From the grasslands around Boulia to the Dainasor district
In an Eggshell:
- Big Zigzag bird species count: 307 (+14 this week)
- Big Zigzag bird families count: 78 (+1 this week: Pratincoles and Coursers)
- Big Zigzag Lifers: 53 (+8 this week: Red-backed Kingfisher, Letter-winged Kite, Flock Bronzewing, Red-browed Pardalote, Rufous-crowned Emuwren, Grey Falcon, Opalton Grasswren, Hall’s Babbler)
- Campsite Lifers: 14 (+2 this week: Red-browed Pardalote, Opalton Grasswren)
- Big Zigzag New for Australia list: 81 (+8 this week)
- eBird days of checklist streak: 82
- Week’s special milestones: Reached 300 on my Big Zigzag list. Cleanup Elanus genus with Letter-winged Kite, Over 50 trip’s lifers, 3rd Grasswren.
Bird(s) of the Week
Flock Bronzewing (photographed later on Cuttaburra Crossing, Eyre Developmental Rd).
Hall’s Babbler at Lark Quarry Conservation Park
Rufous-crowned Emuwren at Lark Quarry Conservation Park
Red-backed Kingfisher (photographed laster near Birdsville)
4 week later, Gray Falcon photographed at South Austrlia
Non-bird image(s)
Gray Falcon’s nest on the telecommunication antenna among the spinifex of Lark Quarry area.
In Sean Dooley’s book, The Big Twitch, he describes his 2002 “big year”, as he was trying to break the record with 700 species in Australia. One bird, the elusive Grey Falcon, described by him as “doesn’t actually exist”. But this week, I was evidenced the it is a reality, even two! 2 Grey Falcons (Falco hypoleucos) flew rapidly on this very windy day, above me and the spinifex near Lark Quarry. Another dream bird on me list.
Week's Key location(s)
Coorabulka road. My Letter-winged Kites site.
Huge telecommunication antenna served as a well known Grey Falcon nest base, at Lark Quarry T/O, Winton Jundah Rd. The nest is not occupied for about 2 weeks, but luckily while I was exploring 2 adults flew by and gave me a chance to see them. Also the site for Rufous-crowned Emuwren, Opalton Grasswren, Hall’s Babbler.
Big Zigzag Travelled so far: 11420 km (this week 1160 km)
eBird Checklists this week
