Late to the party ... Sharon's first attempt

[Galana]

Just catching up. Amazing sightings and welcome to the game. IT IS only a game but is addictive so be warned. And it can mess up a perfectly planned 'normal' family holiday too.

[shazdwn]

56 minutes ago, Galana said:

Just catching up. Amazing sightings and welcome to the game. IT IS only a game but is addictive so be warned. And it can mess up a perfectly planned 'normal' family holiday too.

That’s ok, normal holidays are highly overrated in my opinion 😆

[shazdwn]

55) Grey-crowned Babbler - Casuarina Coastal Reserve, Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia - 6/3/30

[shazdwn]

Until now I haven't really paid much attention to shorebirds.  But I know that there are migratory species that visit a local beach and will leave soon.  So tonight I headed down to get some images.  Now I know why I never paid much attention to shorebirds before - they are skittish little buggers that are hard to photograph and equally hard to ID!  

 

But here goes (feel free to correct me if I get it wrong)

 

56) Caspian Tern (red bill - non-breeding plumage) - Lee Point Beach, Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia

[shazdwn]

57) Crested Tern - Lee Point Beach, Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia

Immature flying

[shazdwn]

58) Whimbrel- Lee Point Beach, Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia

[elefromoz]

@shazdwn, the little Finches are all beautiful. I visited Darwin many years ago before I had any interest in birds, I can see I'm due a trip back.

[shazdwn]

59) Grey-tailed Tattler - Lee Point Beach, Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia

[shazdwn]

7 minutes ago, elefromoz said:

I visited Darwin many years ago before I had any interest in birds, I can see I'm due a trip back.

@elefromoz happy to show you some bird spots if you do make it up here

 

[shazdwn]

60) Terek Sandpiper (bird at front) - Lee Point Beach, Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia

[shazdwn]

61) Red Knot - Lee Point Beach, Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia

[shazdwn]

62) Common Greenshank - Lee Point Beach, Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia

[xelas]

Not that skittish at all, you have came quite close to them, very good details. Terns are easy to ID, wait till gulls .

[shazdwn]

63) Bar-tailed Godwit (non-breeding plumage) - Lee Point Beach, Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia

[shazdwn]

Just now, xelas said:

Not that skittish at all, you have came quite close to them, very good details. Terns are easy to ID, wait till gulls .

 

Well I was using a 400mm with 2x teleconverter and then still cropped the images - so not that close but close enough.  Luckily we don't have too many gull species up here 

[shazdwn]

64) Pied Oystercatcher (that one I even knew without looking it up )

[Galana]

Glad to see you getting among the 'shorebirds' . Fascinating and great photos.

[Kitsafari]

excellent additions. 

[shazdwn]

65) Eastern Reef Egret - East Point Reserve, Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia - 8/03/20

[shazdwn]

66) Peewee - East Point Reserve, Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia - 8/03/20

[shazdwn]

67) Brahminy Kite - East Point Reserve, Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia - 8/03/20

[shazdwn]

68) White-bellied Cuckoo-shrike - East Point Reserve, Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia - 8/03/20

[elefromoz]

@shazdwn, lovely big flock of Red Knots

[Dave Williams]

Excellent photos of some cracking birds.

[shazdwn]

This next image is a reminder not to get too impatient and post mediocre images of common local species.  So here is an improvement on species #49 - Yellow-bellied Flycatcher

 

And with that lesson in mind, I only have one extra species to add from last night's birding - but what a species! I have known for a long time that this bird is found in my area, its not even all that uncommon, in fact my husband once saw one in our backyard.  Yet in 20 years living in Darwin I have never seen one - until last night.

 

69) Rose-crowned Fruit-dove - East Point Reserve, Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia - 12/03/20