ALEUTIAN TERN

Photographed at Old Bar, NSW, December 2017

1230                 ALEUTIAN TERN               Onychoprion aleuticus 

AUSTRALIA                  723

Former Latin name was Sterna aleutica. Breeds in colonies on coasts and islands in Alaska and easternmost Siberia; migrates to Indonesia and Malaysia, though little is known about its wintering habits here. Feeds by plunge diving for fish, usually in saltwater environs.

NOTE:  In October 2017, birders Liam Murphy was looking through photographs taken in December 2016. He found an unidentified tern. It was tentatively identified as an Aleutian tern, never before recorded in Australia. He returned to the place where the photographs were taken in December 2017. Liam found a group of 13 Aleutian tern wintering there. (These photographs were taken the next day)

EASTERN GRASS OWL

Only just recording shots, will suffice until I can improve. Taken at Port Macquarie, December 2017

1229                EASTERN GRASS OWL                     Tyto longimembris

AUSTRALIA                   722

Also known as Australian Grass Owl. Found in grasslands coastal heaths, cane fields, agricultural land and swamps feeding on small rodents. Two distinct populations in Australia: one on flood plains of large rivers from Cape York to Manning River (NSW); the other on grasslands on Barkley Tablelands and Channel Country (WA)

SUPERB FRUIT DOVE

(Male) Photographed at Hatten, Queensland, November 2017

1228                   SUPERB FRUIT DOVE              Ptilinopus superbus

AUSTRALIA                721

Also known as the Purple-crowned Fruit Dove. Range: n-e Queensland to n-e NSW, less common further south, but has been seen in pockets near Moruya (NSW) and vagrants in Victoria and Tasmania. Inhabits rainforests and similar closed forest where forages high for the fruit of trees, such as figs and palms. Partly migratory and nomadic.

(Female)

SPOTTED WHISTLING DUCK

Photographed on the Daintree River, Queensland, November 2017

1227                  SPOTTED WHISTLING DUCK              Dendrocygna guttata

AUSTRALIA               720

Ranges throughout southern Philippines, Wallacea and New Guinea; has gradually been colonising northern Australia; now down as far as Daintree, though has been seen in Cairns.

Photographed at Wonga Beach, Queensland, November 2017

RED-BACKED BUTTONQUAIL

Photographed at Eungella, Queensland, November 2017

1226                  RED-BACKED BUTTONQUAIL                   Turnix maculosus

AUSTRALIA                  719

Also known as Black-backed, Black-spotted and Orange-bellied Buttonquail. Found also in indonesia, New Guinea,, Philippines and Soloman Islands. Fourteen recognised subspecies; subspecies melanotus found in northern Australia.

Photographed at MacKay, Queensland February 2018

RED-CHESTED BUTTONQUAIL

Photographed on The Postman's Track, Daybook, Queensland, November 2017

1225                RED-CHESTED BUTTONQUAIL             Turnix pyrrhothorax

AUSTRALIA                    718

Endemic to Australia; widespread though uncommon in NSW, Queensland, northern WA, and NT; classified as vulnerable in Victoria. Habitat is dense grasslands, and open, grassy woodlands of acacia, Red River Gums and Black Box; also in crops and weedy fields with dense cover.

Photographed near Willow Tree, NSW December 2020

BLACK-BREASTED BUTTONQUAIL

Photographed at Noosa Heads National Park, Queensland, November 2017

1224                   BLACK-BREASTED BUTTONQUAIL          Turnix melanogaster

AUSTRALIAN BIRDS                 717

Also known as Black-fronted Buttonquail. Rare bird, endemic to eastern Australia, usually in rainforest, rated as near threatened. Found from Harvey Bay south to ne corner of NSW

COOK'S SWIFT

Photographed Christmas Island, December 2016

 1223              COOK'S SWIFT                  Apus cooki 

AUSTRALIA                      716                 

Breeds in limestone caves in Thailand, Myanmar and Indochina; lays 2-3 eggs on cliff returning to same site each year.

EYREAN GRASSWREN

Photographed on the Strzelecki Track (Art Baker Lookout), August 2017

1222              EYREAN GRASSWREN                Amytornis goyderi      

AUSTRALIA                715

Found in clumps of cane grass on dunes. 14-16.5 cm. Simpson/Strzelecki Deserts in far sw Q, far se NT. Locally common, sedentary, locally nomadic.

BLACK-EARED MINER

Photographed at Gluepot, South Australia, August 2017

1221                  BLACK-EARED MINER                 Manorina melanotis 

AUSTRALIA               714

Restricted to large blocks of intact mallee in se Aust; population centred on Gluepot Reserve (SA). 26 mm. Very rare and were predicted to become extinct through interbreeding with Yellow-throated miner but may be holding their own.

RED-LORED WHISTLER

Photographed in Murray-Sunset National Park, August 2017

1220                RED-LORED WHISTLER                Pachycephala rufogularis

AUSTRALIA               713

Found in low, patchy mallee/heath/spinifex; stunted mallee on sandhills; cypress pines; broom bush. 19-22 cm. Inland se Aust.: from Round Hill NR, Cocoparra NP, to nw Vic, Big Desert NP-Sunset Country, occasionally to Hattah/Kulkyne NP; w. to Murray mallee of e. SA. Rare, local.