birding-aus

Twitchathon 2001

To:
Subject: Twitchathon 2001
From: "Lawrie Conole" <>
Date: Mon, 29 Oct 2001 17:09:19 +1100
Firstly let me congratulate The Bush Turkeys for another great win in the 
Victorian
24-hour race.  With 211 species, they'll obviously collect absolute buckets
of money for woodland bird conservation.

My team, the Tang Tang Tintacks - Chris Tzaros, Grant Baverstock, Lawrie Conole
- came in second with 209 species.  Just to let TBTs know we are hot on their
heels (if they didn't already sense that at 211/209), we got caught behind a
serious traffic accident & redirected into the burbs by police with about 45-50
minutes left in the race.  This prevented us getting those last 2 spp to force
a tie!!!!  But seriously - TBTs did very well again, and we did our best to
beat them.

Congratulations also to Richard Walsh & others at the Birds Australia VicGroup
for organising such a terrific event.  Attendance/participation was well up
- 8 teams in the 24-hour race and 4 in the 8-hour race.  A great effort to 
resuscitate
an event previously in decline.

Back to my team and our 24 hours.  We had a fabulous time, and ended up VERY
tired, but happy with our effort.  This year we birded for about 22.5 hours
out of the 24, which is unusual for us who normally sleep for 4-5 hours, but
helped us to the big 209 - a personal best for us all.

Undoubted highlights included:

- Barking Owl at 2 sites near Bendigo
- fledgling Powerful Owl in the Brisbane Ranges
- great nocturnals in general (see list below)
- walking through a beautiful northern Victorian grassland at 03:00 in the 
morning
under a clear sky and three-quarter moon, to see Plains-wanderer, Little 
Button-quail,
Australian Pratincole, Stubble Quail, Singing Bushlark and Brown Songlark -
unforgettable & very adrenalin promoting
- a flock of Ruddy Turnstones at Werribee chortling away as they flitted around
Grey Plovers and Pacific Golden Plovers

Our list appears below.  Serious students of Twitchathon form will be able to
see the changes we made to our route reflected in the species composition. 
You'll also see the great gaping gaps where all our dips were!

Lawrie Conole


"THE TANG TANG TINTACKS" - 2001 TWITCHATHON LIST, 27-28/10/2001.

Lawrie Conole, Grant Baverstock, Chris Tzaros


Dromaiidae           Emus                                    

Emu                                  Dromaius novaehollandiae

Phasianidae          Quail, Pheasants, Grouse                

Stubble Quail                        Coturnix pectoralis

Dendrocygnidae       Tree-Ducks                              

Plumed Whistling-Duck                Dendrocygna eytoni

Anatidae             Ducks                                   

Blue-billed Duck                     Oxyura australis
Musk Duck                            Biziura lobata
Black Swan                           Cygnus atratus
Australian Shelduck                  Tadorna tadornoides
Australian Wood Duck                 Chenonetta jubata
Pacific Black Duck                   Anas superciliosa
Australasian Shoveler                Anas rhynchotis
Grey Teal                            Anas gracilis
Chestnut Teal                        Anas castanea
Pink-eared Duck                      Malacorhynchus membranaceus
Hardhead                             Aythya australis

Podicepedidae        Grebes                                  

Australasian Grebe                   Tachybaptus novaehollandiae
Hoary-headed Grebe                   Poliocephalus poliocephalus
Great Crested Grebe                  Podiceps cristatus

Sulidae              Boobies, Gannets                        

Australasian Gannet                  Morus serrator

Anhingidae           Darters                                 

Darter                               Anhinga melanogaster

Phalacrocoracidae    Cormorants                              

Little Pied Cormorant                Phalacrocorax melanoleucos
Pied Cormorant                       Phalacrocorax varius
Little Black Cormorant               Phalacrocorax sulcirostris
Great Cormorant                      Phalacrocorax carbo

Pelecanidae          Shoebill, Pelicans                      

Australian Pelican                   Pelecanus conspicillatus

Ardeidae             Herons                                  

White-faced Heron                    Egretta novaehollandiae
Little Egret                         Egretta garzetta
White-necked Heron                   Ardea pacifica
Great Egret                          Ardea alba
Intermediate Egret                   Ardea intermedia
Cattle Egret                         Ardea ibis
Nankeen Night Heron                  Nycticorax caledonicus

