OzHorine – Bird Families of the World

week 043 | mainly Darwin’s Mangroves 2 | trip list 529 – 534

Posted on May, 2025May, 2025

Around Darwin, mainly Buffalo Creek

In an Eggshell:

Big Zigzag bird species count: 534 (+5 this week)
Big Zigzag bird families count: 89 (+0 this week)
Big Zigzag Lifers: 132 (+1 this week: Chestnut Rail, excluding 7 lifers in Singapore)
Campsite Lifers 26 (+0 this week)
Big Zigzag New for Australia list: 182 (+2 this week)
eBird days of checklist streak: 299
Week’s special milestones: none

Bird(s) of the Week

Chestnut Rail (Gallirallus castaneoventris), heard only last week a few times on Buffalo Creek, near Darwin NT, and on the same place, again this week. So a boat trip with Christopher Spooner makes the difference! These rails ignore the boat, and this might be the best way to see them.

Little Kingfisher from Buffalo Creek boat trip.

Great-billed Heron from Buffalo Creek boat trip.

Terek Sandpiper. new for my Aussie list, from a low tide walk along Buffalo Creek.

Non-bird image(s)

Buffalo Creek, always at low tide. Upstream with a boat to get photos of Chestnut Rail, Little Kingfisher and many other birds. Walk downstream , or stay near the boat ramp to hear Chestnut Rail and see many other birds,

Tons of tiny crabs parades.

Week's Key location(s)

Buffalo Creek boat trip, mainly for Chestnut Rail

Big Zigzag Travelled so far: 36800 km (this week 250 km)

eBird Checklists this week

1796. 10 May 2025 12:13 PM Coolalinga Caravan Park

1795. 09 May 2025 10:18 AM Coolalinga Caravan Park

1794. 08 May 2025 10:00 AM East Point Reserve–White Rocks, Darwin

1793. 08 May 2025 7:54 AM Buffalo Creek

1792. 07 May 2025 8:29 AM Buffalo Creek Point

1791. 06 May 2025 5:01 PM 3760 Stuart Highway, Acacia Hills Campground

1790. 06 May 2025 2:42 AM Longwood Ave., Leanyer Darwin

** 5 days only due short visit to Singapore

Big Zigzag Birding

week 042 | mainly Darwin’s Mangroves | trip list 525 – 529

Posted on May, 2025May, 2025

Around Darwin

In an Eggshell:

Big Zigzag bird species count: 529 (+4 this week)
Big Zigzag bird families count: 89 (+0 this week)
Big Zigzag Lifers: 131 (+1 this week: White-breasted Whistler)
Campsite Lifers 26 (+0 this week)
Big Zigzag New for Australia list: 180 (+1 this week)
eBird days of checklist streak: 291
Week’s special milestones: ON Top 30 eBirders in Australia by species, 2025

Bird(s) of the Week

White-breasted Whistler (Pachycephala lanioides) on typical mangrove habitat. Huge strong beak used to crash crabs collected from the send. Low tide is essential for access. Thanks to local experts, Peter & Dave helped. Make sure you know your way back!

Black-tailed Whistler aka Mangrove Golden Whistler

Non-bird image(s)

Low tide mangrove. The perfect habitat for White-breasted Whistler

Our Explorer Motorhome # – as WBW on my Australian life list 🙂

Week's Key location(s)

White-breasted Whistler location – flooded on high tide, perfect on low.

Big Zigzag Travelled so far: 36550 km (this week 590 km)

eBird Checklists this week

1783. 02 May 2025 8:11 AM 3760 Stuart Highway, Acacia Hills Campground, Northern Territory, AU (-12.799, 131.121)

1782. 01 May 2025 9:27 AM 3760 Stuart Highway, Acacia Hills Campground, Northern Territory, AU (-12.799, 131.121)

1781. 30 Apr 2025 1:16 PM Buffalo Creek Shore, Darwin

1780. 30 Apr 2025 11:58 AM 7 Winston Avenue, Stuart Park, Northern Territory, AU (-12.449, 130.844)

1779. 30 Apr 2025 9:51 AM 10 Keleson Road, Noonamah, Northern Territory, AU (-12.657, 131.077)

