Part 3. Final Our fifth day on Cocos was spent on Home Island and it turned out to be one of the most exciting days of the trip. We walked straight to the grounds of the Clunies-Ross Mansion and again had frustrating views of a very elusive hobby. As we continued south along the island’s coastline a passerine landed on top of dead tree in the distance. A quick look through the scope revealed a possible Purple-backed Starling. It was still 250m away and we all quickly made our way closer. It wasn’t long before we all had nice views of Australia’s second ever PURPLE-BACKED STARLING. Our inconceivable run of vagrants was continuing and the best was still yet to come!! Half an hour later Jenny Spry and Lorna Mee flushed a male and female WATERCOCK from near the banana plantation. We unsuccessfully searched the area for another hour, eventually abandoning our search to continue further around the island. Later that afternoon, as our ferry departure time approached, we again entered the banana plantation and within seconds a female Watercock darted across the road only 10m in front of us. Amazingly, seconds later the jet black male followed. We boarded the ferry back to West Island a very happy group of birders. On our last day was spent on West Island we decided to do a predawn survey of the wetlands. Not long after arriving three small accipiters began cruising the area. We immediately recognised our Chinese Goshawk from earlier in the week. We had good views and took several photos of the other two birds, both of which were Australia’s first ever JAPANESE SPARROWHAWKS. In the morning light as Jenny peered through the scope across the water, she said, “I’ve got an unusual duck over here” Unbelievable! Australia’s first COMMON TEAL. Several photos were taken as everyone else arrived to see this remarkable find. Later in the day we found our fourteenth Asian House Martin of the trip and well as a lone Dollarbird. Birds are continuing to arrive on both islands and this coming summer is an excellent time to visit the islands. Our March 5th – 19th trip is looking like being one of the most exciting we’ve ever done with many of the birds seen on this trip expected to hang around until the end of summer. There are still a couple of vacancies available. Rarities seen on this trip.
Asian Koel Grey Wagtail Eastern Yellow Wagtail Schrenck’s Bittern (2nd Australian record) White-breasted Waterhen Mossy-nest Swiftlet (2nd Australian record) Asian House Martin Large Hawk Cuckoo (2nd Australian record) Chinese Goshawk (1st Australian record) Western Reef Egret Saunder’s Tern Yellow Bittern Little Stint Pin-tailed Snipe Pectoral Sandpiper Common Redshank Bulwer’s Petrel Jouanin’s Petrel Purple-backed Starling (2nd Australian record) Watercock Japanese Sparrowhawk (1st Australian record) Common Teal (1st Australian record) Cheers Richard Baxter Birding Tours Australia www.birdingtours.com.au
============================== To unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message: unsubscribe (in the body of the message, with no Subject line) to: birding-aus-request@vicnet.net.au
http://birding-aus.org ==============================
