Photos with this report (click to enlarge) | |||
 Spotted Pardalote |
 Red-backed Wren |
 Yellow-tailed Cockatoo |
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 Hooded Dotterel |
 Powerful Owl |
 Bush Thick-knee |
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We started our one month trip at Surfers paradise where we contacted Bird Pal Hans Beste. We couldn't have made a better contact. Hans was tireless in his attempts to get us as many species as possible in the 2 days we were with him. I beleive there were only 3 Monarchs to be had in that part of the country and Hans got them all for us within a couple of hours. Some of the highlights with Hans were the Monarchs, Glossy Black Cockatoos, Noisy Pita, Riflebird, Baillons Crake, Buff-banded Rail, and many others including the first recorded nesting of a Blue-billed Duck in that area.
We travelled down the coast to Woollongong were we were lucky enough to get on the SOSSA pelagic trip. Only 16 species were recorded on this trip but it was very entertaining and enjoyable, besides being economical. Highlights were S. Giant Petrel, Providence Petrel, Black-browed Albatross, and of course the banding of the Shearwaters. Highly reccommended but book way ahead of time as it is popular with locals as well as us foreigners.
On to the Moruya area. A spot called Guerillas Point yeilded Yellow-tailed and Glossy Black Cockatoos again. Can't get enough of these magnificent cockies. Also here was a breeding ball of Pythons and an Echidna which kept us entertained for a bit. Morton Nat. Park got us our Superb Lyrebird at Fitzroy Falls parking lot. It was amusing seeing a male chase a screaming female up a tree.
Philip island was a birders dream. We took in the Penguin parade but while everyone was enthralled with them, I was amazed by the display of the returning Short-tailed Shearwaters. It is estimated there were over 1 million returning to shore and everywhere we looked through the oncoming dusky sky the sky was black with them. Of the course the Penguins were exciting also. A tip from the information centre got us Hooded Dotterels. The blinds at a small lake (I forget the name) must be visited for a great variety of water birds.
Kyneton, north of Melbourne was our next stop. We made a side trip to Hattah Lake and I am glad we did. We were running short of time and didn't have an Emu. Well, we had lots here. We tried very hard for Mallee Fowl and Pink Cockatoo but no luck. Howver we were rewarded with Pink-earred Duck and Black-tailed Native Hen. A giant Guana (sp) kept us amazed for a while as well as the Grey Kangaroos and baby Emus. The Caravan park at Ouyen was a good nights stay at $37.00 (Aus). Take your own bedding. Another highlight at Kyneton was the Powerful Owl but I don't beleive I should divulge the exact location here but many people pass by them every day and never detect them.
We had a day to spend in Sydney so we went to the Gardens at the Harbour on the advice of a local Canadian birder. We asked a lady who was manning the information cente if she knew where the Tawny Frogmouth was and she told us the exact tree. What a way to end a great vacation.
A month in Australia isn't enough. We covered 6500 kilometers, met some of the friendliest people in the world and saw some amazing scenery and wildlife. Hopefully we can return someday. Many thanks to Hans Beste-guide extraordinaire and to his wife Judy for their great hospitality; Brian Self ( a local birder who has been to Australia and gave us some great tips) and to David Torr, a Melbourne birding pal, who tried his best to contact us in Australia and kept missing us. I wish we could have made contact David.