1778. 30 Apr 2025 8:30 AM 3760 Stuart Highway, Acacia Hills Campground, Northern Territory, AU (-12.799, 131.121)

1777. 29 Apr 20253:16 PM 7 Winston Avenue, Stuart Park, Northern Territory, AU (-12.449, 130.844)

1776. 28 Apr 202510:03 AM Mangroves near Orchard Rd (Coconut Grove), Darwin

1775. 27 Apr 20253:39 PM Batchelor Holiday Park

** 6 days only due short visit to Singapore

Big Zigzag Birding

week 041 | Kakadu National Park | trip list 521 – 525

Posted on April, 2025May, 2025

Most of Kakadu National Park is seasonally closed - Luckily Nourlangie Rock is accessible

In an Eggshell:

Big Zigzag bird species count: 525 (+4 this week)
Big Zigzag bird families count: 89 (+0 this week)
Big Zigzag Lifers: 130 (+4 this week: White-lined Honeyeater, Black-banded Fruit-Dove, Sandstone Shrikethrush, Partridge Pigeon)
Campsite Lifers 26 (+0 this week)
Big Zigzag New for Australia list: 179 (+4 this week)
eBird days of checklist streak: 285
Week’s special milestones: Bird #600 on my Australia list!

Bird(s) of the Week

Partridge Pigeon (Geophaps smithii) a great lifer from Kakado NP, NT. Also my #600 on my Australian list! and cleanup genus Geophaps (with Spinifex Pigeon (Geophaps plumifera) and Squatter Pigeon (Geophaps scripta))

Black-banded Fruit-Doveת one of there lifers from Kakadu National Park–Nourlangie Rock.

Sandstone Shrikethrush, far distance lifer from the lookout in Kakadu National Park–Nourlangie Rock.

White-lined Honeyeater, also from the lookout in Kakadu National Park–Nourlangie Rock.

Non-bird image(s)

At the lookout in Kakadu National Park–Nourlangie Rock, The Sandstone Shrikethrushs are on the far left rocks.

Yellow Water, Kakadu NP sunrise

Week's Key location(s)

Arnhem Hwy/Kakadu Hwy. Partridge Pigeon site.

Big Zigzag Travelled so far: 35960 km (this week 1140 km)

eBird Checklists this week

1774. 26 Apr 2025 11:33 AM Kakadu National Park–Mamukala Billabong

1773. 25 Apr 2025 6:44 AM Kakadu National Park–Yellow Water

1772. 24 Apr 2025 9:17 AM Kakadu National Park–Nourlangie Rock

1771. 24 Apr 2025 7:36 AM Kakadu Lodge (Jabiru)

1770. 24 Apr 202 57:22 AM 18371 Arnhem Road, Kakadu, Northern Territory, AU (-12.655, 132.829)

1769. 23 Apr 2025 5:59 PM Kakadu National Park–Nourlangie Rock

1768. 23 Apr 2025 9:10 AM Kakadu National Park–Nourlangie Rock

1767. 23 Apr 2025 8:23 AM 18371 Arnhem Road, Kakadu, Northern Territory, AU (-12.655, 132.829)

1766. 23 Apr 2025 6:57 AM Arnhem Highway/Oenpelli Road, Kakadu, Northern Territory, AU (-12.65, 132.817)

1765. 22 Apr 2025 6:00 PM Kakadu Lodge (Jabiru)

1764. 22 Apr 2025 2:23 PM Kakadu National Park–South Alligator boatram

1763. 22 Apr 2025 12:22 PM Adelaide River Bridge,Arnhem Hwy, Litchfield

1762. 21 Apr 2025 3:20 PM Batchelor Holiday Park

1761. 20 Apr 2025 11:02 AM 89 Affleck Road, Acacia Hills, Northern Territory, AU (-12.708, 131.092)

Big Zigzag Birding

week 040 | Around Darwin | trip list 506 – 521

Posted on April, 2025April, 2025

Tropic heat and humidity with tons of birds..

