a popular fishing and swimming spot which boasts a
whale-watching lookout atop a cliff, views of WA's most southerly point, West
Cape Howe, and spectacular ocean panoramas. District Map East Y8
Alternatively you can take a day trip into Albany for a whale watching cruise on the catamaran Sail-A-Way with Albany Whale Tours, in season, or, in the summer months, a wilderness cruise around Albany's coastline and offshore islands to enjoy sights such as seal colonies, dolphins and seabirds.
Bird Watching
Denmark provides habitat for about 160 species
of birds. The names are listed in a Birds Australia leaflet available from the
Denmark Visitor Centre.
Wilson Inlet is the feeding ground for many
migratory wader species, which fatten up in preparation for their return trip to
the northern hemisphere. Ospreys may be seen fishing in the inlet.
The rare red-eared firetail finch frequents the
Little River Walk Trail area. The two fairy wrens, the Splendid and the Redwing,
are common and often feed in gardens.
The male Splendid wren in breeding plumage
is the glorious blue bird featured in the Denmark shire crest. Many species of
parrots, including the rock parrot, red-tailed and white-tailed black cockatoo,
and the purple-crowned lorikeet frequent the forests or coast.
Wildflowers
Wildflowers bloom quite late in Denmark -
generally September to November, when the weather is still cool but fine and the
days are lengthening. National parks and walk trails are the best places to see
wildflowers.
At West Cape Howe,
for example, you will see numerous banksias, including the Albany banksia, Banksia coccinea, dryandras, hakeas and many plants from the family Myrtacaea. The insect-trapping Albany pitcher plant, unique to the region,
can also be found here.
In December, farmland is awash with
the golden flowers of the native Christmas Tree, Nuytsia floribunda.
Around William Bay, dense scrub is dominated by peppermints and dryandra. Rare orchids can also be
found in the forests. Kangaroo paws of different colours abound (including the
endemic green variety). The pretty Hardenbergia (native wisteria) climbs through
the trees and there are Pimelia, Crowea, Hakea, Callistemon, bottlebrush ... the
list goes on and on.
See more images of Denmark and more wildflower images |
