Big Zigzag Birding

week 041 | Kakadu National Park | trip list 521 – 525

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In an Eggshell:

Big Zigzag bird species count: 525  (+4 this week)
Big Zigzag bird families count: 89 (+0 this week)
Big Zigzag Lifers: 130 (+4 this week: White-lined Honeyeater, Black-banded Fruit-Dove, Sandstone Shrikethrush, Partridge Pigeon)
Campsite Lifers 26 (+0 this week)
Big Zigzag New for Australia list: 179 (+4 this week)
eBird days of checklist streak: 285
Week’s special milestones: Bird #600 on my Australia list!

Bird(s) of the Week

Partridge Pigeon (Geophaps smithii) a great lifer from Kakado NP, NT. Also my #600 on my Australian list! and cleanup genus Geophaps (with Spinifex Pigeon (Geophaps plumifera) and Squatter Pigeon (Geophaps scripta))

Black-banded Fruit-Doveת one of there lifers from Kakadu National Park–Nourlangie Rock.

Sandstone Shrikethrush, far distance lifer from the lookout in Kakadu National Park–Nourlangie Rock. 

White-lined Honeyeater, also from the lookout in Kakadu National Park–Nourlangie Rock.

Non-bird image(s)

lookout in Kakadu National Park--Nourlangie Rock.

At the lookout in Kakadu National Park–Nourlangie Rock, The Sandstone Shrikethrushs are on the far left rocks.

Yellow Water, Kakadu NP sunrise

Week's Key location(s)

Arnhem Hwy/Kakadu Hwy. Partridge Pigeon site.

Big Zigzag Travelled so far: 35960 km (this week 1140 km)

eBird Checklists this week

1774. 26 Apr 2025 11:33 AM Kakadu National Park–Mamukala Billabong
1773. 25 Apr 2025 6:44 AM Kakadu National Park–Yellow Water
1772. 24 Apr 2025 9:17 AM Kakadu National Park–Nourlangie Rock
1771. 24 Apr 2025 7:36 AM Kakadu Lodge (Jabiru)
1770. 24 Apr 202 57:22 AM 18371 Arnhem Road, Kakadu, Northern Territory, AU (-12.655, 132.829)
1769. 23 Apr 2025 5:59 PM Kakadu National Park–Nourlangie Rock
1768. 23 Apr 2025 9:10 AM Kakadu National Park–Nourlangie Rock
1767. 23 Apr 2025 8:23 AM 18371 Arnhem Road, Kakadu, Northern Territory, AU (-12.655, 132.829)
1766. 23 Apr 2025 6:57 AM Arnhem Highway/Oenpelli Road, Kakadu, Northern Territory, AU (-12.65, 132.817)
1765. 22 Apr 2025 6:00 PM Kakadu Lodge (Jabiru)
1764. 22 Apr 2025 2:23 PM Kakadu National Park–South Alligator boatram
1763. 22 Apr 2025 12:22 PM Adelaide River Bridge,Arnhem Hwy, Litchfield
1762. 21 Apr 2025 3:20 PM Batchelor Holiday Park
1761. 20 Apr 2025 11:02 AM 89 Affleck Road, Acacia Hills, Northern Territory, AU (-12.708, 131.092)
Big Zigzag Index
Big Zigzag Birding

week 040 | Around Darwin | trip list 506 – 521

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Tropic heat and humidity with tons of birds..

In an Eggshell:

Big Zigzag bird species count: 521  (+15 this week)
Big Zigzag bird families count: 89 (+0 this week)
Big Zigzag Lifers: 126 (+4 this week:
Arafura Shrikethrush, Silver-backed Butcherbird, 
Siberian Sand-Plover, Black-tailed Whistler)
Campsite Lifers 26 (+1 this week: Silver-backed Butcherbird)
Big Zigzag New for Australia list: 175 (+6 this week)
eBird days of checklist streak: 278
Week’s special milestones: 40 weeks!

