My Top Thirty Bird Sightings Of 2014

Most other years this would be a top ten, but with 3 major birding trips this year I am struggling to make it a top thirty!  If you want to see last year’s birds click here.   There is no way I could single out one top bird with so many to choose from so they are being presented in chronological order.  I haven’t finished blogging the Queensland road trip or the African Adventure so I have to cheat a bit with the photos.  They are my photos but just pasted in.

1.  Carnaby’s Cockatoo – seen at several places in Western Australia, Feb 2014.

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2.  Western Rosella – seen at Dryandra and Stirling Range in Western Australia, Feb 2014

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3.  Purple-crowned Lorikeet – seen near Fitzgerald National Park, Western Australia, Feb 2014

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4.  Western Bowerbird – seen at Nallan Station, Western Australia, Feb 2014

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5.  Splendid Fairy-wren – seen at Yanchep, Western Australia, Feb 2014

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6.  Orange-bellied Parrot – seen at Melaleuca, Tasmania, March 2014

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7.  Eastern Ground Parrot – seen at Melaleuca, Tasmania, March 2014

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8.  Swift Parrot – seen on Bruny Island, Tasmania, March 2014

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9.  Major Mitchell Cockatoo – seen at Bowra Station, QLD, March 2014

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10.  Cockatiels – seen at Bowra Station, QLD, March 2014

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11.  Satin Bowerbird – seen at Girraween, QLD, March 2014

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12.  Ultramarine Lorikeet – seen on Ua Huka, Marquesas, French Polynesia, June 2014

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13. Rimatara Lorikeet – seen on Rimatara, French Polynesia, June 2014

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14.  Cape Parrot – seen in King William’s Town and Magoebaskloof, South Africa, Nov 2014

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15.  Lilac-breasted Roller – seen in Kruger Park, South Africa, Nov 2014

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16.  Echo Parakeet – seen at Black River Gorges, Mauritius, Nov 2014

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17.  Vasa Parrots – seen at Ankarafantsika, Madagascar, Nov 2014

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18.  Schlegel’s Asity – seen at Ankarafantsika, Madagascar, Nov 2014

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19.  Hoopoe – seen at Ankarafantsika, Madagascar, Nov 2014

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20.  Paradise Flycatcher – seen in Kakum National Park, Ghana Nov 2014

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21.  Red Malimbe – seen in Kakum National Park, Ghana Nov 2014

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22.  African Grey Parrot – seen (fleeting glimpse) in Kakum National Park, Ghana Nov 2014

Didn’t click fast enough!

23.  Senegal Parrot – seen in Shai Hills, Ghana Nov 2014

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24.  Tacazze Sunbird – seen at Addis Ababa Hilton, Ethiopia, Nov 2014

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25.  African Red-bellied Parrot – seen at Tarangire, Tanzania, Nov 2014

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26.  Cordon Bleu Waxbill – seen at Tarangire, Tanzania, Nov 2014

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27.  Meyer’s Parrot (Brown Parrot) – seen at Tarangire, Tanzania, Nov 2014

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28.  Red-and-yellow Barbet – seen at Tarangire, Tanzania, Nov 2014

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29.  Superb Starling – seen all over Tanzania, Nov 2014

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30.  Lovebirds – seen in Madagascar (Grey-headed), Tarangire (Yellow-collared) and Ndutu (Fischer’s).  Just couldn’t choose between them!  Nov 2014

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These aren’t necessarily the rarest birds but they were birds that made a major impression on me.  Maybe for their rarity, maybe for their beauty or maybe for their behaviour! Apologies for not having profiles up on about half the birds but I still have a lot more to blog about!

The Birds Of Stirling Range – Pictorial

I’ve already blogged about the Stirling Range National Park but it got too long so I saved the bird photos for this post.  Just as a reminder, here are the bird lists that have been recorded here:

Since we have the long Easter weekend coming up, over the next 4 days, I will get caught up on some bird profiles and then move on to the next stop which was Two People’s Bay.  So for now, just enjoy some of these beautiful birds!
Regent Parrot
IMG_4975
Galah
IMG_5016
Elegant ParrotIMG_5021 IMG_5024a IMG_5027a IMG_5037
Dusky Wood Swallows (I think)IMG_5044
Owlet NightjarIMG_5047 IMG_5051a
Honey-eaterIMG_5066
Elegant ParrotIMG_5069 IMG_5072
Singing Honey-eaterIMG_5074
Elegant ParrotIMG_5077 IMG_5078
Splendid Fairy-wrenIMG_5081 IMG_5084 IMG_5086
Elegant ParrotIMG_5100 IMG_5104 IMG_5105
Australian RingneckIMG_5113 IMG_5118 IMG_5126 IMG_5135
Regent ParrotsIMG_5157a IMG_5170 IMG_5173 IMG_5178a IMG_5184 IMG_5206 IMG_5213 IMG_5229
Western RosellaIMG_5261 IMG_5263 IMG_5265
Elegant ParrotIMG_5268
?IMG_5269
Elegant ParrotIMG_5270
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IMG_5277
Elegant ParrotIMG_5280
Australian Owlet NightjarIMG_5285

 

Splendid Fairywren (Malurus splendens)

The Splendid Fairywren is one of 12 species of the genus Malurus, commonly known as fairywrens, found in Australia and lowland New Guinea.  Within the genus it is most closely related to the Superb Fairywren. These two “Blue wrens” are closely related to the Purple-crowned Fairywren of north-western Australia.

I was very lucky to see these gorgeous little birds in several locations such as Stirling Range Retreat, Nallan Station, Yanchep National Park & Bowra Station.  Their bright blue colouring and charming way of hopping around had me falling in love with them!

IMG_5081 IMG_5084 IMG_5086Splendid Fairy-wrens have a large range so it would be easy to plan a birding adventure which visits one of their habitats.

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LEARN MORE ABOUT SPLENDID FAIRY-WRENS

Wikipedia

Birdlife

Birds in Backyards

VIDEO

This footage shows the contrast between the males and females (the brown birds with blue tails) and you can hear the twitter sound they make!