by Sean Dooley
600 Mangrove Robin, Eopsaltria pulverulenta, Sept 9, Cardwell, QLD
601 Eastern Grass Owl, Tyto capensis, Sept 9, Ingham, QLD
602 Pied Monarch, Arses kaupi, Sept 10, Jourama Falls, QLD
603 Cotton Pygmy Goose, Nettapus coromandelianus, Sept 10, Ross River Dam, QLD
604 Eungella Honeyeater, Lichenostomus hindwoodi, Sept 11, Eungalla, QLD
605 Mangrove Honeyeater, Lichenostomus fasciogularis, Sept 13, Toorbul Point, QLD
606 Albert’s Lyrebird, Menura alberti, Sept 14, Lamington, QLD
607 Olive Whistler, Pachycephala olivacea, Sept 14, Lamington, QLD
608 Rufous Scrub-bird, Atrichiornis rufescens, Sept 16, Lamington,
609 Superb Parrot, Polytelis swainsonii, Sept 20, Gulpa, NSW
610 Antarctic Prion, Pachyptila desolata, Sept 22, Eaglehawk Neck, TAS
611 Southern Fulmar, Fulmarus glacialoides, Sept 22, Eaglehawk Neck, TAS
612 Buller’s Shearwater, Puffinus bulleri, Oct 13, Newcastle, NSW
613 Black-bellied Storm-Petrel, Fregetta tropica, Oct 13, Newcastle, NSW
614 Gould’s Petrel, Pterodroma leucoptera, Oct 13, Newcastle, NSW
615 Lord Howe Woodhen, Gallirallus sylvestris, Oct 16, Lord Howe Island
616 Little Shearwater, Puffinus assimilis, Oct 17, Lord Howe Island
617 White-bellied Storm-Petrel, Fregetta grallaria, Oct 18, Lord Howe Island
618 Plum-headed Finch, Neochmia modesta, Ocober 20, Capertee Valley, NSW
619 Regent Honeyeater, Xanthomyza phrygia, Oct 20, Capertee Valley,
620 Black Honeyeater, Certhionix niger, Oct 21, West Wyalong, NSW
621 Spotted Quail-Thrush, Cinclosma punctatum, Oct 22, Barambogie, VIC
622 Red-lored Whistler, Pachycephala rufogularis, Oct 28, Comet Bore, SA
623 Malleefowl, Leipoa ocellata, Oct 29, Eromophila Park, SA
624 Rufous Field-wren, Calamanthus campestris, Oct 31, Lyndhurst, SA
625 Inland Dotterel, Charadrius australis, Nov 1, Cook, SA
626 Blue-breasted Fairy-wren, Malurus pulcherrimus, Nov 3, Ravensthorpe, WA
627 Western Whipbird, Psophodes nigrogularis, Nov 4, Fitzgerald River, WA
628 White-winged Triller, Lalage sueurii, Nov 4, Boxwood Hill, WA
629 Noisy Scrub-bird, Atrichiornis clamosus, Nov 4, Cheyne’s Beach, WA
630 Western Bristlebird, Dasyornis longirostris, Nov 4, Two People’s Bay, WA
631 Common Koel, Eudynamys scolopacea, Nov 6, Sydney Airport, NSW
632 Canada Goose, Branta canadensis, Nov 7, Shoalhaven Heads, NSW
633 Rock Parrot, Neophema petrophila, Nov 10, Lancelin, WA
634 Lesser Noddy, Anous tenuirostris, Nov 12, Abrolhos Islands, WA
635 Chestnut-breasted Quail-thrush, Cinclosma castaneothorax, Nov 13, Cue, WA
636 Spinifexbird, Eremiornis carteri, Nov 14, Newman, WA
637 Oriental Plover , Charadius veredus, Nov 15, Old Onslow, WA
638 Chiming Wedgebill, Psophodes occidentalis, Nov 15, 72km North of Carnavon, WA
639 Yellow White-eye, Zosterops luteus, Nov 16, Broome, WA
640 Blue and White Flycatcher, Ficedula cyanomelana, Nov 16, Broome, WA
641 Swinhoe’s Snipe, Gallinago megala, Nov 16, Broome, WA
642 Yellow Wagtail, Motacilla flava, Nov 16, Broome, WA
643 Little Curlew, Numenius minutus, Nov 16, Broome, WA
644 Long-toed Stint, Calidris subminuta, Nov 16, Broome, WA
645 Dusky Gerygone, Gerygone tenebrosa, Nov 16, Broome, WA
646 Yellow-tinted Honeyeater, Lichenostomus flavescens, Nov 16, Broome, WA
647 Mangrove Grey Fantail, Rhipidura phasiana, Nov 17, Broome, WA
648 Common Redshank, Tringa totanus, Nov 17, Broome, WA
649 White-breasted Whistler, Pachycephala lanioides, Nov 17, Broome, WA
650 Asian Dowitcher, Limnodromus semipalmatus, Nov 17, Broome, WA
651 Lesser Crested Tern, Sterna bengalensis, Nov 17, Broome, WA
652 Yellow Chat, Epthianura crocea, Nov 17, Broome, WA
653 Sanderling, Calidris alba, Nov 17, Broome, WA
654 Long-tailed Finch, Poephila acuticauda, Nov 17, Broome, WA
655 Ruff, Philomachus pugnax, Nov 19, Derby, WA
656 Great-billed Heron, Ardea sumatrana, Nov 19, Derby, WA
