LORD HOWE ISLAND 15th - 22nd MARCH 2014
Bird Week with Ian Hutton
Bird Week with Ian Hutton
March 15th
We were off to Lord Howe Island for a Birdweek with Ian Hutton the local ornithologist and naturalist. This was the second part of our holiday having already spent time in south-east Queensland and northern New South Wales. We left our motel about 7.30am and had a quiet run to the Brisbane airport where we dropped off our hire car. Tried to self book, but we came up against a weight restricted flight notice and had to get one of the Qantas staff to sort it out and issue our baggage ticket. Baggage weight restrictions are strictly policed and on full flights its not uncommon for baggage to be left behind for a later flight. We had plenty of time before our flight so had a large cup of coffee to wake us up before we boarded a bus to take us to our aircraft, a Dash8-200 for the 1hr 45min flight to Lord Howe Island. The aircraft only had 22 of the 32 seats occupied so we didn't have any baggage weight restrictions. Upon our landing at the Lord Howe Island airport we were greeted by about 50 Pacific Golden Plover on the grassy strips alongside the runway plus a few Magpie-lark. There is a Bird and Animal Hazard Management Plan that the Island Board has developed in consultation with Qantaslink to provide safe operation at the airfield.
Lord Howe Island was named by Lieutenant Henry Lidgbird Ball, after Richard, fourth Viscount Howe, first Lord of the Admiralty. This was on the 17thFebruary 1788 when Lieutenant Ball was on his way from Port Jackson (Sydney) to Norfolk Island.
Dash8-200
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| Lord Howe Airport |
Birdlife Atlas Site: LHI17 1220-1230 The airstrip, airside of road only.
Habitat: grass,bush Lat: 31 32 20 S Long: 159 4 39 E
Count Species
1 Lord Howe Woodhen
3 Pacific Golden Plover
1 Bar-tailed Godwit
8 Ruddy Turnstone
8 Ruddy Turnstone
We were met by Gai a fifth generation Lord Howe Islander and manager of Somerset Apartments, our accommodation for the next week, some of the others on the Birdweek were at different accommodations. Had a short tour of part of the island down to Neds Beach seeing a Lord Howe Woodhen near the airport and White Tern nesting in several trees along the way. Booked into our self-contained cabin at Somerset.
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| White Tern |
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| Somerset Apartments |
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| Somerset Apartments |
We organised ourselves before heading down-town with intentions of getting lunch at the museum, but it was just closing as we arrived. Oh well next best thing was a visit to Joy's store to stock up with lunch things, bread, tomatoes, milk and a few other bits – don't look at the prices! To be fair it is a remote area and the Island Trader, which is the supply ship, only sails in once every two weeks with supplies from Port Macquarie. It costs $300.00 per cubic metre to ship items on and off the barge, this includes all the rubbish, which the residents and businesses have to pay to be taken off.
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| Island Trader at Wharf |
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| Island Trader heading back to Port Macquarie |
Walked back to the accommodation via a steep hill which just about finished us off, however, we made it back to rustle up a few sandwiches for lunch and recover with a snooze. Had a relaxing few hours before we were due to gather in the grounds to meet up with our fellow bird week participants - we knew quite a few of them from our time running our birding accommodation business at Kingfisher Park Birdwatchers Lodge (KPBL) in Julatten, Far North Queensland. Ian Hutton, the organiser for the week, gave us a run-down of what to expect and instructions to meet at the Anchorage Restaurant just down the road for dinner at 6.30 were we had an excellent meal then back for an early night.
March 16th
Up early for a morning walk, this time to Stevens Reserve which is named after Campbell Stevens who was a Forest Ranger, a position he held until 1891. He was also the Postmaster from 1882 until 1924 as well as a special constable. He gave the area of the reserve to the Island Board. He died in Marrickville, Sydney in May 1930 aged 84.
Access to the reserve is off Lagoon Road where a 1.2km loop tracks through mainly palm plantations, with a few trees marked along the track including Norfolk Island Pine, which are good for the nesting White Tern. On the ground were Emerald Dove and Common Blackbird (rather motley looking specimens - too much inbreeding?), in the trees were the common Golden Whistler, Lord Howe Pied Currawong Ssp.Strepera graculina ashbyi and Silvereye. The track passes by the building used in the 1980's for the successful captive breeding program to save the then endangered Lord Howe Woodhen from extinction.
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| Emerald Dove - female |
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| Common Blackbird |
16/03/2014. 0715-0745 Birdlife Atlas Site: LHI09 Lord Howe Island, Stevens Reserve
Habitat: woodland Lat: 31 31 26 S Long: 159 3 49 E
Count Species
2 Emerald Dove
5 Golden Whistler
1 Lord Howe Pied Currawong
8 Silvereye
3 Common Blackbird, 2 male,1 female.
3 Common Blackbird, 2 male,1 female.
Back for breakfast before meeting at the front of Somerset for a morning walk along Lagoon Road to Old Settlement Beach.
16/03/2014. 0750-0810 Birdlife Atlas Site: LHI10 Lord Howe Island, Lagoon Road
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| The Lagoon Beach |
Habitat: Beach, Pine Trees Lat: 31 32 32 S Long: 159 3 45 E
Count Species
1 Little Pied Cormorant
2 Great Cormorant
2 Little Black Cormorant
1 Sacred Kingfisher
2 Magpie-lark
1 Common Blackbird
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| Interpretive Sign |
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| Old Settlement Beach |
16/03/2014. 0935-1045 Birdlife Atlas Site: LHI03 Intertidal and closest paddocks. Lord Howe Island, Old Settlement Beach Habitat: Beach, paddocks. Lat: 31 31 20 S Long: 159 3 20 E
Count Species
1 Little Pied Cormorant
4 Great Cormorant
2 Little Black Cormorant
1 White-faced Heron
3 Masked Lapwing
1 Common Noddy
22 Black Noddy
20 White Tern Estimate Nos
9 Common Starling
2 Pacific Black Duck/Mallard Hybrid
From the beach a walking track goes up to the 1948 Catalina amphibian aircraft crash site where seven crewmen were killed in a night time accident. We had a few new birds for the trip along here, Common Starling, hybrid Mallard x Pacific Black Duck and a Brown (Common) Noddy along the beach before the Catalina Track.