In an Eggshell:

Big Zigzag bird species count: 521 (+15 this week)
Big Zigzag bird families count: 89 (+0 this week)
Big Zigzag Lifers: 126 (+4 this week:
Arafura Shrikethrush, Silver-backed Butcherbird,
Siberian Sand-Plover, Black-tailed Whistler)
Campsite Lifers 26 (+1 this week: Silver-backed Butcherbird)
Big Zigzag New for Australia list: 175 (+6 this week)
eBird days of checklist streak: 278
Week’s special milestones: 40 weeks!

Bird(s) of the Week

Silver-backed Butcherbird

Arafura Shrikethrush

Introduced, but a local RBA: Eurasian Tree Sparrow (at Bunnings Palmerston carpark)

One the common beauties – Rainbow Bee-eater

Non-bird image(s)

East Point, Darwin

Week's Key location(s)

Arafura Shrikethrush site

Batchelor Holiday Park – Silber-backed Butcherbird site

Buffalo Creek, Siberian Sand-Plover site

Big Zigzag Travelled so far: 34820 km (this week 879 km)

eBird Checklists this week

1760. 19 Apr 2025 10:14 AM Litchfield National Park–Florence Falls

1759. 18 Apr 2025 5:42 PM Batchelor Holiday Park

1758. 17 Apr 2025 3:46 PM Buffalo Creek

1757. 17 Apr 2025 12:21 PM East Point Mangrove Boardwalk

1756. 17 Apr 2025 10:34 AM East Point Reserve–White Rocks

1755. 16 Apr 2025 4:13 PM Ludmilla Creek

1754. 16 Apr 2025 3:09 PM Howard Springs Hunting Reserve

1753. 16 Apr 2025 1:39 PM 8 Pierssene Road, Yarrawonga, Bunnings parking Entry . Northern Territory, AU (-12.47, 130.991), Palmerston

1752. 16 Apr 2025 7:01 AM Buffalo Creek Shore, Darwin

1751. 15 Apr 2025 6:41 PM Saddle Park (Saddle Ct, Leanyer), Darwin

1750. 14 Apr 2025 8:41 AM Batchelor Holiday Park

1749. 13 Apr 20257:08 PM Batchelor Holiday Park

1748. 13 Apr 2025 11:07 AM Adelaide River Wartime Cemetery

Big Zigzag Birding

week 039 | Heading north on Stuart Hwy | trip list 494 – 506

Posted on April, 2025April, 2025

from the Red Centre to the Top End

In an Eggshell:

Big Zigzag bird species count: 506 (+12 this week)
Big Zigzag bird families count: 89 (+0 this week)
Big Zigzag Lifers: 122 (+4 this week: Northern Shrike-tit, Yellow-rumped Munia, Bar-breasted Honeyeater, Hooded Parrot)
Campsite Lifers 25 (+1 this week: Bar-breasted Honeyeater )
Big Zigzag New for Australia list: 169 (+4 this week)
eBird days of checklist streak: 271
Week’s special milestones: Zigzag #500 species! over 50% species seen in Shrike-tits family.

Bird(s) of the Week

Northern Shrike-tit from Centre Arnhem road.

Hooded Parrot, Pine Creek

Bar-breasted Honeyeater, Edith Falls road

Gouldian Finch, Edith Falls road

Yellow-rumped Munia from Katherine Showgrounds drainline. Hard to get lifer, mixed mainly with Chestnut-breasted Munia and also with Crimson Finch.

Crimson Finch from Katherine Showgrounds drainline.

Chestnut-breasted Munia from Katherine Showgrounds drainline.

Non-bird image(s)

Alice Springs Desert Park Entrance

Prime location for Hooded Parrot.

Devil Marbles

Week's Key location(s)

Alice Springs Desert Park Entrance.

Central Arnhem Rd. Northern Shrike-tit site.

Katherine Showgrounds drainline, Yellow-rumped Munia site.

Campsite at Edith Falls Rd. Bar-breasted Honeyeater (and Gouldian Finch) site.

Pine Creek Railway Museum, Hooded parrot site.