657 Bar-breasted Honeyeater, Ramsayornis fasciatus, Nov 19, Dog Chain Creek, WA
658 Gargeny, Anas querquedula, Nov 19, Mt. Barnett, WA
659 Black-tailed Treecreeper, Climacteris melanura, Nov 19, Mt. Barnett, WA
660 White-gaped Honeyeater, Lichenostomus unicolor, Nov 20, Windjana Gorge, WA
661 Isabelline Wheatear, Oenanthe isabellina, Nov 21, Mount Carbine, QLD
662 Rufous Owl, Ninox rufa, Nov 21, Emerald Creek Falls, QLD
663 Buff-breasted Paradise Kingfisher, Tanysiptera sylvia, Nov 22, Julatten, QLD
664 Northern Rosella, Platycercus venustus, Nov 25, Mount Elizabeth, WA
665 White-quilled Rock-Pigeon, Petrophassa albipennis, Nov 25, Mount Elizabeth, WA
666 Sandstone Shrike-thrush, Colluricincla woodwardi, Nov 26, Mount Elizabeth, WA
667 White-lined Honeyeater, Meliphaga albilineata, Nov 26, Mount Elizabeth, WA
668 Green-backed Gerygone, Gerygone chloronotus, Nov 26, Mount Elizabeth, WA
669 Masked Finch, Poephila personata, Nov 26, Mount Elizabeth, WA
670 Star Finch, Neochmia ruficauda, Nov 27, Parry’s Lagoon, WA
671 Yellow-rumped Mannikin, Lonchura flaviprymna, Nov 27, Kununurra, WA
672 Red-chested Button-quail, Turnix pyrrhothorax, Nov 28, Kununurra, WA
673 Gouldian Finch, Erythrura gouldiae, Nov 29, Kununurra, WA
674 Pictorella Mannikin, Heteromunia pectoralis, Nov 29, Kununurra, WA
675 Purple-crowned Fairy-wren, Malurus coronatus, Nov 30, VIC River Crossing, NT
676 Chestnut-backed Button-quail, Turnix castanota, Dec 1, Copperfield Dam, NT
677 Hooded Parrot, Psephotus dissimilis, Dec 2, Umbruwarra Gorge Rd, NT
678 White-throated Grasswren, Amytornis housei, Dec 2, Kakadu, NT
679 Partridge Pigeon, Geophaps smithii, Dec 2, Kakadu, NT
680 Banded Fruit-Dove, Ptilinopus cinctus, Dec 3, Kakadu, NT
681 Chestnut-quilled Rock-Pigeon, Petrophassa rufipennis, Dec 4, Kakadu, NT
682 White-browed Crake, Porzana cinerea, Dec 4, Fogg Dam, NT
683 Rainbow Pitta, Pitta iris, Dec 4, Howard Springs, NT
684 Zitting Cisticola, Cisticola juncidis, Dec 6, Holmes Jungle, NT
685 Chestnut Rail, Eulabeornis castaneoventris, Dec 9, Darwin, NT
686 Varied Lorikeet, Psitteuteles versicolor, Dec 10, Katherine, NT
687 Flock Bronzewing, Phaps histrionica, Dec 11, Brunette Downs, NT
688 Oriental Cuckoo, Cuculus saturatus, Dec 18, Townsville, QLD
689 Marbled Frogmouth, Podargus ocellatus, Dec 19, Iron Range, QLD
690 Green-backed Honeyeater, Glycichaera fallax, Dec 20, Iron Range, QLD
691 Black-winged Monarch, Monarcha frater, Dec 20, Iron Range, QLD
692 Gould’s Bronze-Cuckoo, Chrysococcyx russatus, Dec 20, Iron Range, QLD
693 Northern Scrub-robin, Drymodes superciliaris, Dec 20, Iron Range, QLD
694 Yellow-legged Flycatcher, Microeca griseoceps, Dec 21, Iron Range, QLD
695 Chestnut-breasted Cuckoo, Cacomantis castaneiventris, Dec 21, Iron Range, QLD
696 Red-bellied Pitta, Pitta erythrogaster, Dec 21, Iron Range, QLD
697 Black-throated Finch, Poephila cincta, Dec 22, 67 km North Mount Molloy, QLD
698 Bush-hen, Amaurornis olivaceus, Dec 23, Julatten, QLD
699 Red-necked Crake, Rallina tricolor, Dec 23, Julatten, QLD
700 Blue-faced Parrot-finch, Erythrura trichroa, Dec 24, Mt. Lewis, QLD
701 Red-rumped Swallow, Hirundo daurica, Dec 24, Newell Beach, QLD
702 Masked Owl, Tyto novaehollandiae, Dec 26, Julatten, QLD
; 703 Little Bittern, Ixobrychus minutus, Dec 30, Sherwood, QLD
Total: 703
Minus all Territories: 668
Plus Torres Strait: 674
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The Big Twitch was initially conceived as a totally solo project – just me against the birds. What soon became apparent was that this was an undertaking impossible to do alone. I am indebted to the bird-watching community for their phenomenal support of my record attempt. In particular I would like to thank Groober, Puke and Mike Carter, not only for their help during the year but for two decades of encouragement, support and friendship.