Threskionithidae     Ibis, Spoonbills                        

Australian White Ibis                Threskiornis molucca
Straw-necked Ibis                    Threskiornis spinicollis
Royal Spoonbill                      Platalea regia
Yellow-billed Spoonbill              Platalea flavipes

Accipitridae         Hawks, Eagles                           

Black-shouldered Kite                Elanus axillaris
Whistling Kite                       Haliastur sphenurus
Spotted Harrier                      Circus assimilis
Swamp Harrier                        Circus approximans
Brown Goshawk                        Accipiter fasciatus
Wedge-tailed Eagle                   Aquila audax
Little Eagle                         Hieraaetus morphnoides

Falconidae           Falcons                                 

Brown Falcon                         Falco berigora
Australian Hobby                     Falco longipennis
Peregrine Falcon                     Falco peregrinus
Nankeen Kestrel                      Falco cenchroides

Gruidae              Cranes                                  

Brolga                               Grus rubicunda

Rallidae             Rails                                   

Buff-banded Rail                     Gallirallus philippensis
Baillon's Crake                      Porzana pusilla
Australian Spotted Crake             Porzana fluminea
Purple Swamphen                      Porphyrio porphyrio
Dusky Moorhen                        Gallinula tenebrosa
Black-tailed Native-hen              Gallinula ventralis
Eurasian Coot                        Fulica atra

Turnicidae           Button-quails                           

Little Button-quail                  Turnix velox
Painted Button-quail                 Turnix varia

Pedionomidae         Plains-wanderer                         

Plains-wanderer                      Pedionomus torquatus

Scolopacidae         Snipe, Sandpipers                       

Latham's Snipe                       Gallinago hardwickii
Bar-tailed Godwit                    Limosa lapponica
Eastern Curlew                       Numenius madagascariensis
Marsh Sandpiper                      Tringa stagnatilis
Common Greenshank                    Tringa nebularia
Ruddy Turnstone                      Arenaria interpres
Red-necked Stint                     Calidris ruficollis
Sharp-tailed Sandpiper               Calidris acuminata
Curlew Sandpiper                     Calidris ferruginea

Haematopodidae       Oystercatchers                          

Pied Oystercatcher                   Haematopus longirostris

Recurvirostridae     Stilts, Avocets                         

Black-winged Stilt                   Himantopus himantopus
Banded Stilt                         Cladorhynchus leucocephalus
Red-necked Avocet                    Recurvirostra novaehollandiae

Charadriidae         Plovers                                 

Pacific Golden Plover                Pluvialis fulva
Grey Plover                          Pluvialis squatarola
Red-capped Plover                    Charadrius ruficapillus
Black-fronted Dotterel               Elseyornis melanops
Red-kneed Dotterel                   Erythrogonys cinctus
Masked Lapwing                       Vanellus miles

Glareolidae          Pratincoles                             

Australian Pratincole                Stiltia isabella

Laridae              Gulls, Terns                            

Pacific Gull                         Larus pacificus
Silver Gull                          Larus novaehollandiae
Crested Tern                         Sterna bergii
Whiskered Tern                       Chlidonias hybridus

Columbidae           Pigeons                                 

Rock Dove                            Columba livia
Spotted Turtle-Dove                  Streptopelia chinensis
Common Bronzewing                    Phaps chalcoptera
Brush Bronzewing                     Phaps elegans
Crested Pigeon                       Ocyphaps lophotes
Peaceful Dove                        Geopelia striata

Cacatuidae           Cockatoos                               

Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoo         Calyptorhynchus funereus
Galah                                Cacatua roseicapilla
Long-billed Corella                  Cacatua tenuirostris
Sulphur-crested Cockatoo             Cacatua galerita

Loriidae             Lorikeets                               

Rainbow Lorikeet                     Trichoglossus haematodus
Musk Lorikeet                        Glossopsitta concinna
Little Lorikeet                      Glossopsitta pusilla
Purple-crowned Lorikeet              Glossopsitta porphyrocephala