Big Zigzag Travelled so far: 33941 km (this week 1818 km)

eBird Checklists this week

1747. 12 Apr 2025 4:16 PM Pine Creek Railway Museum

1746. 12 Apr 2025 9:14 AM Nitmiluk National Park — Edith Falls Upper (track)

1745. 12 Apr 2025 7:03 AM Edith Falls Rd at -14.18405, 132.03819

1744. 11 Apr 2025 4:27 PM Katherine Showgrounds drainline

1743. 11 Apr 2025 9:01 AM Katherine Showgrounds drainline

1742. 11 Apr 2025 7:00 AM Central Arnhem Rd at -14.60250, 132.71172

1741. 10 Apr 2025 11:04 AM Daly Waters

1740. 10 Apr 2025 9:15 AM Stuart Hwy Rest Stop at 17 22 33S 133 26 23E

1739. 09 Apr 2025 7:30 PM Stuart Hwy Rest Stop at 17 22 33S 133 26 23E, Barkly

1738. 09 Apr 2025 8:18 AM Karlu Karlu / Devils Marbles Conservation Reserve

1737. 08 Apr 2025 7:04 AM Alice Springs Desert Park Entrance

1736. 07 Apr 2025 9:34 AM Alice Springs Desert Park Entrance

1735. 07 Apr 2025 8:17 AM John Flynn’s Grave Historical Reserve

1734. 06 Apr 2025 9:20 AM Tjoritja / West MacDonnell National Park–Ellery Creek Big Hole

Big Zigzag Birding

week 038 | From SA to NT | trip list 486 – 494

Posted on April, 2025April, 2025

Along Stuart Highway, Uluru area and MacDonnell Ranges

In an Eggshell:

Big Zigzag bird species count: 494 (+8 this week)
Big Zigzag bird families count: 89 (+0 this week)
Big Zigzag Lifers: 118 (+6 this week: Chiming Wedgebill, Bourke’s Parrot, Sandhill Grasswren, Banded Whitehead, Dusky Grasswren, Gray Honeyeater)
Campsite Lifers 24 (+0 this week)
Big Zigzag New for Australia list: 165 (+6 this week)
eBird days of checklist streak: 264
Week’s special milestones: Grasswren #8 & #9!, over 50% species in Whipbirds and Wedgebills

Bird(s) of the Week

Dusky Grasswren, GW #9! Serpentine Gorge, West MacDonnell

Sandhill Grasswren! My 8th GW, Near Uluru, NT

Bourke’s Parrot, lefer just before leaving South Australia

Banded Whitehead, along Stuart Hwy

Chiming Wedgebill, first seen north to Coober Pedy, SA. Later seen and heard a few time while heading north in both SA & NT.

Non-bird image(s)

Ayris Rock from Sandhill Grasswren site

Ayris Rock – Uluru

Serpentine Gorge, West MacDonnell Ranges, Dusky Grasswren site (you can see it on the closer rock!)

Week's Key location(s)

2 lifers location along Stuart Highway! Unnamed Road, Mount Willoughby, South Australia, AU (-28.259, 134.15)

Dunefield east of Yulara airport and north of Lasseter Hwy – Sandhill Grasswren site

Banded Whiteface site, along Stuart Highway, 21km north to A4 junction

Serpentine Gorge, west MacDonnell, Dusky Grasswren site

Big Zigzag Travelled so far: 32123 km (this week 1651 km)

eBird Checklists this week

1732. 05 Apr 2025 2:23 PM Tjoritja / West MacDonnell National Park–Glen Helen Gorge

1731. 05 Apr 2025 12:16 PM Tjoritja / West MacDonnell National Park–Ormiston Gorge

1730. 05 Apr 2025 9:10 AM Tjoritja / West MacDonnell National Park–Serpentine Gorge

1729. 04 Apr 2025 5:00 PM Tjoritja / West MacDonnell National Park–Hugh River at -23.80917, 133.37472

1728. 04 Apr 2025 7:36 AM Stuarts Well

1727. 03 Apr 2025 2:41 PM Henbury Meteorites Conservation Reserve

1726. 03 Apr 2025 1:25 PM Stuart Hwy, 21km north of 1725. 02 Apr 2025 10:25 AM Walpa Gorge

1724. 02 Apr 2025 8:00 AM Dunefield east of Yulara airport and north of Lasseter Hwy