16/03/2014. 1050-1140 Birdlife Atlas Site: LHI04 Lord Howe Island, Catalina track.
Habitat: open paddock Lat: 31 31 8 S Long: 159 3 32 E
Count Species
1 Australian Wood Duck
1 Nankeen Kestrel
1 Sacred Kingfisher
2 Welcome Swallow
We ended up at the Museum after an interesting and informative walk. The afternoon was taken up with a reef walk at Neds Beach. There have been two suggestions as to the naming of this beach, one that it was named after a crew member on the Schooner Wave who drowned when a settlement boat crashed onto rocks near the beach. The other was that it was named after Ned Ambrim who was an early settler and ex-whaler who had a garden in the area.
The rocks, coral and the pools formed with the low tide revealed a varied and interesting ecosystem. Ian, with his extensive knowledge, kept us all interested. The only downside of the afternoon was Lindsay falling over on the slippery rocks resulting in a few bruises and her camera being dunked in a rock pool.
Did see a few birds including Ruddy Turnstone, Pacific Golden Plover, pairs of Black-winged Petrel, Whimbrel and two juvenile Sooty Tern. A Golden Whistler was in the vegetation at the back of the beach. |
| Neds Beach Group at Reef |
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| Neds Beach Reef |
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| Neds Beach Reef |
16/03/2014. 1405-1530 Birdlife Atlas Site:LH107 Lord Howe Island, Neds Beach, south end and reef Habitat: Littoral/reef Lat: 31 31 3 S Long: 159 4 7 E
Count Species
18 Black-winged Petrel
1 Little Black Cormorant
1 Pacific Golden Plover
1 Whimbrel
8 Ruddy Turnstone
2 Sooty Tern Juveniles.
1 Golden Whistler
Back at Somerset we optimistically tried to dry out the camera, but inundation with salt water is terminal. Goodbye to the camera which was only three weeks old! Walked down to the Museum for a 6.30 dinner, fish and salad followed by coconut pie, cream and ice cream. Walked off the dinner rather than catch the mini bus back to Somerset, home by 8.30 for another early night.
March 17th
Had a leisurely start to the morning before meeting at the Museum for a walk up Transit Hill. This hill was previously known as Lookout Mount, but was renamed after it was used as an observatory in an unsuccessful scientific attempt to view the transit of Venus on 8 December 1882.
This was another interesting walk through forest and along the edges of cleared paddocks. It was in one of these paddocks that we saw a White-necked Heron, the latest addition to the Lord Howe Island bird list, having only arrived 10 days before.
This was another interesting walk through forest and along the edges of cleared paddocks. It was in one of these paddocks that we saw a White-necked Heron, the latest addition to the Lord Howe Island bird list, having only arrived 10 days before.
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| Transit Hill Walk Looking Towards "The Pines". |
We also saw Pacific Golden Plover and a Bar-tailed Godwit. The path goes through a sandy soil area on the lower slopes before going into a granite soil area. The original palm species the Kentia or Thatch Palm Howea fosteriana grew in the sandy area but has adapted into another species, Belmore Sentry Palm Howea belmoreana on the granite rocky soil.
We had a few light showers on the way up to a viewing platform, which gave great 360 degree views of the island. There is also a 100 year time capsule buried on the hill by the Island Historical Society in 1982.
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| Transit Hill Viewing Platform |
Looking from the tower towards the north-eastern point of Lord Howe Island you can see the Soldiers Cap, which is the rocky island about 400m offshore from Malabar Hill.
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| View from Transit Hill Lookout towards Malabar Hill |
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| View from Transit Hill Lookout towards Mt. Eliza and Malabar Hill |
Lat: 31 31 59 S Long: 159 4 38 E
Count Species
1 White-necked Heron
1 White-faced Heron
1 Nankeen Kestrel
5 Purple Swamphen
1 Buff-banded Rail
1 Bar-tailed Godwit
40 White Tern Estimate count.
3 Sacred Kingfisher
9 Golden Whistler
8 Magpie-lark
24 Silvereye
6 Welcome Swallow
2 Common Starling 1m, 1f
Then it was back down the hill to the museum and back to Somerset for a quick lunch as we were going on the Ball's Pyramid boat trip at 1.00pm with Jack Shick. Made it to the boat ramp in time and set off with eight others plus Ian. A few birds were along the jetty and on the beach including 3 Pied Cormorant, 3 Little Black Cormorant and 3 Ruddy Turnstone. Quite rough getting out past the reef and then a good 1-1.5m swell outside.
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| On Way to Ball's Pyramid |
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| Ball's Pyramid Through The Rocks |
Started to see a few seabirds, Grey Ternlet (Lifer K & L), Black-winged Petrel, White-bellied Storm Petrel (Lifer K & L ), Providence Petrel (Lifer for Lindsay), Kermadec Petrel (Lifer K & L), Masked Booby (Lifer K & L), Flesh-footed Shearwater, Wedge-tailed Shearwater, Black (Common) Noddy, Red-tailed Tropicbird and Sooty Tern.
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| Ball's Pyramid |
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| Masked Booby |
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| White-belied Storm Petrel |
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| Kermadic Petrel (Dark Phase) |
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| Kermadic Petrel |
Quite spectacular scenery around the island and Balls Pyramid, which is 23km south-east of Lord Howe Island. Ball's Pyramid rises out of the sea to a height of 551m, which makes it the world's tallest ocean stack and has its origins as a volcanic island. A very spectacular sight. It is the only place in Australia that Kermadec Petrel breed. Took lots of photos, but bouncing around in a boat meant many got deleted. The journey back was quite rough by our standards but quite normal for our skipper Jack Shick. Arrived back at the jetty at 4.50pm, great trip, pity about the bouncy boat!
