COMMON KINGFISHER

Photographed on Cocos Island, January 2023

(885)*              COMMON KINGFISHER                  Albedo atthis 

AUSTRALIA.                        803       

Occurs in all kind of water bodies on migration, including open streams, canals, reservoir edges, ponds with reedy fringes and mangrove creeks, seldom in forest streams. 17 cm. Widespread across much of Eurasia with many races; occurs east to Soloman Islands; winter visitor to Indian sub-continent and Southeast Asia.

 

Cocos Island, December 2023

WATERCOCK

 

Photographed on Cocos Island, January 2023

1316                   WATERCOCK                   Gallicrex cinerea

AUSTRALIA.                      802

Lives in wetlands, flooded crops, rivers, ponds; sometimes brackish water. Ranges across S and SE Asia with movement to the Philippines, Borneo and Indonesia in northern winter.Rare vagrant to Christmas and Cocos Islands, most records in December to March.

PURPLE HERON

Photographed on Cocos Island, January 2023

(261)               PURPLE HERON            Ardea purpurea

AUSTRALIA                801

Found in trees, bushes and emergent vegetation fringing wetlands. Widespread throughout Europe, Africa, Asia to Indonesia; vagrant to Australia.