1723. 02 Apr 2025 6:46 AM Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park–Talinguru Nyakunytjaku

1722. 01 Apr 2025 11:13 AM Curtin Springs Station

1721. 31 Mar 2025 8:14 AM South Australia, AU (-27.084, 133.463), Anangu Pitjantjatjara, South Australia

1720. 30 Mar 2025 1:49 PM Unnamed Road, Mount Willoughby, South Australia, AU (-28.259, 134.15)

1719. 30 Mar 2025 8:28 AM Unnamed Road, Coober Pedy, South Australia, AU (-29.073, 134.784)

Big Zigzag Birding

week 037 | The Flinders Ranges up to Coober Pedy | trip list 486 – 486

Posted on March, 2025March, 2025

Back to the Outback!

In an Eggshell:

Big Zigzag bird species count: 486 (+0 this week)
Big Zigzag bird families count: 89 (+0 this week)
Big Zigzag Lifers: 112 (+0 this week)
Campsite Lifers 24 (+0 this week)
Big Zigzag New for Australia list: 159 (+0 this week)
eBird days of checklist streak: 257
Week’s special milestones: 30000 km traveled!

Bird(s) of the Week

Great to see Pink Cockatoos again, along Stewart Highway

Zebra Finch, queen of the desert, one of the commonest birds of the Outback.

Emus at Flinders Ranges

Non-bird image(s)

Yellow-footed Rock-Wallaby, Near-threat. Ikara-Flinders Ranges National Park–Wilpena Creek

Hart Lake, Stuart Highway

Near Coober Pedy

Week's Key location(s)

Stuart Highway, Pink Cockatoos’ site

Big Zigzag Travelled so far: 30470 km (this week 1320 km)

eBird Checklists this week

1718. 29 Mar 2025 5:51 PM Kanku – Breakaways Conservation Park

1717. 29 Mar 2025 7:39 AM William Hutchinson Memorial

1716. 28 Mar 2025 1:03 PM Commonwealth Hill Road, Bulgunnia, South Australia, AU (-30.161, 135.189)

1715. 28 Mar 2025 12:10 PM Bon Bon Rest Area (Stuart Hwy)

1714. 28 Mar 2025 9:57 AM Glendambo

1713. 28 Mar 2025 9:16 AM Stuart Highway, Wirraminna, South Australia, AU (-31.179, 136.17)

1712. 28 Mar 2025 8:22 AM Lake Hart Rest Stop

1711. 27 Mar 20259:09 AM Port Augusta, South Australia, AU (-32.488, 137.764)

1710. 26 Mar 2025 4:41 PM Port Augusta Waterfront

1709. 25 Mar 2025 11:48 AM Stokes Hill Lookout Road, Willow Springs, South Australia, AU (-31.457, 138.726)

1708. 25 Mar 2025 10:01 AM Unnamed Road, Gum Creek Station, South Australia, AU (-31.187, 138.686)

1707. 24 Mar 2025 9:39 AM Ikara-Flinders Ranges National Park–Wilpena Creek

1706. 24 Mar 2025 8:02 AM Bunyeroo Road, Flinders Ranges, South Australia, AU (-31.403, 138.587)

1705. 23 Mar 2025 1:42 PM Jarvis Road, Hawker, South Australia, AU (-31.907, 138.363)

Big Zigzag Birding

week 036 | Around Adelaide | trip list 485 – 486

Posted on March, 2025March, 2025

Heading North!

In an Eggshell:

Big Zigzag bird species count: 486 (+1 this week)
Big Zigzag bird families count: 89 (+0 this week)
Big Zigzag Lifers: 112 (+1 this week:Lewin’s Rail)
Campsite Lifers 24 (+0 this week)
Big Zigzag New for Australia list: 159 (+1 this week)
eBird days of checklist streak: 250
Week’s special milestones: 250 eBird days of checklist streak

Bird(s) of the Week

Lewin’s Rail, this week’s lifer.. Scott Creek Conservation Park

Spotless Crake from the same spot 🙂

Australian Pelican (and Great Cormorant) again at Point Malcolm

Musk Lorikeet

Non-bird image(s)

The Bluff, Victor Harbor

Week's Key location(s)

