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Home , Arses (bird), Australian king parrot, Butcherbird, Buttonquail, Currawong, Dendrelaphis punctulatus

GRAND PART II: , VICTORIA & PLAINS-WANDERER

OCTOBER 15–NOVEMBER 1, 2018

Southern Cassowary

LEADER: DION HOBCROFT LIST COMPILED BY: DION HOBCROFT

VICTOR EMANUEL NATURE TOURS, INC. 2525 WALLINGWOOD DRIVE, SUITE 1003 AUSTIN, TEXAS 78746 WWW.VENTBIRD.COM GRAND AUSTRALIA PART II By Dion Hobcroft

Few are as brilliant (in an opposite complementary fashion) as a male Australian King-.

On Part II of our Grand Australia tour, we were joined by six new participants. We had a magnificent start finding a handsome male in near record time, and he posed well for us. With friend Duncan in the “monster bus” named “Vince,” we birded through the Kerry Valley and the country towns of Beaudesert and Canungra. Visiting several sites, we soon racked up a list of some 90 with highlights including two Black-necked Storks, a Swamp Harrier, a Comb-crested Jacana male attending recently fledged chicks, a single Latham’s Snipe, colorful Scaly-breasted Lorikeets and Pale-headed , a pair of obliging Speckled Warblers, beautiful Scarlet and much more. It had been raining heavily at O’Reilly’s for nearly a fortnight, and our arrival was exquisitely timed for a break in the gloom as blue sky started to dominate. Pretty-faced was a good , and at lunch we were joined by a spectacular male Eastern Water Dragon.

Before breakfast we wandered along the trail system adjacent to the lodge and were joined by many new birds providing unbelievable close views and photographic chances. Wonga Pigeon and Bassian Thrush were two immediate good sightings followed closely by Albert’s Lyrebird, female Paradise Riflebird, Green Catbird, Regent Bowerbird, Australian Logrunner, three species of scrubwren, and a male Rose Robin amongst others. We were definitely on a roll. Glen

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 2 Grand Australia Part II, 2018 Threlfo joined us and soon had the audience in the palm of his hand as hopped up to us, a Pink-tongued basked at our feet, and vied for his attention. A Peregrine Falcon was scoped feeding two chicks of equal size while a Gray Goshawk soared past us. Later we had excellent success with scarce birds like White-eared Monarch and Red-browed Treecreeper. O’Reilly’s was certainly being kind to us on this tour.

What luck—a Koala in the first half hour of searching!

This trend continued the following morning with a great view of a responsive Russet-tailed Thrush and good luck with a male Paradise Riflebird. As we birded our way down the mountain, we connected with two more difficult species. First, a pair of Painted tootled across the road; the male narrowly avoided being hit by a car! Then a family trio of Glossy Black Cockatoos were located feeding, as is typical, on the fruits of the Allocasuarina . They allowed a very close approach. A final last hurrah was a on a nest well spotted by Duncan. Our flight made it on time to Cairns. We made a short walk on the Esplanade, but the tide was high and the light was low.

Last year had been very wet in Cairns, and this year was bone dry. It made the birding very different. Our first stop at Centenary Lakes soon had us amongst a myriad of new tropical

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 3 Grand Australia Part II, 2018 Australian birds like Radjah Shelduck, Goose, and Black . We had great looks at Brown-backed and Olive-backed Sunbird, and bumped into my friend Brian Venables, who placed us on our first Papuan Frogmouths. Thank you Brian. Orange-footed Scrubfowl and Bush Thick-knees milled around while Double-eyed Fig- gave superb views. After checking out from the hotel, we returned to the Esplanade for a better tide and a good variety of East Asian shorebirds like Great Knot, Terek Sandpiper, and Greater Sand-Plover while Varied Honeyeater almost landed on our heads. We departed Cairns heading for the hinterland, making a variety of stops at tropical wetlands for species like Green Pygmy-Goose; at for the scarce Squatter Pigeon, rare and elusive Square-tailed Kite, the amazing Blue-winged Kookaburra, and to enjoy the antics of the Great Bowerbird at its bower; while barren paddocks gave close looks at the superb Australian Pratincole. We settled into Kingfisher Park for our three-night stay where our hosts Carol and Andrew looked after us well. By the time we did the list at the pub we had seen more than 100 species for the day.

Albert’s Lyrebird showed well at O’Reilly’s where they can be quite tricky to connect with.

