Abby's Big Year 2022

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dwatsonbb
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Yep some cracker shots there Abby. Love the Pardies, and the frogmouth is just stunning.

Dale Huonville, Tasmania

sue818
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Fabulous shots, Abby. I love them all. Those eyes on the Tawnies are stunning.

I have found the info on the Gull-billed Tern v Australian Tern. Once I'm home, I'll send you the Birdlife Australian Tern doc.

sue818
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Fabulous shots, Abby. I love them all. Those eyes on the Tawnies are stunning.

I have found the info on the Gull-billed Tern v Australian Tern. Once I'm home, I'll send you the Birdlife Australian Tern doc.

sue818
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Fabulous shots, Abby. I love them all. Those eyes on the Tawnies are stunning.

I have found the info on the Gull-billed Tern v Australian Tern. Once I'm home, I'll send you the Birdlife Australian Tern doc.

sue818
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No idea why that posted three times so my apologies!

karentwemlow
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Lots of great pics Abby, what cute Tawnys! I love the Varied Sittellas, they really hard to photograph, always so busy...  and the Gang-gang pair, just beautiful.

dannyka6
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Aww that baby Tawny, so gorgeous!! Delightful. 

Agree about your definition between Gull billed Terns, Australian (macrotarsa) vs Asian (affinis). Australian has the slightly down-turned ("drooping") bill and Asian have the straight bill. There are other slight differences but unless they are side by side they don't mean much to me. We're lucky enough to get both species at Stockyard Point regularly together, but I still find the bill shape the easier way to seperate them...if you can get good close views/photos. 

michaelrt71_1
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Gorgeous little pardalotes; do they hang around in the same sorts of habitats? I have only ever seen the spotted, I think.

AbbyGrace
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Thanks guys, yep in my experience the Striated Pardalotes are in the same habitat. When I see them, they are usually with the spotted pardalotes. But I don't always see them when I see the Spotted Pardalotes, if that makes any sense to you. 

AbbyGrace
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So had another rather big birding week. Had a quick overnight camp just out of Bendigo on Friday night to check out some of the dams in the Greater Bendigo N.P. We saw at least 7 types of Honeyeaters at one location, that was cool. So going to do a Honeyeater post.

172. White-naped Honeyeater  - I forgot to add this last week, from Frankston area.

173. Yellow-tufted Honeyeater - Love these birds and there were plenty.

174. Black-chinned Honeyeater (Lifer)

175. Fuscous Honeyeater (Lifer)

176. Yellow-plumed Honeyeater (Lifer)

Honeyeaters at the waterhole

177. Little Wattlebird at Cranbourne Gardens

TommyGee
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Honeyeaters galore! Including many that are new to me too. That Fuscous Honeyeater is a beautiful little bird.

AbbyGrace
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Thanks Tommy. Need to stay up there for longer next time.

So a couple more birds for the week. Will leave the best for last. (Depending what you think)

So as Danika said, we went to the River Gum Creek Reserve looking for the Scaly-breasted Lorikeets. 

178. Scaly-breasted Lorikeet

179. Weebill - up in the Greater Bendigo N.P

180. Buff-rumped Thornbill  - Also up in the Greater Bendigo N.P

181. Pink Robin (Female) - right here in Pakenham

And just a replacement shot for my Red-capped Robin (63) from the Greater Bendigo N.P

Male

Female

dannyka6
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Awesome collection, love all the honeyeaters especially the Black-chinned!! So glad you got to see some of the terrific birds around Bendigo! It's a terrific spot. Love the Red-capped Robins too, so cute! But wow on getting the Pink Robin!

karentwemlow
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The Pink Robin is just stunning, such a beautiful little bird and what a great capture. An amazing bunch of honeyeaters there too, thanks for sharing.

dwatsonbb
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Stunning photos Abby. Particularly like your range of honeyeaters, and robins are always sweet. Appears you photography skills have Looking forward to more.

Dale Huonville, Tasmania

sue818
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Well done, Abby. Those Scaly-breasted Lorikeets are wonderful and the Robins are all beautiful. 