17/03/2014. 1330-1640 Birdlife Atlas Site: Ball's Pyramid Pelagic Habitat: Oceanic
Lat: 31 45 0 S Long: 159 15 0 E Bird Week Group (8) 23km offshore.-
Species
White-bellied Storm-Petrel
Wedge-tailed Shearwater
Flesh-footed Shearwater
Kermadec Petrel
Red-tailed Tropicbird
Providence Petrel
Black-winged Petrel
Masked Booby
Little Black Cormorant
Black Noddy
White Tern
Grey Ternlet
Sooty Tern
17/03/2014. Birdlife Atlas Site: Lord Howe Island, The Lagoon Habitat: ocean lagoon
Lat: 31 31 29 S Long: 159 3 25 E Part of Ball's Pyramid pelagic trip.
Count Species
3 Little Black Cormorant
3 Pied Cormorant
3 Ruddy Turnstone
12 White Tern
Raced home for a quick cuppa then out again for a presentation about Lord Howe Island birds at 5.30pm, given by Ian at the museum. Very good insight into the bird species and problems facing them, including waste plastic in the oceans being ingested by seabirds to the extent it is killing them. After the presentation it was dinner at the museum again. Walked home to be back by 8.30.
March 18th
Up at 6.15 for a cuppa before going down to Neds Beach, Lindsay found a Lord Howe Woodhen in the palms behind the beach. Also a pair of Sacred Kingfisher with two young along the beach posing for photos.
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| Sacred Kingfisher |
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| Sacred Kingfisher |
18/03/2014. 0700-0735 Birdlife Atlas Site:Cemetery Track to Neds Beach Habitat: Coastal
Lat: 31 31 12 S Long: 159 3 56 E
Count Species
3 Purple Swamphen
2 Buff-banded Rail
1 White-faced Heron
2 Ruddy Turnstone
3 Golden Whistler 1M, 2F
2 Buff-banded Rail
1 White-faced Heron
2 Ruddy Turnstone
3 Golden Whistler 1M, 2F
2 Magpie-lark
20 Silvereye
11 Common Blackbird 2M, 2F, 7 unknown.
20 Silvereye
11 Common Blackbird 2M, 2F, 7 unknown.
Three Buff-banded Rail were foraging at the back of the beach.
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| Buff-banded Rail |
18/03/2014. 0715-0725 Birdlife Atlas Site: Neds Beach Habitat: coastal
Lat: 31 31 6 S Long: 159 3 56 E
Count Species
3 Buff-banded Rail
3 Ruddy Turnstone
38 White Tern
3 Sacred Kingfisher1 ad., 2 juv.
1 Golden Whistler
1 Magpie-lark
3 Common Blackbird 2M, 1F
Back at the Somerset office to use their internet connection, but it was too slow to log onto, hopefully they will soon get faster internet service on the island. Walked down to the Post Office and by chance met a couple who had been guests of ours at KFBL, small world! They were working on the island for the tourist season. Further up Anderson Road opposite Pandanus (another accommodation and restaurant property) we found another two LHI Woodhen without bands which were photographed alongside the road standing on a log, great.
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| Lord Howe Woodhen |
We then continued on to the track to Middle Beach, Golden Whistler were along posing for photos.
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| Golden Whistler - female |
18/03/2014. 1035-1145 Middle Beach Road & Track Habitat: coastal woodland
Lat: 31 31 30 S Long: 159 4 20 E
Count Species
1 Emerald Dove
2 Buff-banded Rail
1 Sacred Kingfisher
9 Golden Whistler 3M, 3F, 1H
6 Magpie-lark 3m, 3F
30 Silvereye count estimate.
5 Common Blackbird 3M, 2F
18/03/2014. 1055-1105 Birdlife Atlas Site:Middle Beach. Habitat: Coastal
Lat: 31 31 32 S Long: 159 4 29 E
Count Species
1 Common Noddy
2 White Tern
From here we back-tracked to Anderson Road and went downhill to Joy's Shop then back up the hill and onto a track which cut off part of Anderson Road then downhill to Somerset again, good exercise. Vehicles are restricted to 25km per hour around the island and some interesting signs along the road help keep their drivers awake!
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| Self Explanatory! |
After lunch more water bottles needed filling at one of the public taps opposite the Anchorage Restaurant, the desalinated tap water at Somerset was too salty to drink. The afternoon event started at 2.30pm when everyone met at Somerset. We jumped into the mini-bus to take us to the start of the walk to Little Island which is situated at the southern end of Lord Howe beyond the airport in front of Mt. Lidgbird, this is the peak before Mt. Gower.
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| Start of walk to Little Island |
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| Interpretive Sign |
The walk is about 1km along a track which passes Little Island to our stopping point were we stayed for a few hours watching Providence Petrel coming into their burrows atop Mt. Lidgbird.
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| Providence Petrel |
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| Track to Little Island |
This Catalina was also flying over Mt. Lidgbird in company with the petrels.
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| Catalina Flying Boat |
Back along the track we saw a LHI Woodhen before getting the bus back to Somerset by 5.40.
18/03/2014. 1500-1730 Birdlife Atlas Site: Little Island walking track. Habitat: Lowland forest
Lat: 31 33 29 S Long: 159 4 32 E Walk from car park to Little Island.