All pictures digiscoped Nikon Coolpix 8400 and Swarovski scope
215 species identified....aprox. 15 more unsure of because of fleeting glimpses
Casuariidae Emu Dromaius novaehollandiae x
Megapodiidae Australian Brush-turkey Alectura lathamixxxxxxxxx
Anseranatidae Magpie Goose Anseranas semipalmataxxxxxxxxx
Anatidae Wandering Whistling-Duck Dendrocygna arcuataxxxxxxxxxxx
Anatidae Blue-billed Duck Oxyura australisxxxxxxxxxx
Anatidae Black Swan Cygnus atratusxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Anatidae Cape Barren Goose Cereopsis novaehollandiaexxxxxxxxxxx
Anatidae Australian Wood Duck Chenonetta jubataxxxxxxxxxxx
Anatidae Pacific Black Duck Anas superciliosaxxxxxxxxxxxx
Anatidae Australasian Shoveler Anas rhynchotisxxxxxxxxx
Anatidae Chestnut Teal Anas castaneaxxxxxxxxx
Anatidae Pink-eared Duck Malacorhynchus membranaceusxxxxxxxxx
Anatidae Hardhead Aythya australisxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Podicipedidae Australasian Grebe Tachybaptus novaehollandiaexxxxxxx
Podicipedidae Hoary-headed Grebe Poliocephalus poliocephalusxxxxxx
Spheniscidae Little Penguin Eudyptula minorxxxxxxxxxx
Procellariidae Southern Giant-Petrel Macronectes giganteusxxxxxxxxx
Procellariidae Providence Petrel Pterodroma solandrixxxxxxxx
Procellariidae Wedge-tailed Shearwater Puffinus pacificusxxxxxxxx
Procellariidae Buller's Shearwater Puffinus bullerixxxxxxxxxxxx
Procellariidae Flesh-footed Shearwater Puffinus carneipexxxxxxxxs
Procellariidae Short-tailed Shearwater Puffinus tenuirostrisxxxxxxx
Procellariidae Fluttering Shearwater Puffinis gaviaxxxxxxxxxxx
Procellariidae Hutton's Shearwater Puffinus huttonixxxxxxxxxx
Diomedeidae Black-browed Albatross Thalassarche melanophrys 1xxxxxxx
Hydrobatidae Wilson's Storm-Petrel Oceanites oceanicusxxxxxxxxx
Sulidae Australasian Gannet Morus serratorxxxxxxxxxx
Anhingidae Darter Anhinga melanogasterxxxxxxxxx
Phalacrocoracidae Little Pied Cormorant Phalacrocorax melanoleucosxxxxxxx
Phalacrocoracidae Pied Cormorant Phalacrocorax variusxxxxxxxxxxx
Phalacrocoracidae Little Black Cormorant Phalacrocorax sulcirostrisxxxxxxx
Phalacrocoracidae Great Cormorant Phalacrocorax carboxxxxxxxxxx
Pelecanidae Australian Pelican Pelecanus conspicillatusxxxxxxxxxx
Ardeidae White-faced Heron Egretta novaehollandiaexxxxxxxx
Ardeidae Little Egret Egretta garzettaxxxxxxxxx
Ardeidae White-necked Heron Ardea pacificaxxxxxxxxx Ardeidae Great Egret Ardea albaxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Ardeidae Intermediate Egret Ardea intermediaxxxxxxx
Ardeidae Cattle Egret Ardea ibisxxxxxxxx
Ardeidae Striated Heron Butorides striatusxxxxxxx
Ardeidae Nankeen Night Heron Nycticorax caledonicusxxxxxxxxxx
Threskiornithidae Straw-necked Ibis Threskiornis spinicollisxxxxxxxxx
Threskiornithidae Royal Spoonbill Platalea regiaxxxxxxxxx
Threskiornithidae Sacred Ibis xxxxxxxx
Accipitridae Osprey Pandion haliaetusxxxxxxxxxx
Accipitridae Black-shouldered Kite Elanus axillarisxxxxxxxxx
Accipitridae Whistling Kite Haliastur sphenurusxxxxxxxxxx
Accipitridae Brahminy Kite Haliastur indusxxxxxxxxx
Accipitridae White-bellied Sea-Eagle Haliaeetus leucogasterxxxxxxxxxxx
Accipitridae Swamp Harrier Circus approximansxxxxxxxx
