Big Zigzag Birding

week 085 | Yamba Pelagic & Southern Tablelands | trip list 632 – 634

Posted on

New Order for Australia!

In an Eggshell:

Big Zigzag bird species count: 634 (+2 this week)
Big Zigzag bird families count: 93 (+1 this week)
Big Zigzag Lifers: 168 (+0 this week)
Campsite Lifers 30 (+0 this week)
Big Zigzag New for Australia list: 225 (+1 this week), AU list now 654.
eBird days of checklist streak: 593.
Week’s special milestones: new Order for Australia! (Phaethontiformes). All Australian 

Bird(s) of the Week

New bird family for my Australian life list! (Naturealy new for Big Zigzag). Actually new order as
Phaethontidae is a monotype family in Phaethontiformes.
Red-tailed Tropicbird (Phaethon rubricauda) photograped during Yamba (NSW) pelagic, and seen only once before, 10 years ago in Nosy Ve, Madagascar. The 2 other family (order) members, seen only once each: Red-billed Tropicbird (Phaethon aethereus) from Eilat, Israel north beach 20 years ago (5/2006), and
White-tailed Tropicbird (Phaethon lepturus) in Dominican Republic, 4/2017.

Lesser Frigatebird (Fregata ariel) photographed for the first time during Yamba Pelagic. Seen in the past a few times in Tropical North Quuensland as a BZZ lifer on 8-9/2024.

Spotted Quail-thrush (Cinclosoma punctatum) added as last of the 7 Aussie Cinclosomatidae (Jewel-babblers and Quail-thrushes) this week to Big Zigzag count. Photo from 2018, Brisbane Ranges National Park, VIC.

Non-bird image(s)

Risso’s Dolphin

Clive State Forest, Spotted Quail-thrush site.

Week's Key location(s)

Yamba Pelagic

Clive State Forest – Spotted Quail-thrush site

Big Zigzag Travelled so far: 78700 km (this week 500 km)

eBird Checklists this week

2304. 28 Feb 2026 11:19 AM Mother of Ducks Lagoon Nature Reserve, Guyra
2303. 27 Feb 2026 1:05 PM Clive State Forest, Inverell
2302. 26 Feb 2026 5:43 PM Armidale
2301. 25 Feb 2026 1:16 PM Wollomombi Falls
2300. 24 Feb 2026 1:06 PM Dangar Falls, Bellingen
2299. 24 Feb 2026 10:59 AM Mount Hyland Lodge, Clarence Valley
2298. 23 Feb 2026 1:41 PM 10 See Street, Grafton, New South Wales, AU (-29.684, 152.927)
2297. 22 Feb 2026 7:00 PM Coutts Crossing, Clarence Valley
2296. 22 Feb 2026 2:19 PM Auto selected -29.45517, 153.49014, Clarence Valley
2295.22 Feb 2026 1:54 PM Auto selected -29.47686, 153.57985
2294. 22 Feb 2026 1:32 PM Auto selected -29.50066, 153.65318
2293. 22 Feb 2026 1:12 PM Auto selected -29.51870, 153.71953
2292. 22 Feb 2026 12:56 PM Auto selected -29.51573, 153.74934
2291. 22 Feb 2026 12:34 PM Auto selected -29.52474, 153.80508
2290. 22 Feb 2026 11:46 AM Auto selected -29.51784, 153.80449
2289. 22 Feb 2026 11:17 AM Auto selected -29.46883, 153.89293
2288. 22 Feb 2026 9:40 AM Auto selected -29.39458, 153.89695
2287. 22 Feb 2026 9:33 AM Auto selected -29.38001, 153.88060
2286. 22 Feb 2026 8:37 AM Auto selected -29.34023, 153.87800
2285. 22 Feb 2026 8:12 AM Auto selected -29.35040, 153.78958
2284. 22 Feb 2026 7:50 AM Auto selected -29.36078, 153.70969
2283. 22 Feb 2026 7:09 AM Auto selected -29.38984, 153.56185
2282. 22 Feb 2026 6:19 AM Yamba
2281. 22 Feb 2026 6:16 AM Auto selected -29.42644, 153.37253
Big Zigzag Index
Big Zigzag Birding

week 084 | Back to NSW via New England Hwy | trip list 632 – 632

Posted on

Scenic Rim - Southern Downs - Glen Innes Severn - Clarence Valley

In an Eggshell:

