Hi Philip, Back in October 1985, I was at Heron Island (North Queensland). The local Buff-banded Rail population was just about flightless but very tame and confiding, hence very easily observed. One day at high tide only about a metre of beach was exposed and I was watching a Sandpiper – Terek from memory – … Read more
As a consequence of surfing the internet earlier today to learn more about gull hybridisation, I learnt of the existence of the following book: McCarthy, E.M. (2006). Handbook of Avian Hybrids of the World. 608 pp. (Oxford University Press, New York). Sample pages of the book are available for viewing on Google books. Each record … Read more
Today I was at the the rapidly disappearing (as in drying out) Kelly’s Swamp, in Canberra, one of a small number of local places where many people have over the past few weeks enjoyed watching all the crakes etc, from which I will extract this bit of text to the cog list: One Coot was … Read more
Yes there is an element of combined probability of all that happening, inasmuch as assessing the possible genetic origins of the bird and its arrival at that point. It is those things that are still undecided (but seem fair to me). However this does not any longer need to be multiplied by the probability of … Read more
Some info that was passed on to me by a friend/client prof Henrik Kylin, has nothing to do with latest sightings. I know birders in Johannesberg have been twitching one just North of the city, unusual for them to come that far south. https://www.dropbox.com/sh/avss2cxj4hnc8j3/lhQjepwHTB Hope this is of some interest to the members. Kind Regards … Read more