TommyGee
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Thanks for the tip on the Scaly Breasted Lorikeets... I went back to River Gum and found them :) I'll post pics soon, not quite as clear as yours though. And that Pink Robin is just gorgeous.

dannyka6
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Really glad you found the Scalies Tommy, they can be really hard to photograph because they seem to like very high perches in the trees. Our first shots were pretty average, we were just lucky that more birds flew in to a lower, easy to shoot perch :)

michaelrt71_1
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Love all those honeyeaters (all new to me), and such a sweet pose from the female pink robin. Sharp! Do you ever get them printed or enlarged and display your best?

AbbyGrace
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Thanks everyone for your lovely comments. Back from our NZ holiday, had a great time with family and a little bit of birding.

Have a couple of birds to add to list from before we left. Will add them in the next couple of days.

AbbyGrace
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Michael I haven't yet printed any photos, did think of doing maybe a little photobook for a keepsake.

AbbyGrace
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So back in April, I went up into the Dandenongs with Danika. 

182. Olive Whistler

183. Lewin's Honeyeater

 

Also managed to get a quick look out at Beaconsfield Flora and Fauna to see the Swift Parrots. Were very hard to see right at the top of the trees. (I'm hoping I get a chance to get a better shot)

184. Swift Parrot

Then we did a quick stop at the Woodlands HP, before we had to get our pre-departure tests done at the airport. Didn't see anything new, but just one to add to this years list.

185. Rock Dove

Replacement shot for Silvereye (165)

dannyka6
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Nice update Abby, I think you did better than me with the Olive Whistler! Very nice close up of the Silvereye :) Love the Swift Parrot, still on the look out...

dwatsonbb
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Love the Olive Whistlers and Lewins Honeyeater. I am always up for a Swift Parrot. The clarity of the Silvereye and Rock Dove is fantastic.

Dale Huonville, Tasmania

AbbyGrace
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Thanks Danika and Dale. 

Also I have started putting up some NZ bird photos in the Best Photo part - if anyone is interested.

AbbyGrace
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Today I while waiting to pick my son up from school, I went for a wander down the creek near his school.

Saw an Eastern Great Egret - bit of EBC shot, shooting through some reeds.

186. Eastern Great Egret

and finally today got some decent shots of a Pied Currawong.

187. Pied Currawong

sue818
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Another great lot, Abby. Love the Olive Whistler and you are so lucky to get the Swift Parrot. Beautiful photos.

michaelrt71_1
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Great colours on the silvereye; I've never noticed the buff-brown patch before. Jealous of the currawong pose, I can't get them to sit still.

sue818
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Hi Abby, just noticed when updating the stats that you are one out in the numbering. Great Egret is 186 and Currawong is 187. Could you amend please? 

dwatsonbb
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Nothing wrong with your Egret shot, and the Currawong is nice also,

Dale Huonville, Tasmania

AbbyGrace
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Thanks guys. Sue I have updated the numbers, thanks for that catch.

This week has been a lucky week for birding. Had 2 outings this week, and got what I went for. So happy with that.

On Monday I went to The Gurdies which is down the Bass Coast.

188. Blue-winged Parrot

189. Scarlet Robin - my dependables :)

And today I went to The Pines Flora and Fauna Reserve (west) and within 5 minutes I found what I was looking for. Makes up for all the other times searching for it.

190. Glossy Black-Cockatoo

sue818
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Wonderful set, Abby. Love them all and cannot choose a favourite. You are finding some fantastic places for birding.

dwatsonbb
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Simply stunning, some beautiful photos. like Sue hard to pick a favourite, but I will go with the Glossy, as it is a bird I have not seen.

Dale Huonville, Tasmania

AbbyGrace
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Thanks Sue and Dale.

Today I went to Stockyard Point. High tide was at 3m.

191. Terek Sandpipers (Lifer!)

192. Bar-tailed Godwit (Lifer for Australia, I did see some in NZ on my recent trip for the first time too.)

There were plenty of Double-banded Plovers, still some Red-necked Stints, less Curlew Sandpipers and Red-capped Plovers.

Love the colours of this Double-banded Plover.

dannyka6
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Aahhh Abby you're killing me!!! Going birding without me on my work days!! :) I can't BELIEVE that you got the Glossy again, without me again!! I just cannot seem to find it! Although someone today gave me a tip about another place to look, seems I'm destined to troop over there again for another look around...

