Big Zigzag Birding – Bird Families of the World

week 037 | The Flinders Ranges up to Coober Pedy | trip list 486 – 486

Posted on March, 2025March, 2025

Back to the Outback!

In an Eggshell:

Big Zigzag bird species count: 486 (+0 this week)
Big Zigzag bird families count: 89 (+0 this week)
Big Zigzag Lifers: 112 (+0 this week)
Campsite Lifers 24 (+0 this week)
Big Zigzag New for Australia list: 159 (+0 this week)
eBird days of checklist streak: 257
Week’s special milestones: 30000 km traveled!

Bird(s) of the Week

Great to see Pink Cockatoos again, along Stewart Highway

Zebra Finch, queen of the desert, one of the commonest birds of the Outback.

Emus at Flinders Ranges

Non-bird image(s)

Yellow-footed Rock-Wallaby, Near-threat. Ikara-Flinders Ranges National Park–Wilpena Creek

Hart Lake, Stuart Highway

Near Coober Pedy

Week's Key location(s)

Stuart Highway, Pink Cockatoos’ site

Big Zigzag Travelled so far: 30400 km (this week 1250 km)

eBird Checklists this week

1716. 29 Mar 2025 7:39 AM William Hutchinson Memorial

1715. 28 Mar 2025 12:10 PM Bon Bon Rest Area (Stuart Hwy)

1714. 28 Mar 2025 9:57 AM Glendambo

1713. 28 Mar 2025 9:16 AM Stuart Highway, Wirraminna, South Australia, AU (-31.179, 136.17)

1712. 28 Mar 2025 8:22 AM Lake Hart Rest Stop

1711. 27 Mar 20259:09 AM Port Augusta, South Australia, AU (-32.488, 137.764)

1710. 26 Mar 2025 4:41 PM Port Augusta Waterfront

1709. 25 Mar 2025 11:48 AM Stokes Hill Lookout Road, Willow Springs, South Australia, AU (-31.457, 138.726)

1708. 25 Mar 2025 10:01 AM Unnamed Road, Gum Creek Station, South Australia, AU (-31.187, 138.686)

1707. 24 Mar 2025 9:39 AM Ikara-Flinders Ranges National Park–Wilpena Creek

1706. 24 Mar 2025 8:02 AM Bunyeroo Road, Flinders Ranges, South Australia, AU (-31.403, 138.587)

1705. 23 Mar 2025 1:42 PM Jarvis Road, Hawker, South Australia, AU (-31.907, 138.363)

Big Zigzag Birding

week 036 | Around Adelaide | trip list 485 – 486

Posted on March, 2025March, 2025

Heading North!

In an Eggshell:

Big Zigzag bird species count: 486 (+1 this week)
Big Zigzag bird families count: 89 (+0 this week)
Big Zigzag Lifers: 112 (+1 this week:Lewin’s Rail)
Campsite Lifers 24 (+0 this week)
Big Zigzag New for Australia list: 159 (+1 this week)
eBird days of checklist streak: 250
Week’s special milestones: 250 eBird days of checklist streak

Bird(s) of the Week

Lewin’s Rail, this week’s lifer.. Scott Creek Conservation Park

Spotless Crake from the same spot 🙂

Australian Pelican (and Great Cormorant) again at Point Malcolm

Musk Lorikeet

Non-bird image(s)

The Bluff, Victor Harbor

Week's Key location(s)

Big Zigzag Travelled so far: 29150 km (this week 1250 km)

eBird Checklists this week

1704. 22 Mar 2025 6:35 PM Price Maurice Road, Orroroo, South Australia, AU (-32.75, 138.601)

1703. 21 Mar 2025 7:12 PM 7 Baker Road, Hamley Bridge, South Australia, AU (-34.352, 138.682)

1702. 21 Mar 2025 4:57 PM Barossa Reservoir–Whispering Wall

1701. 21 Mar 2025 10:52 AM Matthews Road, Dorset Vale, South Australia, AU (-35.087, 138.677)

1700. 20 Mar 2025 10:08 AM Matthews Road, Dorset Vale, South Australia, AU (-35.087, 138.677)

1699. 19 Mar 2025 1:57 PM Onkaparinga River National Park

1698. 18 Mar 2025 3:06 PM The Bluff (Victor Harbor)

1697. 18 Mar 2025 12:53 PM Strathalbyn

1696. 18 Mar 2025 9:23 AM Alexandrina Drive, Narrung, South Australia, AU (-35.513, 139.185)

1695. 17 Mar 2025 12:33 PM Coorong National Park–Jacks Point

1694. 16 Mar 20257:13 PM Lucindale

Big Zigzag Birding

week 035 | Back to South Australia via Victoria | trip list 484 – 485

Posted on March, 2025March, 2025

Back to Gang-gang territories!