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 4 Grand Australia Part II, 2018 Mount Lewis, at 3,000 feet above sea level in the , offers fantastic birding, butterflying, and botanizing with a host of endemic birds. These endemic birds behaved well on this day with great looks at , Chowchilla, and an amazing -billed Bowerbird at its display court being especially cooperative. A supporting cast included Bower’s -thrush, Mountain Thornbill, , and Bridled Honeyeater. After a siesta we continued tracking down the rainforest endemics of far north Queensland, getting good views of Yellow- breasted Boatbill, Lovely Fairy-, and to mention some. We finished the session with excellent looks at a Platypus as it fed in the clear water of a creek at Kingfisher Park on dusk. Our patience was rewarded.

A male Australian Bustard in full display mode makes a striking sight near Mount Carbine.

The next morning we were on a boat on the Daintree River spying a couple of Saltwater Crocodiles, colorful Azure Kingfishers, and some remarkably open nesting Papuan Frogmouths. A highlight was watching an Archer shooting droplets of water at an insect! It was hot and dry on the coast, and the birding was not overly scintillating. The afternoon compensated for

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 5 Grand Australia Part II, 2018 this with first a Noisy Pitta perched up, calling away and in the scope: a good result for the dry conditions. We moved to Maryfarms where the displaying Australian Bustards put on a stunning performance. It is hard to believe that this bird can transform its body shape in this fashion. Stunning Red-winged Parrots fed on mangos, an old airstrip hosted the elusive Oriental Plover, beautiful Scarlet and Banded fed side by side, Channel-billed Cuckoos screamed raucously overhead, while classic birds like Pheasant Coucal and Red-tailed Black Cockatoo showed well. After dinner we took a night walk where the highlight was a massive Amethystine Python more than 10-feet-long waiting to ambush coming to a waterhole. Some folks could not believe their eyes.

Our timing the next morning could not have been better. We arrived at Cassowary House to find “Gerty,” an impressive adult female, a few meters from us. While admiring her, the male arrived with three chicks only a few weeks old, catching us in a cassowary crush. “Gerty” raised herself up, all feathers erect, a sure sign to make space, which we did with some alacrity. The chicks, all stripes and legs, were diabolically cute and curious. It is rare to have a male and female and chicks all together. Enjoying a great session with these theropod ratites, we moved along enjoying Barred Cuckoo- and beautiful adult Pied Monarchs. In the dry country we found our first Sarus Cranes, more Squatter Pigeons, and had good looks at Mareeba Rock . Following lunch in a delightful café we spent time at Hastie’s Swamp, and it was another good stop, with quite a flock of the rare Freckled Duck and several hundred Pink-eared Ducks spinning like phalaropes in the primordial ooze. We finished the day admiring a stunning Lumholtz’s Tree , but not before we had to break the news to a fellow wildlife enthusiast that the tree kangaroo he showed us was actually a at a rarely discovered day roost! Luckily, we could show the gentleman a real tree kangaroo, and there were big smiles all around.

No one will forget the Southern Cassowary experience we enjoyed in North Queensland.

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 6 Grand Australia Part II, 2018 Our day on the Great Barrier Reef was good. Michaelmas Cay certainly delivered the tropical seabirds in abundance. Our highlights here included three Roseate Terns, an Eagle Ray, and two Lesser Frigatebirds amongst a biomass of noddies and terns and nesting Brown Boobies. The snorkeling at Hastings Reef provided superb fish-watching. Highlights for me were Yellowmask Angelfish, Saddled Butterfly Fish, Leaf Scorpionfish, Teardrop Butterfly Fish, Bicolor Angelfish, Red and Black Anemone fish, Slingjaw Wrasse, a parrotfish species with a juvenile Remora in tow, and a memorable encounter with a toothy Titan Triggerfish that revealed its full dentition as it was cleaned by a cleaner wrasse. Then there were the other two hundred species of stunningly colored tropical fish. If you can, go snorkeling.

Stunning views of the rare Painted Honeyeater were a personal highlight for me on this tour.

After a hefty travel day we found ourselves transplanted in Victoria from far North Queensland. A profitable stop was made in some box woodlands with Varied Sittellas (not patellas) foraging down the Eucalyptus trunks with stunning male Scarlet Robins enlivening proceedings. Crossing the Murray River into , our first genuinely wild Emus were well appreciated.

