Species continued

101: Emerald Dove:  The only sighting of this species was one bird along East Point Rd

102: Common Bronzewing: A few in flight in acacia woodland, near the Waterfall Creek turnoff in Kakadu NP, in the late afternoon

103. Crested Pigeon: First birds seen in Pine Creek, thereafter seen almost daily west to Kununurra and return

104. Spinifex Pigeon: Two seen along the road to Lake Argyle village; two seen on the edge of Wyndham township

105. Partridge Pigeon: After working hard and gaining only poor views of a flock near the Mardugal turn-off, Kakadu NP, we were rewarded the next day with excellent views, from the bus, of a flock along the road into Waterfall Creek. A total of about 30 seen

106. Chestnut-quilled Rock Pigeon: Two seen at close range at Little Nourlangie Rock -thanks to Annie's good spotting

107. White-quilled Pigeon: One seen in the far distance at Joe's Creek, Gregory NP; about four seen well on the boat trip on Lake  Argyle; another four seen at Dead Horse Springs along the Lake Argyle Rd

108. Diamond Dove: Not seen until west of Timber Creek, thereafter seen daily. Some large concentrations, between Kununurra and Wyndham, with about 50 feeding on burnt ground

109. Peaceful Dove: Common and widespread throughout the Top End. Seen everyday of the tour, very tame and numerous in Darwin

110. Bar-shouldered Dove: Not quite as numerous as Peaceful Dove but not lagging far behind-seen on every day of the tour

111. Banded Fruit-Dove:  One only seen along the South Alligator River on the road into Waterfall Creek - good spotting by Ida

112. Rose-crowned Fruit-Dove:  A beautiful male seen at Howard Springs

113. Pied Imperial-Pigeon: Quite a few flocks seen around Darwin. This species seems to be overwintering in Darwin much more than it previously did

114. Red-tailed Black-Cockatoo: Common and widespread, seen on every day of the tour, several large flocks seen west of Victoria River

115. Galah: Moderately common and widespread, not seen on a couple of days, mainly seen in small flocks, one large congregation of about 300 birds at a watering point west of Katherine

116. Little Corella: Common and widespread across the Top End, only missed on four days of the tour, maximum number around 50

117. Sulphur-crested Cockatoo: Widespread in small numbers across the Top End, only missed on one day of the tour; maximum number was about six

118. Cockatiel: Moderately common in small flocks between Katherine and Kununurra

119. Rainbow Lorikeet: Common and widespread in small numbers across the Top End; large roosting congregations in the centre of Darwin and Palmerston. Numbers down elsewhere due to the lack of flowering trees, this dry season, across the Top End

120. Varied Lorikeet: Scarce across the Top End during the tour, only seen on three days, mainly along the Arnhem Hwy just outside Kakadu NP where we had great views of about 30 birds. A few small flocks flew over elsewhere in Kakadu

121. Red-winged Parrot:  Widespread in small numbers across the Top End, seen on most days of the tour, best numbers from Pine Creek - Katherine - Victoria River

122. Northern Rosella: Few small flocks between Cooinda - Waterfall Creek and Pine Creek. Best view of about 15 birds feeding on the lawns at Bonrook Station; two around Kununurra

123. Hooded Parrot: Group of about 12 adults and immatures roosting beside the highway south of the Ferguson River, another good pick-up from Ida; another group of about eight at the water tanks in Pine Creek

124. Budgerigar: One small flock west of Katherine

125. Brush Cuckoo: Few around Fogg Dam; South Alligator rainforest walk; Cooinda nature walk

126. Little Bronze-Cuckoo: Quite a few seen this year plus some nice views, one at Fogg Dam; one at South Alligator rainforest walk; one Cooinda nature walk; one at Victoria River crossing

127.Pheasant Coucal: Around five seen Darwin-Kakadu to Pine Creek; heard calling in Kununurra

128. Rufous Owl: Beautiful pair roosting in Darwin Botanic Gardens

129. Barking Owl: Heard calling at many localities: Palmeston STW; South Alligator Village; Cooinda; Victoria River. Birds seen: Fogg Dam; Cooinda and South Alligator River at Waterfall Creek

130. Barn Owl: One along road at night near South Alligator River village; one between Kununurra and Lake Argyle

131. Tawny Frogmouth: A pair seen on the Yellow Waters boat trip, one between Kununurra and Lake Argyle. Northern birds are considerably smaller than their  southern counterparts

132. Australian Owlet-nightjar: One on road at night between Wyndham and Kununurra

133. Azure Kingfisher: One seen at Howard Springs; few seen Yellow Waters; one at South Alligator River

134. Little Kingfisher: One seen briefly in mangroves at Palmerston STW

135. Blue-winged Kookaburra: Not seen around Darwin but quite a few seen nearly everyday of the tour elsewhere

136. Forest Kingfisher: Not so common, a few seen daily in the Darwin/Kakadu areas

137. Red-backed Kingfisher: None seen until the Katherine area, thereafter quite a few seen daily across to Kununurra and the return trip to Darwin; about 10 the maximum number seen in a day

138. Sacred Kingfisher: Quite a few seen daily around Darwin and Kakadu and only odd birds seen thereafter in the Katherine and Kununurra areas

139. Collared Kingfisher: Great views of this beautiful kingfisher in the mangroves at Nightcliff

140. Rainbow Bee-eater: Common and widespread across the Top End, good numbers seen on everyday of the tour

141. Rainbow Pitta: One only, seen well at Buffalo Creek

142.  Black-tailed Tree-creeper: Only a few recorded in the Cooinda, Waterfall Creek and Pine Creek areas

143. Purple-crowned Fairy-wren: Group of about four at Victoria River crossing and about three along the Ord River and Lake Argyle. Great views of coloured males at both localities

144. Variegated Fairy-wren: Group seen briefly on the escarpment at Waterfall Creek

145. Red-backed Fairy-wren: Groups recorded on most days of the tour, several full coloured males seen

146. White-throated Grasswren: Five delightful birds seen on the escarpment at Waterfall Creek

147. Red-browed Pardalote: Several heard from Timber Creek to Kununurra, one or two eventually seen, although poorly, at Keep River. Quite a difficult bird to see in windy conditions

148. Striated Pardalote: A few seen or heard on most days of the tour; a few entering nest holes along the roadsides

149. Weebill:  A few seen or heard most days in dry eucalypt woodland

150. Mangrove Gerygone:  A few in mangroves at Palmeston STW and one in Wyndham mangroves

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