As I raced around the country there were certain local experts who ensured my efforts didn’t run off the rails and I would like to single them out for special thanks: Andrew Stafford and Paul Wallbridge in Queensland; Tony Palliser, Dion Hobcroft and Phil Hansbro in New South Wales; David Harper, John Cox and their families in South Australia; Frank O’Connor and Adrian Boyle in the West and Niven McCrie in the Northern Territory. The Birding-aus website run by Russell Woodford was invaluable for me to plan trips and find out the latest gen on where the rare birds were.
Throughout the year I had the privilege of twitching with innumerable birders who were universally helpful and supportive. The following is by no means an exhaustive list of those I birded with or who helped me out with specific information: Peter Lansley, William Colvin, Eileen Collins, Neville Bartlett, Barry Traill, Susie Duncan, Stuart Cooney, Chris Tzaros, Andrew Silcocks, Lindsay Smith, Peter Milburn, Rod Gardner, Kevin Bartram, Kaye Proudley, Owen Evans, Bill Moorhead, David Stewart, Richard Baxter, Anne Lindsay, David James, Murray Lord, Jo Wieneke, Rohan Clarke, Harry Clarke, Chris Lester, Rosemary Lester, Geoff Walker, Tania Ireton, Paul Peake, Glenn Holmes, Jenny Holmes, Jeff Middleton, Max Orchard, Penny Drake-Brockman, Chris Coleborn, Simon Starr, Bob Way, Bruce Cox, Danny Rogers, Ken Rogers, Trevor Ford, Brendan Neilly, Rob Farnes, Karen Pearson, Frank Mitchell, Greg Hunt, Peter Wilkins, Tony Russell, Colin Rogers, Marco Sacchi, Ross and Marg Betts, Ian and Julie-Lynn McLaren, Fred Smith, Neil Macumber, Bill Watson, Ross Mullholland, Jann Mullholland, Warwick Pickwell, Steve Murphy, Carol Iles, Andrew Iles, Ron Stannard, John Young, David Geering, Alan Morris, Rob Berry, Gail Berry, Susan Myers, Stuart Dashper, Frank Pierce, David Stickney, Iain Woxvold, Euan Fothergill, Ian May, Stephen Ambrose, Timothy Hyde, Carol Proberts, Leslie Gordon, Gloria Pitts, Peter Bright, Stella Mack, Chris Hassell, George Swann, Peter Lacey, Julie Hennessy, Bob Forsyth, Steve Guerrato, Lloyd Neilson, Greg Roberts.
You are all a magnificent bunch of freaks.
Even more freaky was the fact that the following people with absolutely no interest in birds were also incredibly supportive before, during and after my travels: Indra Kilfoyle, Colin Christmas, Ted Emery, Guy Rundle, Sally Bothroyd, Brendan Sides, Jane Staley, Warwick Dooley, Narelle D’Alton, Anthony Watt, Astrid Briggs, Lorna Hendry, James Shuter, Michael Veitch, Chris and Colleen Diamond, Jeremy Marron, Karen Smith, Rob and Belinda Caldwell, Rob Adams, Anita Punton, Misha Ketchell, Ray Matsen and Tracey Bell. Special thanks are due to Mark O’Toole who twice provided the impetus for the Big Twitch to move from the road to the page and to Jo Colvin who amongst other things introduced me to the term ‘birdy-nerdy’.
Much gratitude to the faith in me shown by Allen & Unwin, in particular Andrea McNamara who was foolish enough to believe that a story about an idiot running around the country looking at birds was worth publishing. But then she is a Collingwood supporter so has a natural affinity with hopeless causes.
Finally I would like to thank Eleanor for agreeing to go on a second date despite the whole birdwatching thing.