Month: September 2025

Big Zigzag Birding

week 063 | Half Way Across Australia | trip list 586 – 586

Posted on

Mt Ive - Kimba - Gawler Ranges - Lake Gilles - Lyndhurst

In an Eggshell:

Big Zigzag bird species count: 586  (+0 this week)
Big Zigzag bird families count: 90 (+0 this week)
Big Zigzag Lifers: 148 (+0 this week)
Campsite Lifers 30 (+0 this week)
Big Zigzag New for Australia list: 204 (+0 this week), AU list now 628.
eBird AU year list: 442
eBird days of checklist streak: 439
Week’s special milestones: None

Bird(s) of the Week

Brown Falcon

Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater

Non-bird image(s)

We climbed 3 times to Mount Ive summit (and twice to Mount Scott). No Short-tailed Grasswren, 

Echidna, Mt. Ive

Week's Key location(s)

Big Zigzag Travelled so far: 59500 km (this week 1150 km)

eBird Checklists this week

2032. 27 Sep 2025 2:44 PM Lyndhurst airstrip
2031. 26 Sep 2025 10:03 AM Lake Gilles Conservation Park
2030. 25 Sep 2025 5:33 PM Roora Walking Trail, Kimba
2029. 24 Sep 2025 12:24 PM Gawler Ranges National Park–Organ Pipes
2028. 23 Sep 2025 4:44 PM Roora Walking Trail, Kimba
2027. 22 Sep 2025 2:31 PM Unnamed Road, Yardea, South Australia, AU (-32.123, 135.896)
2026. 22 Sep 2025 10:38 AM Mt Ive Station–Homestead and Campground
2025. 21 Sep 2025 3:17 PM Mt Ive Station–Homestead and Campground
Big Zigzag Index
Big Zigzag Birding

week 062 | Two blue faced welcoming SA | trip list 582 – 586

Posted on

SA Nullarbor - Ceduna - Eyre Peninsula - Port Lincoln - Kimba - Mount Ive

In an Eggshell:

Big Zigzag bird species count: 586  (+4 this week)
Big Zigzag bird families count: 90 (+0 this week)
Big Zigzag Lifers: 148 (+3 this week: Naretha Bluebonnet, Nullarbor Quail-thrush, Scarlet-chested Parrot)
Campsite Lifers 30 (+1 this week: Naretha Bluebonnet)
Big Zigzag New for Australia list: 204 (+3 this week), AU list now 628.
eBird AU year list: 441
eBird days of checklist streak: 432
Week’s special milestones: Quail-thrush #6

Bird(s) of the Week

Scarlet-chested Parrot (Neophema splendida) Definatly splendid, and a lifer with blue face!

Naretha Bluebonnet (Northiella narethae), and a lifer with blue face!

Rufous Fieldwren (Calamanthus campestris) near Nullarbor Roadhouse, SA. Member of Acanthizidae (Gerygones, Thornbills, Scrubwrens, and Allies)

Non-bird image(s)

Week's Key location(s)

Koonalda Homestead, Naretha Bluebonnet site.

Nullarbor Roadhouse, Nullarbor Quail-thrush site

Yumbarra Conservation Park, Scarlet-chested Parrot site

Big Zigzag Travelled so far: 58350 km (this 8 days week 1650 km)

eBird Checklists this week

2024. 20 Sep 2025 2:01 PM Mt Ive Summit Walk
2023. 20 Sep 2025 10:07 AM Roora Walking Trail (Kimba)
2022. 19 Sep 2025 3:23 PM Bluff Road, Caralue, South Australia, AU (-33.276, 136.175), Kimba
2021. 19 Sep 2025 1:20 PM 292 Bratten Road, Tumby Bay, South Australia, AU (-34.37, 136.077), Tumby Bay
2020. 19 Sep 2025 8:09 AM Billy Lights Point Wastewater Treatment Plant, Port Lincoln
2019. 18 Sep 2025 9:57 AM Unnamed Road, Coulta, South Australia, AU (-34.326, 135.358), Lower Eyre Peninsula
2018. 18 Sep 2025 8:58 AM Kiana Road, Mount Hope, South Australia, AU (-34.114, 135.361), Lower Eyre Peninsula
2017. 17 Sep 2025 1:47 PM Murphys Haystacks, Streaky Bay
2016. 17 Sep 2025 9:47 AM Yumbarra Conservation Park–rockholes, Ceduna
2015. 16 Sep 2025 9:28 AM Lake Macdonnell
2014. 16 Sep 2025 8:53 AM Eyre Highway, Penong, South Australia, AU (-31.862, 132.866), Unincorporated SA
2013. 15 Sep 2025 8:00 AM Caves Rd Tank at -31.44593, 130.88605, Unincorporated
2012. 14 Sep 2025 6:04 PM Murrawijinie Caves
2011. 14 Sep 2025 12:36 PM Nullarbor Roadhouse
2010. 14 Sep 2025 6:56 AM Koonalda Homestead