Big Zigzag bird species count: 632 (+0 this week)
Big Zigzag bird families count: 92 (+0 this week)
Big Zigzag Lifers: 168 (+0 this week)
Campsite Lifers 30 (+0 this week)
Big Zigzag New for Australia list: 224 (+0 this week), AU list now 653.
eBird days of checklist streak: 586.
Week’s special milestones: Traveled 77777 km!

Bird(s) of the Week

Blue-faced Honeyeater. Common and beautiful.

White-headed Pigeon (Columba leucomela), was already Bird of the Week in the past, but choosen again :-), nice surprise in Fishing Haven Holiday Park near Yamba.

Non-bird image(s)

Gibraltar Range NP, NSW

New England Hwy

Week's Key location(s)

Although dipped the Chestnut-rumped Heathwren, still great place.

Big Zigzag Travelled so far: 78200 km (this week 450 km)

eBird Checklists this week

2280. 21 Feb 2026 11:07 AM Fishing Haven Holiday Park, Clarence Valley
2279. 20 Feb 2026 3:13 PM Fishing Haven Holiday Park, Clarence Valley
2278. 19 Feb 2026 4:37 PM Coutts Crossing, Clarence Valley
2277. 19 Feb 2026 1:49 PM Raspberry Lookout Road, Glen Innes Severn
2276. 18 Feb 2026 11:17 AM Australian Standing Stones (Glen Innes), New South Wales
2275. 17 Feb 2026 10:39 AM Girraween National Park–Pyramid Trail, Queensland
2274. 16 Feb 20269:46 AM Mount Alford Hotel, Scenic Rim
2273. 15 Feb 2026 12:28 PM Mount Alford Hotel, Scenic Rim
Big Zigzag Index
Big Zigzag Birding

week 083 | SE QLD | trip list 630 – 632

Posted on

Toowoomba - Lockyer Valley - Moreton Bay - Somerset - Scenic Rim

In an Eggshell:

Big Zigzag bird species count: 632 (+2 this week)
Big Zigzag bird families count: 92 (+0 this week)
Big Zigzag Lifers: 168 (+0 this week)
Campsite Lifers 30 (+0 this week)
Big Zigzag New for Australia list: 224 (+0 this week), AU list now 653.
eBird days of checklist streak: 579.
Week’s special milestones: None

Bird(s) of the Week

Painted Honeyeater (Grantiella picta), monotype genus. New for the Big Zigzag (seen only once before, near Deniliquin, QLD, 2018). Also the 4th of the 4 “Painted Aussie birds” to be added to BZ list. The 3 other “Painted”: 

  • Painted Firetail was a lifer at Pamela Street Water Tanks, Mount Isa, QLD, 9/2024
  • Australian Painted-Snipe was a lifer at Coombabah Lakelands, QLD, 1/2026
  • Painted Buttonquail seen already in NSW,  11/2018, add added to BZ list at VIC 12/2024

Speckled Warbler (Pyrrholaemus sagittatus), Brisbane Valley Rail Trail–Coominya, new for the Big Zigzag list. Seen in the past only once near Bacchus Marsh, VIC, 2018.  Member of Acanthizidae (Gerygones, Thornbills, Scrubwrens, and Allies). Sharing the genus Pyrrholaemus with 2 other Australian endemics: Pilotbird (Pycnoptilus floccosus) & Redthroat (Pyrrholaemus brunneus).

Non-bird image(s)

Jondaryan, Sabine Rd

Brisbane Valley Rail Trail–Coominya

Week's Key location(s)

Jondaryan Sabine Rd, Painted Honeyeater site

Brisbane Valley Rail Trail–Coominya, Speckled Warbler site.