Count Species
200 Wedge-tailed Shearwater
20 Red-tailed Tropicbird
300+ Providence Petrel
1 Little Black Cormorant
1 Lord Howe Woodhen
1 Sacred Kingfisher
1 Golden Whistler
After a short break it was onto Neds Beach to eat pizzas and wait for the Flesh-footed Shearwater returning from a days fishing as it got dark. The Sacred Kingfisher kept us amused until the shearwaters started to arrive, flying in over our heads and into the palm forest at the rear of the beach where we had found the Lord Howe Woodhen in the morning. Back along the road we found a few stragglers trying to find their nest burrows, some had a chicks in (about two weeks old).
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| Dinner, waiting for the shearwaters to arrive |
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| Sacred Kingfisher Ignore Sign! |
18/03/2014. 1815-1920 Birdlife Atlas Site:Neds Beach Habitat: coastal
Lat: 31 31 6 S Long: 159 3 56 E
Count Species
100+ Flesh-footed Shearwater
20 Red-tailed Tropicbird
26 Black-winged Petrel
43 White Tern
3 Sacred Kingfisher
March 19th
Up at 6.30am to go down the road and fill the water bottles. There was a storm out to sea making the The Lagoon area quite dramatic with the black clouds and blue/green sea. So back to the accommodation to grab the wide angle lens and then back to the Lagoon Beach for a few images, but by now it was not so dramatic though still impressive.
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| The Lagoon |
Walked down to the jetty, photographing a Wedge-tailed Shearwater interpretive sign along the way. A few Ruddy Turnstone were foraging on the grassed areas.
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| Interpretive Sign |
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| Ruddy Turnstone |
Walked back to Somerset via a short cut across a paddock by the tennis courts for breakfast. Met at the front of Somerset before setting off on the Malabar Hill walk, a climb up to 208m. The hill was originally named North Peak. In 1982 it was renamed to commemorate one of four young men from the Malabar coast of India whose name was Hielavapa fell from the peak in 1881 whilst collecting Red-tailed Tropicbird tail feathers.
The path was steep in places with steps and rocky understory, but frequent rests made the walk quite easy. The views at the top were well worth the effort, despite the overcast weather.
Red-tailed Tropicbird were wheeling around the cliffs with the occasional Black-winged Petrel.
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| Red-tailed Tropicbird |
Easier coming down the hill than going up apart from the strain on the knees, back down by 11.10.
19/03/2014. 0915-1110 Birdlife Atlas Site: Malabar Walk Habitat: Coastal woodland
Lat: 31 30 57 S Long: 159 3 41 E Turn off from Neds Beach to Malabar Hill.
Count Species
40 Red-tailed Tropicbird
4 Black-winged Petrel
2 Nankeen Kestrel
17 Purple Swamphen
2 Buff-banded Rail
2 Black Noddy
19 White Tern
6 Golden Whistler 2M, 4F
2 Lord Howe Pied Currawong
8 Welcome Swallow
14 Common Blackbird 4M, 8F 2Juv.
In the afternoon Keith went on to Middle Beach and got some images of LH White-Eye along the way.
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| Lord Howe Silvereye |
On the beach were some Pacific Golden Plover, Ruddy Turnstone and a Whimbrel. Out to sea were a flock of Flesh-footed Shearwater and a few Black-winged Petrel.
19/03/2014. 1420-1535 Birdlife Atlas Site: Anderson Road to Middle Beach. Habitat: Woodland
Lat: 31 31 39 S Long: 159 4 31 E
Count Species
2 Emerald Dove 1M, 1F
60+ Flesh-footed Shearwater
2 Black-winged Petrel
2 Little Black Cormorant
1 Buff-banded Rail
5 Pacific Golden Plover
1 Whimbrel
5 Ruddy Turnstone
4 Golden Whistler 3M, 1F
70+ Silvereye
17 Common Blackbird 7M, 10F
Then back to Somerset, along the way Keith met a lady who said you are from Julatten aren't you? She said she was from Wonga Beach (on the coast north of Port Douglas) and Del Richards (from Fine Feather Tours) had told her we would be here – small world. Got back in time to get changed and off out to the Restaurant by 6.10pm. Had a lovely meal, lamb and fish, then back to get changed and go out spotlighting with Trevor Hunt (another former guest at KPBL). Walked up the Anderson Road hill again to a site were two others on the tour, Peter and Mary, saw a Masked Owl the night before. Wandered around for an hour, but did not see anything – oh well always the next night.
March 20th
Up early as usual. Keith went of on an expedition to try and find Lord Howe Pied Currawong to photograph. Went up the hill behind the tennis court and down to the jetty and then to Old Settlement Beach. Heard Lord Howe Pied Currawong, but did not see any to photograph, saw a few other birds including a couple of Lord Howe Woodhen without bands, Emerald Dove a few Buff-banded Rail and Sacred Kingfisher. White Tern were sitting on eggs, they don't make a nest but balance the egg on a tree branch, looks very precarious.
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| White Tern – sitting on egg |
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| White Tern Egg – on another nest |
20/03/2014. 0705-0800 Birdlife Atlas Site: Anderson Rd-Old Settlement Beach.
Habitat: Mixed wood,open Lat: 31 31 21 S Long: 159 3 20 E
Count Species
4 Emerald Dove 1M, 3F
2 Lord Howe Woodhen
5 White Tern
12 Golden Whistler 4M, 3F, 1Juv.
6 Lord Howe Pied Currawong
20 Silvereye
24 Common Blackbird14M, 9F, 1Juv.
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| Old Settlement Beach |
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| White-faced Heron |
20/03/2014. 0730-0740 Birdlife Atlas Site: Old Settlement Beach Habitat: Beach, paddocks
Lat: 31 31 20 S Long: 159 3 20 E
Count Species
1 White-faced Heron
26 Purple Swamphen
4 Buff-banded Rail
3 Pacific Golden Plover
18 White Tern
2 Sacred Kingfisher
19 Welcome Swallow
Back for breakfast and then got organised for the boat trip to North Beach. A glass bottom boat took us across the The Lagoon to North Beach, which had all the facilities, shed, barbecues, toilets, seats and tables.
