Hi All, Just completed a survey trip to Ashmore Reef and nearby islands with George Swann, Mike Carter and Ash Herrod.
Vagrant bird-wise the highlight was an immature male Chestnut-cheeked Starling at Ashmore Reef. This is yet another first for Australia (and following on from Stejneger’s Petrel and Hoopoe the third in as many weeks). Pics of this bird are here: http://www.pbase.com/wildlifeimages/chestnut_cheeked_starling
We also had a cracking adult male Brown Shrike of the race lucionensis at Ashmore Reef. This is about the fourth record for Australia, the first away from Christmas Island and as far as I am aware the first time this subspecies has been identified in Australia. Pics of this bird are here: http://www.pbase.com/wildlifeimages/brown_shrike
Other rarities included a Pechora Pipit (2nd Aust record), Asian Brown Flycatcher, Oriental Reed Warbler, Timor subspecies of Arafura Fantail (semicollaris), two Arctic Warblers, naturally occurring Tree Sparrows and migrant northern hemisphere Peregrine Falcons all on Ashmore and another Pechora Pipit (3rd Aust record) and Island Monarch at Browse Island. I’ve posted pics of many of these individuals here: http://www.pbase.com/wildlifeimages/vagrants
Kimberley Birdwatching will be running a birding tour to Ashmore for 8 days during the last fortnight of October 2012. For details contact George Swann (it might also pay to also cc Mike Carter as George will be in the field for the next few weeks).
Cheers, Rohan
