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Hello everyone
In April 1999 I travelled with Emu Tours including a
few days at Gluepot station in South Australia. On my trips, I prepare for
trying to find lifers by studying up beforehand regarding ranges of birds, their
habitat, distinguishing features etc. so that I can specifically look for them
rather than just leaving it to chance. Then, if and when I see the bird, I
know immediately what plumage features etc. to look for. As birds seem to
move about so much these days, and published material about ranges of birds can
be rather high level, I also look for birds close to but outside their generally
accepted range. I do consult the 1985 Atlas of Australian
Birds.
I happily look not only for
"showy" birds but plainer ones as well. Therefore, despite
Slender-billed Thornbill not being on the official bird list for Gluepot, I
decided there was a chance of it being there and kept on the lookout for
it. And found it!!
I then submitted an Unusual Records
Report form and am pleased to
say that the management committee has accepted the sighting and added the
species to the Gluepot bird list. They have also sent a copy of my
documentation to the Birds Australia Atlas Project.
Some details are:
- 29 April 1999, 2.30-2.36pm
- 3
birds
- just near the entrance to the circular driveway of
the Babbler campsite
- in casuarinas
(near bluebush/saltbush), foraging and never lower than 3 metres above
ground
- Eye definite white with black centre, rather than fully
brown
- face plain, no eyebrow
- forehead with distinct but subtle
marks/spotting
- long slender
bill (a little pink rather than dark black - sub-adult?), bill definitely
not stubby such as Weebill
- lemon yellow
flush over entire belly, vent and rump (note that the inland form of Weebill
can also have a yellow flush over underparts, however the long slender bill
rather than stubby bill, plus other features, eliminated the possibility of
Weebil)
- throat and
breast greyish
- legs dark grey
to black
- dark tail with
light tip
- double-noted
thin call, given some 8-10 seconds apart
Happy Birding to you all
Irene
Denton
Sydney
NSW
Australia
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