ARAFURA SHRIKE-THRUSH

Photographed at Kakadu, North Territory, May 2016.

1308                  ARAFURA SHRIKE-THRUSH                Colluricincla megarhyncha

AUSTRALIAN                    793          

Formerly considered a conspecific member of Little Shrike-thrush complex but genetic investigations found it a separate species, and with three subspecies: megarhyncha (found on Salawati, Misool and Are Islands and New Guinea; parvula (found in nw WA and NT); and aruensis (Trans-Fly region of New Guinea). Natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forest and subtropical or tropical moist montane forests.

Darwin, 2024

LITTLE-RINGED PLOVER

Photographed at Wunjunga Wetlands, Queensland, March 2020

(*900)                  LITTLE-RINGED PLOVER                 Charadrius dubius

AUSTRALIA                  792

Breeding habitat is open gravel areas near. freshwater across the Paleartic, including northwestern Africa. Migratoryand winter inn Africa. Forage for food on muddy areas; eat insects and worms. Three subspecies: C. d. curonicus from Eurasia, Russian Fareast, Japan, Korea, China to North Africa. Winter spends in Sahara, Sri Lanka, to Indonesia and China; C. d. jerdoni from India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan to South East Asia; C. d. dubius  from the Philippines, New Guinea to Bismarck Archipelago.

GURNEY'S EAGLE

Photographed above Saibai Island, Torres Straits, March 2020.

1307                      GURNEY’S EAGLE                     Aquila gurneyi

AUSTRALIAN BIRDS                 791

Uncommon to rare resident in NG but widely distributed, forrest eagle. Endemic to NG and Moluccas, vagrant to Torres Straits. Reputedly preys on arboreal mammals such as possums. Not well know information on this birds, seems prevalent near coast.

LONG-TAILED BUZZARD

Photographed above Saibai Island, Torres Straits, March 2020.

1306                  LONG-TAILED BUZZARD                  Henicopernis longicauda

AUSTRALIAN BIRDS                790

Also known as Long-tailed Honey-buzzard. Singly or in pairs soars over Forrests, circling and patrolling open corridors beneath canopy; feeds mainly on insects, lizards, and bird’s eggs. Endemic to NG, uncommon resident.

KENTISH PLOVER

Photographed at Kurnell, Sydney, December 2019

(*899)                  KENTISH PLOVER                  Charadrius alexandrinus

AUSTRALIA                 789

A coastal migrant widespread in Eurasia, often flocking with other small shorebirds on beaches. Only 2 previous Australian records (Darwin, NT and Old Bar, NSW). Alexandrinus migrates from NE to SE Asia.

COLLARED KINGFISHER

Photographed on Ashmore Reef, Western Australia, November 2019

1305                    (ASIAN) COLLARED KINGFISHER                    Todiramphus chloris

AUSTRALIA                  788

Vagrant to Christmas Island, Ashmore Reef and NW Australia. Common in wide variety of habitats, open country, coastal areas, ponds, plantations, gardens, but particularly mangroves.

NOTE: Taxonomy complex. About 50 ssp traditionally recognised from India to Micronesia; however Australian Collared Kingfisher was given species status and called Torresian Kingfisher; and SE Asian Collared Kingfisher was also given full species status.

KAMCHATKA LEAF-WARBLER

Photographed on Ashmore Reef, Western Australia, November 2019

1304                    KAMCHATKA LEAF-WARBLER                      Phylloscopus examinandus

AUSTRALIAN                 787

Vagrant; Four records, all from Ashmore Reef, Nov. Breeds Kamchatka, Sakhalin Peninsula, Russia; n Japan, winters in se Asia; non-breeding grounds not clearly defined.

NOTE:  At least 7 Arctic-type warblers were seen on Ashmore Reef, November 2019. Two birds were identified by call as Kamchatka Leaf-warblers, which is consistent with previous records. Arctic Warbler complex is made up of Arctic Warbler, Kamchatka Leaf-warbler and Japanese Leaf-warbler (not recorded in Australia). Arctic and Kamchatka only identifiable by call.

ORIENTAL REED WARBLER

Photographed on Ashmore Reef, November 2019

1303                     ORIENTAL REED-WARBLER                  Acracephalus orientalis

AUSTRALIA               786

Migrant from n Asia, vagrant or rare wet season visitor to n Aust; less 10 confirmed records, but perhaps often overlooked.

ISLAND MONARCH

Photographed on Ashmore Reef, November 2019

1302.             ISLAND MONARCH                   Monarcha cinerascens

AUSTRALIA              785

Mainly confined to islands in Wallace, and across n of New Guinea to Solomans, from smallest vegetated coral cays to large and diverse islands, such as Timor and Roti. Australian records from Ashmore Reef, Browse and Cassini Islands. In Aust. Recorded in littoral scrub on sand or coral islets; methodically searches for invertebrates among foliaged branches of low scrubs and trees, some sallying for flying insects.

SWINHOE'S STORM-PETREL

Photographed off Scot’s Reef, Western Australia, November 2019

1301                SWINHOE’S STORM-PETREL                   Oceandroma monorhis

AUSTRALIA                784

Breeds mostly in Sea of Japan (May-Aug), migrating in winter to tropical Indian Ocean (Sept-Apr); since 1999 shown to be uncommon non-breeding visitors pelagic waters off nw Aust; confirmed records restricted to Oct-Nov. 

STREAKED SHEARWATER

Photographed off Broome, Western Australia, November 2019

1300                  STREAKED SHEARWATER                      Calonectris leucomelas

AUSTRALIA.                783

Mostly over offshore waters and continental shelf slope, occasionally inshore waters. May show some interest in fishing vessels; occasionally observed from land. Often joins other species of shearwaters, noddies, terns feeding.Regular non-breeding migrant to tropical Aust. waters from breeding islands off Japan and Korean Peninsula. Generally uncommon.

KING QUAIL

Photographed on Postman's Track, Dayboro, Queensland, October 2019

1299                  KING QUAIL                 Coturnix chinensis

AUSTRALIA                782

Ranges n, e and se Australia mainland and some islands, from Kimberley (WA) to sw Victoria. Patchy and irregular, some well inland. Seden try, dispersive. Also found in India, China, se Asia to Indonesia, PNG. Found in swampy heaths, dense grasslands, growth on edge of wetlands, weedy pastures and remnants, lucent crops, tall tropical grasslands, dry sedge plains, rice crops.

NOTE: Three birders with clear views of eight King Quail, however I had a camera issue and the camera would not focus. Pictures until obtain better.

This is what mine should have looked like! Photo courtesy of Charlie Scott, who had his  settings right on the day.

More of mine.

GREY GRASSWREN

Photographed on the Birdesville Track, August 2019

1298                 GREY GRASSWREN.                       Amytornis barbatus

AUSTRALIA                     781

Found in tall dense clumps of lignum, swamp canegrass on overflow channels, swamps, rushes, low shrubs, old man saltbush. Range in pockets of suitable habitat in far sw Queensland, nw NSW, and ne SA. Locally nomadic.