Big Zigzag Travelled so far: 77750 km (this week 950 km)

eBird Checklists this week

2272. 14 Feb 2026 12:56 PM Moogerah Dam–Haigh
2271. 13 Feb 2026 11:54 AM Brisbane Valley Rail Trail–Coominya
2270. 13 Feb 2026 2:00 AM Woodford Showgrounds
2269. 12 Feb 2026 8:00 AM Narda Lagoon, Laidley
2268. 11 Feb 2026 4:12 PM Narda Lagoon, Laidley
2267. 10 Feb 2026 9:01 AM Jondaryan Sabine Rd at -27.36927, 151.61280 (roadside birding only)
2266. 09 Feb 2026 4:31 PM 6 Kingsthorpe Haden Road, Kingsthorpe
2265. 09 Feb 2026 11:30 AM Laurel Bank Park, Toowoomba
2264. 08 Feb 2026 10:52 AM Queens Park Garden, Toowoomba.
2263. 08 Feb 2026 9:51 AM 6 Kingsthorpe Haden Road, Kingsthorpe
Big Zigzag Index
Big Zigzag Birding

week 082 | SE QLD | trip list 629 – 630

Posted on

Lockyer Valley - Toowoomba - Southern Downs - Goondiwindi

In an Eggshell:

Big Zigzag bird species count: 630 (+1 this week)
Big Zigzag bird families count: 92 (+0 this week)
Big Zigzag Lifers: 168 (+0 this week)
Campsite Lifers 30 (+0 this week)
Big Zigzag New for Australia list: 224 (+0 this week), AU list now 653.
eBird days of checklist streak: 572
Week’s special milestones: All Australia owls in Big zigzag list!

Bird(s) of the Week

One of the commonest Aussie owls, Eastern Barn Owl (Tyto javanica), was last of all Australian owls, to be added to the Big Zigzag list at Lake Claredon Way, QLD this week. (photographed near Daintree, QLD 2013). 
The Australian owls list consist of 4 Barn Owls – Tytonidae – all Tyto (Eastern Barn Owl, Australian Masked Owl, Eastern Grass Owl & Sooty Owl) and 5 “Typical Owls” – Strigidae – all Ninox (Rufous Owl, Powerful  Owl, Barking Owl, Australian Boobook, Tasmanian Boobook)

Squatter Pigeon (Geophaps scripta), shares the genus with 2 other Australian endemics: Partridge Pigeon (Geophaps smithii) and Spinifex Pigeon (Geophaps plumifera).

Fuscous Honeyeater (Ptilotula fusca), Cement Mills road

Scaly-breasted Lorikeet (Trichoglossus chlorolepidotus) common all over this area

Non-bird image(s)

Durikai State Forest Waterhole photographed on Wednsday (Buff-rumped Thornbill site). On Friday thw whole area was on bush fire

Greenup Meeting Place (Coolmunda). Great for camping and birding.

My second Australian Painted-Snipe with Tom at Vernor Rd, Wivenhoe Pocket.

Week's Key location(s)

Mosquito Creek Rd, Goondiwindi

Big Zigzag Travelled so far: 76800 km (this week 1000 km)

eBird Checklists this week

2262. 07 Feb 2026 8:29 AM Millmerran Golf Course
2261. 06 Feb 2026 5:18 PM Millmerran Showgrounds
2260. 06 Feb 2026 8:40 AM Cement Mills
2259. 05 Feb 2026 5:16 PM Greenup Meeting Place (Coolmunda)
2258. 05 Feb 2026 7:54 AM Mosquito Creek Rd
2257. 04 Feb 2026 1:44 PM Durikai State Forest Waterhole
2256. 04 Feb 2026 12:21 PM Durikai State Forest–Dam
2255. 04 Feb 2026 11:13 AM 3718 Leyburn Cunningham Road, Cunningham
2254. 03 Feb 2026 2:27 PM Clifton
2253. 02 Feb 2026 7:30 PM Lake Claredon Way/Lyne Rd, Lockyer Valley
2252. 02 Feb 2026 4:11 PM 12 Blenheim Road, Laidley Heights
2251. 02 Feb 2026 10:03 AM Vernor Rd, Wivenhoe Pocket at -27.45865, 152.60027
2250. 02 Feb 2026 9:00 AM Banool Road, Somerset
2249. 02 Feb 2026 6:30 AM Seven Mile Lagoon, Lockyer Valley
2248. 02 Feb 2026 3:14 AM Narda Lagoon, Laidley
2247. 01 Feb 2026 1:28 PM Lake Clarendon–roadside farm pond
2246. 01 Feb 202610:28 AM 12 Blenheim Road, Laidley Heights
Big Zigzag Index
Big Zigzag Birding

