Karen's Big Year 2022

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dannyka6
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Beautiful shot of the cockie, love it! 

sue818
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Nice set of birds, Karen. Good job getting a Swamp Harrier and the Glossy.

karentwemlow
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Another few from around home and a couple from a trip up to the Blue Mountains last weekend.

43. Crimson Rosella

44. Pacific Black Duck

45. Eurasian Coot (have I got the ID on this one right?)

46. Red Wattlebird

47. Bell Miner

48. Grey Fantail

49. Eastern Rosella

50. Australian Wood Duck

I spotted this duck pair on my property and realised I didn't have a pic of them this year, it wasn't until after I took a photo that I realised they had ducklings. They must have found a suitable tree hollow nearby.

51. Spotted Pardalote - very EBC, but still.

52. White-headed Pigeon - even more EBC, took this from a moving car. I wasn't driving!

sue818
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Another nice lot of birds, Karen. How cute are those ducklings?

dwatsonbb
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Good to see you getting some nice pics of some great birds. Agree duckies are cute.

Dale Huonville, Tasmania

dannyka6
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Nice set of shots Karen, I've had that happen to me where I don't really see what's in the photo til I get home - then wish I'd taken more shots!! Very cute duckies

TommyGee
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Surprise ducklings are always an excellent bonus :) nice spread of birds too.

AbbyGrace
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Nice lot of birds Karen, love your Cockie shot.

karentwemlow
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Just a quick update with some bird bath pics (yes I need to clean and refill the baths, will be doing that today!). I have a uni exam next week and then hope to be able to get out more.

53. Lewin's Honeyeater

I have only seen these here once or twice before.

54. White-eared Honeyeater

I hear these a lot, they used to be one of the most common birds I would see here, but rarely see them now, good to have this visitor captured on camera.

55. Yellow-faced Honeyeater

Probably my most common visitor, I will get a replacement shot at some stage.

56. Rose Robin

I have only seen one Rose Robin here once, so was very excited to see this visitor.

karentwemlow
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A bunch of small birds just came by for an afternoon feed.

57. Golden Whistler

58. Brown Thornbill

59. Varied Sittella

dwatsonbb
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Lovely collection of birds, your lucky to have so many great visitors. Thanks for posting.

Dale Huonville, Tasmania

karentwemlow
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Thanks Dale, and two more today. In the same spot as yesterday where all the little birds were. Must have been about 10 different species come by, but these are the only new ones for my 2022 list.

60. Eastern Spinebill

61. Eastern Yellow Robin, doing the typical Eastern Yellow Robin pose

dwatsonbb
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Love the Eastern Yellow, we don't see those. The Spinebills are always great to see.

Dale Huonville, Tasmania

dannyka6
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Terrific that you get so many different species around your place Karen, amazing! All your hard work paying off. Absolutely LOVE the Pink Robin, so cool that it came out in the open to use the bird bath!!! 

Beautiful Spinebill and Eastern Yellow Robin shots, so much activity! Very cool

AbbyGrace
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Thanks for your photos Karen. It looks like you get a nice range of visitors! How you get any study done, with all those at your bird bath! All the best with your exam.

karentwemlow
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Thanks all!

I went for a 'lap' around the property at lunch today, and the little birds were in abundance again. Only one new one amongst them. I missed a wonderful photo opportunity when I came across a Rose Robin this morning, it hopped around on a branch right above my head for a good 5 minutes. But instead of trying to get a decent photo, I was able to just observe it. Hopefully will get a chance at a photo another time.

62. Yellow Thornbill

A rare visitor for me here, but stood out with it's bright yellow among a bunch of Varigated Fairywrens, Brown Thornbills, Grey Fantails and Varied Sittellas. The little birds seem to all like to visit at the same time :-).

dwatsonbb
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Sometimes it's just nice to enjoy the birds, I think sometimes we miss too much by trying to get the perfect shot. If it is meant to be you will get the photo - a Rose Robin would be a beauty.

Looks like the Yellow Thornbill was well hidden , you did well to spot it AND get a nice photo.

Dale Huonville, Tasmania

karentwemlow
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Thanks Dale, yes it was nice just to watch. I think I'd have been frustrated had I not already seen the Rose Robin on the bird bath camera.

Today is the most beautiful sunny Winter's day, only a slight breeze not the crazy gusty winds we have had lately, so I decided to work outside. There are so many birds around, but these guys just stopped by now for a quick drink.

63. Brown-headed Honeyeater

karentwemlow
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I also got a better Brown Thornbill pic when this one stopped close by briefly. I think has pollen on his head :-)

sue818
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What a wonderful set of birds, Karen! Your bird bath works really well. Lovely shots. Good luck with the exam. I've been busy planning a trip and missed your posts until today.

dannyka6
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Stunning updates Karen, really love the Brown-Headed Honeyeaters around the bird bath...what a beautiful spot you have set up there :) Love the Yellow Thornbill too, great shot

michaelrt71_1
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A nice collection of birds your water is bringing in, Karen. The noisy miners seem to own mine...