Accipitridae Wedge-tailed Eagle Aquila audaxxxxxxxxxxxx
Falconidae Brown Falcon Falco berigoraxxxxxxxx
Falconidae Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinusxxxxxxxxx
Falconidae Nankeen Kestrel Falco cenchroidesxxxxxxxxxxx
Bush Thick-kneexxxxxxxxxxxx
Rallidae Buff-banded Rail Gallirallus philippensisxxxxxxxxxx
Rallidae Baillon's Crake Porzana pusillaxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Rallidae Australian Spotted Crake Porzana flumineaxxxxxxxxxx
Rallidae Purple Swamphen Porphyrio porphyrioxxxxxxxxxx
Rallidae Dusky Moorhen Gallinula tenebrosaxxxxxxxxxx
Rallidae Black-tailed Native-hen Gallinula ventralisxxxxxxxxxxx
Rallidae Eurasian Coot Fulica atraxxxxxxxxxx
Scolopacidae Latham's Snipe Gallinago hardwickiixxxxxxxxxx
Scolopacidae Bar-tailed Godwit Limosa lapponicaxxxxxxxxx
Scolopacidae Whimbrel Numenius phaeopusxxxxxxxxx
Scolopacidae Eastern Curlew Numenius madagascariensisxxxxxxxxxx
Scolopacidae Common Greenshank Tringa nebulariaxxxxxxxxxx
Scolopacidae Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucosxxxxxxxxxx
Scolopacidae Red-necked Stint Calidris ruficollisxxxxxxxxx
Scolopacidae Sharp-tailed Sandpiper Calidris acuminataxxxxxxxxxx
Jacanidae Comb-crested Jacana Irediparra gallinaceaxxxxxxxxx
Haematopodidae Pied Oystercatcher Haematopus longirostrisxxxxxxx
Haematopodidae Sooty Oystercatcher Haematopus fuliginosusxxxxxxxxx
Recurvirostridae Red-necked Avocet Recurvirostra novaehollandiaexxxxxxxxxx
Charadriidae Pacific Golden Plover Pluvialis fulvaxxxxxxxxxx
Charadriidae Black-fronted Dotterel Elseyornis melanopsxxxxxxxxx
Charadriidae Hooded Plover Thinornis rubricollisxxxxxxxxx
Charadriidae Masked Lapwing Vanellus milesxxxxxxxxx
Laridae Brown Skua Catharacta lonnbergi 2xxxxxxxxx
Laridae Pomarine Jaeger Stercorarius pomarinusxxxxxxxxxx
Laridae Kelp Gull Larus dominicanusxxxxxxxx
Laridae Silver Gull Larus novaehollandiaexxxxxxxx
Laridae Crested Tern Sterna bergiixxxxxxxx
Laridae Common Tern Sterna hirundoxxxxxxxx
Columbidae White-headed Pigeon Columba leucomelaxxxxxxx
Columbidae Spotted Turtle-Dove Streptopelia chinensisxxxxxxxx
Columbidae Brown Cuckoo-Dove Macropygia amboinensisxxxxxxxxx
Columbidae Emerald Dove Chalcophaps indicaxxxxxxxxxxxx
Columbidae Common Bronzewing Phaps chalcopteraxxxxxxxxx
Columbidae Crested Pigeon Ocyphaps lophotesxxxxxxxxxx
Columbidae Peaceful Dove Geopelia striataxxxxxxxx
Columbidae Bar-shouldered Dove Geopelia humeralisxxxxxxxx
Columbidae Wonga Pigeon Leucosarcia melanoleucaxxxxxxxx
Columbidae Wompoo Fruit-Dove Ptilinopus magnificusxxxxxxxxx
Columbidae Topknot Pigeon Lopholaimus antarcticusxxxxxxxxx
Cacatuidae Glossy Black-Cockatoo Calyptorhynchus lathamixxxxxxxxxx
Cacatuidae Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoo Calyptorhynchus funereusxxxxxxxx
Cacatuidae Gang-gang Cockatoo Callocephalon fimbriatumxxxxxxxxxx
Cacatuidae Galah Eolophus roseicapilla 3xxxxxxxxxxx
Cacatuidae Little Corella Cacatua sanguineaxxxxxxxxxx
Cacatuidae Sulphur-crested Cockatoo Cacatua galeritaxxxxxxxxxx
Psittacidae Rainbow Lorikeet Trichoglossus haematodusxxxxxxxxx
Psittacidae Scaly-breasted Lorikeet Trichoglossus chlorolepidotusxxxxxxxxx