week 081 | SE QLD | trip list 628 – 629

Posted on

Debaroo Deja Vu, and some birding around from Brooweena to Laidley

In an Eggshell:

Big Zigzag bird species count: 629 (+1 this week)
Big Zigzag bird families count: 92 (+0 this week)
Big Zigzag Lifers: 168 (+1 this week: King Quail)
Campsite Lifers 30 (+0 this week)
Big Zigzag New for Australia list: 224 (+1 this week), AU list now 653.
eBird days of checklist streak: 565
Week’s special milestones:none

Bird(s) of the Week

King Quail (Synoicus chinensis) was photographed at Singapore Botaic Gardens where it is concedured introduced and not counted by eBird. Therefore, the one flashed this week for the grass around Lake Samsonvale is a lifer!

Near Atkinson Dam: A pair of Black Falcons (Falco subniger) exchanged prey (Magpie Lark) transfer while flying

Great to see again (just for the second time) Plum-headed Finch  (Emblema modestum) near Lake Clarendonar.

Non-bird image(s)

Lake Samsonvale with Tom.

Blenheim Road, Laidley Heights

Week's Key location(s)

Big Zigzag Travelled so far: 75800 km (this week 700 km)

eBird Checklists this week

2245. 31 Jan 2026 2:39 PM Blind Gully Rd (south end), Lockyer Waters, Somerset
2244. 31 Jan 2026 2:04 PM 915 Coominya Connection Road, Clarendon, Queensland, AU (-27.432, 152.487)
2243. 31 Jan 2026 12:30 PM Lake Clarendon–roadside farm pond, Lockyer Valley
2242. 31 Jan 2026 10:59 AM 12 Blenheim Road, Laidley Heights, Queensland, AU (-27.647, 152.364)
2241. 30 Jan 2026 2:20 PM Narda Lagoon, Laidley
2240. 29 Jan 2026 5:28 AM Lake Samsonvale–Golds Scrub Lane (some areas restricted access)
2239. 28 Jan 2026 3:25 PM Dayboro Showgriunds
2238. 27 Jan 2026 2:24 PM Tipperary Flat Rest Area (Nanango)
2237. 26 Jan 2026 1:01 PM Goomeri Town Park, Gympie
2236. 25 Jan 2026 6:05 PM 252 Brooweena Woolooga Road, Boompa, Queensland, AU (-25.62, 152.226)
Big Zigzag Index
Big Zigzag Birding

week 080 | mainly Southport Pelagic | trip list 616 – 628

Posted on

Great plagic with 5 lifers and 10 new for the Big Zigzag + BBBQ

In an Eggshell:

Big Zigzag bird species count: 628 (+11 this week)
Big Zigzag bird families count: 92 (+0 this week)
Big Zigzag Lifers: 167 (+6 this week: Streaked Shearwater, Tahiti Petrel, Black-winged Petrel, White-necked Petrel, Blue-billed White-Tern, Black-breasted Buttonquail)
Campsite Lifers 30 (+0 this week)
Big Zigzag New for Australia list: 223 (+8 this week), AU list now 652.
eBird days of checklist streak: 558 (8 days week)
Week’s special milestones: 555 Big Zigzag days and counting!

Bird(s) of the Week

Tahiti Petrel (Pseudobulweria rostrata) 

White-necked Petrel (Pterodroma cervicalis)

Blue-billed White Tern (Gygis candida)

Black-winged Petrel (Pterodroma nigripennis) Collected on the beach a while ago, relased today from the boat after recovered.