Super cute rose robin and a team of brown-headed honeyeaters are my faves.

karentwemlow
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Thanks all.... having my morning coffee on the verandah and some Crimson Rosellas and King Parrots stopped by. So adding number 64 to my list with this young one. I think a young male - can see some orange colour coming through on the bill?

64. Australian King-Parrot

sue818
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Some great shots since I last checked, Karen. That bird baths are working really well ...love the Rose Robin and the Brown-headed Honeyeaters but the King Parrot is a cutie.

karentwemlow
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Thanks Sue. Well finally I am birding somewhere other than my backyard. Three to add today from day 1 of our NT trip, starting off in Darwin. 
 

65. Australasian Figbird

66. Orange-footed Scrubfowl

67. Eastern Reef Egret

dwatsonbb
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Wow Karen, some great photos there. Love them all, but I think the contrasting colours in the fig bird will be my fave.

Dale Huonville, Tasmania

karentwemlow
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Four more from this morning. 
 

68. Spangled Drongo

69. Rainbow Bee-eater

70. Dusky Honeyeater (no fact sheet)

71. Black Kite

karentwemlow
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Thanks Dale! It's great to be out and about seeing some different species. 

karentwemlow
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Oh and one more...

72. Straw-necked Ibis

AbbyGrace
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Hope you are having a great time in Darwin. We are hoping to go in September, so am rather interested to see what you find. Nice shots and birds.

karentwemlow
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Thanks Abby. We are loving Darwin so far. I hope to get some 'me' time to do some birdwatching but even the incidentals along the way have been good. This one today is from the military museum, a fair way up so not the best photo. 
 

73. Brown Honeyeater

karentwemlow
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Two more on our walk to the Darwin waterfront precinct. The kite flew right toward me and I had the zoom on so didn't get him completely in the pic. 
 

74. Northern Fantail

No fact sheet. Is this a correct ID?

75. Brahminy Kite

karentwemlow
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And three more on the way back. 
 

76. Australian Gull-billed Tern

77. Double-barred Finch

78. White-gaped Honeyeater (no fact sheet)

dwatsonbb
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Loving all your travel photos Karen, some great shots of some nice birds.

Dale Huonville, Tasmania

karentwemlow
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Thanks Dale. I'm really enjoying Darwin. This is my first ever visit to the Northern Territory. Such a great little city. Off to Litchfield National Park tomorrow. Hopefully I can add a few more species. 

karentwemlow
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I don't have my computer with me. Whenever I try to post on someone else's post I get an 'unexpected error' message. Not sure why? I can post on my own post ok. 

karentwemlow
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Five more today from a day trip to Litchfield National Park. I didn't get much time to focus on birdwatching but managed a few. I did see two Red-tailed Black-Cockatoos too but wasn't able to get a photo. 

79. Great Bowerbird (no fact sheet)

80. Bar-shouldered Dove

81. Whistling Kite

82. White-throated Honeyeater (no fact sheet)

83. Varied Triller (I think?)

karentwemlow
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Four more to add today. Would have been more but I accidentally formatted my SD card. I have put it aside, should be able to recover later. I know it's nearly impossible to permanently delete things, just need the right software. I have at least one more bird on there (some kind of Bittern I think? Plus lots of pics of whistling kites, saw so many of them today).


84. Black-necked Stork

I thought this was a statue. Saw in the Botanic Gardens and it was so big and so still. I ignored it at first. Then it started moving
 

85. Forest Kingfisher

A lady passing gave me the heads up on this one. I must have looked like a birdwatcher to her. She pointed it out to me. 
 

86. Blue-faced Honeyeater

This one popped down for a drink at the Ski Club. Great spot for a relaxing drink or meal with perfect view of the sunset (if it's not cloudy, which it was today). 
 

87. Red-winged Parrot

I've seen quite a few of these around the city but usually flying overhead. This one was resting not far up. 

dannyka6
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Wow Karen, what an amazing trip to the NT you are having! I love Darwin too, and Lithcfield NP is incredible. You've collected some amazing birds along the way, and the photos are really great, loving seeing all the exotic species :) Last time I visited I hadn't started birdwatching, but now I'm on the Darwin birds facebook group and there are so many birds I'd love to see. 

That's so cool about the stork, I can totally imagine thinking that was a statue. I love the Blue-faced Honeyeater drinking out of the glass, I'm sure they're a pest up there but to me that would be amazing. Too bad about the Red-tailed Cockatoos, maybe you'll get another chance.

