The waterbirds and coastal seabirds of Timor-Leste: new site records clarifying residence status, distribution and taxonomy

The status of waterbirds and coastal seabirds in Timor-Leste is refined based on surveys during 2005-2010. A total of 2,036 records of 82 waterbird and coastal seabirds were collected during 272 visits to 57 Timor-Leste sites, and in addition a small number of significant records from Indonesian West Timor, many by colleagues, are included. More than 200 new species by Timor-Leste site records were collected. Key results were the addition of three waterbirds to the Timor Island list (Red-legged Crake Rallina fasciata, vagrant Masked Lapwing Vanellus miles and recent colonist and Near Threatened Javan Plover Charadrius javanicus) and the first records in Timor-Leste for three irregular visitors: Australian White Ibis Threskiornis molucca, Ruff Philomachus pugnax and Near Threatened Eurasian Curlew Numenius arquata. Records of two subspecies of Gull-billed Tern Gelochelidon nilotica, including the first confirmed records outside Australia of G. n. macrotarsa, were also of note. � 2011 Oriental Bird Club.