Sooty Tern (Onychoprion fuscatus)

Red-footed Booby (Sula sula)

Wilson’s Storm Petrel (Oceanites oceanicus)

Black-breasted Buttonquail (Turnix melanogaster), male. Ted and Maud Mungomery’s Vine Forest Reserve. May be called pelagic lifer as well as I got the location tip from on of the pelagic participants.

Fairy Gerygone (Gerygone palpebrosa), Teddington Weir, Maryborough

White-eared Monarch (Carterornis leucotis), Teddington Weir, Maryborough

Non-bird image(s)

Ted and Maud Mungomery’s Vine Forest Reserve

Week's Key location(s)

Fairy Gerygone & White-eared Monarch site.

Woodford Showgrounds, was very nice with some good birds like Powerful Owl!

Big Zigzag Travelled so far: 75100 km (this week 800 km)

eBird Checklists this week

2229. 24 Jan 2026 11:46 AM Ted and Maud Mungomery’s Vine Forest Reserve

2228. 23 Jan 2026 1:42 PM Ted and Maud Mungomery’s Vine Forest Reserve, Fraser Coast

2227. 23 Jan 2026 9:59 AM Teddington Weir, Maryborough
2226. 22 Jan 2026 2:52 PM Theebine
2225. 21 Jan 2026 12:31 PM Woodford Showgrounds
2224. 20 Jan 2026 3:07 PM Woodford Showgrounds
2223. 19 Jan 2026 4:07 PM Woodford Showgrounds
2222. 18 Jan 2026 2:04 PM Mount Alford Hotel
2221. 17 Jan 2026 12:54 PM Auto selected -27.91525, 153.79701, Gold Coast Pelagic
2220. 17 Jan 2026 11:30 AM Auto selected -27.87579, 153.89510, Gold Coast Pelagic
2219. 17 Jan 2026 9:13 AM Offshore–Southport pelagic
2218. 17 Jan 2026 8:19 AM Auto selected -27.75719, 153.95597, Gold Coast Pelagic
2217. 17 Jan 2026 7:49 AM Auto selected -27.78185, 153.87865, Gold Coast Pelagic
2216. 17 Jan 2026 6:45 AM Auto selected -27.84906, 153.66010, Gold Coast Pelagic
2215. 17 Jan 2026 5:50 AM Auto selected -27.93202, 153.44380, Gold Coast Pelagic
Big Zigzag Index
Big Zigzag Birding

week 079 | around BNE too | trip list 616 – 616

Posted on

mainly O'Reilly's

In an Eggshell:

Big Zigzag bird species count: 616 (+0 this week)
Big Zigzag bird families count: 92 (+0 this week)
Big Zigzag Lifers: 161 (+0 this week)
Campsite Lifers 30 (+0 this week)
Big Zigzag New for Australia list: 215 (+0 this week), AU list now 644.
eBird days of checklist streak: 550 (6 days week)
Week’s special milestones: None

Bird(s) of the Week

Albert’s Lyrebird finally photographed at it’s best site:  Lamington National Park

Noisy Pitta (Pitta versicolor)

Australian Logrunner (Orthonyx temminckii) is common and tame at Lamington National Park

Better views on last 2025 lifer: Paradise Riflebird (Ptiloris paradiseus).

Non-bird image(s)

Red-necked Pademelon, O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat

Week's Key location(s)

Big Zigzag Travelled so far: 74300 km (this week 600 km)

eBird Checklists this week

2214. 16 Jan 2026 2:19 PM Pine Ridge Road, Coombabah
2213. 15 Jan 2026 4:48 PM Canungra Sports and Recreation Ground
2212. 14 Jan 2026 6:55 AM Lamington National Park–Python Rock track
2211. 13 Jan 2026 6:48 AM Lamington National Park–Python Rock track
2210. 12 Jan 2026 2:45 PM O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat–Boardwalk Treetop Walk circuit
2209. 12 Jan 2026 9:21 AM Mount Alford Hotel
2208. 11 Jan 2026 12:27 PM  Mount Alford Hotel
2207. 11 Jan 2026 11:16 AM Moogerah Dam–Haigh Park
Big Zigzag Index
Big Zigzag Birding

week 078 | around BNE | trip list 615 – 616

Posted on

Brisbane Botanic Gardens - Rosewood - Laidley - Kedron Brook Wetlands - Mt. Alford