On Part I we had been bowled a few bouncers like the East Coast low that delivered wild winds and torrential rain in . On Part II it was to be the severe drought afflicting almost the entire region of the Riverina and well beyond. Unfortunately, the extreme dry cost us the Plains-wanderer, this rare nomad having fled the scene of austerity. Despite this, our day around Deniliquin was an amazing day. Starting with incredible views of Superb Parrots,

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 7 Grand Australia Part II, 2018 Diamond Firetails, and a leisurely Black Falcon, we kicked on with amazing views of the rare Painted Honeyeater, scarce Black Honeyeater, and a superb Australian Owlet-nightjar that peered this way and that. As the sun set, a Southern Boobook placed itself unconcernedly in good view, a Barn Owl sat upon the ground, and, with good luck, we scored the elusive Inland Dotterel and cracking views of Banded Lapwing. The were in good form with views not to be forgotten of giant Red , the diminutive Fat-tailed Dunnart, a surprise diurnal Brush-tailed Possum, and remarkably tame Swamp Wallabies. We had to dodge numerous kangaroos of three species, the dry conditions driving them to the roadsides for the green pick. A couple of Gibber Geckos were unusual, and a proud scorpion, tail high, rounded out a fascinating day. For me it was good to chat with Philip, Rob, and David to get their take on the big dry. These gentlemen live in remote ranch lands. We could do with a few more like them with their insight and practicality.

Like the Southern Cassowary, no one will forget this male Major Mitchell’s Cockatoo that put on quite the show in Hattah.

A sleep-in was required, and breakfast was delivered. Slow progress allowed us to bump into White-browed and Masked , some handsome Chestnut-breasted Shelducks, a fantastic male Blue-billed Duck (great work Beverly), numerous male Musk Ducks, and a plethora of toasted sandwiches. White-fronted Chats sat up like nuns while the Rufous

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 8 Grand Australia Part II, 2018 Fieldwren snuck right up under my radar for some devilish views before going back into skulker mode. Walking to the pub in Ouyen, a Black Honeyeater male zipped by, and a lucky few caught up with the Major Mitchell’s Cockatoo.

Not a pin sharp photo, but you can still see the delicate male Mallee Emuwren in its severe Porcupine grass where it needs long unburnt areas to survive.

We had a full day to explore Hattah with a nice break in the heat of the day. It was a cracking morning, the Major Mitchell’s Cockatoos putting on a show most splendid—it really was quite something this year, as the male flew in and landed over our heads crest up, just curious about us. Regent Parrots and Chestnut-crowned Babblers gave excellent encounters, and a perched Australian Hobby was well handy. Splendid Fairy- and Red-capped Robins wowed the participants. Our good fortune continued with superb looks at the often shy Gilbert’s Whistler while the Shy Heathwren rounded out what had been a great session. In the afternoon we snuck along the remoter trails and after some luck had a stunning male Mallee Emuwren teed up beautifully. Mulga Parrots made a welcome appearance. With the imminent closure of Little Desert Nature Lodge, they had forewarned us that they had no staff to allow us to visit the Mallee Fowl reserve. A plan was hatched to trawl some back roads and bingo, up popped a fine pair of Malleefowl. Just what the doctor ordered!

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 9 Grand Australia Part II, 2018

We surprised this Malleefowl on the edge of a fox-proof fence in the Little Desert.

Figuring we would still be looking for the Malleefowl, we trawled some more roads the following morning, and Janene pulled out a fine scoop with another pair of Malleefowl, even better behaved than the ones in Hattah. We stopped in various small towns where flowering Eucalypts attracted White-fronted Honeyeater and Purple-crowned and Musk lorikeets for superb views. Settling into the Little Desert Lodge, we enjoyed a break and the peace and quiet. Later in the afternoon we had quick success with Gray , a pair of the rare Slender- billed Thornbills, and the songful Tawny-crowned Honeyeater. All gave great views. Exploring a different area of mallee, a female Gilbert’s Whistler gave a brief but clear look, and a stunning “Black-capped” Varied Sittella showed well, as did a White-eared Honeyeater. Most participants had a view of a Southern Scrub-Robin, and what should we find walking along the fence line but another Malleefowl and a beautiful female!

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 10 Grand Australia Part II, 2018 A final morning of birding in the Little Desert was very enjoyable. A Black-tailed Native-hen was a good discovery at “Whimpey’s Waterhole.” Then the Southern Scrub-Robin perched up perfectly under our noses for a great view for all as we located a nesting mound of a Malleefowl. Horsfield’s Bronze-Cuckoos finally came in for a very close look and, even better, the rare Black-eared Cuckoo started singing and also performed extremely well. Moving further afield in quick succession we located a handsome Lace Monitor, a flock of Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoos, a giant male Brown Songlark, and had close looks at the peculiar lizard called the Shingleback. We motored back to Melbourne for a superb meal at our hotel to sign off on another completed series of Grand Australia tours. Most people would continue on to Tasmania. With special thanks to Janene, Duncan, Glen, Carol and Andrew, Murray, Phil and the lads in Deni, and the many service providers who made our trip so smooth and comfortable. I hope to cross paths with you all again in the future. Many thanks!