And those Tereks!! Amazing shots, and fabulous flight shot of the Bar-tailed Godwits. Love the Blue-winged Parrots too, still on my list...couldn't find them today at the Gurdies, I guess I'll just have to try WTP...

sue818
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Love that Double-banded Plover! I am also rather fond of the Terek Sandpipers as they get down low and scuttle across but who can pass up the Godwits with their massive journeys underway. Wonderful shots, Abby.

dwatsonbb
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Some great shots, love the Double-banded. I think the Bar-tailed Godwits have left Tassie, so will have to wait for their return later this year.

Dale Huonville, Tasmania

AbbyGrace
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Just a quick add.

193. Little Raven

194. Common Myna

195. Crescent Honeyeater

196. Domestic Goose - off my phone - they were a tad too close.

(146) - Black-shouldered Kite with its lunch.

and an unexpected guest at the end of my walk in the Bunyip State Park.

dwatsonbb
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Love that Black-shouldered Kite, the others are great shots too. Some sort of feral deer?

Dale Huonville, Tasmania

karentwemlow
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Just catching up on some of your posts, well done getting the Glossy Black!! Such lovely pics of it too, unlike my blurdy shot lol. And I love the BSK, I am still yet to get a photo of one, I see them around here every now and then but always when I'm driving. The Scarlet Robin pics are stunning too, particularly the female.

AbbyGrace
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Thanks Dale and Karen. Yeh it was a feral deer. 

A couple more to add, went to the Western Water Treatment Plant with Danika on Thursday to see if we could see the OB Parrots, unfortunately we got there on the day they closed the roads where the parrots were being sighted. 

197. Eurasian Skylark

198. Cattle Egret

And also on Monday I went back to Stockyard Point, since it was another 3m high tide within a suitable time for me, nothing new but a better shot of the Terek Sandpiper.

(191)

dwatsonbb
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Great photo of the Terek, with a bonus DB Plover in the foreground. Once to see Cattle Egrets, got my 1sst photos one today, hopefully might post tomorrow. Also saw my 1st Skylark today, but sadly no photo.  Would be extremely happy to get a nice shot like yours.

Dale Huonville, Tasmania

sue818
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More wonderful birds! 

michaelrt71_1
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Something rather dangerous about the light in the eye of your little raven. Sharp shots of politely posing robins, too.

AbbyGrace
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Thanks everyone.

I have finally cracked the 200! 

199. Bassian Thrush

200. Flame Robin - nice to see a pair back for winter.

dwatsonbb
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Congrats on the double century. It's nice to see both male and female do a species. Bassian Thrush are often hard to find and photograph. Nice work, some lovely photos.

Dale Huonville, Tasmania

dannyka6
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WOW Abby, this is so exciting!! 200! Congrats! Here's to the next 100 :)

You have learnt so much about birds in such a short time, and your photos are terrific! So awesome! Love all your update photos, still chasing that Bassian Thrush myself...you're so lucky to have the Flames nearby :)

AbbyGrace
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Thanks Dale and Danika.

I have just got home from a trip to northern Victoria, Danika and her husband came with us. I got 3 lifers on this trip. Of course not enough time, but still was enjoyable.

At Lake Tyrell I got my first lifer.

#201 Rufous Fieldwren - no factsheet (Lifer)

#202 Pied Butcherbird

Then a couple of better shots of a White-winged Fairywren (67)

dwatsonbb
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Wow Abby, the Rufous Fieldrwren is stunning, great photos, nice work on another lifer. That White-winged Fairywren is also georgeous, both the bird and the photo.

Dale Huonville, Tasmania

AbbyGrace
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Thanks Dale.

Next we went to Hattah-Kulkyne National Park, really could have stayed here for longer than 1 night, but still saw some amazing birds.

203. Regent Parrot

204. Gilbert's Whistler - no fact sheet  - Saw these both in Hattah-Kulkyne N.P and by our campsite in Wyperfeld N.P

205. Splendid Fairy-wren - also saw these both in Hattah and Wyperfeld, unfortunately couldn't find a Male in all its beauty this time.

Had a couple of nights in Mildura, was neat to hear the Pied Butcherbirds singing since I'm so use to hearing the Grey Butcherbird.

Got another lifer at Lake Ranfurly

206. Red-necked Avocet (Lifer) Does pay to check ebird on latest sightings in the area!

207. Great Cormorant

Upgrade on a couple.

Eastern Great Egret (186)

Blue Bonnets (73) - just a few... posed quite nicely for me.

Also an update from Ouyen Lake. Variegated Fairywren or now called Purple-backed Fairywren. (45)

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