Big Zigzag Travelled so far: 29150 km (this week 1250 km)

eBird Checklists this week

1704. 22 Mar 2025 6:35 PM Price Maurice Road, Orroroo, South Australia, AU (-32.75, 138.601)

1703. 21 Mar 2025 7:12 PM 7 Baker Road, Hamley Bridge, South Australia, AU (-34.352, 138.682)

1702. 21 Mar 2025 4:57 PM Barossa Reservoir–Whispering Wall

1701. 21 Mar 2025 10:52 AM Matthews Road, Dorset Vale, South Australia, AU (-35.087, 138.677)

1700. 20 Mar 2025 10:08 AM Matthews Road, Dorset Vale, South Australia, AU (-35.087, 138.677)

1699. 19 Mar 2025 1:57 PM Onkaparinga River National Park

1698. 18 Mar 2025 3:06 PM The Bluff (Victor Harbor)

1697. 18 Mar 2025 12:53 PM Strathalbyn

1696. 18 Mar 2025 9:23 AM Alexandrina Drive, Narrung, South Australia, AU (-35.513, 139.185)

1695. 17 Mar 2025 12:33 PM Coorong National Park–Jacks Point

1694. 16 Mar 20257:13 PM Lucindale

Big Zigzag Birding

week 035 | Back to South Australia via Victoria | trip list 484 – 485

Posted on March, 2025March, 2025

Back to Gang-gang territories!

In an Eggshell:

Big Zigzag bird species count: 485 (+1 this week)
Big Zigzag bird families count: 89 (+1 this week: Bristlebirds)
Big Zigzag Lifers: 111 (+0 this week:0)
Campsite Lifers 24 (+0 this week)
Big Zigzag New for Australia list: 158 (+1 this week)
eBird days of checklist streak: 243
Week’s special milestones: None

Bird(s) of the Week

Rufous Bristlebird, new endemic bird family for Big Zigzag list. (photographed in 2018, Great Ocean Road)

Great to hear and see some Gang-gang Cockatoos again, this one from Heywood, VIC

Black-tailed Nativehens from Cockatoo Lake, South Australia

Typical assortment on lake Cockatoo like: Australian Pelican, Yellow-billed Spoonbill, Australian Shelduck, Pacific Black Duck, Masked Lapwing, Sliver Gull, Gray Teal.

Non-bird image(s)

Blue Lake, Mount Gambier, South Australia. Amazing site with local interesting record: 15 Great Crested Grebes

Cape Nelson Lighthouse Reserve, Victoria

Week's Key location(s)

Cape Nelson Lighthouse is a great spot for Rufous Bristlebird

Big Zigzag Travelled so far: 27900 km (this week 950 km)

eBird Checklists this week

1693. 15 Mar 2025 9:59 AM Cockatoo Lake

1692. 14 Mar 2025 6:05 PM Cockatoo Lake, Naracoorte and Lucindale

1691. 14 Mar 2025 1:19 PM Naracoorte Caves National Park–Visitor Centre

1690. 13 Mar 2025 2:01 PM Blue Lake, South Australia

1689. 12 Mar 2025 4:48 PM Fitzroy River, Heywood, Victoria

1688. 12 Mar 2025 1:12 PM Fawthrop Lagoon

1687. 11 Mar 2025 1:59 PM Bridgewater Bay

1686. 11 Mar 2025 10:17 AM Cape Nelson Lighthouse Reserve

1685. 10 Mar 2025 4:45 PM Fawthrop Lagoon

1684. 09 Mar 2025 10:05 AM Kings Domain

Big Zigzag Birding

week 034 | North Tasmania and back to the mainland | trip list 483 – 484

Posted on March, 2025March, 2025

Easy last week in Tassie and crossing the Bass Strait again

In an Eggshell:

Big Zigzag bird species count: 484 (+1 this week)
Big Zigzag bird families count: 88 (+1 this week: Skuas and Jaegers)
Big Zigzag Lifers: 111 (+0 this week:0)
Campsite Lifers 24 (+0 this week)
Big Zigzag New for Australia list: 158 (+1 this week)
eBird days of checklist streak: 236
Week’s special milestones: None