2014 - Can I see 1000 species? (1 Viewer)

[Larry Sweetland]

Beautiful Firetail would presumably be another option. All 3 spp feed on the ground, so maybe being in tree tops wouldn't be much to go on. Don't know what skytrain's like, but wouldn't go much on plumage tone if looking through glass.

 

[chris butterworth]

No problems John. Doing a 'Grand Year' is something rather special. Anyway, your trials and tribulations keep me ( just ) sane enough to retain my job. :t:

 

[Jon Turner]

No problems John. Doing a 'Grand Year' is something rather special. Anyway, your trials and tribulations keep me ( just ) sane enough to retain my job. :t:

Glad to be of service! Off for a swim on Bondi beach today. Actually we had a swim on a boat yesterday - we were stood at the front under S H Bridge when we ran into some large bow waves and got drenched! Camera was fortunately ok.

 

[Jon Turner]

Enjoyed the swim, then spent several hours walking around The Botanic Gardens. Nothing new.

So, monday we fly to Hawaii. Anyone any ideas for some real Hawaiian birds, sadly we're staying in Honolulu, where I know the birding ain't the best. So I will probably take a flight to another Island, but which one?

 

[Jon Turner]

486) Red-vented Bulbul
487) ZEBRA DOVE

Now in downtown Honolulu about to try the sea more dreckly I hope.

 

[Jon Turner]

A few slightly plastic birds:
488) HOUSE FINCH
489) JAVA SPARROW
490) JAPANESE WHITE-EYE and a real bird:
491) GREAT FRIGATEBIRD

And there's a Tern sp around the marina I haven't had a decent look at yet - spose it'll be Black-naped.

 

[Jon Turner]

I've just looked back at a couple of pics I took in Port Douglas harbour of a small bird which seemed to be fly catching from the stays of a boat moored across the waterway. I can make out a crimson throat, otherwise drab-ish brown. I'all crop and post a PIC when I get home but for now I'm going to call it:
492) CRIMSON FINCH

Any other suggestions welcome.

 

[chowchilla]

I've just looked back at a couple of pics I took in Port Douglas harbour of a small bird which seemed to be fly catching from the stays of a boat moored across the waterway. I can make out a crimson throat, otherwise drab-ish brown. I'all crop and post a PIC when I get home but for now I'm going to call it:
492) CRIMSON FINCH

Any other suggestions welcome.

Sounds like a good description of a female Crimson Finch but no harm in posting a pic.

 

[Jon Turner]

Ah, breakfast overlooking the south or west end of Waikiki Beach, a grim assignment indeed. The positives so far this morning, sorry, but mostly plastic imports again:
493) RED-CRESTED CARDINAL
494) YELLOW-FRONTED CANARY
495) BLACK-RUMPED WAXBILL
Also
496) Siberian Tattler (Grey-tailed when I was in Fiji)
497) Black-crowned Night Heron
498) White-tailed Tropicbird

Several near summer plumage Pacific Golden Plover wandering about a small grassy park, and a few Cattle Egrets flying by.

Thanks Chowchilla for that note - by this time next week I'll be home, but jet-lagged so I'll get around to posting pics asap after that... And of course I'll be chasing around Devon for summer migrants too!!!

 

[chris butterworth]

Siberian Tattler is the same as Grey-tailed John. Did you mean Wandering? BTW there are supposed to be White Tern in Honolulu ( I don't know how good the gen is, though ).

 

[njlarsen]

I think I read somewhere that non-plastic birds in Hawaii is mostly above 2000 ft elevation (or was that meters?).

Of course, the beach might give sightings of a completely different kind of bird (although Rio might be better for that ... not that I have been either place).

Niels

You should have added Machu Pichu to your world tour, those three non-birders hopefully would have loved that (or at least some of the Mexican pyramids)

 

[Jon Turner]

I think I read somwhere that non-plastic birds in Hawaii is mostly above 2000 ft elevation or was that meters?).

