Eleven birders, (Richard Baxter, David Brown, John
Duranti, Tony Palliser, Snow Perry, Frank Pierce, Colin Scouler, David Stewart
senior, David Stickney, Bob Way & myself), visited Australia's Indian Ocean
Christmas Island (10o25'S 105o40'E) from 22 to 29 November 2004. With the help
of the resident local expert, David James, our bird list below, highlights in
red, comprised all 23 resident species, marked #. These include 9 notable
endemic species or sub-species, marked *. Another 15 'migrants' were reported,
several of which had been present for several months. Notable absentees were
Turnstone and Barn Swallow.
Most of us stayed at the VQ3 Lodge attached to the Sunset Resort, which is
located in The Settlement. Island Bound Holidays of Shenton Park, W.A, arranged
the flights from Perth, accommodation and 4WD car hire. The weather prior to,
and during, our stay was exceptionally dry and mostly fine, with a fresh SW to
SE wind. Sometimes warm to hot and humid during the day, but in general, it was
more comfortable than expected. The evenings were pleasant. The monsoons,
northerly winds and storms were late. This limited the opportunities for
migrants and vagrants. The forest, scenery and other wildlife added to the
pleasure of our visit. Because it had been very dry, only small numbers of Red
Crabs were moving.
Birds Recorded
# Red Junglefowl. Now more widespread than previously and integrated with
released domestic fowl, so there are few, if any, 'pure-breds' remaining.
# Red-tailed Tropicbird. Seen almost daily in several places but nowhere common
as the main breeding season had finished. Not more than 10 on any day. At least
3 pairs nesting on cliffs below the Rumah Tingge.
#* White-tailed Tropicbird (Golden Bosun-bird, sub-species). Very common and
widespread, more than 50 seen some days. Nests hard to find but seen entering
tree hollows. The nesting periodicity of this species seems to be either
irregular or on other than an annual cycle.
#* Abbott's Booby. Seen daily with a maximum count of 10. Mainly encountered in
the late afternoon around the centre of the island along Murray Road,
especially at the turn-off to the Research Centre where several were nesting.
DJ advised that recent radio tracking shows that most (all?) birds are at sea
for only one day and feed within 150 km of the island returning each evening to
roost. Most head to the north and west and a few go south but it appears that
the widespread belief that they feed in the Java trench is pure myth.
# Red-footed Booby. This tree nesting species was abundant and widespread.
Many juveniles seen.
# Brown Booby. This ground nesting bird was mainly seen at sea. Not nearly as
numerous as on previous visits as most juveniles had fledged. DJ believes they
may have an eleven-month breeding cycle.
Little Black Cormorant. One seen twice.
# Great Frigatebird. A common and conspicuous species. A female forced a
Christmas Frigatebird, some 10% larger, to disgorge three fish, which it then
retrieved. Frigatebirds were seen drinking at Waterfall Cove (all species) and
the pool at the new Leisure Centre.
# Lesser Frigatebird. Scarce: up to 3 almost daily.
#* Christmas Island Frigatebird. Common and widespread. Particularly
conspicuous in the north-eastern area.
# White-faced Heron. Daily, up to 6, but possibly 10 on the island. Population
has been reduced by shooting as considered a threat to aircraft on the
airstrip, one of it's favourite haunts.
# Eastern Reef Egret. Both grey and white morphs seen daily in various places
with a maximum of 5. Displayed strange combinations of bill and leg colours.
Great Egret. 1 either at the Settlement or Flying Fish Cove on three days.
Intermediate Egret. 1 most days, usually at the golf course.
* Striated Heron. 1 on 27th at the Resort. Probably the Javan or other Asian
race, photos by RB may resolve this.
Nankeen Night Heron. One adult at Hugh's Dale on 27th (BW, CS & JD).
#* Christmas Island Goshawk. Initially difficult to find, eventually seen daily
with up to 10.
# Nankeen Kestrel. Up to 200 per day. Absent from the dense forest but common
everywhere else. Feeds mainly on insects caught on the ground.
# White-breasted Waterhen. 5 birds at three locations; one along the coast road
beyond the golf course, two in a territorial dispute at the Refuse Tip and a
'pair' thought to be nesting, at the base of the Murray Hill / Detention Centre
Lookout.
Marsh Sandpiper. 1 claimed at Waterfall Cove on 23rd (RB & DB).
Common Greenshank. 1 at Waterfall Cove 25th, 26th & 27th.
Common Sandpiper. Singles almost daily at various places. At least 5 present.
Pacific Golden Plover. Maximum of 12 on cliffs above Lilly Beach.
# Common Noddy. Widespread and common. One count of 500. Breeding.
#* Emerald Dove. Frequently seen in most forest areas.
#* Christmas Island Imperial Pigeon. Very common in forest and scrub.
#* Christmas Island Hawk-Owl. Excellent views of a pair at the Golf Course.
Heard there and elsewhere most nights.
Oriental Cuckoo. Seen almost daily. At least 3 individuals at widely spaced
locations. Best seen at the entrance to Margaret Knoll.
Asian Koel. For many, this was the trip highlight. First heard and seen where
DJ advised we should look in Silver City on 23rd, we saw an adult female much
better early next morning when it responded to play-back calls of Australian
Koel. It seems that there may be at least 3 Koels on the island, some having
been present since July. Koels were also reported in 2002 and 2003. Les
Christidis advises that Asian and Australian Koels are full species. A report
of a juvenile male by DJ in July is currently being assessed by BARC and this
female requires another submission (DJ).
#* Christmas Island Swiftlet. Common and widespread. Breeding in the Daniel
Roux Cave. 3 seen in the gorge near Steep Point appeared more like typical
esculenta Glossy Swiftlets than the local linchi ('Cave' Swiftlet) looking
birds.
Sacred Kingfisher. 1 seen or heard most days at the eastern end of the
Settlement or the adjacent cemetery.
Yellow Wagtail. A juv. at the Plantation on 27th and 28th.
Grey Wagtail. Seen daily. Up to 5 together at the Plantation and 3 elsewhere.
# Eurasian Tree Sparrow. Common (>100) in the urban areas of Poon Saan, Silver
City and the Settlement.
# Java Sparrow. Seen daily, a total of at least 30 in two flocks, one near VQ3
Lodge and the other in Silver City.
Tree Martin. 1 at the Rubbish Tip virtually daily. This rare vagrant had been
present for about 3 months.
#* Christmas Island White-eye. Abundant and widespread.
# Island Thrush. Common and widespread. One nest found.
ALSO, Green Junglefowl. Up to about 11 seen on the airstrip on West Island in
the Cocos group during landing and take-off for our brief stopover enroute from
Christmas Island to Perth on 29th.
Mike Carter
30 Canadian Bay Road
Mt Eliza VIC 3930
Ph: (03) 9787 7136
Email:
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