BY 2024 - Herman and Kit's 7th (!what?!) year

[PeterHG]

Beautiful shots of kingfishers and owls!

[Kitsafari]

Thanks @xelas @TonyQ @Zim Girl @PeterHG@Peter Connan

- we were quite pleased we got so many kingfishers!

 

 

[Kitsafari]

298. Mangrove Robin, East Point mangrove boardwalk

 

We dipped on the robin the first walk we had with Harn although we heard it several times. On the return, the boardwalk was quieter with just Herman and I, and later a couple of non-birders. this is a very skulking bird but it did respond to a short playback. 

 

 

[Kitsafari]

299.  Rose-crowned Fruit-Dove, East Point park

 

Just like any fruit dove, the rose-crowned fruit-dove is a brightly coloured bird with a yellow-orange belly and vent, a pink forehead that gave it its name and a pink upper belly. Harn's sharp eyes caught the small green and yellow dove feeding in a fruiting tree. Distributed in Australia and Timor Leste.

 

 

 

[Kitsafari]

300. Rainbow Pitta, Howard Springs

 

There's nothing rainbow-coloured about this small pitta dressed in greens and black. But we sacrificed blood and itchy bites to dozens of mosquitoes as we hunted for this elusive bird for a decent photo. by the end of the hunt, we only got one presentable shot! The only pitta found in northern Australia, and one of two pittas (the other being noisy pitta) on the continent. 

 

Edited July 30 by Kitsafari

[Kitsafari]

301. Whistling Kite, Corroboree Billabong/Fogg Dam

 

A large brownish raptor distributed mainly in Australia and PNG. Tail is slightly rounded. 

 

 

 

Fogg Dam

 

Edited July 30 by Kitsafari

[Kitsafari]

302. White-bellied Sea Eagle, Corroboree Billabong

 

A very large beautiful raptor with a wide geographical range from subcontinental India through SOutheast Asia  (including singapore) to Australia. we saw quite a few at the billabong including a pair of juveniles. 

 

Adult

 

The pair of juveniles were honing their fighting skills - luckily the boat was so slow I was able to do  a series. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited July 30 by Kitsafari

[Kitsafari]

303. Black-eared kite, Buffalo Creek/Howard Spring

 

eBird does not categorise this separately but the Black-eared Kite is a eastern form - lineatus - of the Black Kite that breeds over a large area from western Siberia to China and Japan. it winters to southern Asia. 

 

[Kitsafari]

304. Brahminy Kite, Buffalo Creek

 

A medium-sized raptor well distributed from the Indian sub-continent to the coastal areas of Australia. Also found in Singapore. 

 

[Kitsafari]

305. Brown Goshawk, Rockshelf NightCliff/Fogg Dam

 

 

[Kitsafari]

306. Osprey, Bicentennial Park

 

 

[Kitsafari]

307. Nankeen Night Heron, Howard Springs

 

a juvenile

[Kitsafari]

308. Orange-footed Megapode

 

With a name like megapode, we were initially excited seeing it in the Bicentennial Park on the first day of arrival in Darwin. Then, we started seeing it almost everywhere! like a large chicken. It gave the best views in the Darwin Botanical Gardens. 

 

 

[Kitsafari]

309. Broad-billed Flycatcher, East Point mangrove walk

 

A beautiful flycatcher that prefers the mangrove forests. The male spots a rich orange neck and chest with a deep blue-grey cloak. The female has faint orangey neck and more greyish back. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Kitsafari]

310. Leaden Flycatcher, East Point mangrove

 

The mangrove was a treasure trove of flycatchers and small birds. The male leaden flycatcher is bluish-grey on its back and white on its front with a blue grey bib that curves upward at the edges. 

 

[Kitsafari]

311. Shining Flycatcher, East Point beach and Mangrove walk/ Buffalo Creek

 

Like the leaden flycatcher, this shining flycatcher is distributed in Australia to PNG and West Papua. The male is a deep blue-black all over while the female has a pretty deep chestnut back with a black crown and face.  On our second visit, at least three males were wooing one female. 

courting behavious

 

 

 

female

 

 

[xelas]

(!what?!) year

 

A year of beautiful birds!

[Tdgraves]

Congratulations on three hundred and what a worthy bird to choose for it

[TonyQ]

Well done on passing 300, and with a really beautiful bird (299 isn't bad either )

[PeterHG]

Congratulations on passing the 300 mark! Of course #300 is a worthy bird, but doesn’t even stand out too much in this beautiful batch.

[Kitsafari]

Thank you @xelas @Tdgraves @TonyQ @PeterHG

 

I'll continue the Oz count after we return. 

Heading out tonight for 2 weeks to Mongolia and hopefully will come back with a good batch of lifers (birds and mammals)!

 

 

Edited July 31 by Kitsafari

[TonyQ]

Have a great trip @Kitsafari- an exciting place to go I think

[xelas]

I am looking forward to both the birds in the Big Year and the trip report. Will you do any horseback riding treks?

[michael-ibk]

Congrats on #300 Kit and Herman. Beautiful bird, but like Peter said you have so many gorgeous photos most would be worthy for a century!

 

Have a fantastic trip to Mongolia!

[offshorebirder]

The male Broad-billed Flycatcher was banded (ringed) @Kitsafari!