BIRDS

Southern Cassowary (Casuarius casuarius)

Emu (Dromaius novaehollandiae)

Magpie Goose (Anseranas semipalmatus)

Plumed Whistling-Duck (Dendrocygna eytoni)

Wandering Whistling-Duck (Dendrocygna arcuata)

Freckled Duck (Stictonetta naevosa)

Black Swan (Cygnus atratus)

Radjah Shelduck (Tadorna radjah)

Australian Shelduck (Tadorna tadornoides)

Green Pygmy-goose (Nettapus pulchellus)

Maned Duck (Chenonetta jubata)

Pacific Black Duck (Anas superciliosa)

Australasian Shoveler (Anas rhynchotis)

Australian Grey Teal (Anas gibberifrons)

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 11 Grand Australia Part II, 2018 Pink-eared Duck (Malacorhynchus membranaceus)

White-eyed Duck (Aythya australis)

Blue-billed Duck (Oxyura australis)

Musk Duck (Biziura lobata)

Australian Brush-Turkey (Alectura lathami)

Malleefowl (Leipoa ocellata)

Orange-footed Scrubfowl (Megapodius reinwardt)

Australasian Grebe (Tachybaptus novaehollandiae)

Hoary-headed Grebe (Poliocephalus poliocephalus)

Black-necked Stork (Ephippiorhynchus asiaticus)

Lesser Frigatebird (Fregata ariel)

Brown Booby (Sula leucogaster)

Little Pied Cormorant (Microcarbo melanoleucos)

Little Black Cormorant (Phalacrocorax sulcirostris)

Great Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo)

Australasian Darter (Anhinga novaehollandiae)

Australian Pelican (Pelecanus conspicillatus)

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 12 Grand Australia Part II, 2018

White-necked Heron (Ardea pacifica)

Great Egret (Ardea alba)

Intermediate Egret (Mesophoyx intermedia)

White-faced Heron (Egretta novaehollandiae)

Little Egret (Egretta garzetta)

Eastern Cattle Egret (Bubulcus [ibis] coromandus)

Striated Heron (Butorides striatus)

Glossy Ibis (Plegadis falcinellus)

Australian White Ibis (Threskiornis moluccus)

Straw-necked Ibis (Threskiornis spinicollis)

Royal Spoonbill (Platalea regia)

Yellow-billed Spoonbill (Platalea flavipes)

Osprey (Pandion haliaetus)

Black-shouldered Kite (Elanus axillaris)

Square-tailed Kite (Lophoictinia isura)

Pacific Baza (Aviceda subcristata)

Little Eagle (Hieraeetus morphnoides)

Wedge-tailed Eagle (Aquila audax)

Swamp Harrier (Circus approximans)

Spotted Harrier (Circus assimilis)

Gray Goshawk (Accipiter novaehollandiae)

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 13 Grand Australia Part II, 2018 (Accipiter fasciatus)

Collared Sparrowhawk (Accipiter cirrocephalus)

Black Kite (Milvus migrans)

Whistling Kite (Haliastur sphenurus)

Brahminy Kite (Haliastur indus)

White-bellied Sea-Eagle (Haliaeetus leucogaster)

Australian Bustard (Ardeotis australis)

Red-necked Crake (Rallina tricolor) Heard only

Buff-banded Rail (Gallirallus philippensis)

Baillon’s Crake (Zapornia pusilla) Leader only

Australasian Swamphen (Porphyrio melanotus)

Dusky Moorhen (Gallinula tenebrosa)

Black-tailed Native-hen (Tribonyx ventralis)

Eurasian Coot (Fulica atra)

Sarus Crane (Grus antigone)

Bush Thick-knee (Burhinus grallarius)

Pied Stilt (Himantopus leucocephalus)

Pied Oystercatcher (Haematopus longirostris)

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 14 Grand Australia Part II, 2018 Pacific Golden-Plover (Pluvialis fulva)

Banded Lapwing (Vanellus tricolor)

Masked Lapwing (Vanellus miles)

Greater Sand-Plover (Charadrius leschenaultii)

Lesser Sand-Plover (Charadrius mongolus)

Red-capped Plover (Charadrius ruficapillus)

Oriental Plover (Charadrius veredus)

Red-kneed Dotterel (Erythrogonys cinctus)

Black-fronted Dotterel (Elseyornis melanops)

Inland Dotterel (Peltohyas australis)

Comb-crested Jacana (Irediparra gallinacea)