In an Eggshell:

Big Zigzag bird species count: 485 (+1 this week)
Big Zigzag bird families count: 89 (+1 this week: Bristlebirds)
Big Zigzag Lifers: 111 (+0 this week:0)
Campsite Lifers 24 (+0 this week)
Big Zigzag New for Australia list: 158 (+1 this week)
eBird days of checklist streak: 243
Week’s special milestones: None

Bird(s) of the Week

Rufous Bristlebird, new endemic bird family for Big Zigzag list. (photographed in 2018, Great Ocean Road)

Great to hear and see some Gang-gang Cockatoos again, this one from Heywood, VIC

Black-tailed Nativehens from Cockatoo Lake, South Australia

Typical assortment on lake Cockatoo like: Australian Pelican, Yellow-billed Spoonbill, Australian Shelduck, Pacific Black Duck, Masked Lapwing, Sliver Gull, Gray Teal.

Non-bird image(s)

Blue Lake, Mount Gambier, South Australia. Amazing site with local interesting record: 15 Great Crested Grebes

Cape Nelson Lighthouse Reserve, Victoria

Week's Key location(s)

Cape Nelson Lighthouse is a great spot for Rufous Bristlebird

Big Zigzag Travelled so far: 27900 km (this week 950 km)

eBird Checklists this week

1693. 15 Mar 2025 9:59 AM Cockatoo Lake

1692. 14 Mar 2025 6:05 PM Cockatoo Lake, Naracoorte and Lucindale

1691. 14 Mar 2025 1:19 PM Naracoorte Caves National Park–Visitor Centre

1690. 13 Mar 2025 2:01 PM Blue Lake, South Australia

1689. 12 Mar 2025 4:48 PM Fitzroy River, Heywood, Victoria

1688. 12 Mar 2025 1:12 PM Fawthrop Lagoon

1687. 11 Mar 2025 1:59 PM Bridgewater Bay

1686. 11 Mar 2025 10:17 AM Cape Nelson Lighthouse Reserve

1685. 10 Mar 2025 4:45 PM Fawthrop Lagoon

1684. 09 Mar 2025 10:05 AM Kings Domain

Big Zigzag Birding

week 034 | North Tasmania and back to the mainland | trip list 483 – 484

Posted on March, 2025March, 2025

Easy last week in Tassie and crossing the Bass Strait again

In an Eggshell:

Big Zigzag bird species count: 484 (+1 this week)
Big Zigzag bird families count: 88 (+1 this week: Skuas and Jaegers)
Big Zigzag Lifers: 111 (+0 this week:0)
Campsite Lifers 24 (+0 this week)
Big Zigzag New for Australia list: 158 (+1 this week)
eBird days of checklist streak: 236
Week’s special milestones: None

Bird(s) of the Week

Short-tailed Shearwater, the most common seabird in Bass Strait and other south Australia water

Fairy Prion also seen during Spirit of Tasmania sale on Bass Strait.

Little Grassbird from Narawntapu National Park

Non-bird image(s)

Narawntapu National Park

Pine Lake Nature Trail

Week's Key location(s)

Big Zigzag Travelled so far: 26950 km (this week 600 km)

eBird Checklists this week

1683. 08 Mar 2025 11:07 AM Bass Strait, Central Coast, Tasmania

1682. 08 Mar 2025 10:16 AM Bass Strait

1681. 07 Mar 2025 2:04 PM Victoria Parade, Devonport, Tasmania, AU (-41.166, 146.366)

1680. 07 Mar 2025 10:30 AM Forth Recreation Ground

1679. 06 Mar 2025 12:20 PM Narawntapu National Park–Springlawn Nature Walk

1678. 06 Mar 2025 10:44 AM Railton

1677. 05 Mar 2025 3:32 PM Pine Lake Nature Trail

1676. 05 Mar 20251:32 PM Liffey Falls

1675. 04 Mar 2025 5:06 PM 46 Pioneer Drive, Mole Creek, Tasmania, AU (-41.557, 146.407)

1674. 04 Mar 2025 1:09 PM tulampanga/Alum Cliffs Track

1673. 03 Mar 2025 10:14 AM Bannans Park

1672. 02 Mar 2025 12:12 PM Leven Canyon Picnic Area and Lookout Track

Big Zigzag Birding

week 033 | West to North Tasmania | trip list 483 – 483

Posted on March, 2025March, 2025

Edge of the World

In an Eggshell:

Big Zigzag bird species count: 483 (+0 this week)
Big Zigzag bird families count: 87 (+0 this week)
Big Zigzag Lifers: 111 (+0 this week:0)
Campsite Lifers 24 (+0 this week)
Big Zigzag New for Australia list: 157 (+0 this week)
eBird days of checklist streak: 229
Week’s special milestones: None

Bird(s) of the Week

Hoary-headed Grebe

Laughing Kookaburra, cause common birds can be sometimes in Birds of the Week..