Bird(s) of the Week

Silver-backed Butcherbird

Arafura Shrikethrush

Introduced, but a local RBA: Eurasian Tree Sparrow  (at Bunnings Palmerston carpark)

One the common beauties – Rainbow Bee-eater

Non-bird image(s)

East Point, Darwin

Week's Key location(s)

Arafura Shrikethrush site

Batchelor Holiday Park – Silber-backed Butcherbird site

Buffalo Creek, Siberian Sand-Plover site

Big Zigzag Travelled so far: 34820 km (this week 879 km)

eBird Checklists this week

1760. 19 Apr 2025 10:14 AM Litchfield National Park–Florence Falls
1759. 18 Apr 2025 5:42 PM Batchelor Holiday Park

1758. 17 Apr 2025 3:46 PM Buffalo Creek

1757. 17 Apr 2025 12:21 PM East Point Mangrove Boardwalk
1756. 17 Apr 2025 10:34 AM East Point Reserve–White Rocks
1755. 16 Apr 2025 4:13 PM Ludmilla Creek
1754. 16 Apr 2025 3:09 PM Howard Springs Hunting Reserve
1753. 16 Apr 2025 1:39 PM 8 Pierssene Road, Yarrawonga, Bunnings parking Entry . Northern Territory, AU (-12.47, 130.991), Palmerston
1752. 16 Apr 2025 7:01 AM Buffalo Creek Shore, Darwin
1751. 15 Apr 2025 6:41 PM Saddle Park (Saddle Ct, Leanyer), Darwin
1750. 14 Apr 2025 8:41 AM Batchelor Holiday Park
1749. 13 Apr 20257:08 PM Batchelor Holiday Park
1748. 13 Apr 2025 11:07 AM Adelaide River Wartime Cemetery
Big Zigzag Index
Big Zigzag Birding

week 039 | Heading north on Stuart Hwy | trip list 494 – 506

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from the Red Centre to the Top End

In an Eggshell:

Big Zigzag bird species count: 506  (+12 this week)
Big Zigzag bird families count: 89 (+0 this week)
Big Zigzag Lifers: 122 (+4 this week: Northern Shrike-tit, Yellow-rumped Munia, Bar-breasted Honeyeater, Hooded Parrot)
Campsite Lifers 25 (+1 this week: Bar-breasted Honeyeater )
Big Zigzag New for Australia list: 169 (+4 this week)
eBird days of checklist streak: 271
Week’s special milestones: Zigzag #500 species! over 50% species seen in Shrike-tits family.

Bird(s) of the Week

Northern Shrike-tit from Centre Arnhem road.

Hooded Parrot, Pine Creek

Bar-breasted Honeyeater, Edith Falls road

Gouldian Finch, Edith Falls road

Yellow-rumped Munia from Katherine Showgrounds drainline. Hard to get lifer, mixed mainly with Chestnut-breasted Munia and also with Crimson Finch.

Crimson Finch from Katherine Showgrounds drainline.

Chestnut-breasted Munia from Katherine Showgrounds drainline.

Non-bird image(s)

Alice Springs Desert Park Entrance

Prime location for Hooded Parrot.

Devil Marbles

Week's Key location(s)

Alice Springs Desert Park Entrance.

Central Arnhem Rd. Northern Shrike-tit site.

Katherine Showgrounds drainline, Yellow-rumped Munia  site.

Campsite at Edith Falls Rd. Bar-breasted Honeyeater (and Gouldian Finch) site.

Pine Creek Railway Museum, Hooded parrot site.

Big Zigzag Travelled so far: 33941 km (this week 1818 km)

eBird Checklists this week

1747. 12 Apr 2025 4:16 PM  Pine Creek Railway Museum
1746. 12 Apr 2025 9:14 AM Nitmiluk National Park — Edith Falls Upper (track)
1745. 12 Apr 2025 7:03 AM Edith Falls Rd at -14.18405, 132.03819

