On the Pitt Island, the most easterly of the Chatham Islands (east of New
Zealand) on the international date line at one minute past midnight, four
Sydney birders, Tony Palliser, Gerry Richards, Chris Gladwin and myself saw
a small greyish bird fluttering over a fire on the beach. Tony immediately
proclaimed it to be a Broad-billed Prion and declared it to be a lifer for
him and therefore declared himself to be the first person in the world to
get a lifer in the year 2000!
An aggrieved rarities committee immediately convened and after must
discussion (champagne) accepted the record. The prion soon came down to
earth attracted by the firelight and the 3 others ticked it as well at
0018am 1-1-00. Upon returning to the ship, the decks were covered in
Broad-billed and some Fulmar Prions and White-faced Storm Petrels. One of
the birds was photographed before being placed into a cardboard box until
all lights were out and then released.
I can e-mail a j-peg picture to anyone who may like it.
Trevor
Trevor & Annie Quested
Sydney, Australia
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