Hi All.
This posting is to cover the highlights of a South Pacific cruise over
a couple of weeks up th Oct 16th ( visiting the Pitcairns; Pitcairn itself,
Henderson and Oeno Islands, Mangareva, Morane and Teneraro in the Gambiers
(Southern Tuamotos), Niku Hiva and Ua Huka in the Northern Marquesas, and
Tahiti.) and to titillate your interest in a more comprehensive report by
our leader Phil Hansboro yet to come.
The Tuamoto Sandpiper was the outstanding star of the twenty five plus
Pacific Island endemics seen. On two uninhabited and rat-free atolls there
were, conservatively, five hundred of these unique little birds. They were
everywhere, fluttering up to within a couple of metres, down from palm
trees, up from the coral, inside the vegetated areas, whistling, chattering,
calling, scolding, muttering to one another and at us, usually in twos or
threes, following along behind for a while until others took their place,
agitated and walking rapidly around, or just standing or perched on low
branches watching. They looked like rails or quail at times, sometimes flew
in close and erected their tails and complained when we entered their
territory, occasionally crouched close to the sand and crept along when
frightened, which was unusual. They had at least six recognisable calls
Penny and I were escorted by three of them, calling between
themselves, watching and running around us. Penny went for a dip, lowering
herself off a low coral shelf into a pool. The Sandpipers walked up to the
edge, looked over, and made a querilous and concerned "oooooooh ", they were
definitely worried. The word "confiding" suits them perfectly, they are
very personable little birds with individual personalities. Phil will have
many pics.
Henderson Island yielded it's endemic Stephens Lorikeet, Crake,
Fruit-Dove, and also Reed-Warbler, one of whose many close cousins lives on
Pitcairn itself, many of these had albinistic patches, and other members of
that clan of remote island survivors were seen on Tahiti and Moorea. where
many are black. The call has a distinct family resemblance to our Australian
Reed-Warbler. Very beautiful Fruit Doves with pastel shades have also
radiated across the Pacific and we saw different spp. on at least one of all
the island groups visited. Long-tailed Koels, shy winter migrants from New
Zealand, gave us fleeting glimpses on Oeno and the Gambiers. Polynesian
Ground Doves were thin on the ground in the two mammal-free Gambiers we
visited, tame, quiet, approachable and totally vulnerable to rats or cats
should they ever be introduced. We saw about twenty, perhaps half the
world's population.
Bristle-thighed Curlews were high on the wish-list. First seen
flying over from a tree-top on Henderson while looking for Fruit Doves,
there were scores on Oeno and the Gambiers.
Tahiti Kingfishers are common on Tahiti, Tahiti Monarchs are rare
but we saw several in a protected area, also Iphis Monarch in the Botanic
Gardens on Ua Huka, the great Little Ultramarine Lorikeet and Marquesan
Reed-Warbler were there as well, along with White-capped Fruit-dove. Like
all the other Fruit-Doves they are truly "beautiful" in the bins or scope.
We saw a significant percentage (five birds)of the world's
population of Niku Hiva Imperial Pigeon, large, dark, flying and sounding
like a Corvid. Tahiti and Marquesas Swiftlets seen without much difficulty.
The trip was a bonanza for Petrel-heads, sightings included
Murphys, Henderson, Herald, Bulwers,Tahiti, Phoenix, Kermadec, Flesh-footed
and Juan Fernandez Petrels, Polynesian , "Tropical", and an indeterminate
Storm Petrel, White-faced Storm Petrel, Christmas Shearwater, LittleWhite
Tern, Blue and Grey Noddy, Grey-backed Tern plus out-of-range (?) Northern
and Southern Antarctic Giant Petrels, Cape Petrels,Grey Petrels, Buller's
Albatross and even a Blue Petrel being attacked by Frigatebirds in one of
the lagoons. Thousands of Boobies, Masked, Red-footed and Brown, Red- and a
few White-tailed Tropic-birds, Greater and Lesser Frigatebirds and White
(Fairy) Terns, nesting and otherwise. Wandering Tattlers were everywhere on
the reefs. Many Sooty Terns, Brown and Black Noddies. Crested Terns. A
single Sanderling on Niku Hiva. Phil Hansboro's report will expand.
Getting back to work isn't easy.
Cheers
Michael
Michael Hunter
Mulgoa Valley
50km west of Sydney Harbour Bridge
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