My wife and I spent the second week of February on Norfolk Island and stayed
at Whispering Pines, just near the Botanic Gardens. I went there armed with
reports from this group by Dion Hobcroft and Michael Hunter (thanks) as well
as the Norfolk Island list from the "new" atlas. The 3 or 4 threads of
social history of the island plus the birds made for an excellent week.
I birded at the Gardens, around Mount Pitt, at the Captain Cook Monument and
along the shore between the Kingston Jetty and Point Hunter. I also visited
Phillip Island with Mike Simpson.
I saw 42 of the 55 bird species recorded during the "new" atlas as well as
the local gecko and both green and brown turtles. I did not see or hear of
any leeches.
I met two birding locals who were most helpful, Helen Sampson who works in
the archaeological museum and Honey ??? who bands birds on Phillip Island.
They gave me photographs of Australasian Gannets, 6 of which breed on
Phillip Island (and which I did not see), the local Red-crowned Parakeet and
the White-necked Petrel. I can scan and E-mail these to anybody interested.
The birds I saw are listed below, with the order and taxonomy as given in
the "new" atlas report.
Red Junglefowl: common, some good roosters about
California Quail: moderately common
Feral Goose: at Kingston, some of these have been moved to the pond below
the Chapel
Mallard-Pacific Black Duck crosses: many at Waterwheel Pond and Chapel Swamp
Kermadec Petrel: one very fluffy chick seen on a nest at Phillip Island
White-necked Petrel: one adult on a nest on Phillip Island, shown by Honey
Black-winged Petrel: common, seen near burrows on Phillip Island and at
Cook's Monument.
Red-tailed Tropicbird: common
Masked Booby: moderately common, seen daily near the coast
Lesser Frigatebird: 6 seen perched in a Pine Tree on the southern side of
Phillip Island
White-faced Heron: lots on the reef at Slaughter Bay.
Nankeen Kestrel: a pair seen at Kingston and one near Mount Pitt.
Purple Swamphen: lots at Kingston Common with chicks.
Bar-tailed Godwit: 4 at Kingston Common.
Whimbrel: up to 6 birds on the reefs at Slaughter Bay.
Wandering Tattler: up to 6 at low tide from Slaughter Bay to Point Hunter.
I spent many hours scoping these birds and came to the conclusion that they
were Wandering rather than Grey-tailed. I had copies of the appropriate
pages from HANZAB but there were some confusing field marks. I did not hear
them call.
Ruddy Turnstone: lots at Slaughter Bay, on Kingston Common and some on the
Northern Isles, seen from Cook's Monument
Pacific Golden Plover: on Kingston Common, on the reefs of Slaughter Bay and
the tarmac at the airport.
Sooty Tern: lots along any part of the coast.
Common Noddy: a few seen from Point Hunter.
Black Noddy: common along any part of the coast
Grey Ternlet: Seen from Cook's Monument and at close quarters on Phillip
Island.
White Tern: seen all over the island, 1-3 in view at any time.
Rock Dove: moderately common, widespread.
Emerald Dove: common and friendly at 100 Acres and in the Botanic Gardens.
Crimson Rosella: common and widespread.
Red-crowned Parakeet: 3 seen flying from Mt Bates Track, one seen on the
aviary roof at the Botanic Gardens, heard in Selwyn Reserve and from
Whispering Pines
Southern Boobook: one heard from Mt Bates track at 2030 one evening.
Sacred Kingfisher: common and widespread including a singleton on Phillip
Island.
Norfolk Island Gerygone: moderately common at Botanic Gardens and around
Mount Pitt.
Scarlet Robin: I agree with Dion Hobcroft's comment on its status. I saw
them near the top of Mount Pitt, in the Botanic Gardens and on Mt Bates
Track. On the last morning I saw 4 different males, the last accompanied by
3 other individuals.
Golden Whistler: I did not see this bird well until the last few days. They
were seen at the Botanic Gardens and mostly on Mt Bates Track.
Grey Fantail: common in the Botanic Gardens and the National Park.
House Sparrow: common
European Greenfinch: one only seen on Mt Bates Track.
European Goldfinch: seen in 100 Acres reserve and on Mt Bates Track.
Welcome Swallow: about 6 on wires near Whispering Pines every day. A few
over the lagoon at Slaughter Bay.
Silvereye: probably the most common bird on the island
Slender-billed White-eye: relatively common on Mount Pitt and in the Botanic
Gardens. Distinctive call
Common Blackbird: very common
Song Thrush: common
Common Starling: very common.
Regards,
Gil Langfield
Melbourne, Australia
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