Whimbrel (Numenius phaeopus)

Far Eastern Curlew (Numenius madagascariensis)

Black-tailed Godwit (Limosa limosa)

Bar-tailed Godwit (Limosa lapponica)

Ruddy Turnstone (Arenaria interpres)

Great Knot (Calidris tenuirostris)

Sharp-tailed Sandpiper (Calidris acuminata)

Curlew Sandpiper (Calidris ferruginea)

Red-necked Stint (Calidris ruficollis)

Latham’s Snipe (Gallinago hardwickii)

Terek Sandpiper (Xenus cinereus)

Common Sandpiper (Actitis hypoleucos)

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 15 Grand Australia Part II, 2018 Grey-tailed Tattler (Tringa brevipes)

Marsh Sandpiper (Tringa stagnatilis)

Painted Buttonquail (Turnix varius)

Australian Pratincole (Stiltia isabella)

Silver Gull (Chroicocephalus novaehollandiae)

Common Noddy (Anous stolidus)

Sooty Tern (Onychoprion fuscatus)

Bridled Tern (Onychoprion anaethetus)

Little Tern (Sternula albifrons)

Gull-billed Tern (Gelochelidon nilotica)

Caspian Tern (Hydroprogne caspia)

Whiskered Tern (Chlidonias hybrida)

Roseate Tern (Sterna dougalli)

Black-naped Tern (Sterna sumatrana)

Common Tern (Sterna hirundo)

Great Crested Tern (Thalasseus bergii)

Lesser Crested Tern (Thalasseus bengalensis)

Rock Pigeon (Columba livia) Introduced

White-headed Pigeon (Columba leucomela)

Spotted Dove (Streptopelia chinensis) Introduced

Brown Cuckoo-Dove (Macropygia phasianella)

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 16 Grand Australia Part II, 2018 Pacific Emerald Dove (Chalcophaps longirostris)

Common Bronzewing (Phaps chalcoptera)

Crested Pigeon (Ocyphaps lophotes)

Squatter Pigeon (Geophaps scripta)

Wonga Pigeon (Leucosarcia melanoleucos)

Peaceful Dove (Geopelia placida)

Bar-shouldered Dove (Geopelia humeralis)

Wompoo Fruit-Dove (Ptilinopus magnificus)

Superb Fruit-Dove (Ptilinopus superbus) Heard only

Torresian Imperial-Pigeon (Ducula spillorhoa)

Topknot Pigeon (Lopholaimus antarcticus)

Pheasant Coucal (Centropus phasianinus)

Pacific Koel (Eudynamys orientalis)

Channel-billed Cuckoo (Scythrops novaehollandiae)

Horsfield’s Bronze-Cuckoo (Chrysococcyx basalis)

Black-eared Cuckoo (Chrysococcyx osculans)

Shining Bronze-Cuckoo (Chrysococcyx lucidus)

Little Bronze-Cuckoo (Chrysococcyx minutillus)

Brush Cuckoo (Cacomantis variolosus)

Fan-tailed Cuckoo (Cacomantis flabelliformis)

Lesser Sooty Owl (Tyto [tenebricosa] multipunctata)

[Eastern] Barn Owl (Tyto [alba] javanica)

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 17 Grand Australia Part II, 2018 Southern Boobook (Ninox novaeseelandiae)

Tawny Frogmouth (Podargus strigoides)

Papuan Frogmouth (Podargus papuensis)

Large-tailed Nightjar (Caprimulgus macrurus)

Australian Owlet-nightjar (Aegotheles cristatus)

Australian Swiftlet (Collocalia terraereginae)

Azure Kingfisher (Ceyx azureus)

Laughing Kookaburra (Dacelo novaeguineae)

Blue-winged Kookaburra (Dacelo leachii)

Forest Kingfisher (Todiramphus macleayii)

Sacred Kingfisher (Todiramphus sanctus)

Rainbow Bee-eater (Merops ornatus)

Dollarbird (Eurystomus orientalis)

Nankeen Kestrel (Falco cenchroides)

Australian Hobby (Falco longipennis)

Brown Falcon (Falco berigora)

Black Falcon (Falco subniger)

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 18 Grand Australia Part II, 2018 Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus)

Red-tailed Black Cockatoo (Calyptorhynchus banksii)

Glossy Black Cockatoo (Calyptorhynchus lathami)

Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoo (Calyptorhynchus funereus)

Major Mitchell’s Cockatoo (Lophochroa leadbeateri)

Galah (Eolophus roseicapilla)

Long-billed Corella (Cacatua tenuirostris)

Little Corella (Cacatua sanguinea)

