Two days, two new birds

These two birds are the latest additions to my life list, taking it to 262:

  • 261: White Wagtail (Lake Joondalup, WA, 23/03/2012);
  • 262: Red-browed Finch (Carmel, WA, 24/03/2012).
Seeing a White Wagtail was an unexpected surprise as I had previously dipped on one (perhaps the same bird) at Lake Gwelup in January.  I didn’t think lightning would strike twice as the White Wagtail is a fairly rare vagrant to Australia (let alone Perth).  I happened to be travelling near Lake Joondalup when I heard that Martin and John had relocated it and after a short detour (probably about 20 minutes) I had seen the bird (many thanks to Wayne Merritt for finding the bird the day before).
The Red-browed Finch was a slightly different story.  I had known of the existence of an introduced but self-sustaining population in the hills of Perth for a number of years.  Despite living very close by for the last three years I had never gotten the chance (or organised the chance) to find them.  So Martin, Alan, John and myself convened a meeting of The Big Twits at the Melville Nursery Rose Gardens in Carmel and spent a few hours talking and walking amongst the roses looking for finches.  After about an hour of searching I was rewarded with great views of a Red-browed Finch.  Other notable birds at the Rose Gardens were Red-eared Firetails, Nankeen Night-herons and Western Spinebills.

2 thoughts on “Two days, two new birds

  1. Alan

    Glad we managed to find a Red-browed Finch in the end!!!

    Now it's onwards to the pelagic trip. The Indian Ocean is beckoning us

    Reply
  2. John

    D'oh, just can't get a comment in before this Alan character….

    Next on the list must be Chestnut Teal! Few around, a convenient Alfred Cove one must be imminent!

    PS – "spent a few hours talking and walking amongst the roses"……that sounds manly :S 😛

    Reply

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