Little Pied Cormorant at “Edge of the World”, North West Tasmania

Non-bird image(s)

Almost non-bird image: Great & Black-headed Cormorant on one of thousands islands along the west coast of Tasmania.

Edge of the World

The Nut State Reserve

Week's Key location(s)

Big Zigzag Travelled so far: 26350 km (this week 750 km)

eBird Checklists this week

1671. 01 Mar 2025 11:04 AM Forth

1670. 28 Feb 2025 2:50 PM Fern Glade Reserve, Burnie

1669. 28 Feb 2025 12:17 PM Dip Falls Road, Mawbanna, Tasmania, AU (-41.036, 145.376)

1668. 27 Feb 2025 9:53 AM Green Point Campground

1667. 26 Feb 2025 12:58 PM Lake Chisholm

1666. 26 Feb 2025 10:41 AM Trowutta Caves State Reserve–Trowutta Arch

1665. 25 Feb 20252:28 PM Rocky Cape National Park–Rocky Cape

1664. 25 Feb 2025 12:00 PM Table Cape, Waratah/Wynyard

1663. 25 Feb 2025 9:32 AM Hellyer Gorge Track

1662. 24 Feb 2025 12:06 PM Waratah Caravan & Campground (restricted access)

1661. 23 Feb 2025 5:05 PM Murchison Highway, Tullah, Tasmania, AU (-41.759, 145.621)

1660. 23 Feb 2025 9:25 AM Strahan Golf Club

Big Zigzag Birding

week 032 | Central Tasmania | trip list 482 – 483

Posted on February, 2025March, 2025

Central Highlands to West Coast

In an Eggshell:

Big Zigzag bird species count: 483 (+1 this week)
Big Zigzag bird families count: 87 (+0 this week)
Big Zigzag Lifers: 111 (+0 this week:0)
Campsite Lifers 24 (+0 this week)
Big Zigzag New for Australia list: 157 (+0 this week)
eBird days of checklist streak: 222
Week’s special milestones: 222 days checklist streak on 22/2!

Bird(s) of the Week

Bassian Thrush, new for Big Zigzag list from Franklin-Gordon Wild Rivers National Park–Donaghys Hill Nature Trail.

Black-headed Honeyeater

Non-bird image(s)

Echidna

Donaghys Hill Nature Trail

Week's Key location(s)

Lake St Clair National Park, where I finally got Black-headed Honeyeater photo.

Donaghys Hill Nature Trail

Big Zigzag Travelled so far: 25600 km (this week 550 km)

eBird Checklists this week

1659. 22 Feb 2025 2:46 PM Peoples Park and Hogarth Falls Track, West Coast

1658. 22 Feb 2025 10:54 AM Hoursetail Falls Track

1657. 21 Feb 2025 12:39 PM Franklin-Gordon Wild Rivers National Park–Donaghys Hill Nature Trail

1656. 21 Feb 2025 10:23 AM Derwent Bridge

1655. 20 Feb 2025 11:39 AM Lake St Clair Visitor Centre

1654. 20 Feb 2025 11:01 AM Derwent Bridge

1653. 19 Feb 2025 9:37 AM Lake Meadowbank and Bethune Park

1652. 18 Feb 2025 2:37 PM Mount Field National Park–Tall Trees Walk

1651. 17 Feb 20255:09 PM Gretna

1650. 16 Feb 2025 6:31 PM Heritage Park (Geeveston – restricted access)

1649. 16 Feb 2025 11:22 AM Tahune Forest Reserve–Swinging Bridges Circuit

Big Zigzag Birding

week 031 | East Tasmania, mainly Bruny | trip list 478 – 482

Posted on February, 2025March, 2025

Inala Jurassic Garden - the stronghold of Tasmanian Endemics

In an Eggshell:

Big Zigzag bird species count: 482 (+4 this week)
Big Zigzag bird families count: 87 (+0 this week)
Big Zigzag Lifers: 111 (+4 this week: Dusky Robin, Forty-spotted Pardalote, Strong-billed Honeyeater, Black-headed Honeyeater)
Campsite Lifers 24 (+0 this week)
Big Zigzag New for Australia list: 157 (+4 this week)
eBird days of checklist streak: 215
Week’s special milestones: Big Zigzag list is over 480 which is my current Israeli life list.. Cleanup the biggest Australian endemic family – Pardolets (4 sepcies)

Bird(s) of the Week

Forty-spotted Pardalote

Dusky Robin

Strong-billed Honeyeater

Non-bird image(s)

The Neck – a narrow path between north and south Bruny Island.