Sulphur-crested Cockatoo (Cacatua galerita)

Superb Parrot (Polytelis swainsoni)

Regent Parrot (Polytelis anthopeplus)

Australian King-parrot ( scapularis)

Red-winged Parrot ( erythropterus)

Mallee Ringneck (Barnardius zonarius)

Crimson (Platycercus elegans)

Yellow Rosella (Platycercus [elegans] flaveolus)

Pale-headed Rosella (Platycercus adscitus)

Eastern Rosella (Platycercus eximius)

Greater Bluebonnet (Northiella haematogaster)

Red-rumped Parrot (Psephotus haematonotus)

Mulga Parrot (Psephotus varius)

Double-eyed Fig-Parrot (Cyclopsitta diophthalma)

Musk Lorikeet (Glossopsitta concinna)

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 19 Grand Australia Part II, 2018 Little Lorikeet (Glossopsitta pusilla) Heard only

Purple-crowned Lorikeet (Glossopsitta porphyrocephala)

Rainbow Lorikeet (Trichoglossus haematodus)

Scaly-breasted Lorikeet (Trichoglossus chlorolepidotus)

Noisy Pitta (Pitta versicolor)

Albert’s Lyrebird (Menura alberti)

Spotted Catbird (Ailuroedus melanotis)

Green Catbird (Ailuroedus crassirostris)

Tooth-billed Bowerbird (Scenopoeetes dentirostris)

Regent Bowerbird (Sericulus chrysocephalus)

Satin Bowerbird (Ptilonorhynchus violaceus)

Great Bowerbird (Chlamydera nuchalis)

White-throated Treecreeper (Cormobates leucophaea)

Brown Treecreeper (Climacteris picumnus)

Red-browed Treecreeper (Climacteris erythrops)

Mallee Emuwren (Stipiturus mallee)

Variegated Fairywren (Malurus lamberti)

Purple-backed Fairy-wren (Malurus [lamberti] assimilis)

Lovely Fairywren (Malurus amabilis)

Splendid Fairywren (Malurus splendens)

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 20 Grand Australia Part II, 2018 (Malurus cyaneus)

White-winged Fairywren (Malurus leucopterus)

Red-backed Fairywren (Malurus melanocephalus)

Eastern Spinebill (Acanthorhynchus tenuirostris)

Yellow-spotted Honeyeater (Meliphaga notata)

Lewin’s Honeyeater (Meliphaga lewini)

Graceful Honeyeater (Meliphaga gracilis)

Yellow Honeyeater (Stomiopera flava)

White-fronted Honeyeater (Purnella albifrons)

Yellow-faced Honeyeater (Caligavis chrysops)

Bell Miner (Manorina melanophrys)

Noisy Miner (Manorina melanocephala)

Yellow-throated Miner (Manorina flavigula)

Bridled Honeyeater (Bloemoreus frenatus)

Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater (Acanthagenys rufogularis)

Red Wattlebird (Anthochaera carunculata)

Varied Honeyeater (Gavicalis versicolor)

Singing Honeyeater (Gavicalis virescens)

Yellow-plumed Honeyeater (Ptilotula ornata)

White-plumed Honeyeater (Ptilotula penicillata)

Fuscous Honeyeater (Ptilotula fusca)

Brown-backed Honeyeater (Ramsayornis modestus)

White-fronted Chat (Epthianura albifrons)

Black Honeyeater (Sugomel nigrum)

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 21 Grand Australia Part II, 2018 (Myzomela obscura)

Scarlet Myzomela (Myzomela sanguinolenta)

Tawny-crowned Honeyeater (Gliciphila melanops)

Banded Honeyeater (Cissomela pectoralis)

Brown Honeyeater (Lichmera indistincta)

New Holland Honeyeater (Phylidonyris novaehollandiae)

White-cheeked Honeyeater (Phylidonyris nigra)

White-eared Honeyeater (Nesoptilotisleucotis)

Blue-faced Honeyeater (Entomyzon cyanotis)

White-throated Honeyeater (Melithreptus albogularis)

White-naped Honeyeater (Melithreptus lunatus)

Brown-headed Honeyeater (Melithreptus brevirostris)

Macleay’s Honeyeater ( macleayanus)

Striped Honeyeater (Plectorhyncha lanceolata)

Painted Honeyeater (Grantiella picta)

Little Friarbird (Philemon citreogularis)

Helmeted Friarbird (Philemon buceroides)

Noisy Friarbird (Philemon corniculatus)

Spotted (Pardalotus punctatus)

Striated Pardalote (Pardalotus striatus)

