Hi Birders,
Richard Johnson's report of a Tropic-bird at Roma
Queensland, reminds me of two wet days at Coonabarabran on 20-21st March 1978,
when during a Low Pressure trough that brought strong easterly winds and
rain to north-east inland NSW, it also rained Tropic-birds. Both
Red-tailed (9) and White-tailed Tropic-birds (5) were blown well inland, 4 came
down in Coonabarabran, but also at Dubbo, Bourke, Tamworth, Armidale, Gunnedah
and Barraba! (see Aust. Birds 13.51). My advice is go out and look for
more!
However, in coastal NSW, the strong easterly winds
are bringing in an unusually large number of Sooty Terns. 30 were reported
during the Wollongong pelagic on 27/1 & 10 on the Swansea pelagic the same
day. On 19 January single birds were found at Brooms Head and Norah Head and
some have also been reported on the South Coast. Yesterday, Ian Watts reported
30+ at Pimilco, 4km upstream of the Richmond River estuary near Ballina. I would
be interested to hear of any more unusual seabird reports associated with the
current gales that are buffeting the NSW North Coast.
Alan Morris.
NSWFOC Records Officer
tel 02 43 891390
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