Bruny Island

Week's Key location(s)

Big Zigzag Travelled so far: 25050 km (this week 550 km)

eBird Checklists this week

1648. 15 Feb 2025 7:24 PM Heritage Park (Geeveston – restricted access), Huon Valley

1647. 15 Feb 2025 10:55 AM Gordon Foreshore Reserve Campground

1646. 14 Feb 2025 8:22 AM Inala (restricted access), Bruny Island

1645. 13 Feb 2025 1:21 PM Inala (restricted access), Bruny Island

1644. 13 Feb 2025 10:52 AM Dennes Point, Bruny Island

1643. 12 Feb 2025 7:38 AM Inala (restricted access), Bruny Island

1642. 11 Feb 2025 12:49 PM The Neck Lookout Track, South Bruny, Tasmania, AU (-43.27, 147.348)

1641. 11 Feb 2025 11:02 AM Kettering

1640. 10 Feb 2025 4:45 PM 251 Gilwell Drive, Kingston, Tasmania, AU (-42.948, 147.328)

1639. 10 Feb 2025 8:00 AM Dunalley

Big Zigzag Birding

week 030 | East Tasmania & Pelagic | trip list 467 – 478

Posted on February, 2025March, 2025

Eaglehawk Neck Pelagic is the highlight!

In an Eggshell:

Big Zigzag bird species count: 478 (+11 this week)
Big Zigzag bird families count: 87 (+1 this week: Southern Storm-Petrels)
Big Zigzag Lifers: 107 (+5 this week: White-faced Storm-Petrel, Gray-backed Storm-Petrel, Buller’s Albatross, Snowy Albatross, White-headed Petrel)
Campsite Lifers 24 (+0 this week)
Big Zigzag New for Australia list: 153 (+9 this week)
eBird days of checklist streak: 209
Week’s special milestones: none.

Bird(s) of the Week

White-faced Storm-Petrel

Gray-backed Storm-Petrel

Buller’s Albatross

Snowy Albatross

Non-bird image(s)

Week's Key location(s)

Eaglehawk Neck Pelagic – about 80KM round

Big Zigzag Travelled so far: 24500 km (this week 900 km)

eBird Checklists this week

1638. 09 Feb 2025 7:05 AM Eaglehawk Neck Pelagic Trip

1637. 08 Feb 2025 12:31 PM Port Arthur

1636. 07 Feb 2025 3:17 PM Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens, Hobart

1635. 07 Feb 2025 9:46 AM Wellington Park–Zig Zag Track

1634. 06 Feb 2025 3:50 PM MONA (restricted access), Glenorchy

1633. 05 Feb 2025 12:24 PM Tasmanian Bushland Garden, Glamorgan/Spring Bay

1632. 04 Feb 2025 11:31 AM Eaglehawk Neck–Tesselated Pavement, Tasman

1631. 03 Feb 2025 9:45 AM Freycinet National Park–Wineglass Bay Track

1630. 03 Feb 2025 8:40 AM Moulting Lagoon Game Reserve–River and Rocks Rd, Glamorgan/Spring Bay

1629. 02 Feb 2025 1:21 PM Douglas-Apsley National Park–Apsley Waterhole Track

Big Zigzag Birding

week 029 | North Tasmania | trip list 459 – 467

Posted on February, 2025March, 2025

Taste of Tassie

In an Eggshell:

Big Zigzag bird species count: 467 (+8 this week)
Big Zigzag bird families count: 86 (+0 this week)
Big Zigzag Lifers: 102 (+8 this week: Tasmanian Nativehen, Yellow Wattlebird, Black Currawong, Tasmanian Scrubwren, Yellow-throated Honeyeater, Green Rosella, Tasmanian Scrubwren, Scrubtit)
Campsite Lifers 24 (+1 this week: Green Rosella)
Big Zigzag New for Australia list: 144 (+8 this week)
eBird days of checklist streak: 201
Week’s special milestones: Lifer #4600! and lifer #100 for the Big Zigzag.