Psittacidae          Parrots                                 

Crimson Rosella                      Platycercus elegans
Eastern Rosella                      Platycercus eximius
Red-rumped Parrot                    Psephotus haematonotus

Cuculidae            Old World Cuckoos                       

Pallid Cuckoo                        Cuculus pallidus
Fan-tailed Cuckoo                    Cacomantis flabelliformis
Horsfield's Bronze-Cuckoo            Chrysococcyx basalis

Strigidae            Typical Owls                            

Powerful Owl                         Ninox strenua
Barking Owl                          Ninox connivens
Southern Boobook                     Ninox novaeseelandiae

Tytonidae            Barn Owls                               

Barn Owl                             Tyto alba

Podargidae           Australian Frogmouths                   

Tawny Frogmouth                      Podargus strigoides

Eurostopodidae       Eared-Nightjars                         

White-throated Nightjar              Eurostopodus mystacalis
Spotted Nightjar                     Eurostopodus argus

Aegothelidae         Owlet-nightjars                         

Australian Owlet-nightjar            Aegotheles cristatus

Halcyonidae          Halcyonid Kingfishers                   

Laughing Kookaburra                  Dacelo novaeguineae
Sacred Kingfisher                    Todiramphus sanctus

Meropidae            Bee-eaters                              

Rainbow Bee-eater                    Merops ornatus

Menuridae            Lyrebirds                               

Superb Lyrebird                      Menura novaehollandiae

Climacteridae        Australian Treecreepers                 

White-throated Treecreeper           Cormobates leucophaeus
Red-browed Treecreeper               Climacteris erythrops
Brown Treecreeper                    Climacteris picumnus

Maluridae            Fairywrens                              

Superb Fairy-wren                    Malurus cyaneus
White-winged Fairy-wren              Malurus leucopterus

Pardalotidae         Pardalotes, Thornbills, allies          

Spotted Pardalote                    Pardalotus punctatus
Striated Pardalote                   Pardalotus striatus
Rufous Bristlebird                   Dasyornis broadbenti
Pilotbird                            Pycnoptilus floccosus
White-browed Scrubwren               Sericornis frontalis
Striated Fieldwren                   Calamanthus fuliginosus
Speckled Warbler                     Chthonicola sagittata
Weebill                              Smicrornis brevirostris
Western Gerygone                     Gerygone fusca
Brown Thornbill                      Acanthiza pusilla
Chestnut-rumped Thornbill            Acanthiza uropygialis
Buff-rumped Thornbill                Acanthiza reguloides
Yellow-rumped Thornbill              Acanthiza chrysorrhoa
Yellow Thornbill                     Acanthiza nana
Striated Thornbill                   Acanthiza lineata
Southern Whiteface                   Aphelocephala leucopsis

Meliphagidae         Honeyeaters, Chats                      

Red Wattlebird                       Anthochaera carunculata
Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater             Acanthagenys rufogularis
Blue-faced Honeyeater                Entomyzon cyanotis
Bell Miner                           Manorina melanophrys
Noisy Miner                          Manorina melanocephala
Lewin's Honeyeater                   Meliphaga lewinii
Singing Honeyeater                   Lichenostomus virescens
White-eared Honeyeater               Lichenostomus leucotis
Yellow-tufted Honeyeater             Lichenostomus melanops
Purple-gaped Honeyeater              Lichenostomus cratitius
Yellow-plumed Honeyeater             Lichenostomus ornatus
Fuscous Honeyeater                   Lichenostomus fuscus
White-plumed Honeyeater              Lichenostomus penicillatus
Black-chinned Honeyeater             Melithreptus gularis
Brown-headed Honeyeater              Melithreptus brevirostris
Crescent Honeyeater                  Phylidonyris pyrrhoptera
New Holland Honeyeater               Phylidonyris novaehollandiae
Eastern Spinebill                    Acanthorhynchus tenuirostris
White-fronted Chat                   Epthianura albifrons