Fernwren (Oreoscopus gutturalis)

Yellow-throated Scrubwren ( citreogularis)

White-browed Scrubwren (Sericornis frontalis)

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 22 Grand Australia Part II, 2018 Atherton Scrubwren (Sericornis keri)

Large-billed Scrubwren (Sericornis magnirostra)

Speckled Warbler (Pyrrholaemus sagittatus)

Rufous Fieldwren (Calamanthus campestris)

Shy Heathwren (Hylacola cauta)

Buff-rumped Thornbill (Acanthiza reguloides)

Slender-billed Thornbill (Acanthiza iredalei)

Mountain Thornbill (Acanthiza katherina)

Brown Thornbill (Acanthiza pusilla)

Inland Thornbill (Acanthiza apicalis)

Yellow-rumped Thornbill (Acanthiza chrysorrhoa)

Chestnut-rumped Thornbill (Acanthiza uropygialis)

Yellow Thornbill (Acanthiza nana)

Striated Thornbill (Acanthiza lineata)

Weebill (Smicrornis brevirostris)

Fairy Gerygone (Gerygone palpebrosa)

White-throated Gerygone (Gerygone olivacea) Heard only

Large-billed Gerygone (Gerygone magnirostris)

Brown Gerygone (Gerygone mouki)

Western Gerygone (Gerygone fusca)

Southern Whiteface (Aphelocephala leucopsis)

White-browed Babbler (Pomatostomus superciliosus)

Grey-crowned Babbler (Pomatostomus temporalis)

Chestnut-crowned Babbler (Pomatostomus ruficeps)

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 23 Grand Australia Part II, 2018

Australian Logrunner (Orthonyx temminckii)

Chowchilla (Orthonyx spaldingii)

Eastern Whipbird (Psophodes olivaceus)

Yellow-breasted Boatbill (Machaerirhynchus flaviventer)

White-breasted (Artamus leucorhynchus)

White-browed Woodswallow (Artamus superciliosus)

Masked Woodswallow (Artamus personatus)

Black-faced Woodswallow (Artamus cinereifrons)

Dusky Woodswallow (Artamus cyanopterus)

Grey Butcherbird ( torquatus)

Pied Butcherbird (Cracticus nigrogularis)

Black Butcherbird (Cracticus quoyi)

Australian Magpie (Gymnorhina tibicen)

Pied Currawong (Strepera graculina)

Grey Currawong (Stepera versicolor)

Barred Cuckoo-shrike (Coracina lineata)

White-bellied Cuckoo-shrike (Coracina papuensis)

Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike (Coracina novaehollandiae)

White-winged Triller (Lalage tricolor)

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 24 Grand Australia Part II, 2018 Varied Triller (Lalage leucomela)

Common Cicadabird (Edolisoma tenuirostre)

Varied Sittella (Daphoensitta chrysoptera)

Crested Shrike-tit (Falcunculus frontatus) Heard only

Little Shrike-thrush (Colluricincla megarhyncha)

Bower’s Shrike-thrush (Colluricincla boweri)

Grey Shrike-thrush (Colluricincla harmonica)

Gilbert’s Whistler (Pachycephala inornata)

Golden Whistler (Pachycephala pectoralis)

Grey Whistler (Pachycephala simplex)

Rufous Whistler (Pachycephala rufiventris)

Crested Bellbird (Oreoica gutturalis)

Olive-backed Oriole (Oriolus sagittatus)

Yellow Oriole (Oriolus flavocinctus)

Australasian Figbird (Sphecotheres vieilloti)

Spangled Drongo (Dicrurus bracteatus)

Willie-wagtail (Rhipidura leucophrys)

Grey Fantail (Rhipidura albiscapa)

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 25 Grand Australia Part II, 2018 Rufous Fantail (Rhipidura rufifrons)

White-eared Monarch ( leucotis)

Black-faced Monarch ( melanopsis)

Spectacled Monarch ( trivirgatus)

Pied Monarch (Arses kaupi)

Magpie-lark ( cyanoleuca)

Leaden Flycatcher ( rubecula)

Restless Flycatcher (Myiagra inquieta)

Shining Flycatcher (Myiagra alecto)

Torresian Crow (Corvus orru)

Little Raven (Corvus mellori)

Australian Raven (Corvus coronoides)

White-winged Chough (Corcorax melanorhamphos)

Apostlebird (Struthidea cinerea)

Paradise Riflebird (Ptiloris paradiseus)

Victoria’s Riflebird (Ptiloris victoriae)

Jacky-winter (Microceca fascinans)

Lemon-bellied Flycatcher ( flavigaster)

