Tuesday, September 6, 2016

ORIENTAL PLOVER

Photographed near Broome Bird Observatory, September 2016
806             ORIENTAL PLOVER       Charadrius veredus

Australia         (650)

Found on open plains; bare, rolling country, often far from water; ploughed land; muddy or sandy wastes near inane swamps or tidal mudflats, bare playpens; margins of coastal marshes; grassy airfields, sport fields, lawns. 22-25 cm, wingspan 46-53 cm. Breeds in Mongoliaand Manchuria; regular summer migrant to Aust. (Sept-March). Records all states, but regular across coastal and n. inland.





BARN SWALLOW

Photographed in Broome, September 2016
805              BARN SWALLOW             Hirundo rustica     

Australia         (649)

Also known as Common or European Swallow. 16-17 cm. Found above open country; agricultural land, especially near water; railcards, towns, overhead wires. Widespread in Northern Hemisphere, ‘winters’ in s hemisphere.East Asian race gutturalise regular non-breeding summer migrant to Philippines, Indonesia, PNG, and n. Aust, mostly Sept-March. Now seen regularly, annually from Kimberley (WA) to ne. and se. Q; vagrant to e. NSW, c SA, n. Vic.