Of course, the beach might give sightings of a completely different kind of bird (although Rio might be better for that ... not that I have been either place).

Niels

You should have added Machu Pichu to your world tour, those three non-birders hopefully would have loved that (or at least some of the Mexican pyramids)

Chris: I saw Grey-tailed (Siberian now according to the book I have - both Tattlers have grey tails) in Fiji, I tried to make some of them Wandering then, but concluded the different ones must be juv or winter plumage. The one I saw today had a super that met above the eyes. So Siberian I think.

Niels: behave yourself......! My daughter was at Machu Pichu in February. I gave her instructions to see Condor. As I haven't seen her since she got back I'm not sure if she did. Still can't add it to my year list though!

 

[Jon Turner]

Hmmm, re 493, this is a species I may have seen in Trinidad..... But not this year!

 

[Larry Sweetland]

I've just looked back at a couple of pics I took in Port Douglas harbour of a small bird which seemed to be fly catching from the stays of a boat moored across the waterway. I can make out a crimson throat, otherwise drab-ish brown. I'all crop and post a PIC when I get home but for now I'm going to call it:
492) CRIMSON FINCH

Any other suggestions welcome.

How about Scarlet/Red-headed Honeyeater (which ever one's in range)? I can more imagine one of those flycatching off a boat stay than a Crimson Finch, especially if there were mangroves around. Be good to have a look at that pic....

 

[Jon Turner]

How about Scarlet/Red-headed Honeyeater (which ever one's in range)? I can more imagine one of those flycatching off a boat stay than a Crimson Finch, especially if there were mangroves around. Be good to have a look at that pic....

Wrong bill-shape Larry - even on the poor PIC I can see a seed-eater's/finchy beak.

 

[Larry Sweetland]

ah, finchy beak changes things for sure!

 

[Jon Turner]

OK,
499) HAWIIAN DUCK
500) WHITE TERN or Common Fairy Tern - actually seen them every day but thought I'd save it for the auspicious number 500 or HALF WAY!!

Off to see the Banzai pipeline later today - hope it's working!

 

[chowchilla]

Half way there! Still not tempted to do a week in Colombia?

 

[Jon Turner]

[QUOTE Chowchilla;2956446]Half way there! Still not tempted to do a weeek in thisColombia?[/QUOTE]

Colombia would make it easily, so I might save that for another year.

I'll see how the UK and Spain shape up over the next couple of months then see about where else to go.

501) WHITE-RUMPED SHAMA
502) RED-BILLED LEOTHRIX
503) HAWAIIAN COOT please tell me this is a real species and not just American Coot, although that would also count....
504) HAWAIIAN BLACK-NECKED STILT - ditto
595) CHESTNUT MUNIA

Also, Booby sp and Gull sp. Gulls are like rocking-horse sh*t around here so any suggestions welcome - large-ish and only seen from the minibus...
Poss Wandering Tattler - call was good this time lots of barring underneath in flight...

 

[Andy Hurley]

[QUOTE Chowchilla;2956446]Half way there! Still not tempted to do a weeek in thisColombia?

Colombia would make it easily, so I might save that for another year.

I'll see how the UK and Spain shape up over the next couple of months then see about where else to go.

501) WHITE-RUMPED SHAMA
502) RED-BILLED LEOTHRIX
503) HAWAIIAN COOT please tell me this is a real species and not just American Coot, although that would also count....
504) HAWAIIAN BLACK-NECKED STILT - ditto
595) CHESTNUT MUNIA

Also, Booby sp and Gull sp. Gulls are like rocking-horse sh*t around here so any suggestions welcome - large-ish and only seen from the minibus...
Poss Wandering Tattler - call was good this time lots of barring underneath in flight...[/QUOTE]

Congratulations on reaching the halfway point Jon!
I know numbers get a bit difficult after 500, but from 504 the next one isn't 595, thats just wishful thinking