2009. 13 Sep 202510:45 AM Koonalda Homestead

8 days, extra day to split WA – SA)

Big Zigzag Index
Big Zigzag Birding

week 061 | Farewell WA via Nullarbor | trip list 581 – 582

Posted on

Esperance - Cape La Grande - Norseman - WA Nullarbor

In an Eggshell:

Big Zigzag bird species count: 582  (+1 this week)
Big Zigzag bird families count: 90 (+0 this week)
Big Zigzag Lifers: 145 (+0 this week)
Campsite Lifers 29 (+0 this week: )
Big Zigzag New for Australia list: 201 (+0 this week), AU list now 625.
eBird AU year list: 434
eBird days of checklist streak: 424
Week’s special milestones: 2000 eBird checklists, 55555 km travelled

Bird(s) of the Week

Gilbert’s Whistler

Pink Cockatoo – last new WA bird from beach near Eucla close to SA border.

Farewell WA with two typical “Westerns”: Spinebill & Wattlebird

Non-bird image(s)

Week's Key location(s)

Newman’s Rock, Dundas, Gilbert’s Whistler site

Pink Cockatoo site

The tiny Australian Central Western Standard Time (ACWST) helps reduce “jetlag” between WA and SA

Big Zigzag Travelled so far: 56700 km (this 6 days week 1500 km)

eBird Checklists this week

2008. 12 Sep 2025 2:21 PM Unnamed Road, Eucla, Western Australia, AU (-31.736, 128.854)
2007. 12 Sep 2025 10:09 AM Cocklebiddy
2006. 12 Sep 2025 8:42 AM Caiguna, Western Australia, AU (-32.249, 125.543)
2005. 11 Sep 2025 1:00 PM Baxter Rest Stop
2004. 11 Sep 2025 7:39 AM Newman Rock, Dundas
2003. 10 Sep 2025 12:42 PM Newman Rock, Dundas
2002. 09 Sep 2025 9:30 PM Gateway Caravan Park (Norseman)
2001. 09 Sep 2025 12:33 PM Lake Monjingup, Esperance
2000. 08 Sep 2025 9:04 AM Cape Le Grand National Park–Lucky Bay
1999. 07 Sep 2025 12:27 PM Blue Haven (Esperance)
1998. 07 Sep 2025 12:27 PM Esperance Beachfront
 
(just 6 days, so split WA – SA)
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Big Zigzag Birding

week 060 | Heading East | trip list 579 – 581

Posted on

Denmark - William Bay NP - Stirling Range NP - Albany - Porongurup NP - Corackerup NR

In an Eggshell:

Big Zigzag bird species count: 581  (+2 this week)
Big Zigzag bird families count: 90 (+0 this week)
Big Zigzag Lifers: 145 (+0 this week)
Campsite Lifers 29 (+0 this week: )
Big Zigzag New for Australia list: 201 (+0 this week), AU list now 625.
eBird AU year list: 433
eBird days of checklist streak: 418
Week’s special milestones: none

Bird(s) of the Week

Blue-breasted Fairywren (Malurus pulcherrimus), Corackerup Nature Reserve

Shy Heathwren (Hylacola cauta), Corackerup Nature Reserve

Malleefowl (Leipoa ocellata), seen briefly at Corackerup Nature Reserve. Photo from November 2024, Victoria.

Scarlet Robin, Stirling Range

Non-bird image(s)

Stirling Range

Tiliqua rugosa, most commonly known as the shingleback skink, shingleback lizard, or bobtail lizard

Week's Key location(s)

Big Zigzag Travelled so far: 55200 km (this week 1300 km)

eBird Checklists this week

1997. 06 Sep 2025 2:31 PM Fitzgerald Road, Fitzgerald, Western Australia, AU (-33.748, 119.458), Ravensthorpe
1996. 05 Sep 2025 9:02 AM Corackerup Nature Reserve
1995. 04 Sep 2025 3:56 PM Corackerup Nature Reserve
1994. 04 Sep 2025 10:42 AM Porongurup National Park–Walitj Meil Walk Trail
1993. 04 Sep 2025 8:55 AM Wildflower Walk (Cranbrook)
1992. 03 Sep 2025 12:51 PM Stirling Range National Park–Mt Hassell walking track
1991. 03 Sep 2025 9:51 AM Stirling Range National Park–Bluff Knoll
1990. 02 Sep 2025 12:02 PM Stirling Range National Park–Toolbrunup Peak Walking Track
1989. 02 Sep 2025 9:53 AM East Bay Camping Ground, Albany
1988. 01 Sep 2025 8:42 AM William Bay National Park–Elephant Cove, Denmark
1987. 31 Aug 2025 4:30 PM Denmark (township)
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