Michael's belated Big Year Challenge

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TommyGee
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Wonderful photos Michael. Love that honeyeater having a feed :)

michaelrt71_1
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Thanks folks! Much appreciated. This challenge gets me out to new corners of my local area, and up to this point, I have seen 17 'lifers'. Keen to escape to other locations soon, but not holding my breath (unless I forget my mask).

85 Long-billed corella - also with little corella. helpful beak and eye comparison for me. Lake Illawarra South

86 Domsetic duck = muscovy duck. feral on the shores of Lake Illawarra. Does this count?

87 Pilotbird - not great shots but seemed a clear enough ID for me. No factsheet for this one, though it is in the species list. Mt Keira

88 Brown cuckoo-dove - hiding, but I am getting desperate! :D Stamford Track

89 Eastern whipbird - tested my patience getting even this wobbly photo. Elusive. Stamford Track

90 Bassian Thrush - worms for brekky. Stamford track.

91 Wedge-tailed Eagle - shaky shot in the distance. Took lots but mostly into the sun and silhoutted. Nice comparison with the raven. Mt Nebo

92. Black-winged Stilt - shores of Lake Illawarra.

sue818
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Wow, Michael, some nice birds. You are getting to see great ones. I think we decided to allow one domestic fowl (duck or goose) but perhaps Alex or Karen can clarify.

Alex Rogers
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Some great birds and good captures. I've never seen a pilotbird, how cool - and the Bassian Thrush is a bit of a find. You really aren't that far from me, but you've got a lot of birds we don't see in Sydney, I'll have to come for a visit when we can (maybe a month or so? ) Yes I think we said we'd accept one domestic duck or goose if it was living wild. 

TommyGee
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I was unsure about the domestic duck and goose situation, but I found the relevant discussion in Danika's thread.


From Karen: "I've added two options to our WLAB list - 'Domestic Duck' and 'Domestic Goose'. Danika I have put your number #68 down as Domestic Duck."

So it looks like one domestic duck and one domestic goose are allowed... which makes me happy as I also have one of each :)

michaelrt71_1
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Thanks for clarifying the domestic duck rule, Alex and Tommy. 

Alex; this area has a great mix of habitats bumping into each other. Worth exploring: when its legal :-)

dwatsonbb
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Must have missed your last post. You going extremely well, thanks for joining in.

Dale Huonville, Tasmania

michaelrt71_1
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93 Large-billed scrubwren - Mt Nebo trail (new for me)

94 striated thornbill - Mt Nebo trail.

95 mistletoe bird - Mt Nebo trail

96 Brown gerygone - took this one a couple of weeks ago, thinking it was a brown thornbill, then when trying to ID the thornbill above and comparing the brown to the striated, I realised I had a different bird altogether. eBird photos helpful support for my field guide, but happy to change if our experts think otherwise.

97 cattle egret - looking a bit scruffy

98 Brown goshawk (fml?) - first ever sighting for me. Mt Ousley/Broker's Nose trail

99 green catbird - didn't realise the green was so brilliant! Happy to get a photo of this, only ever heard it before. Mt Ousley/Broker's Nose trail

Devster
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Some good shots and nice Variety there Michael. So close to the century. That Pilotbird would be a lifer for me. There is also a Mt Nebo not far from me. Thought it was there for a moment. lol

dwatsonbb
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Too many lifers for me too. Some more great shots, thanks yet again.

Dale Huonville, Tasmania

michaelrt71_1
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Devster wrote:

Some good shots and nice Variety there Michael. So close to the century. That Pilotbird would be a lifer for me. There is also a Mt Nebo not far from me. Thought it was there for a moment. lol

Ha! I should specify. Mt Nebo; Part of the Illawarra escarpment. Also not Mount Nebo in Jordan, from which Moses viewed the 'Promised Land' just before his death, because that is clearly outside my LGA. :D
michaelrt71_1
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Cheers Dale! I should perhaps round off the century with a sparrow! Haven't seen one yet...they used to be everywhere!

sue818
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Very nice set, Michael. You are seeing some great birds enjoying a great variety of habitats. I'd forgotten how varied it is down your way. Love that Catbird but really like the Pilotbird... shame no Lyrebird following or you would have made the century. Keep the surprises coming please.

michaelrt71_1
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sue818 wrote:

Very nice set, Michael. You are seeing some great birds enjoying a great variety of habitats. I'd forgotten how varied it is down your way. Love that Catbird but really like the Pilotbird... shame no Lyrebird following or you would have made the century. Keep the surprises coming please.