1744. 11 Apr 2025 4:27 PM Katherine Showgrounds drainline

1743. 11 Apr 2025 9:01 AM Katherine Showgrounds drainline
1742. 11 Apr 2025 7:00 AM Central Arnhem Rd at -14.60250, 132.71172
1741. 10 Apr 2025 11:04 AM Daly Waters
1740. 10 Apr 2025 9:15 AM Stuart Hwy Rest Stop at 17 22 33S 133 26 23E
1739. 09 Apr 2025 7:30 PM Stuart Hwy Rest Stop at 17 22 33S 133 26 23E, Barkly
1738. 09 Apr 2025 8:18 AM Karlu Karlu / Devils Marbles Conservation Reserve
1737. 08 Apr 2025 7:04 AM Alice Springs Desert Park Entrance
1736. 07 Apr 2025 9:34 AM Alice Springs Desert Park Entrance
1735. 07 Apr 2025 8:17 AM John Flynn’s Grave Historical Reserve
1734. 06 Apr 2025 9:20 AM Tjoritja / West MacDonnell National Park–Ellery Creek Big Hole
Big Zigzag Index
Big Zigzag Birding

week 038 | From SA to NT | trip list 486 – 494

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Along Stuart Highway, Uluru area and MacDonnell Ranges

In an Eggshell:

Big Zigzag bird species count: 494 (+8 this week)
Big Zigzag bird families count: 89 (+0 this week)
Big Zigzag Lifers: 118 (+6 this week: Chiming Wedgebill, Bourke’s Parrot, Sandhill Grasswren, Banded Whitehead, Dusky Grasswren, Gray Honeyeater)
Campsite Lifers 24 (+0 this week)
Big Zigzag New for Australia list: 165 (+6 this week)
eBird days of checklist streak: 264
Week’s special milestones: Grasswren #8 & #9!, over 50% species in Whipbirds and Wedgebills

Bird(s) of the Week

Dusky Grasswren, GW #9! Serpentine Gorge, West MacDonnell 

Sandhill Grasswren! My 8th GW, Near Uluru, NT

Bourke’s Parrot, lefer just before leaving South Australia

Banded Whitehead, along Stuart Hwy

Chiming Wedgebill, first seen north to Coober Pedy, SA. Later seen and heard a few time while heading north in both SA & NT.

Non-bird image(s)

Ayris Rock from Sandhill Grasswren site

Ayris Rock – Uluru

Serpentine Gorge, West MacDonnell Ranges, Dusky Grasswren site (you can see it on the closer rock!)

Week's Key location(s)

2 lifers location along Stuart Highway! Unnamed Road, Mount Willoughby, South Australia, AU (-28.259, 134.15)

Dunefield east of Yulara airport and north of Lasseter Hwy – Sandhill Grasswren site

Banded Whiteface site, along Stuart Highway, 21km north to A4 junction

Serpentine Gorge, west MacDonnell, Dusky Grasswren site

Big Zigzag Travelled so far: 32123 km (this week 1651 km)

eBird Checklists this week

1732. 05 Apr 2025 2:23 PM Tjoritja / West MacDonnell National Park–Glen Helen Gorge
1731. 05 Apr 2025 12:16 PM Tjoritja / West MacDonnell National Park–Ormiston Gorge
1730. 05 Apr 2025 9:10 AM Tjoritja / West MacDonnell National Park–Serpentine Gorge
1729. 04 Apr 2025 5:00 PM Tjoritja / West MacDonnell National Park–Hugh River at -23.80917, 133.37472
1728. 04 Apr 2025 7:36 AM Stuarts Well

1727. 03 Apr 2025 2:41 PM Henbury Meteorites Conservation Reserve

1726. 03 Apr 2025 1:25 PM Stuart Hwy, 21km north of 1725. 02 Apr 2025 10:25 AM Walpa Gorge
1724. 02 Apr 2025 8:00 AM Dunefield east of Yulara airport and north of Lasseter Hwy
1723. 02 Apr 2025 6:46 AM Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park–Talinguru Nyakunytjaku
1722. 01 Apr 2025 11:13 AM Curtin Springs Station
1721. 31 Mar 2025 8:14 AM South Australia, AU (-27.084, 133.463), Anangu Pitjantjatjara, South Australia
1720. 30 Mar 2025 1:49 PM Unnamed Road, Mount Willoughby, South Australia, AU (-28.259, 134.15)
1719. 30 Mar 2025 8:28 AM Unnamed Road, Coober Pedy, South Australia, AU (-29.073, 134.784)
Big Zigzag Index