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| Interpretive Sign |
Keith went for a walk up the steep track to Mt. Eliza which is 147m high. Mt. Eliza was originally known as Finger Peak, but renamed by Captain Middleton, an early settler who arrived in 1841, after his wife Eliza. The 40 minute climb up was worth the effort as the scenery was stunning as usual. Ian stopped to explain some of the geology and flora along the way.
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| Ian sharing more knowledge |
Good views of the common Lord Howe Golden Whistler were had along the walk including this male.
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| LH Golden Whistler - male |
Near the top great views of Mt. Lidgbird and Mt. Gower covered in cloud were to be had.
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| Mt. Eliza looking towards Mt. Lidgbird and Mt. Gower |
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| Mt. Eliza photographing Red-tailed Tropicbird |
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| Red-tailed Tropicbird |
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| Red-tailed Tropicbird |
Spent some time up here before scrambling down to base for a cup of coffee and home made cake – yum.
20/03/2014. 1020-1530 Birdlife Atlas Site: Mt. Eliza walk from North Bay. Habitat: coastal
Lat: 31 30 50 S Long: 159 2 24 E
Count Species
1 Pacific Black Duck x Mallard.
20+ Red-tailed Tropicbird
1 Golden Whistler male
Then a quick walk to Old Gulch, a narrow rocky inlet between Fishy Point and Curio Point, had a Common Noddy chick on the rocks being fed by a parent.
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| Old Gulch Beach |
20/03/2014. 1135-1210 Birdlife Atlas Site: Old Gulch Track Habitat: Coastal
Lat: 31 30 55 S Long: 159 2 40 E
Count Species
1 Black-winged Petrel
5 Common Noddy 1 ad. feeding juv.
Then back for a lunch of sausage sandwiches with salad which were very nice.
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| Lunch at North Beach |
The afternoon was very relaxed as we strolled along the beach.
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| North Bay Beach |
Along the beach were a good variety of waders (shorebirds). There was a pair of Sooty Tern with chicks and lots of Black and Common Noddy. A single Common Tern was an interesting visitor. As the tide went out a few waders flew in including 132 Ruddy Turnstone, 23 Bar-tailed Godwit, 4 Pacific Golden Plover and new for our list a Grey-tailed Tattler and a Red-necked Stint.
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| Sooty Tern - adult |
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| Sooty Tern – adult and juvenile |
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| Common Noddy |
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| Bar-tailed Godwit |
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| Grey-tailed Tattler |
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| Common Tern |
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| Pacific Golden Plover |
20/03/2014. 1330-1530 Birdlife Atlas Site: North Beach Habitat: Littoral, beach
Lat: 31 31 6 S Long: 159 2 36 E
Count Species
4 Pacific Golden Plover
23 Bar-tailed Godwit
1 Grey-tailed Tattler
132 Ruddy Turnstone
1 Red-necked Stint
39 Common Noddy
8 Sooty Tern
1 Common Tern
Then it was time to go back on the glass bottom boat which got us back at 4.00pm. Back for a shower before we took off again for a talk in the Museum at 5.30. This talk was about the history of Lord Howe Island and the measures taken to bring the island back to the condition it was in before human occupation. All very interesting. The we had dinner at the museum, pork or lamb roast followed by more cake and ice cream. We got a lift back to Somerset and Keith went out with Trevor spotlighting for a Masked Owl without any success, did see a pair of roosting LHI Golden Whistler and a few stray Flesh-footed Shearwater. It started to get windy with a hint of rain in the air so we headed home for a well earned rest.
March 21st
Another early start to fill up the water bottles before breakfast. Afterwards we set off for the boat shed where we had an 8.30am appointment with the glass bottom boat. Quite windy with large waves breaking over the reef surrounding the The Lagoon. Along the way we saw a White Tern with a fish to feed its chick.
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| White Tern – with a fish |
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| Glass Bottom Boat |
Motored out to a reef at the southern end of The Lagoon to see some coral and reef fish on what is the southernmost coral reef in Australia. Pretty spectacular fish, many reminding us of the Great Barrier Reef closer to home. It was a bit choppy in the The Lagoon so we moved of towards the northern end where it was a bit more sheltered. The wind made the temperature feel cool, so much so that the ones who had put their hands up to go snorkeling bottled out! We saw a few Green Turtle in this area along with the remains of an old Tuna boat which blew onto the reef many years ago. Back to shore by 10.00am for a coffee and muffin at the nearest café. Then back to Somerset where we met Trevor who told us he had seen a Song Thrush back towards the Old Settlement, so we headed off in that direction to try and find it. Tramped around but did not find it, too many people and cars along the road.
21/03/2014. 1130-1155 Birdlife Atlas Site: Catalina track. Habitat: open paddock
Lat: 31 31 8 S Long: 159 3 32 E
Count Species
1 White-faced Heron
7 Purple Swamphen
1 Buff-banded Rail
4 Pacific Golden Plover
1 Sacred Kingfisher
2 Golden Whistler
6 Common Blackbird 3M, 3F
So back for lunch and a brief rest before we met out the front of Somerset at 1.00pm for the afternoon activity. This was a walk to Clear Place, about 4km return. Interesting walk via Middle Beach and several large Banyan trees. Clear Place used to be a cleared area, but has now been re-vegetated however it still has a small grassy area with a view over the ocean. Spent a relaxing time watching seabirds such as Red-tailed Tropicbird, Black Noddy, Black-winged Petrel and Masked Booby fly by. Also had a few aircraft fly by, a Qantas Link and another one high up which someone thought was an Air New Zealand B767.
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| Red-tailed Tropicbird |
On the way back we came upon a group of LHI Woodhen which totalled seven birds, two had bands, the other five did not. A few hundred metres further on we saw another two.
