Hi Bob,
I’ve found the following BOCA record west of Tennant Creek dated 18/5/1987. This presumably makes it either a late record.
. Channel-billed Cuckoo, 18/5/1987, 120 km east of Three Ways on Mt Isa Road, Bird Observation & Conservation Australia, 9°15’00″S 135°45’00″E.
Cheers,
Tim ________________________________________ From: birding-aus-bounces@vicnet.net.au [birding-aus-bounces@vicnet.net.au] on behalf of bob gosford [bgosford@gmail.com] Sent: Monday, November 22, 2010 4:23 PM To: Birding-Aus (Forum) Subject: [Birding-Aus] earliest record of Channel-billed Cuckoos in central Australia
Dear all,
A quick note re the C-b C in central Australia.
While going through some papers I came across “*Birds of McDonald Downs Station, NT*”, S. S. Ornithologist, July 1948 at p. 15 by L. J. Ellis. It has, among entries for 71 other species, the following entry from records for July & August 1947 “Channel-billed Cuckoo…”Algworra, also Arrapoon.(in the “Iliaura” [most likely Alyawarra] language). Seen and heard in flight the day before the rains. The natives say they have never known this bird to settle in this area.”
Anyone else found an earlier record from the Centre – MacDonald Downs is approx 150 miles n-e of Alice Springs.
Cheers and thanks in advance,
Bob