Psittacidae Australian King-Parrot Alisterus scapularisxxxxxxx
Psittacidae Regent Parrot Polytelis anthopeplusxxxxxxxxx
Psittacidae Crimson Rosella (Blue-cheeked)Platycercus elegansxxxxxxxxxx
Psittacidae Eastern Rosella Platycercus eximiusxxxxxxx
Psittacidae Pale-headed Rosella Platycercus adscitusxxxxxxx
Psittacidae Australian Ringneck Barnardius zonariusxxxxxxxx
Psittacidae Red-rumped Parrot Psephotus haematonotusxxxxxxx
Psittacidae Mulga Parrot Psephotus variusxxxxxxxxxx
Cuculidae Little Bronze-Cuckoo Chrysococcyx minutillusxxxxxxxx
Cuculidae Common Koel Eudynamys scolopaceaxxxxxxxx
Cuculidae Channel-billed Cuckoo Scythrops novaehollandiaexxxxxx
Centropodidae Pheasant Coucal Centropus phasianinusxxxxxxx
Strigidae Powerful Owl Ninox strenuaxxxxxxxxxx
Podargidae Tawny Frogmouth Podargus strigoidesxxxxxxxxx
Halcyonidae Laughing Kookaburra Dacelo novaeguineaexxxxxxxx
Halcyonidae Forest Kingfisher Todiramphus macleayiixxxxxxxx
Halcyonidae Collared Kingfisher Todiramphus chlorisxxxxxxxxx
Meropidae Rainbow Bee-eater Merops ornatusxxxxxxxxxx
Coraciidae Dollarbird Eurystomus orientalisxxxxxxxxx
Pittidae Noisy Pitta Pitta versicolorxxxxxxxxx
Menuridae Superb Lyrebird Menura novaehollandiaexxxxx
Climacteridae White-throated Treecreeper Corombates leucophaeusxxxxxxxx
Maluridae Superb Fairy-wren Malurus cyaneusxxxxxxxx
Maluridae Variegated Fairy-wren Malurus lambertixxxxxxxxx
Maluridae Red-backed Fairy-wren Malurus melanocephalusxxxxxxx
Pardalotidae Spotted Pardalote Pardalotus punctatusxxxxxxxxx
Pardalotidae Striated Pardalote Pardalotus striatusxxxxxxx
Pardalotidae Yellow-throated Scrubwren Sericornis citreogularisxxxxxxxxx
Pardalotidae White-browed Scrubwren Sericornis frontalisxxxxxxxx
Pardalotidae Large-billed Scrubwren Sericornis magnirostrisxxxxxxxxx
Pardalotidae Brown Gerygone Gerygone moukixxxxxxxx
Pardalotidae Brown Thornbill Acanthiza pusillaxxxxxxxx
Pardalotidae Buff-rumped Thornbill Acanthiza reguloidesxxxxxxxx
Pardalotidae Yellow-rumped Thornbill Acanthiza chrysorrhoaxxxxxxxxx
Pardalotidae Striated Thornbill Acanthiza lineataxxxxxxxxxx
Meliphagidae Red Wattlebird Anthochaera carunculataxxxxxx
Meliphagidae Little Wattlebird (Brush)Anthochaera chrysopteraxxxxxxx
Meliphagidae Noisy Friarbird Philemon corniculatusxxxxxxxx
Meliphagidae Little Friarbird Philemon citreogularisxxxxxxxx
Meliphagidae Blue-faced Honeyeater Entomyzon cyanotisxxxxxxxx
Meliphagidae Bell Miner Manorina melanophrysxxxxxxxxx
Meliphagidae Noisy Miner Manorina melanocephalaxxxxxxxxxx
Meliphagidae Yellow-throated Miner Manorina flavigulaxxxxxxxx
Meliphagidae Lewin's Honeyeater Meliphaga lewiniixxxxxxxxx
Meliphagidae Yellow-faced Honeyeater Lichenostomus chrysopsxxxxxxxx
Meliphagidae White-eared Honeyeater Lichenostomus leucotisxxxxxxxxxxx
Meliphagidae Yellow-plumed Honeyeater Lichenostomus ornatusxxxxxxxx
Meliphagidae White-naped Honeyeater Melithreptus lunatusxxxxxxxx
Meliphagidae Brown Honeyeater Lichmera indistinctaxxxxxxxx
Meliphagidae New Holland Honeyeater Phylidonyris novaehollandiaexxxxxxxx
Meliphagidae White-cheeked Honeyeater Phylidonyris nigraxxxxxxxxxx
Meliphagidae Eastern Spinebill Acanthorhynchus tenuirostrisxxxxxxx
Meliphagidae Pied Honeyeater Certhionyx variegatusxxxxxxxx
