birding-aus

FW: [Birding-Aus] Darwin, Kakadu and the Kimberleys trip report

To: Birding Aus <>
Subject: FW: [Birding-Aus] Darwin, Kakadu and the Kimberleys trip report
From: Denise Goodfellow <>
Date: Thu, 11 Oct 2007 09:27:38 +0930

I've records of Oriental Plovers from Leanyer and Lee Point in Darwin, Fogg
Dam, Middle Point,  Marrakai (Mary River) and South Alligator Plains,
Tindall Air Base etc.
Denise  


on 10/10/07 8:03 PM, L&L Knight at  wrote:

> G'day Dave,
> 
> I think Oriental Plovers are reasonably common in the Kimberley during
> summer.  I certainly saw a few last year - both round Broome and
> Ashmore Reef.  Caspian Plovers, on the other hand, are thin on the
> ground in Aus.
> 
> Regards, Laurie.
> 
> On Wednesday, October 10, 2007, at 08:11  PM, David Stowe wrote:
> 
>> Hi Peter
>> Did you get any photos of the Oriental Plover?
>> I have never heard of anyone seeing this species even though Morcombe
>> says large numbers arrive in nth Aus. Are they more common than i have
>> thought in the north?
>> 
>> Cheers
>> Dave
>> 
>> 
>> On 10/10/2007, at 4:33 PM, Peter Marsh wrote:
>> 
>>> Dear Birders,
>>> My wife and I have just returned from a 15 day trip to Darwin, Kakadu
>>> and the Kimberleys. The initial 13 days (23 Sept to 5 October) were
>>> on a guided trip with Klaus Uhlenhut and the last 2 on my own but
>>> greatly assisted by Darryel Binns.
>>> 
>>> In all some 200 species were seen. Highlights (for me at least) were
>>> as follows :
>>> Howard Springs
>>> Rose-crowned Fruit-dove
>>> Rainbow Pitta - a pair came in to a very short taped call and stayed
>>> around providing excellent views
>>> 
>>> Buffalo Creek
>>> An early morning stake out on a falling tide found the elusive
>>> Chestnut Rail in the usual spot across the river from the boat ramp.
>>> While the group waited for this species I scoped the wader population
>>> on the beach to find a host of species including Sanderling, but
>>> still returned in time for the rail!. Green Backed Gerygone was found
>>> in the tres along the road into the boat ramp.
>>> 
>>> Pine Creek
>>> Produced Hooded Parrot in the Water Garden in the middle of town as
>>> well as a number of finch species.
>>> 
>>> Chinaman Creek, Katherine
>>> This creek is some 16 Km along the Victoria Highway from Katherine
>>> (Section 7.23 in Thomas and Thomas). There was quite a bit of water
>>> still in the creek which reduced the significance of the pools
>>> mentioned by T&T. Between the Highway and the old road we saw
>>> Gouldian Finch (both red and black faced races with a number of
>>> young) and Hooded Parrot.
>>> 
>>> Mataranka
>>> We saw the Red Goshawk (presumably female) at Mataranka Cabins with 2
>>> chicks covered in white down with a few pin feathers coming through.
>>> Unfortunately we did not have time to wait for the male to show.
>>> 
>>> Mary River Roadhouse
>>> Northern Rosella were present in the trees behind the roadhouse.
>>> 
>>> Gunlom
>>> An early start at Gunlom was productive of all we could hope for
>>> except the White-throated Grasswren. White-lined Honeyeater was seen
>>> in the trees at the top of the falls and further into the valley we
>>> found Sandstone Shrike-thrush and Chestnut-quilled Rock-pigeon. A
>>> number of flocks of Varied Lorikeet flew over.
>>> 
>>> Nourlangie Rock
>>> Banded fruit-dove was seen from the lookout and then great views on
>>> the rock art track when a couple of birds flew in and perched above
>>> our heads.
>>> 
>>> Anbangbang Billabong
>>> 31 species were seen in an hour including Restless Flycatcher
>>> (Paperbark form) feeding young.
>>> 
>>> Muriella Park
>>> The red-eyed form of Partridge Pigeon was flushed on the road into
>>> Muriella Park and one provided great views perched.
>>> 
>>> Yellow Waters Cruise
>>> An afternoon cruise on Yellow Waters provided a feast of waterbirds
>>> but not the hoped for rarities despite the best efforts of our guide
>>> and driver.
>>> 
>>> Kununurra and Surrounds
>>> A feast of finches were provided at Kununurra with
>>> Yellow-rumped Mannikins
>>> Long-tailed Finch
>>> Masked Finch
>>> Zebra Finch
>>> Chestnut-breasted Mannikin
>>> Crimson Finch
>>> Star Finch
>>> Double-barred Finch
>>> and (on the last morning)
>>> Pictorella Mannikin.
>>> We saw no Gouldians in this area but did have a plethora of other
>>> good birds. Among these was the Buff-sided Robin near the lakeside
>>> caravan park.
>>> 
>>> Lake Argyle Cruise
>>> A splendid morning was spent on the lake and provided sightings of
>>> the White-quilled Rock-pigeon; great views of Oriental Plover and a
>>> possible Long-toed Stint. This last bird was wading in deep black mud
>>> at the edge of a low island adjacent a group of sharpies. To all the
>>> world it looked like a miniture sharpie (slightly smaller that a
>>> Red-kneed Dotterel). It had a streaked brown cap, wing coverts with
>>> broad black centres and a longish slightly downturned bill. There was
>>> little in the way of a white eyebrow and a speckled band stretched
>>> across the chest. Unfortunately the legs looked black - probably
>>> because of the mud but possibly because it was not what I thought!
>>> There were more Yellow Chats than one could poke a stick at on the
>>> same island.
>>> 
>>> Mitchell Plateau
>>> Produced the Kimberley Honeyeater (to be split from the White-lined)
>>> but unfortunately not the Black Grasswren. The BG was heard but did
>>> not choose to show itself in the time we had available at the site.
>>> 
>>> Lanyer STW
>>> A trip to the Lanyer Sewerage Works with Darryel produced a couple of
>>> Yellow Wagtails and a Little-ringed Plover.
>>> 
>>> Holmes Jungle
>>> Daryel produced good sightings of both the Red-chested Button-quail
>>> (in short grass) and Red-backed Button-quail (in longer grass and
>>> reeds). I flushed both species the following day for others but
>>> provided much less satisfactory views.
>>> 
>>> Many thanks to Klaus for a great trip and to Darryel for his
>>> assistance in Darwin.
>>> 
>>> Regards
>>> Peter Marsh
>>> 
>>> www.birding-aus.org
>>> birding-aus.blogspot.com
>>> 
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