In an Eggshell:

Big Zigzag bird species count: 616 (+1 this week)
Big Zigzag bird families count: 92 (+0 this week)
Big Zigzag Lifers: 161 (+1 this week: Australasian Grass-Owl)
Campsite Lifers 30 (+0 this week)
Big Zigzag New for Australia list: 215 (+1 this week), AU list now 644.
eBird days of checklist streak: 544
Week’s special milestones: All Australian Owls seen!

Bird(s) of the Week

Restless Flycatcher (Myiagra inquieta), member of Monarchidae (Monarch Flycatchers, Paradise Flycatchers, and Shrikebills), Mount Alford

Australasian Grebe & Sons, Narda Lagoon, Laidley

Plumed Whistling-Duck, Narda Lagoon, Laidley

Non-bird image(s)

Kedron Brook Wetlands Reserve

Brisbane skyline from Mount Coot-Tha Botanic Gardens

Week's Key location(s)

Big Zigzag Travelled so far: 73700 km (this week 500 km)

eBird Checklists this week

2206. 10 Jan 2026 3:20 PM Mount Alford Hotel,  Scenic Rim
2205. 09 Jan 2026 5:33 PM Kedron Brook Wetlands  Reserve, Brisbane
2204. 08 Jan 2026 12:34 PM Narda Lagoon, Laidley
2203. 07 Jan 2026 12:29 PM Narda Lagoon, Laidley
2202. 06 Jan 2026 9:38 AM 3 Railway Street, Rosewood
2201. 05 Jan 2026 10:11 AM Mt Coot-tha Botanic
2200. 04 Jan 2026 12:44 PM City Botanic Gardens (Brisbane)
Big Zigzag Index
Big Zigzag Birding

week 077 | Happy New Year and Big Lap completed! | trip list 610 – 615

Posted on

Heritage rainforest species boosted 2025 list, back to QLD after 428 days and 2 great lifers to start with 2026

In an Eggshell:

Big Zigzag bird species count: 615 (+5 this week)
Big Zigzag bird families count: 92 (+1 this week: Painted-Snipes)
Big Zigzag Lifers: 160 (+3 this week: Black-backed Bittern, Australian Painted-Snipe, Paradise Riflebird)
Campsite Lifers 30 (+0 this week)
Big Zigzag New for Australia list: 214 (+3 this week), AU list now 643.
eBird AU year list 2025: 508 (#15!)
eBird days of checklist streak: 537
Week’s special milestones: over 500 species in AU year list 2025!, Big Lap done (and counting)

Bird(s) of the Week

Paradise Riflebird (Ptiloris paradiseus) last lifer for 2025 after 40 days without one! dipped in 2024 at Lamington National Park (QLD) found this week at the south most Paradisaeidae (Birds-of-paradise) present: Dorrigo National Park (NSW). Only 220 km distance, but it took me over 70000 km to be again in the bird’s range.

Black-backed Bittern (Botaurus dubius) finaly, at Sandy Camp Road Wetlands, QLD. After dipped a few times at ACT & NSW.

Australian Painted-snipe (Rostratula australis) at Coombabah Lakelands Conservation Area, QLD. A new bird family for my Australia’s list. Can also be called the Big Lap bird, and first lifer for 2026!

Non-bird image(s)

Sandy Camp Road Wetlands.

Coombabah Lakelands Conservation Area.

