AUSTRALIA rare bird alert: October 14th 2017
With Spring now in full swing, the twitching season is almost ready to pounce once again. The 2016-2017 summer season was arguably the greatest rarity season ever in Australian history, with a huge number of vagrants across the country and external territories, not to mention 5 species that would be brand new to the Australian region checklist (pending BARC submissions of course). Ultimately, the expectations are high for the 2017-2018, and already a few weeks in, the results are looking good!
On October 11th, a Grey-headed Lapwing was discovered at Hall's Creek Sewage Works (WA). As of October 13th, the bird is still present at the site. Still a mega rarity and vagrant to Australia, there has only been 1 BARC accepted record of this species (Burren Junction, NSW, 2006). However, we know of at least 3 more records - Amata Sewage Treatment Plant (2014), Penrith Lakes (2015), Cocos Keeling (2016) and the possible bird at Chiltern Mt. Pilot National Park in December 2014 (BARC submission pending). This makes this bird either the 5th or 6th record for Australia.
A report of 5x Spotted Whistling Duck came in from the Daintree River on October 6th, with an update on October 14th (now 7 birds) reaffirming the birds continuing presence in the area. Spotted Whistling Duck, in my own opinion (and many others I'm sure), doesn't really cut it as a "genuine vagrant" anymore. However, as this species continues its descent into northern Queensland, it still remains slightly unpredictable and can be hard to connect with. It will be interesting to see the species expansion across Queensland in another 20 years time.
On October 11th, a Grey-headed Lapwing was discovered at Hall's Creek Sewage Works (WA). As of October 13th, the bird is still present at the site. Still a mega rarity and vagrant to Australia, there has only been 1 BARC accepted record of this species (Burren Junction, NSW, 2006). However, we know of at least 3 more records - Amata Sewage Treatment Plant (2014), Penrith Lakes (2015), Cocos Keeling (2016) and the possible bird at Chiltern Mt. Pilot National Park in December 2014 (BARC submission pending). This makes this bird either the 5th or 6th record for Australia.
A report of 5x Spotted Whistling Duck came in from the Daintree River on October 6th, with an update on October 14th (now 7 birds) reaffirming the birds continuing presence in the area. Spotted Whistling Duck, in my own opinion (and many others I'm sure), doesn't really cut it as a "genuine vagrant" anymore. However, as this species continues its descent into northern Queensland, it still remains slightly unpredictable and can be hard to connect with. It will be interesting to see the species expansion across Queensland in another 20 years time.
Grey-headed Lapwing - George Swann
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"Chuckles" Laughing Gull - Scott Baker
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"Chuckles", Australia's most famous long-staying vagrant (Laughing Gull), who was first discovered in May of 2016, is still present at the Venus Bay Caravan Park in South Australia. Finally, after showing no signs or urgency, he has adopted his gorgeous breeding plumage outfit. The most recent sighting was on October 14th. Any twitchers still considering chasing this bird should call the Caravan Park first to get a firsthand update. There are currently 9 BARC approved reports of this species for Australia. You can read a detailed report about Chuckles here.
A Purple-backed (Daurian) Starling was photographed in Settlement on Christmas Island by a local resident on October 6th. Another bird that has proven hard to connect with, even for the most experienced twitchers. Bird has not been resighted for a number of days. There are only 3 BARC accepted reports of this species so far in Australia, though a number of other documented sightings have been noted.
It seems to be the year for this species, a South Island Oystercatcher was photographed at Kingston Wetlands on Norfolk Island on October 11th. Norfolk Island (and Lord Howe) has a good history with this species, and perhaps with more birders now being aware of what to look for, more sightings of this species will continue to appear. There is currently 9 accepted BARC records of this species - however, it is worth noting the well-twitched SIPO of Stockyard Point has not been submitted yet. Also of note, the Northern Shoveler that was also on Norfolk was last observed on September 11th.
On October 8th, a crested penguin (believed to be an immature Fiordland Penguin) was photographed on the rocks at the Bay of Fires in NE Tasmania. There were no further sightings.
And finally, a monstrous 47 Red-necked Phalarope were counted at the Port Hedland Saltworks (WA) on Friday 6th October. Also of note were 70 Asian Dowitcher and 200+ Broad-billed Sandpiper.
Fiordland Penguin - Rankin
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South Island Oystercatcher - Craig Doolan
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Visit the Birdlife Australia Rarities Committee (BARC) for more information on rarities in Australia: www.birdlife.org.au/conservation/science/rarities-committee
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Readers should note that none of the above records (unless otherwise stated) have been audited by BARC or the appropriate state rarities committees. Information is collected via Birding-Aus, Eremaea Birdline, eBird and various social media platforms. Omissions and errors are not intended, but if any fault is located, please comment below or contact us at bigdipbirding@gmail.com and we will rectify.
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James Mustafa is a birder, wildlife enthusiast and self-confessed twitcher from Melbourne, Australia. A musician and composer by trade, he has been birding, exploring nature and appreciate wildlife for all his life. Since taking up a real fascination with birds, he has soared with tropicbirds in the Indian Ocean, chased owls in North America, danced with kiwi in New Zealand and twitched everything from gulls to leaf warblers across Australia.
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