A Chinese Pond Heron was found by Lisa Preston & Ian McAllan at LB3 on
Christmas Island on 1 May and was still there yesterday. A Little Ringed
Plover is reported from there 21-23 April.
The Javan Pond Heron found on West Island, Cocos earlier this year is still
present and an Asian Koel is a recent report.
Of great interest is a WHISKERED TERN photographed by Lisa on Christmas
Island on 30 April and still present. It is in transitional plumage and
appears to me to be assuming breeding plumage. This could indicate that it
is a northern hemisphere bird but the moulting times of our birds is
variable and not well known. Northern hemisphere birds are of the nominate
race hybridus whereas ours is javanicus which is a paler form. The CI bird
is pale so that would not support that ID. In their non-breeding seasons
both forms occur in Indonesia. Thus their ranges overlap but they don't
occur there together. Our breeders are there May to September whereas the
northern birds are there from October to May. Although suspected and might
even be regular, the occurrence of the nominate race in Australia is not
proven.
Mike Carter
30 Canadian Bay Road
Mount Eliza VIC 3930
Tel (03) 9787 7136
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