Petroicidae          Australo-Papuan Robins                  

Jacky Winter                         Microeca fascinans
Scarlet Robin                        Petroica multicolor
Red-capped Robin                     Petroica goodenovii
Flame Robin                          Petroica phoenicea
Rose Robin                           Petroica rosea
Hooded Robin                         Melanodryas cucullata
Eastern Yellow Robin                 Eopsaltria australis

Pomatostomidae       Australo-Papuan Babblers                

Grey-crowned Babbler                 Pomatostomus temporalis
White-browed Babbler                 Pomatostomus superciliosus

Neosittidae          Sittella                                

Varied Sittella                      Daphoenositta chrysoptera

Pachycephalidae      Whistlers                               

Crested Shrike-tit                   Falcunculus frontatus
Crested Bellbird                     Oreoica gutturalis
Olive Whistler                       Pachycephala olivacea
Gilbert's Whistler                   Pachycephala inornata
Golden Whistler                      Pachycephala pectoralis
Rufous Whistler                      Pachycephala rufiventris
Grey Shrike-thrush                   Colluricincla harmonica

Monarchidae          Monarchs                                

Restless Flycatcher                  Myiagra inquieta

Grallinidae          Magpie-larks                            

Magpie-lark                          Grallina cyanoleuca

Rhipidurini          Fantail tribe                           

Grey Fantail                         Rhipidura fuliginosa
Willie Wagtail                       Rhipidura leucophrys

Campephagidae        Cuckoo-shrikes                          

Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike            Coracina novaehollandiae
White-winged Triller                 Lalage sueurii

Oriolidae            Orioles                                 

Olive-backed Oriole                  Oriolus sagittatus

Artamidae            Woodswallows                            

Masked Woodswallow                   Artamus personatus
White-browed Woodswallow             Artamus superciliosus
Dusky Woodswallow                    Artamus cyanopterus

Cracticidae          Butcherbirds                            

Grey Butcherbird                     Cracticus torquatus
Australian Magpie                    Gymnorhina tibicen
Pied Currawong                       Strepera graculina
Grey Currawong                       Strepera versicolor

Corvidae             Crows                                   

Australian Raven                     Corvus coronoides
Little Raven                         Corvus mellori

Corcoracidae         Mud-nesters                             

White-winged Chough                  Corcorax melanorhamphos

Alaudidae            Larks                                   

Singing Bushlark                     Mirafra javanica
Skylark                              Alauda arvensis

Motacillidae         Wagtails, Pipits                        

Richard's Pipit                      Anthus novaeseelandiae

Passeridae           Sparrows                                

House Sparrow                        Passer domesticus

Estrildidae          Grassfinches                            

Zebra Finch                          Taeniopygia guttata
Red-browed Finch                     Neochmia temporalis
Diamond Firetail                     Stagonopleura guttata

Fringillidae         Finch,Tanagers,etc                      

European Greenfinch                  Carduelis chloris
European Goldfinch                   Carduelis carduelis

Dicaeidae            Flowerpeckers                           

Mistletoebird                        Dicaeum hirundinaceum

Hirundinidae         Swallows                                

Welcome Swallow                      Hirundo neoxena
Tree Martin                          Hirundo nigricans
Fairy Martin                         Hirundo ariel

Sylviidae            Warblers                                

Clamorous Reed-Warbler               Acrocephalus stentoreus
Little Grassbird                     Megalurus gramineus
Brown Songlark                       Cincloramphus cruralis

Cisticolidae         African Warblers                        

Golden-headed Cisticola              Cisticola exilis

Zosteropidae         White-eyes                              

Silvereye                            Zosterops lateralis

Turdidae             Thrushes                                

Bassian Thrush                       Zoothera lunulata
Common Blackbird                     Turdus merula

Sturnidae            Starlings                               

Common Starling                      Sturnus vulgaris
Common Myna                          Acridotheres tristis

209 species

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
L A W R I E   C O N O L E
2/37 Myrnong Crescent, Ascot Vale, Victoria 3032 AUSTRALIA.
Phone AH (03) 9370 3928; Mobile (0419) 588 993.
E-mail:  

Senior Zoologist
Ecology Australia Pty Ltd
88b Station Street, Fairfield, Victoria 3078 AUSTRALIA
Phone BH (03) 9489 4191
E-mail: 
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