21/03/2014. 1305-1550 Anderson Road to Clear Place Habitat: woodland
Lat: 31 31 43 S Long: 159 4 38 E
Count Species
4 Black-winged Petrel
3 Masked Booby
1 Red-tailed Tropicbird
14 Lord Howe Woodhen
2 Masked Lapwing
6 Common Blackbird 2M, 4F.
30+ Silvereye
Back to Somerset just before 4 o'clock for afternoon coffee and biscuits with cheese and tomato before packing away some clothes and gear. Then off to the restaurant for dinner, chicken and Kingfish with salad, potato and pasta. Said our farewells to some of the other Birdweek participants and then went off to Blinky Beach to look for Little Shearwater in the dark. Ian led six of us up into the cliffs behind the beach where he checked out burrows, finding Black-winged Petrel and eventually a Little Shearwater, great little bird. We spotlighted a few birds overhead and saw another Little Shearwater which was all white on the under-wing unlike the Black-winged Petrel, this has a distinct black line on the under-wing. Well worth the effort and another new bird for us. Started to walk back and after a short while Steven from the museum restaurant came along in his minibus to pick us up and take us back to the accommodation. Another great day.
March 22nd
Off to try and find Song Thrush (which would have been an new Australian bird for Lindsay – hence the effort!) near Old Settlement Beach, but failed to find any despite searching for 45 minutes. Did manage to photograph the Lord Howe Pied Currawong at last, so thought two photos would be appropriate!
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| Lord Howe Pied Currawong |
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| Lord Howe Pied Currawong |
Count Species
1 White-faced Heron
3 Golden Whistler 2M, 1F
7 Lord Howe Pied Currawong
9 Magpie-lark
18 Common Blackbird 9M, 9F
22/03/2014. 0745-0755 Birdlife Atlas Site: Old Settlement Beach Habitat: Beach, paddocks
Lat: 31 31 20 S Long: 159 3 20 E
Count Species
2 White-faced Heron
5 Purple Swamphen
2 Buff-banded Rail
5 Pacific Golden Plover
2 Bar-tailed Godwit
8 Ruddy Turnstone
After this we thought we deserved a cooked breakfast at the Anchorage Restaurant, very pleasant sitting outside watching the world go by.
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| Breakfast at the Anchorage Restaurant |
On the way back to Somerset we took our final photos of the very cute White Tern.
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| White Tern |
Then it was back to reality to get packed up and get the mini bus to the airport. Arrived in plenty of time to check in only to find the plane was delayed. Not a problem as we could do some birding checking out the airfield. Did not have to go far to find two Lord Howe Island Woodhen in the baggage area of the check-in sniffing the luggage! They hung around and casually walk out onto the lawn – too easy for arriving birders.
22/03/2014. 1200-1320 Birdlife Atlas Site: Lord Howe Island Airport, airside
Habitat: Open Grassland Lat: 31 32 36 S Long: 159 4 42 E
Count Species
2 Lord Howe Woodhen
94 Pacific Golden Plover
19 Bar-tailed Godwit
23 Ruddy Turnstone
3 Red-necked Stint
1 Golden Whistler male
7 Magpie-lark
So ended a great stay on a beautiful island with lots of great birds. Thanks to Ian Hutton for organising the Birdweek and sharing his incredible knowledge of the islands natural and historical history, Jack Shick for the Ball's Pyramid trip (make it less bouncy next time Jack!) and our fellow birders who made the week very enjoyable. We can thoroughly recommend Ian's Birdweeks and of course Lord Howe Island.
Useful Information
Visitor Information Centre is located at the museum
Middle Beach Road
Ph: +61 (0)2 6563 2111
Information Website www.lordhoweisland.info
Lord Howe Island Board - Has useful up to date happenings on the Island
http://www.lhib.nsw.gov.au/
Joy's Shop
Middle Beach Road
Contacts
Visitor Information Centre is located at the museum
Middle Beach Road
Ph: +61 (0)2 6563 2111
Information Website www.lordhoweisland.info
Lord Howe Island Board - Has useful up to date happenings on the Island
http://www.lhib.nsw.gov.au/
Joy's Shop
Middle Beach Road
Contacts
Ian Hutton
Email through website http://lordhowe-tours.com.au
Postal address: PO Box 157, Lord Howe Island NSW 2898
Ph: +61 (0)2 6563 2447
Jack Shick - Ball's Pyramid pelagic and Mt. Gower guided walks
Contact through website http://www.lordhoweislandtours.net/contact-us
Photographic website http://www.lordhoweislandbirds.com/
Ph: +61 (0)2 6563 2218
Ph: +61 (0)2 6563 2218
Somerset Apartments
Email reservations@somersetlordhowe.com.auWebsite http://www.somersetlordhowe.com.au/
Neds Beach Road, Lord Howe Island, NSW 2898, Australia
Ph +61 (0)2 6563 2061
Tabulated records of species on Lord Howe Island
43 Species from 26 Checklists
Australian Wood Duck Chenonetta jubata
1 Catalina track 16 Mar 2014.
Pacific Black DuckAnas superciliosa
2 Old Settlement Beach 16 Mar 2014, Mallard Hybrid
1 Mt. Eliza walk from North Bay 20 Mar 2014, Pacific Black Duck x Mallard.
Red-tailed Tropicbird Phaethon rubricauda
Ball's Pyramid Pelagic 17 Mar 2014
20 Little Island walking track 18 Mar 2014, Count estimate.
20 Neds Beach 18 Mar 2014, Estimate count.
40 Malabar Walk 19 Mar 2014, Count estimate.
20 Mt. Eliza walk from North Bay 20 Mar 2014, Count estimate.
1 Anderson Road to Clear Place 21 Mar 2014.
Emerald Dove Chalcophaps indica
2 Stevens Reserve 16 Mar 2014
1 Middle Beach Road & Track 18 Mar 2014
2 Anderson Road to Middle Beach 19 Mar 2014, 1M, 1F
4 Anderson Rd-Old Settlement Beach 20 Mar 2014, 1M, 3F
White-bellied Storm-Petrel Fregetta grallaria
Ball's Pyramid Pelagic 17 Mar 2014.
