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Lord Howe Island, South Eastern Pacific Ocean--trip report 21-12-97 to 2

To: "Birding-aus" <>, "Birdchat" <>
Subject: Lord Howe Island, South Eastern Pacific Ocean--trip report 21-12-97 to 28-12-97
From: "Trevor Quested" <>
Date: Sun, 4 Jan 1998 18:57:46 +1100
Lord Howe Island is 570 km east of New South Wales, Australia.  (31.33
south, 159.05 east) It is a popular tourist destination, and of interest to
birdwatchers, has an endemic rail, and is the breeding ground of several
species of seabird. Only 400 visitors are allowed at any time.

The island is 11 km long, maximum 2.8 km wide, is sub-tropical, and has a
highest peak, Mt. Gower 875m. Ball's Pyramid, a volcanic spire is 551m and
is 23 km to the south-east. There are two distinct bird breeding periods
and some birds only breed on Ball's Pyramid.

Accommodation must be arranged before arrival, there are daily flights from
Sydney and Brisbane, shops and restaurants abound. The return flight from
Sydney, Australia plus one week's accommodation was $1500(Aus) each(high
season).  The commonest method of transport was bicycle which, with helmet 
was $4 per day.

Birdwatching: About 130 species have been recorded.
The island is excellent for photography.
Weather permitting, daily activities e.g boat trips are organised which
permit good views of the birds. 
We took a boat trip around the island, a glass bottom boat trip inside the
reef, and a day trip to a picnic area. There is a fishing boat to Ball's
Pyramid ($100) which is an all day trip. We climbed Mt. Gower and did
several walks.  We snorkelled the coral reefs regularly.

Many well made walking tracks go through the dry rainforest often to
lookouts. We recommend the Malabar and Muttonbird Point (both Grade 3)
before you attempt to climb Mount Gower (grade 10)
In the rear of Simpson & Day's Field Guide to the Birds of Australia, there
is a section listing every species, its measure of abundance and time of
year. Some of the subspecies may well be elevated to full species.

Birds of Interest:

Lord Howe Island Woodhen (Lord Howe Rail  Gallirallus sylvestris) Once one
of the most endangered  species in the world, down to 30 birds, now readily
seen 

Black-winged Petrel. A truly beautiful Pterodroma seen wheeling above Ned's
Beach and other areas. Often flying spectacularly in pairs. Summer resident

Providence Petrel. Common winter breeding bird. 

Kermadec Petrel. Ball's Pyramid. Summer Breeding resident

Flesh-footed Shearwater. Nests in burrows in lowland forest during summer.
Can be seen easily with a torch along the paths at night

Little Shearwater. Common winter breeding bird

White Bellied Storm-Petrel.  Breeding summer resident. We did not see this
bird, but we did not go on the sea journey to Ball's Pyramid

Red Tailed Tropicbird.  Breeding resident. Spectacular "backwards" flying
displays from many lookouts.

Masked Booby. Breeding resident. Common on small islands close to shore

Buff-banded Rail. Easily seen in gardens & on lawns by roadside.

Bar-tailed Godwit, Whimbrel, Ruddy Turnstone and  Asian Golden-Plover  all
over the airfield when one disembarks. Several good waders have been
recorded over the years.

Black Noddy. Nesting in trees (Brown Noddy is a ground nester). Seen at
Muttonbird Point and on the around island cruise

Grey Noddy (Ternlet). Delicate beautiful bird flew around us on the around
island cruise. Seen in flocks sitting on rocks.

Common White-tern.  This exquisite bird nests on a bare branch sometimes at
eye level during the summer.  Pair flying can be seen from most beaches. 

Emerald Dove.  Rainforest pigeon is quite tame and can be seen walking
along many of the tracks.

Golden Whistler could be a split as could the White Eye

Pied Currawong.  Has a barred tail and calls very differently to mainland
bird.

A list of the species seen by us are as follows
F Black-winged Petrel                   Pterodroma nigripennis
  Wedge-tailed Shearwater               Puffinus pacificus
  Flesh-footed Shearwater               Puffinus carneipes
  Red-tailed Tropicbird                 Phaethon rubricauda
F Masked Booby                          Sula dactylatra
  Great Cormorant                       Phalacrocorax carbo
Australian Kestrel              Falco cenchroides 
 Mallard                               Anas platyrhynchos
  Pacific Black Duck                    Anas superciliosa
  White-faced Heron                     Egretta novaehollandiae
F Lord Howe Rail                        Gallirallus sylvestris
  Buff-banded Rail                      Gallirallus philippensis
  Purple Swamphen                       Porphyrio porphyrio
  Bar-tailed Godwit                     Limosa lapponica
  Whimbrel                              Numenius phaeopus
  Ruddy Turnstone                       Arenaria interpres
  Asian Golden-Plover                   Pluvialis fulva
  Masked Lapwing                        Vanellus miles
  Sooty Tern                            Sterna fuscata
  Gray Noddy                            Procelsterna albivitta
  Brown Noddy                           Anous stolidus
  Black Noddy                           Anous minutus
  Common White-Tern                     Gygis alba
  Emerald Dove                          Chalcophaps indica
  Sacred Kingfisher                     Todirhamphus sanctus
  Golden Whistler                       Pachycephala pectoralis
  Pied Currawong                        Strepera graculina
  Magpie-lark                           Grallina cyanoleuca
  Eurasian Blackbird                    Turdus merula
  Song Thrush                           Turdus philomelos
  Welcome Swallow                       Hirundo neoxena
  Silver-eye                            Zosterops lateralis

32 SPECIES
Conclusions.  This island is a seabird paradise. It is an excellent place
for a holiday and to see some easy new birds in beautiful relaxed
surroundings.

Trevor  & Annie Quested
Sydney,  Australia

Phone   +61 2 9955 6266
Fax  + 61 2  9959 4005



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