Out at 3.30am to drive to an area of mallee - arid scrub - full of anticipation with only 12 birds needed to break the current world record. We were extremely lucky to get fantastic views of Chestnut Quail-thrush stalking across open ground, normally a real skulker, while a calling Black-eared Cuckoo was mobbed by a variety of Honeyeaters. Southern Scrub Robin played hide-and-seek in the scrub, and while we tried to get good views of these we stumbled upon a pair of Shy Heathwrens (Hylacola). We left the mallee on 3662 species, tied with the current world record, desperate for just one more new bird. We birded along the roadside, stopping frequently and seeing some great birds, but nothing new for our list. Our next stop was Griffith Golf Course where a tournament was in full swing, so golfers and golf carts everywhere. Surely we'd never find a new bird here? Tawny Frogmouth showed well near the car park, a regular roosting site. As we walked out onto the edge of the fairway, we saw six parrots feeding in the rough. Frantically focusing binoculars, we saw Blue Bonnet parrots, bird number 3663 for the year, a new world record!But we didn't stop there, after a quick interview in Leeton with journalists from the local newspaper The Irrigator, it was back out to Fivebough Swamp where we added two more new birds, Spotted Harrier quartering the marshes and a pair of White-fronted Chats who obligingly hopped out onto the path in front of us.Bird species total: 3665 NEW WORLD RECORD!!! Posted 31st October, Town Centre Motel, Leeton, email tc-motel@bigpond.net.au