Week's Key location(s)

Coombabah Lakelands Conservation Area, QLD

Big Zigzag Travelled so far: 73200 km (this week 1100 km)

eBird Checklists this week

2199. 03 Jan 2026 8:00 AM Canungra Sports and Recreation Ground
2198. 02 Jan 2026 11:53 AM Sandy Camp Road Wetlands, Brisbane
2197. 02 Jan 2026 10:23 AM Coombabah Lakelands Conservation Area (Arundel section)
2196. 02 Jan 2026 9:54 AM Cabarita Headland, Tweed, New South Wales
2195. 01 Jan 2026 12:11 PM Cape Byron State Conservation Area
2194. 31 Dec 2025 11:45 AM Victoria Park Nature Reserve (Alstonville), Ballina
2193. 31 Dec 2025 8:42 AM Three Mile Swamp Road, Nymboida, Clarence Valley
2192. 30 Dec 2025 3:27 PM Look At Me Now Headland Track, Coffs Harbour
2191. 30 Dec 2025 11:11 AM  Nobles Lane Camphor Laurels, Bellingen
2190. 29 Dec 2025 7:57 AM Dorrigo National Park
2189. 28 Dec 2025 2:19 PM Dorrigo National Park–Satinbird Stroll & Boardwalk
2188. 28 Dec 2025 1:20 PM Dangar Falls
2187. 28 Dec 2025 9:16 AM 103 Nursery Road, North Macksville, New South Wales, AU (-30.708, 152.94)
Big Zigzag Index
Big Zigzag Birding

week 076 | Heading North of Sydney | trip list 607 – 610

Posted on

Jamberoo - Illaroo - Broke - Hunter Wetlands NP - Port Macquarie - Macksville

In an Eggshell:

Big Zigzag bird species count: 610 (+3 this week)
Big Zigzag bird families count: 91 (+0 this week)
Big Zigzag Lifers: 157 (+0 this week)
Campsite Lifers 30 (+0 this week)
Big Zigzag New for Australia list: 211 (+0 this week), AU list now 640.
eBird AU year list: 492
eBird days of checklist streak: 530
Week’s special milestones: none

Bird(s) of the Week

From 0 to 50 in a few weeks… White-headed Pigeon (Columba leucomela) was missing from the trip list and a few places checked without success in the last few weeks. Luckly eBird directed my to Emerys Road, Illaroo (NSW) where about 50 of them just waited for me 🙂 .

Brown Cuckoo-Dove (Macropygia phasianella)

Little, Common and Created Terns, Port Macquarie North Wall

White-throated Needletail (Hirundapus caudacutus), 1 of about 80 above Seal Rocks Lighthouse.

Scaly-breasted Lorikeet (Trichoglossus chlorolepidotus), Dawkins Park, Macksville

Non-bird image(s)

Port Macquarie North Wall

King Creek Road Swamp, Wauchope

Just after adding Scaly-breasted Lorikeet to the year list, Dawkins Park, Macksville

Week's Key location(s)

Location Emerys Road, Illaroo at this point have the ,magic to attaract dozens of White-headed Pigeons and some 

Little & Common Terns (among many Created Terns) – new for Big ZigZag from Port Macquarie North Wall

Dawkins Park, Macksville

Big Zigzag Travelled so far: 72100 km (this week 1000 km)

eBird Checklists this week

2186. 27 Dec 2025 3:20 PM Dawkins Park, Macksville
2185. 26 Dec 2025 7:04 PM Dawkins Park, Macksville
2184. 26 Dec 2025 2:14 PM Pelican Point Rainforest Reserve, Port Macquarie-Hastings
2183. 26 Dec 2025 1:28 PM Settlement Point Reserve, Port Macquarie-Hastings
2182. 26 Dec 2025 10:48 AM King Creek Road Swamp, Wauchope
2181. 25 Dec 2025 11:20 AM Seal Rocks Lighthouse Walk
2180. 24 Dec 2025 1:06 PM Hunter Wetlands National Park–Stockton Sandspit
2179. 24 Dec 2025 9:20 AM Broke
2178. 23 Dec 2025 4:56 PM Broke
2177. 22 Dec 2025 3:46 PM Warragamba Dam Wall
2176. 21 Dec 2025 4:55 PM Emerys Road, Illaroo at -34.83729, 150.494303
2175. 21 Dec 2025 2:52 PM Huskisson
2174. 21 Dec 2025 11:55 AM Jamberoo
Big Zigzag Index