Bird(s) of the Week

Yellow-throated Honeyeater, one of the 4 Tasmanian endemic Honeyeaters.

Tasmanian Nativehen, seems so far to by common everywhere, at least in the north-east.

Yellow-Wattlebird, my 4600! one of the 4 Tasmanian endemic Honeyeaters.

Green Rosella- campsite lifer!

Scrubtit (Acanthornis magna) the only endemic genus for Tasmania

Non-bird image(s)

Wombat, adult and baby, at Cradle Mountains National Park

Probably this guy is not a birdwatcher but hey, I’ve got a lifer at Legerwood!

Bays of Fire

Week's Key location(s)

Big Zigzag Travelled so far: 23600 km (this week 800 km)

eBird Checklists this week

1628. 01 Feb 2025 3:43 PM Bay of Fires Conservation Area–The Gardens

1627. 01 Feb 2025 9:47 AM 70 High Street, Mathinna, Tasmania, AU (-41.475, 147.889)

1626. 31 Jan 2025 2:21 PM Ben Lomond National Park–Alpine Village

1625. 31 Jan 2025 9:49 AM Ralphs Falls Track and Cashs Gorge Circuit

1624. 31 Jan 2025 8:23 AM 10 Main Street, Legerwood, Tasmania, AU (-41.216, 147.694)

1623. 30 Jan 2025 2:32 PM Old Waterhouse Road, North Scottsdale, Tasmania, AU (-41.122, 147.572)

1622. 30 Jan 2025 10:36 AM Bridestowe Lavender Estate

1621. 29 Jan 2025 9:18 AM 90 Pioneer Drive, Mole Creek, Tasmania, AU (-41.556, 146.401)

1620. 28 Jan 2025 5:01 PM Cradle Mountain National Park–Visitor Centre

1619. 28 Jan 2025 10:00 AM Lake lea

1618. 27 Jan 2025 2:30 PM Cradle Mountain National Park– Dove Lake circuit

1617. 26 Jan 2025 4:15 PM Forth Recreation Ground

1616. 26 Jan 2025 12:08 PM Bluff Road (Devonport)

Big Zigzag Birding

week 028 | Leaving Melbourne and crossing the Bass Strait | trip list 457 – 459

Posted on January, 2025March, 2025

Bye bye Victoria, Tassie - here we come!

In an Eggshell:

Big Zigzag bird species count: 459 (+2 this week)
Big Zigzag bird families count: 86 (+1 this week: Albatrosses)
Big Zigzag Lifers: 94 (+0 this week)
Campsite Lifers 23 (+0 this week)
Big Zigzag New for Australia list: 136 (+0 this week)
eBird days of checklist streak: 194
Week’s special milestones: none

Bird(s) of the Week

White-capped Albatross – 2 were seen during Bass Strait crossing

Short-tailed Shearwater – hundreds were seen from 2 point on the easter end of Great Ocean Road and during the Bass Strait crossing

Short-tailed Shearwater

Hooded Plover. Disturbed by dogs, protected by volunteers who kindly explain the dog walkers about the vulnerability of this species and why they should walk their dogs on a leash on this beach.

Bell Miner (Manorina melanophrys) at Melbourne Royal Botanical Gardens

Non-bird image(s)

Crossing the Bass Strait

Hooded Plover. Disturbed by dogs, protected by volunteers who kindly explain the dog walkers about the vulnerability of this species and why they should walk their dogs on a leash on this beach.

Hooded Plovers protected nesting area

Week's Key location(s)

Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria

Bass strait – Geelong – Devenport “Pelagic” – Spirit of Tasmania

Big Zigzag Travelled so far: 22800 km (this week 850 km)

eBird Checklists this week

1615. 25 Jan 2025 12:47 PM AU (-38.631, 144.796), Mornington Peninsula (Bass Strait)

1614. 25 Jan 2025 11:34 AM No 6 Channel Marker, Mornington Peninsula (Bass Strait)

1613. 24 Jan 2025 11:21 AM Fishermans Beach, Surf Coast

1612. 24 Jan 2025 9:07 AM Anglesea Heath–Hammond Rd b/w Camping Area

1611. 23 Jan 2025 12:15 PM Point Roadknight, Surf Coast

1610. 22 Jan 2025 4:24 PM Anderson Reserve, Greater Geelong

1609. 22 Jan 2025 11:58 AM Moolap Saltworks–Pump-house, Greater Geelong

1608. 21 Jan 2025 9:00 AM Clayton South

1607. 20 Jan 2025 10:48 AM Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne

1606. 19 Jan 2025 10:39 AM Lake Weeroona