Hi everyone,
I thought it was about time we had some messages on highlights of
the year almost past. So I will quickly list some of my top sightings and
exciting events.
My best new Australian sighting this year would have to be the Ringed
Plover in Westernport. My first vagrant sighting and the views we got were
exceptionally close. I also saw it in Europe this year. Other birds of
interest seen for the first time were a good set of hard to find parrots;
Ground, Superb and Orange-bellied. I felt very lucky to get a good look at
the Ground Parrot even though I was in their preferred Barren Grounds
homeland.
I didn't get to many new places in Australia this year and not many
new Australian birds but I did have a few weeks in Sweden where I visited
Falsterbo (one of Europe's main migrant watching spots at the south west tip
of Sweden). I was astounded to see more than sixty other birdwatchers at
Falsterbo the morning I was there; this came as a shock to me as I had never
been birdwatching in the presence of a group larger than three. Not only
that but the rare bird alert system was very professional with not only a
phone message but a system of beepers that many birdwatchers wear. The
power of the internet connection was very obvious as I got in touch with a
birdwatcher in Sweden who took me to a number of his favorite spots,
certainly showing me more birds in a day than I could have found by myself in
a week.
Another exciting first was my participation in the RAOU twitchathon.
A really enjoyable couple of days and I am already looking forward to trying
again next year. Statistically speaking the year (so far) produced about 270
species with a total of fifty new bird sightings and eight of those were new
Australian sightings.
Thanks to all who answered messages during the year and helped me to
get some sightings that otherwise would probably have eluded me and of course
thanks to Russell for his continuing work for the list.
Best Wishes
John Boyce
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