Greetings, all,
I'm afraid these bits are eclipsed by Joy's starling (congratulations!),
but I want to report a couple of sightings from my now-ended trip that
were not in the exact spots site guides and earlier reports had
suggested. If you'd like other questions answered, feel free to send me
a message. (I was in the Albany-Perth area 7 July - 2 August, Broome
through 9 August, Darwin/Katherine, etc., through 17 Aug., then Capertee
and a bit at Maroubra through Aug. 23.)
August 10, at Buffalo Creek (near Darwin), having given up on rails
after 9 a. m., I took a fisherman's advice and followed a little trail
into the mangroves to the right. Almost immediately, I found a LITTLE
KINGFISHER perched on a thin fallen branch at foot level over a deeper
creek. It flushed toward the larger creek and was not seen again.
August 16, in Kakadu N. P., on the Arnhem Highway, West Wildman River
crossing, mid-afternoon, I paused to avoid sleeping while driving and to
think about rare goshawks (no luck). A big heron flushed and flew over
the canopy and me downstream. It wasn't the best view (I briefly saw
face and underparts), but nothing else but GREAT-BILLED HERON fits.
Fogg Dam east of Darwin was a fantastic place to view PIED HERONs the
evening of August 16.
In seven weeks, I saw about 324 species (not really trying for numbers),
about 67 new to me. Thank you to all who helped me with information,
company, three cool volunteer situations, and spots to crash, not least
of which were Birds Australia's Threatened Birds Network and WA's CALM
staff at Albany.
Cheers,
Alan Grenon
Seattle
panmail AT fastmail.fm
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