Cheers, Sue. I went looking for the Lyrebird this morning; heard but not seen. The black-faced monarch popped up instead so I will take that for 100.

100 Black-faced monarch - Mt Robertson lookout trail

Devster
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Congrats on the century Michael

dwatsonbb
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Wow what a bird to crack the ton. And such a great shot, thanks for posting.

Dale Huonville, Tasmania

sue818
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Congrats on the century and must agree... stunning bird and picture for that goal. Well done.

michaelrt71_1
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Some new ones for me at Coomaditchie Lagoon

101 House Sparrow - yeah!

102 Royal Spoonbill 

103 Striated Heron

bonus swamp wallaby kept an eye on me - escarpment

Alex Rogers
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Wow, some great shots, I've never seen a Pilotbird, or Catbird, and the latter is amazing! I'm definitely coming down your way when we can travel again :-) 

michaelrt71_1
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Nothing new here currently, although the Koel is calling early morning. But I thought I would upgrade with some better shots of:

- yellow-tailed black cockatoo

- crimson rosella - 'Thriller' dance move with the claw!

- eastern yellow robin

-satin bowerbird - purple eye

- king parrot - landed in my backyard to pose on my trowel.

- white-faced heron

- eastern curlew - long 'nose' comparison

- wood duck- this morning, among the clover after a few days of rain.

- white-browed scrubwren - 50 shots of it bouncing around my feet, only one in focus

- red wattlebird

- Bassian thrush

sue818
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Another lovely set, Michael. The Wood Duck in that field is so cute but the Yellow-tailed Black-cockatoo is wonderful.

Alex, Michael is in a special area with access to some great habitats. Green Catbirds reasonably easy to get even down to Nowra way but a Pilotbird is much more difficult... I found my first one by accident when seeking a Bristlebird at Barren Grounds. The area is well worth avisit from coast to escarpment. Soon....

dwatsonbb
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Some great upgrades Michael. Agree with Sue, the wood duck puts an inter3sting view in the frame. I also love your Eastern Yellow Robin shot.

Dale Huonville, Tasmania

michaelrt71_1
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Not great photos, but I have been looking for these two for a while.

104 Eastern Rosella - Mt Kembla Rail pathway

105 Superb Lyrebird - Mt Keira

dwatsonbb
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Nice birds Michael, well done.

Dale Huonville, Tasmania

sue818
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Well done, Michael... you found that Superb Lyrebird plus a bonus Eastern Rosella. It seems your late start has not held you back. Lovely variety of birds down your way.

Alex Rogers
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Oh nice on the Lyrebird, great to get that tail in shot. They can be difficult to photograph, often quite shy and in the shade. 

I did my research and Wollongong area counts as part of Greater Sydney for COVID freedom purposes - so I can visit your neck of the woods now :-) I'm going to come down and explore weekend after next - I'll PM you for some hints (and a meetup if you would enjoy the company :-) 

Devster
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So good Michael, well done. The Alberts lyrebird is my nemesis bird but I haven't seen a Superb either.

michaelrt71_1
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106. Australian Pied Oystercatcher - Lake Illawarra

Went to photograph a nest I found yesterday while walking - Willie Wagtail - and heard the Koel a few branches up. Clear enough for ID I reckon.

107. Eastern Koel - my local creek

108. Bar-tailed Godwit - Lake Illawarra

Extras - the Wagtail nest and a confiding Black-faced Monarch

sue818
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Some great birds, Michael ... I think the Black-faced Monarch is my favourite.

