Hi All,
Over the second half of April George Swann, Mike Carter, Ash Herrod,
Shana Nerenberg and I completed another survey trip to Ashmore Reef.
Vagrant bird-wise the highlights were many, including three firsts for
Australia as follows:
Siberian Blue Robin – an immature male was present at Ashmore for 3
days. A cracking little bird that spent most of its time eluding us in
the undergrowth and grassy thickets.
Pics are here: http://www.pbase.com/wildlifeimages/siberian_blue_robin
Eastern Crowned Warbler – a long expected addition to the Aussie list
given the species’ abundance in nearby Indonesia. The bird frequented
the same patch of shrubs over a 2 day period. This is the third
Phylloscopus warbler to be recorded at Ashmore Reef in the space of 12
months.
Pics are here: http://www.pbase.com/wildlifeimages/eastern_crowned_warbler
Asian Stubtail – A real surprise given the nearest previous record is
from the central Philippines and most of these tiny migrants winter no
further south than Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam. This was a one day
bird, found around midday during a shorebird count, watched again that
evening whilst it bathed in a tropical downpour and never seen again.
Pics are here: http://www.pbase.com/wildlifeimages/asian_stubtail
We also had an immature male Siberian Thrush (first live record for
Australia following the dead bird reported from Esperance WA last year),
the awesome spectacle of 6 (!) Oriental Honey-Buzzards soaring over
Ashmore Reef one evening, roosting on the island overnight, then
departing to the north the next morning and a Japanese Sparrowhawk that
fed on a hapless Bronze Cuckoo whilst we watched. Closer to the
Kimberley coast at Browse Island we also had the first Asian Brown
Flycatcher for Western Australia.
Pics of these birds have been posted here:
http://www.pbase.com/wildlifeimages/vagrants
Kimberley Birdwatching will be running a birding tour to Ashmore for 8
days from the 20-27th October 2012. As well as providing some of the
most exciting birding opportunities in Australia these trips also
contribute data to the ongoing bird monitoring program at the reef.
For details visit http://www.kimberleybirdwatching.com.au/
Cheers,
Rohan Clarke
--
Rohan Clarke
www.wildlifeimages.com.au
Latest updates
http://www.pbase.com/wildlifeimages/root&view=recent
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