Big Zigzag bird species count: 636 (+0 this week) Big Zigzag bird families count: 93 (+0 this week) Big Zigzag Lifers: 168 (+0 this week) Campsite Lifers 30 (+0 this week) Big Zigzag New for Australia list: 225 (+0 this week), AU list now 654. eBird days of checklist streak: 628 Week’s special milestones: None
Bird(s) of the Week
Turquoise Parrot (Neophema pulchella), from Tarpoly Creek Travelling Stock Reserve. Seen only twice berfore (12-13/1/2025, Warby-Ovens National Park–Nason Springs , VIC, where this photo was taken).
Speckled Warbler (Pyrrholaemus sagittatus), member of Acanthizidae (Gerygones, Thornbills, Scrubwrens, and Allies).
Eastern Shrike-tit (Falcunculus frontatus) member of one out of seven Aussie endemic bird families, Falcunculidae (Shriketits). As the Latin name and the standing in the first picture, it resembles a tiny falcon.
Restless Flycatcher (Myiagra inquieta) member of Monarchidae (Monarch Flycatchers, Paradise Flycatchers, and Shrikebills).
Non-bird image(s)
Tarpoly Creek Travelling Stock Reserve – a real Bird Hotspot! So close to hwy B95 with great specices as Turquoise Parrot, Spotted Bowerbird, Restless Flycatcher & Speckled Warbler.
Birding highlight from a quick stop at Barraba Silo Art was Peregrine Falcon who’s probably feeding on dozens of Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) living there. But the side painting on the 40 meter high silo, may be a bit more attractive… (Regent Honeyeater).
Week's Key location(s)
Tarpoly Creek Travelling Stock Reserve.
Big Zigzag Travelled so far: 82250 km (this week 950 km)
Big Zigzag bird species count: 636 (+1 this week: Chestnut-rumped Heathwren) Big Zigzag bird families count: 93 (+0 this week) Big Zigzag Lifers: 168 (+0 this week) Campsite Lifers 30 (+0 this week) Big Zigzag New for Australia list: 225 (+0 this week), AU list now 654. eBird days of checklist streak: 621 Week’s special milestones: eBird checklist #2345
Bird(s) of the Week
Chestnut-rumped Heathwren (Hylacola pyrrhopygia), new for the Big Zigzag, seen only once before in 2018. Photographed at The Lost City Walking Track in the Garden of Stones National Park. Member of Acanthizidae (Gerygones, Thornbills, Scrubwrens, and Allies).
Superb Lyrebird supprised us crosssing while climbing up the steep Illawarra Hwy (photographed in 2018)
Tawny Frogmouth (Podargus strigoides) supprised us at Barren Grounds while chasing (unsuccessfuly) auruea australis. (photograpged at 2024).
Non-bird image(s)
The Lost City Lookout, Chestnut-rumped Heathwren site.
Week's Key location(s)
Big Zigzag Travelled so far: 81300 km (this week 600 km)
Singleton - Upper Hunter Shire - Liverpool Plains - Wingecarribee
In an Eggshell:
Big Zigzag bird species count: 635 (+0 this week) Big Zigzag bird families count: 93 (+0 this week) Big Zigzag Lifers: 168 (+0 this week) Campsite Lifers 30 (+0 this week) Big Zigzag New for Australia list: 225 (+0 this week), AU list now 654. eBird days of checklist streak: 614. Week’s special milestones: Second earth’s circumference travelled so far – over 80000 km!
Bird(s) of the Week
White-throated Needletail (Hirundapus caudacutus) appears to be rare in this week area. Seen in two different locations and both required additional eBird information on the checklist.
Hoary-headed Grebe (Poliocephalus poliocephalus) always sweet and more like “hairy headed” or “furry headed”. Shares the genu only with New Zealand Grebe (Poliocephalus rufopectus).
Good number of Yellow-billed Spoonbills (11) at Quipolly Dams required extra explnantions at eBird checklist as well.
Diamond Firetail (Stagonopleura guttata) photographed for the 1st time!
Double-barred-Finch (Stizoptera bichenovii), nonotype genus. (looks like micro Barn Owl 🙂 )
Non-bird image(s)
Quipolly Dams bird hide
Jamberoo Lookout was the lifer site for White-headed Pigeon at 2013. Visited a few time during the Big Zigzag without spotting this pigeon, but this week while driving there 5 WHP seen near by at Robertson, one of our favorites free camps.
Week's Key location(s)
Big Zigzag Travelled so far: 80700 km (this week 750 km)
Big Zigzag bird species count: 635 (+; this week) Big Zigzag bird families count: 93 (+0 this week) Big Zigzag Lifers: 168 (+0 this week) Campsite Lifers 30 (+0 this week) Big Zigzag New for Australia list: 225 (+0 this week), AU list now 654. eBird days of checklist streak: 607. Week’s special milestones: None
Bird(s) of the Week
Red-necked Stint
Non-bird image(s)
Blue Bay
Week's Key location(s)
Big Zigzag Travelled so far: 79950 km (this week 650 km)
eBird Checklists this week
2323. 14 Mar 2026 11:46 AM Talits Estate Vineyard (restricted access), Singleton
Armidale Dumaresq - Uralla - Port Macquarie-Hastings - Kempsey
In an Eggshell:
Big Zigzag bird species count: 634 (+0 this week) Big Zigzag bird families count: 93 (+0 this week) Big Zigzag Lifers: 168 (+0 this week) Campsite Lifers 30 (+0 this week) Big Zigzag New for Australia list: 225 (+0 this week), AU list now 654. eBird days of checklist streak: 600. Week’s special milestones: 600 eBird days of checklist streak!
Bird(s) of the Week
What does it mean when the bird of the week is Aussie Pipit?
Or Great Cormorant?
Non-bird image(s)
One of the Tramea Gliders
Crescent Head
Week's Key location(s)
Big Zigzag Travelled so far: 79300 km (this week 600 km)
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)
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)
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)
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)
Big Zigzag bird species count: 607 (+0 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: 487 eBird days of checklist streak: 523 Week’s special milestones: none
Bird(s) of the Week
Eastern Cattle-Egret
Baillon’s Crake
Pink-eared Duck (Malacorhynchus membranaceus), monotype genus Australian endmic
Jerrabomberra Wetlands: Australian Pelican, Australian Ibis, Maned Duck, Little Black Cormorant, Royal Spoonbill, Eurasian Coot
Non-bird image(s)
Jarabombera Marshes. Even though I dipped the Black-backed Bittern, it’s great to be here. 60 species a day, with 5 beautiful hides, and a 2 minute drive from Barrio Collective Coffee Roastery and Capital Brewing Co, where you can have a delicious vegan burger.
Week's Key location(s)
Big Zigzag Travelled so far: 71100 km (this week 800 km)