Providence Petrel Pterodroma solandri
Ball's Pyramid Pelagic 17 Mar 2014
300 Little Island walking track 18 Mar 2014.
Kermadec Petrel Pterodroma neglecta
Ball's Pyramid Pelagic 17 Mar 2014.
Black-winged Petrel Pterodroma nigripennis
18 Neds Beach, south end and reef 16 Mar 2014
Ball's Pyramid Pelagic 17 Mar 2014
26 Neds Beach 18 Mar 2014
4 Malabar Walk 19 Mar 20142, Anderson Road to Middle Beach 19 Mar 2014
1 Old Gulch Track 20 Mar 2014
4 Anderson Road to Clear Place 21 Mar 20148 , Blinky Beach 21 Mar 2014.
Flesh-footed Shearwater Ardenna carneipes
Ball's Pyramid Pelagic 17 Mar 201
400 Neds Beach 18 Mar 2014, Estimate count.
60 Anderson Road to Middle Beach 19 Mar 2014, Count estimate.
Wedge-tailed Shearwater Ardenna pacifica
Ball's Pyramid Pelagic 17 Mar 2014
200 Little Island walking track 18 Mar 2014, Count estimate.
Little Shearwater Puffinus assimilis
2 Blinky Beach 21 Mar 2014.
Masked Booby Sula dactylatra
Ball's Pyramid Pelagic 17 Mar 2014
3 Anderson Road to Clear Place 21 Mar 2014.
Little Black Cormorant Phalacrocorax sulcirostris
2 Road 16 Mar 2014
2 Old Settlement Beach 16 Mar 2014
Neds Beach, south end and reef 16 Mar 2014,
Ball's Pyramid Pelagic 17 Mar 2014
3 The Lagoon 17 Mar 2014
1 Little Island walking track 18 Mar 2014
2 Anderson Road to Middle Beach 19 Mar 2014.
Great Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo
2 Lagoon Road 16 Mar 2014
4 Old Settlement Beach 16 Mar 2014.
Pied Cormorant Phalacrocorax varius
3 The Lagoon 17 Mar 2014.
Little Pied Cormorant Microcarbo melanoleucos
1 Lagoon Road 16 Mar 2014
1 Old Settlement Beach 16 Mar 2014.
White-necked Heron Ardea pacifica
1 Museum to Transit Hill walk 17 Mar 2014
White-faced Heron Egretta novaehollandiae
1 Old Settlement Beach 16 Mar 2014
1 Cemetery Track to Neds Beach 18 Mar 2014
1 Old Settlement Beach 20 Mar 2014
1 Catalina track 21 Mar 2014
2 Old Settlement Beach 22 Mar 2014
1 Anderson Rd-Old Settlement Beach 22 Mar 2014.
Nankeen Kestrel Falco cenchroides
1 Catalina track 16 Mar 2014
2 Malabar Walk 19 Mar 2014.
Lord Howe Woodhen Gallirallus sylvestris
1 The Airstrip, airside only 15 Mar 2014
1 Little Island walking track 18 Mar 2014
2 Anderson Rd-Old Settlement Beach 20 Mar 2014
14 Anderson Road to Clear Place 21 Mar 2014
2 Airport, airside 22 Mar 2014, Foraging around edge of airstrip and in the terminal.
Buff-banded Rail Gallirallus philippensis
2 Cemetery Track to Neds Beach 18 Mar 2014
3 Neds Beach 18 Mar 2014
2 Middle Beach Road & Track 18 Mar 2014
2 Malabar Walk 19 Mar 2014
1 Anderson Road to Middle Beach 19 Mar 2014
4 Old Settlement Beach 20 Mar 2014
1 Catalina track 21 Mar 2014
2 Old Settlement Beach 22 Mar 2014.
Purple Swamphen Porphyrio porphyrio
3 Cemetery Track to Neds Beach 18 Mar 2014
17 Malabar Walk 19 Mar 2014
26 Old Settlement Beach 20 Mar 2014
7 Catalina track 21 Mar 2014
5 Old Settlement Beach 22 Mar 2014.
Masked Lapwing Vanellus miles
3 Old Settlement Beach 16 Mar 2014
2 Anderson Road to Clear Place 21 Mar 2014.
Pacific Golden Plover Pluvialis fulva
50 Airport, airside 15 Mar 2014, Estimate numbers.
1 Neds Beach, south end and reef 16 Mar 2014
5 Anderson Road to Middle Beach 19 Mar 2014
3 Old Settlement Beach 20 Mar 2014
4 North Beach 20 Mar 2014
4 Catalina track 21 Mar 2014
5 Old Settlement Beach 22 Mar 2014
94 Airport, airside 22 Mar 2014.
Bar-tailed Godwit Limosa lapponica
23 North Beach 20 Mar 2014
2 Old Settlement Beach 22 Mar 2014
19 Airport, airside 22 Mar 2014.
Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus
1 Neds Beach, south end and reef 16 Mar 2014
1 Anderson Road to Middle Beach 19 Mar 2014.
Grey-tailed Tattler Tringa brevipes
1 North Beach 20 Mar 2014.
Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres
8 Neds Beach, south end and reef 16 Mar 2014
3 The Lagoon 17 Mar 2014
2 Cemetery Track to Neds Beach 18 Mar 2014
3 Neds Beach 18 Mar 2014
5 Anderson Road to Middle Beach 19 Mar 2014
132 North Beach 20 Mar 2014
8 Old Settlement Beach 22 Mar 2014
