terminology

["Philip Veerman" <>]

A good issue and thanks for raising it. I reckon "rare" or "common" is a feature of population density. "Vagrant" however is about whether a species is present regularly or not. So combinations are possible. The White-breasted Wood Swallow and maybe Rufous Songlark is a common vagrant to our area. There aren't many other examples. They are only here at irregular times, therefore a vagrant but typically in large numbers when they do come here. Something like the Powerful Owl and White-bellied Sea-Eagle are probably rare residents. Others like Black Kite, Red Knot and lots more are rare vagrants to our area (though may be abundant elsewhere).

 

Philip