re Blue Rock Thrush

[Richard Loyn <>]

This could well be a vagrant, perhaps related to the drought or fires
further north as suggested.  A vagrant was seen in PNG by Brian Finch under
extraordinary circumstances about 15 years ago, reported in the Papua
Niugini Bird Society Newsletter.  From memory, Brian predicted the species
would occur, and in his last week in the country he saw one while he was
drinking gin on a Port Moresby verandah at dusk, identified it by
silhouette and saw it fly into a hole in a building to roost.  In the
morning he found it again and confirmed identity.

For those who requested more info, some of the Asian races have rufous
bellies or breasts, whereas the western races are completely blue.  I've
seen them in rocky ravines in Spain, and in suburban gardens in Japan, so
they occupy a fair range of habitats.