Meliphagidae Scarlet Honeyeater Myzomela sanguinolentaxxxxxx
Petroicidae Hooded Robin Melanodryas cucullataxxxxxxxxx
Petroicidae Pale-yellow Robin Tregellasia capitoxxxxxxxxx
Petroicidae Eastern Yellow Robin Eopsaltria australisxxxxxxxx
Orthonychidae Logrunner Orthonyx temminckiixxxxxxxxx
Pomatostomidae White-browed Babbler Pomatostomus superciliosusxxxxxxxx
Cinclosomatidae Eastern Whipbird Psophodes olivaceusxxxxxxxxx
Neosittidae Varied Sittella Daphoenositta chrysopteraxxxxxxxxx
Pachycephalidae Crested Shrike-tit Falcunculus frontatusxxxxxxxxx
Pachycephalidae Golden Whistler Pachycephala pectoralisxxxxxxxx
Pachycephalidae Rufous Whistler Pachycephala rufiventrisxxxxxxxxx
Pachycephalidae Grey Shrike-thrush Colluricincla harmonicaxxxxxxxxxx
Dicruridae Black-faced Monarch Monarcha melanopsisxxxxxxx
Dicruridae Spectacled Monarch Monarcha trivirgatusxxxxxxxx
Dicruridae White-eared Monarch Monarcha leucotisxxxxxxxx
Dicruridae Leaden Flycatcher Myiagra rubeculaxxxxxxx
Dicruridae Satin Flycatcher Myiagra cyanoleucaxxxxxxx
Dicruridae Magpie-Lark Grallina cyanoleucaxxxxxxxxx
Dicruridae Rufous Fantail Rhipidura rufifronsxxxxxxxxx
Dicruridae Grey Fantail Rhipidura fuliginosaxxxxxxxxxx
Dicruridae Willie Wagtail Rhipidura leucophrysxxxxxxxx
Dicruridae Spangled Drongo Dicrurus bracteatusxxxxxx
Campephagidae Black-faced Cuckoo-Shrike Coracina novaehollandiaexxxxxx
Campephagidae Cicadabird Coracina tenuirostrisxxxxxxxx
Campephagidae Varied Triller Lalage leucomelaxxxxxxxxxxx
Oriolidae Olive-backed Oriole Oriolus sagittatusxxxxxxxx
Oriolidae Figbird Sphecotheres viridisxxxxxxxx
Artamidae White-breasted Woodswallow Artamus leucorhynchusxxxxxxxx
Artamidae Masked Woodswallow Artamus personatusxxxxxxxx
Artamidae White-browed Woodswallow Artamus superciliosusxxxxxxxx
Artamidae Grey Butcherbird Cracticus torquatusxxxxxxxxxx
Artamidae Pied Butcherbird Cracticus nigrogularisxxxxxxxx
Artamidae Australian Magpie Gymnorhina tibicenxxxxxxxxx
Artamidae Pied Currawong Strepera graculinaxxxxxxxxx
Artamidae Grey Currawong Strepera versicolorxxxxxxxxx
Paradisaeidae Paradise Riflebird Ptiloris paradiseusxxxxxx
Corvidae Torresian Crow Corvus orruxxxxxxx
Corcoracidae White-winged Chough Corcorax melanorhamphosxxxxxxx
Corcoracidae Apostlebird Struthidea cinereaxxxxxxxxx
Ptilonorhynchidae Green Catbird Ailuroedus crassirostrisxxxxxxx
Ptilonorhynchidae Regent Bowerbird Sericulus chrysocephalusxxxxxxxxx
Ptilonorhynchidae Satin Bowerbird Ptilonorhynchus violaceusxxxxxxxx
Motacilidae Richard's Pipit Anthus novaeseelandiaexxxxxxxx
Passeridae House Sparrow Passer domesticusxxxxxx
Passeridae Double-barred Finch Taeniopygia bichenoviixxxxxxxxxx
Passeridae Red-browed Finch Neochmia temporalisxxxxxxxx
Fringillidae European Goldfinch Carduelis carduelisxxxxxxx
Dicaeidae Mistletoebird Dicaeum hirundinaceumxxxxxxxx
Hirundinidae Welcome Swallow Hirundo neoxenaxxxxxxx
Hirundinidae Fairy Martin Hirundo arielxxxxxxxx
Australian Reed-Warbler Acrocephalus australisxxxxxxxx
Zosteropidae Silvereye Zosterops lateralisxxxxxxxxxx
Muscicapidae Bassian Thrush Zoothera lunulataxxxxx
Sturnidae Common Starling Sturnus vulgarisxxxxxxxxx
Sturnidae Common Myna Acridotheres tristisxxxxxxxxx