Rare narcissus flycatcher takes up residence at an outback roadhouse instead of Borneo

The juvenile narcissus flycatcher, spied at the remote Sandfire Roadhouse this month. (Supplied: Jon Hall)

A chance stop at a remote roadhouse in far north Western Australia to refuel and buy an ice cream has added two new birds to Australian record books. 

The narcissus flycatcher is native to regions across Asia including the Koreas, Japan, the Philippines, and Borneo.

An appearance by one of the species at the Sandfire Roadhouse between Broome and Port Hedland is highly unusual and Australia's first recorded mainland sighting.

Broome residents and keen birdwatchers Ben Vasic and Olivia Garcey called into the roadhouse after a long day on the highway.

"We thought we'd better have a look around in case there were any strange birds that arrived because there had been something there in the past," Mr Vasic said, referring to the first sighting of a brown-streaked flycatcher in October 2020.

The young bird at Sandfire Roadhouse is only just starting to develop its brilliant orange plumage. (Supplied: Jon Hall)

The telltale sign the juvenile male was not a common bird was its bright yellow eyebrows and faint yellow chest, which darkens with age to a brilliant orange.

"I think if it were one of the adult males we would have picked it a lot easier," said Mr Vasic, who is a warden at the Broome Bird Observatory.

Another little bird turns out to be special

But the narcissus flycatcher was not the only rare bird off its flight path as Mr Vasic and Ms Garcey ate their ice creams in the shade of mango trees.

"We were surprised enough with the narcissus and watching it flittering around catching insects," Mr Vasic said.

It was a Kamchatka leaf warbler, confirmed only by its call, and the second Australian sighting of it.

The two birds caused a flurry of excitement among birdwatchers, with people making pilgrimages from as far away as Perth.

Kamchatka leaf warblers are also strangers to the region. (Supplied: Nigel Jackett, Broome Bird Observatory file photo)

Welcome stop for more than motorists

"The country around Sandfire at this time of year, after having so little rain, was very dry, very arid, quite hostile," Mr Vasic said.

"And these little birds, if they've overshot their trajectory — and if you're supposed to be in Borneo, ending up at Sandfire is a big overshoot — and flying over this dry, arid country — then Sandfire Roadhouse is a real oasis.

Mr Vasic hoped the flycatcher continued to enjoy its roadhouse oasis holiday for a few more weeks so he could return to see its orange plumage among the mango trees.

Peacocks and chooks are the more common birds at Sandfire Roadhouse. (ABC Kimberley: Vanessa Mills)