It all started with the arrival of the Grey (Red) Phalarope (Phalaropus fulicaria) in January! A true 'Mega' arrival indeed, but this guy was then joined by the arrival of 7, 11 and 21 of his cousins the Red-necked Phalarope (Phalaropus lobatus) before they all flew after about 24 days of R&R.
Phalaropus fulicaria - Grey (Red) Phalarope, Leanyer WTP, Darwin Jan-Feb 2014
Phalaropus lobatus - Red-necked Phalarope, Leanyer WTP, Darwin Feb 2014
March then saw the arrival of a White (Black-backed) Wagtail Motacilla lugens for a week to the same venue. White wags (or Pied) have turned up occasionally but are always welcome. Unfortunately access to the ponds didn't allow any good shots (from me anyway), so please excuse the record shot below!
A number of Eastern Yellow Wagtails (Motacilla tchutchensis), a regular vagrant, started to appear from October throughout the NT. This young individual (up to 6 months old) was a first record at Lake Copperfield, Pine Creek on the 23rd November.
Eastern Yellow Wagtail (Motacilla tchutchensis), Lake Copperfield, Pine Creek, November
Darwin is aiming to finish off the birding year similar to its start! A less frequent vagrant, and very much a highlight, was the arrival of a Grey Wagtail (Motacilla cinerea) at the Charles Darwin University drainage channel. The shade of the large outflow pipes, combined with the gravelly/muddy surface of the nearby mangrove creek proved to be ideal for this individual to hang around for awhile (still reported at 10th December)
Grey wagtail (Motacilla cinerea), CDU, Darwin, Nov-Dec
The year is not finished yet and with the arrival of Citrine Wag at Mudgee this year, it would bode well for all birders to keep an eye out for any other vagrants which add to the ever expanding list of species seen in the NT!