The Spotted Bowerbird would be epic for me, I think they are so cool! Keep having a fabulous trip!

dwatsonbb
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Some more great photos, glad your enjoying your trip. Looking forward to more.

Dale Huonville, Tasmania

karentwemlow
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Thanks guys. Yes it's a great holiday so far. Loving the change of scenery. It's nice and warm but not humid.

We did a billabong cruise this morning on our way to Kakadu. Saw quite a few crocs and have a few bird species to add. 

88. Red-tailed Black Cockatoo

A bit of an EBC shot but unmistakable as the only black cockatoo up this way. 
 

89. White-bellied Sea-eagle

90. Comb-crested Jacana

91. Intermediate Egret (no fact sheet)

92. Australasian Darter

93. Australasian (Purple) Swamphen

94. Great Cormorant 

95. Radjah Shelduck (no fact sheet, is this the same as the Australasian Shelduck?)

karentwemlow
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I did a quick trip to Mamakula Wetlands yesterday while the boys scouted out areas to let off fireworks. 1st July is Territory Day and the one day a year it's legal to buy and let off fireworks. I was only at the wetlands for an hour but saw plenty of birds and a wallaby. No one else was around. There were a lot of signs saying crocs had been seen near the walking paths but I didn't see any. I did see what I thought was crocodile tracks so I turned back at that point!
 

96. Crimson Finch

This one isn't in our list, does it go by a different name?

97. Green Pygmy-Goose (no fact sheet)

98. Peaceful Dove

99. Grey-Crowned Babbler

100. Red-backed Fairywren

101. White-winged Triller

102. Golden-headed Cisticola

103. Long-tailed Finch (no fact sheet)

104. Lemon-bellied Flycatcher (no fact sheet)

sue818
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So pleased that you are enjoying yourself, Karen. I love the NT. Great photos of so many wonderful birds. Internet patchy here so must be quick. All your IDs look fine to me. It is listed as a Black-bellied Crimson Finch on the list. Radjah Shelduck is different species to Australian Shelduck. 

karentwemlow
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Thanks Sue I will update the sheet with the Finch. 

We did a sunset cruise on Yellow Water Billabong last night. Saw so many crocs and birds. I may have to wait until I get home to see what else I have on the memory card but will add a few here. 
 

Also, I spotted a Blue-Winged Kookaburra on Friday night, many birds out and about due to fireworks, but I didn't have my camera. I went over to the area where I saw him this morning and managed a pic. 
 

105. Azure Kingfisher

One of the highlights of the cruise. This little one sat still and posed for a good 10 minutes to let everyone on the boat get a good view. 
 

106. Paperbark Flycatcher (no fact sheet)

I spotted this one on the other side of the river while everyone else was checking out another croc. 
 

107. Royal Spoonbill

108. Plumed Whistling-Duck

Hundreds of these (hope I have ID'd correctly) and other ducks. 
 

109. Nankeen Night-Heron

I think this might be a juvenile (with croc in the background). And adult.
 

110. Magpie Goose

111. Blue-winged Kookaburra 

karentwemlow
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A replacement Red-tailed Black-Cockatoo. Spotted a family near the hotel in Jabiru. Mum was feeding the youngster. Then bumped into another couple down near the lake having a feed. 

dwatsonbb
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Congrats on your century. NT is racking up your numbers nicely. Loving all your photos. Thanks for putting them here. That Azure Kingsfisher is delightfully beautiful. Great shot.

Dale Huonville, Tasmania

sue818
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Great shots, Karen and congrats on the century. Yes, it is a young Nankeen Night-heron. The Azure Kingfisher is beautiful and I am sure that shot made your day.  Don't forget to photograph the Lorikeets as they will be Red-collared Lorikeets.

karentwemlow
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Thanks guys. And yes Sue that kingfisher was the highlight of the cruise for me!

I used to have pet red-collared lorikeets that were a rescue pair. I can't do pet birds these days and can't see them in cages. I have seen the lorikeets around but no pic yet. 

We did a long drive today, from Jabiru to Katherine then Katherine back up to a holiday park on the outskirts of Darwin. The next 3 nights are for Leo. No tours planned. He's just taken me around the park with a map to check out the pools and play areas and already says this is the best part of the trip. 

I have a few more birds from today to download later. And hopefully still more to come...
 

karentwemlow
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An extra one from Jabiru near the lake. 
 

112. Rufous-throated Honeyeater

karentwemlow
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A few more from my morning walk today. 

113. White-bellied Cuckoo-shrike (no fact sheet)

114. Weebill (I think?)

115. Red-collared Lorikeet (no fact sheet)

116. Helmeted Friarbird (no fact sheet)

one from a walk after dinner...

117. Bush Stone-Curlew

plus a bonus Forest Kingfisher because it sat near me in the morning sun. 

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