23 Airport, airside 22 Mar 2014.
Red-necked Stint Calidris ruficollis
1 North Beach 20 Mar 2014
3 Airport, airside 22 Mar 2014.
Common Tern Sterna hirundo
1 North Beach 20 Mar 2014.
Sooty Tern Onychoprion fuscata
2 Neds Beach, south end and reef 16 Mar 2014, Juveniles.
Ball's Pyramid Pelagic 17 Mar 2014
20 Neds Beach 18 Mar 2014, Estimate count.
8 North Beach 20 Mar 2014.
Black Noddy Anous minutus
22 Old Settlement Beach 16 Mar 2014
Ball's Pyramid Pelagic 17 Mar 2014
2 Malabar Walk 19 Mar 2014
Common Noddy Anous stolidus
1 Old Settlement Beach 16 Mar 2014
1 Middle Beach 18 Mar 2014
5 Old Gulch Track 20 Mar 2014
1 adult feeding juvenile.
39 North Beach 20 Mar 2014.
Grey Ternlet Procelsterna cerulea
Ball's Pyramid Pelagic 17 Mar 2014.
White Tern Gygis alba
20 Old Settlement Beach 16 Mar 2014, Estimate numbers.
Ball's Pyramid Pelagic 17 Mar 20141
2 The Lagoon 17 Mar 2014
38 Neds Beach 18 Mar 2014
2 Middle Beach 18 Mar 2014
43 Neds Beach 18 Mar 2014
19 Malabar Walk 19 Mar 2014
18 Old Settlement Beach 20 Mar 2014
5 Anderson Rd-Old Settlement Beach 20 Mar 2014.
Sacred Kingfisher Todiramphus sanctus
1 Lagoon Road 16 Mar 2014
1 Catalina track 16 Mar 2014
3 Neds Beach 18 Mar 201
4 The Lagoon, 2 adult, 2 juvenile.
1 Middle Beach Road & Track 18 Mar 2014
1 Little Island walking track 18 Mar 2014
3 Neds Beach 18 Mar 2014
2 Old Settlement Beach 20 Mar 2014
1 Catalina track 21 Mar 2014.
Lord Howe Golden Whistler Pachycephala pectoralis contempta
5 Stevens Reserve 16 Mar 2014
1 Neds Beach, south end and reef 16 Mar 2014
3 Cemetery Track to Neds Beach 18 Mar 2014, 1M, 2F
1 Neds Beach 18 Mar 2014
7 Middle Beach Road & Track 18 Mar 2014, 3M, 3F, 1 heard.
1 Little Island walking track 18 Mar 2014
6 Malabar Walk 19 Mar 2014, 2M, 4F, 2 heard
4 Anderson Road to Middle Beach 19 Mar 2014, 3M, 1F
12 Anderson Rd-Old Settlement Beach 20 Mar 2014, 4M, 3F, 1Juv.
1 Mt. Eliza walk from North Bay 20 Mar 2014
2 Catalina track 21 Mar 2014
3 Anderson Rd-Old Settlement Beach 22 Mar 2014, 2M, 1F.
1 male Airport, airside 22 Mar 2014.
Lord Howe Pied Currawong Ssp.Strepera graculina ashbyi
1 Stevens Reserve 16 Mar 2014
2 Malabar Walk 19 Mar 2014
6 Anderson Rd-Old Settlement Beach 20 Mar 2014
7 Anderson Rd-Old Settlement Beach 22 Mar 2014.
Magpie-lark Grallina cyanoleuca
2 Airport, airside 15 Mar 2014
2 Lagoon Road 16 Mar 2014
2 Cemetery Track to Neds Beach 18 Mar 2014
1 Neds Beach 18 Mar 2014
6 Middle Beach Road & Track 18 Mar 2014, 3m, 3F
9 Anderson Rd-Old Settlement Beach 22 Mar 2014
7 Airport, airside 22 Mar 2014.
Lord Howe Silvereye Zosterops lateralis tephropleurus
8 Stevens Reserve 16 Mar 2014
20 Cemetery Track to Neds Beach 18 Mar 2014
30 Middle Beach Road & Track 18 Mar 2014, Count estimate.
70 Anderson Road to Middle Beach 19 Mar 2014, Count estimate
20 Anderson Rd-Old Settlement Beach 20 Mar 2014, Count estimate
30 Anderson Road to Clear Place 21 Mar 2014, Count estimate.
Welcome Swallow Hirundo neoxena
2 Catalina track 16 Mar 2014
8 Malabar Walk 19 Mar 2014
19 Old Settlement Beach 20 Mar 2014.
Common Blackbird Turdus merula
3 Stevens Reserve 16 March 204, 2 male, 1 female.
1 Lagoon Road 16 Mar 2014
11 Cemetery Track to Neds Beach 18 Mar 2014, 2M, 2F, 7 unknown.
3 Neds Beach 18 Mar 2014, 2M, 1F
5 Middle Beach Road & Track 18 Mar 2014, 3M, 2F
14 Malabar Walk 19 Mar 2014, 4M, 8F, 2Juv.
17 Anderson Road to Middle Beach 19 Mar 2014, 7M, 10F
24 Anderson Rd-Old Settlement Beach 20 Mar 2014, 14M, 9F, 1Juv.
6 Anderson Road to Clear Place 21 Mar 2014, 2M, 4F.
6 Catalina track 21 Mar 2014, 3M, 3F
18 Anderson Rd-Old Settlement Beach 22 Mar 2014, 9M, 9F
Common Starling Sturnus vulgaris
9 Old Settlement Beach 16 Mar 2014.
References:-
Hutton, Ian. Birds of Lord Howe Island, past and present. Coffs Harbour, NSW: Ian Hutton, 1991.
Hutton, Ian. World Heritage Guide to Lord Howe Island, 2008.
Hutton, Ian. A Field Guide to the Birds of Lord Howe Island, 2010.
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