Pied Butcherbird - Uriarra X-ing east

On Saturday at around 8.30am a Pied
Butcherbird was seen adjacent Uriarra Crossing Rd as it descends 200m east
of the turn off to Uriarra Crossing East. 

Also saw 5 WB Woodswallows in cleared
 area (previously pinus now plenty of acacia) along Warks Rd.  I
haven't seen them that high in the Brindabellas before.


cheers
Richard

"Alastair Smith" <>

05/01/2007 09:35 PM

To	"Canberrabirds" <>
cc
Subject	[canberrabirds] 2006 Big Year

I have received a number of emails from Canberra
birders enquiring how my ‘Big Year’ turned out. The ‘Big Year’ was
my quest to see 200 species of wild bird within the geographical
boundaries of the ACT in the 2006 calendar year.
 
Despite my initial belief that 200 species
was an unobtainable total, I cracked that figure on 14 October with a Yellow-billed
Spoonbill. Therefore at midnight on 31 December my ‘Big Year’ ended with
a total of 208 species (and tears of joy from my wife and family). Fittingly
the last species I recorded was the Black Honeyeater at Mulligans Flat
on 5 December - my only lifer for 2006. My last bird watching excursion
was out to Jerrabomberra  ‘Drylands’ on the afternoon of 31 December
afternoon, the place where it had all begun 364 days previously.  
 
I increased my ACT list by 15 species to
a total of 230 with some amazing birds that included the Black and Blue-faced
Honeyeaters and the now un-extinct White-browed Babbler. Interestingly
I dipped on Wonga Pigeon, a bird that I would have considered a certainty
prior to the 2003 fires. I also dipped on Pied Butcherbird despite about
five trips across town to Mulligans Flat to look for it after it was reported.
I am also aware from this discussion forum that I dipped on at least 11
other species that were recorded by birders during the year including Little
Button-Quail (heard at Goorooyaroo but not seen), three species of raptor;
Black Falcon, Black Kite and Spotted Harrier, Spangled Drongo, Painted
Honeyeater, Little Egret and Little Bittern.
 
I would like to thank those that encouraged
me along the way and those people that provided me with information (and
in one case a guided tour) to find species for my quest. 
 
Finally for those people that scoff at the
pursuit of ‘twitching’, I like to think that I made a contribution to
the COG records database from the Big Year - I have submitted 242 surveys
for the 2006 calendar year and a number of unusual bird reports. Also if
there is enough interest and the editors willing, I would also like to
write something about the year’s trials and tribulations for Canberra
Bird Notes.
 
I wish Milburn good luck (but not too much)
in his quest to break my record in 2007.
 
Regards
Alastair 
 
 
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