JAVAN POND HERON

Photographed on West Island, Cocos,  December 2018

(*815)                   JAVAN POND-HERON            Ardeola speciosa

AUSTRALIA               764

Found in freshwater marshes, grasslands, ponds with well-vegetated fringes and occasionally coastal mudflats. 45 cm. Distribution: parts of mainland Southeast Asia, Greater and Lesser Sundas, Sulawesi and Mindanao.  

ORIENTAL HONEY-BUZZARD

Photographed at Lake Joondalup, Western Australia, December 2018

(*   858)                ORIENTAL HONEY-BUZZARD             Pernis ptilorhyncus

AUSTRALIA.                   763

Turns up in a variety of forested habitats, from primary rainforest to open woodlands. 50 cms. Distribution: Oriental region and northeast Asia: northern populations migrate.

HODGSON'S HAWK-CUCKOO

Photographed on West Island, Cocos, December 2018

1265                   HODGSON'S HAWK-CUCKOO                Hierococcyx nisicolor

AUSTRALIA                  762

Also known as Whistling Hawk-cuckoo. Found in n-e India, Myanmar, southern China and s-e Asia. Brood parasite. 

SIBERIAN THRUSH

Photographed on Home Island, Cocos, December 2018

1264                    SIBERIAN THRUSH                     Geokichla sibirica      

AUSTRALIA                  761

Breeds in Siberia, strongly migratory with most birds moving to southeastern Asia during winter; rare vagrant to Western Europe. Very secretive. Omnivorous, eating wide range of insects, earthworms and berries. 

NOTE:   Third record for Australia.

CHESTNUT-WINGED CUCKOO

Photographed on Home Island, Cocos, December 2018

1263                 CHESTNUT-WINGED CUCKOO                  Clamator coromandus

AUSTRALIA                      760

Also known as Red-winged Crested Cuckoo. Found in southeastern Asia and parts of South Asia. Breed in Himalayas and migrate south in winter to Sri Lanka, southern India and tropical Southeast Asia including parts of Indonesia, Thailand and Philippines. 

NOTE: First record in Australia, and only photographs in Australia.