Scarlet Robin ( boodang)

Red-capped Robin (Petroica goodenovii)

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 26 Grand Australia Part II, 2018 Rose Robin (Petroica rosea)

Hooded Robin ( cucullata)

Pale-yellow Robin (Tregallasia capito)

Eastern Yellow Robin ( australis)

Grey-headed Robin ( cinereiifrons)

Southern Scrub-Robin ( brunneopygia)

Australasian Bushlark (Mirafra javanica)

Welcome Swallow (Hirundo neoxena)

Fairy Martin (Petrochelidon ariel)

Tree Martin (Petrochelidon nigricans)

White-backed Swallow (Cheramoeca leucosterna)

Australian Reed-Warbler (Acrocephalus australis)

Little Grassbird (Megalurus gramineus)

Brown Songlark (Megalurus cruralis)

Tawny Grassbird (Megalurus timoriensis) Heard only

Rufous Songlark (Megalurus mathewsi)

Silver-eye (Zosterops lateralis)

Bassian Thrush (Zoothera lunulata)

Russet-tailed Thrush (Zoothera heinei)

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 27 Grand Australia Part II, 2018 Eurasian Blackbird (Turdus merula) Introduced

Metallic Starling (Aplonis metallica)

Common Myna (Acridotheres tristis) Introduced

European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris) Introduced

Mistletoebird (Dicaeum hirundinaceum)

Olive-backed Sunbird (Cinnyris jugularis)

Australasian Pipit (Anthus novaeseelandiae)

European Goldfinch (Carduelis carduelis) Heard only

House Sparrow (Passer domesticus) Introduced

Diamond Firetail (Stagonopleura bella)

Red-browed Finch (Neochmia temporalis)

Double-barred Finch (Taeniopygia bichenovii)

Scaly-breasted Munia (Lonchura punctulata) Introduced

Chestnut-breasted Munia (Lonchura castaneothorax)

MAMMALS

Platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus)

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 28 Grand Australia Part II, 2018

Fat-tailed Dunnart (Sminthopsis crassicaudata)

Long-nosed Bandicoot (Perameles nasuta)

Northern Brown Bandicoot (Isoodon macrourus) Leader only

Koala ( cinereus)

Common Brushtail (Trichosurus vulpecula)

Green Ringtail (Pseudocheirops archeri)

Musky Rat-Kangaroo (Hypsiprimnodon moschatus)

Red-necked Wallaby ( rufogriseus)

Agile Wallaby (Macropus agilis)

Pretty-face Wallaby (Macropus parryi)

Eastern Grey Kangaroo (Macropus giganteus)

Western Grey Kangaroo (Macropus fuliginosus)

Red Kangaroo (Macropus rufa)

Swamp Wallaby (Wallabia bicolor)

Mareeba Rock-Wallaby (Petrogale mareeba)

Lumholtz’s Tree Kangaroo (Dendrolagus lumholtzi)

Red-necked (Thylogale thetis)

Red-legged Pademelon (Thylogale stigmatica)

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 29 Grand Australia Part II, 2018

Black Flying-fox (Pteropus alecto)

Spectacled Flying-fox (Pteropus conspicillatus)

House Mouse (Mus musculus) Introduced

Fawn-footed Melomys (Melomys cervinipes)

Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes) Introduced

European Rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) Introduced

European Hare (Lepus europaeus) Introduced

REPTILES AND AMPHIBIANS

Saltwater Crocodile (Crocodylus porosus)

Eastern Shortneck (Emydura signata)

Border Leaftail Gecko (Saltuarius swainii)

Gibber Gecko (Diplodactylus byrnei)

Lace Monitor (Varanus varius)

Spotted Tree Monitor (Varanus timoriensis)

Shingleback (Tiliqua rugosa)

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 30 Grand Australia Part II, 2018 Pink-tongued Skink (Hemisphaeriodon gerrardi)

Major Skink (Egernia major)

Eastern Water Dragon (Physignathus lesueurii)

Mallee Dragon (Ctenophorus fordi)

Amethystine Python (Liasis amethystinus)

Green Tree ( punctulatus)

Red-eyed Tree (Litoria chloris)

White-lipped Tree Frog (Litoria infrafrenata)

Wilcox’s Tree Frog (Litoria wilcoxi)

Revealed Tree Frog (Litoria revelata)

Desert Tree Frog (Litoria rubella)

White-lipped Tree Frog (Litoria infrafrenata)

Graceful Tree Frog (Litoria gracilenta)

Fletcher’s Frog (Lechriodus fletcheri)

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 31 Grand Australia Part II, 2018