Devster
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Lovely shots. I too love the Black-faced Monarch. How cute are the little Willies

TommyGee
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Yep, the Monarch gets my vote. Lovely colours. You're going great guns Michael!

AbbyGrace
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Welcome Michael and wow what a wonderful set of photos you have so far! Love your silver gull at the start, and aren't Black-faced Monarchs are stunning bird. oh the places to visit when we are able. 

dwatsonbb
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Agree with the others, Black-faced Monarch is my fave, but they are all good.

Dale Huonville, Tasmania

Alex Rogers
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Very nice! Monarch is just lovely, but I also love the Wagtail feeding its chicks :-) 

michaelrt71_1
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Thirlmere Lakes today, and two more for the count.

109 Australasian Grebe

110 Rufous Whistler - his and hers (matched to Tommy's)

sue818
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Nice Michael. Great to capture the pair of Rufous Whistlers.

dwatsonbb
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Love those Rufous Whistlers, great photos.

Dale Huonville, Tasmania

michaelrt71_1
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Now lockdown is over and work has returned full swing I am really missing my daily walks and exploring for birds. Fingers crossed I can get some more for the list once holidays begin in December.

Managed only one new addition recently on the drive to work. 

111. Crested Tern

Some other updates...

A great egret having a moment!

Pacific black duck baby bonus.

And a darter displaying feather detail in the early morning.

Devster
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Nice set Michael. Who doesn't love a good baby duck photo and the Egret reflection is lovely. IS that a young Darter as it doesn't see to have all it's plumage

dwatsonbb
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Some more great photos, love them all, thanks.

Dale Huonville, Tasmania

michaelrt71_1
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Cheers, Dale and Dev. Not sure about the darter being young, as I thought they were a paler colour when immature, but I see it looks sparse on its back. It had just come out of the water, was fluffing out and then sun was coming right over my shoulder, so maybe that made it look a tad bald?

Afternoon walk without the camera today, so I had to race home and back to catch this young one. First time I have caught one on camera, so it was worth the run :-)

112. Young tawny frogmouth and nearby adult

Yesterday this scruffy-feathered BOP circled above but I couldn't quite catch it in the right light. I brightened it way up in DPP and think it is a juvenile osprey...maybe? Already spotted as #5.

Devster
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Oh wow how cute and fluffy is he! Yes definitely an Osprey, well done.

dwatsonbb
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Yep love Tawnies, and that young one is just too cute. In my experience, you don't need to hurry with Tawnies, they are happy to laze around during the day, and will only move if they feel threatened. You can get close without disturbing too much. Highly likely you will see them in the same spot or very close for a while now.

Osprey would be new to me. You seem to be go8ng well with birds in flight, so well done.

Dale Huonville, Tasmania

sue818
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Lovely set, Michael and I agree ...who doesn't love aTawnie? As to the Darter, could it just be post moult as I have seen them looking really scrappy and missing heaps of feathers?

michaelrt71_1
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Back to a favourite haunt this afternoon; one newbie for the list and an upgrade on the topknot pigeon.

113 yellow-throated scrubwren male and female. Happy to get even these murky shots in the undergrowth, they have been noisy but elusive this spring.

43 topknot pigeon - the only reasonable-looking mullet around.

dwatsonbb
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Again some great photos Michael, the Yellow-throated Scrubwren is gorgeous.

Dale Huonville, Tasmania

sue818
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Very nice, Michael. Nice to get male and female birds.

AbbyGrace
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Nice photos Michael. Love your Yellow-throated Scrubwren shots.

michaelrt71_1
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Some new ones from the last couple of Sundays. Last weekend out in the Camden area, and then this rainy weekend in the Shoalhaven area. The thornbill and the cisticola are lifers for me, although not crisp shots.

114. White-winged chough

115. Yellow-rumped thornbill

116. Red-rumped parrot

117. Golden-headed cisticola

118. Common bronzewing

Eastern Koel male (addition to #107)

sue818
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Nice set of birds and congratulations on more lifers... well done! I think that the Koel and the Bronzewing are my favourites... those beautiful bronzes in the wingand that red eye won me over.

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