Hi Michael
Exciting Expedition Birding indeed. I am re-sending this to Expedition
Birding list. If anyone is interested in this concept - and if you like
to see how many points some of these birds score - please check
http://www.birdingperu.com/forums/expeditionbirding/
Just out of curiosity. How does one (a birder keen to see these birds)
avoid not being a vector to spread rats to these virgin islands?
Is there any sort of cooperation with the researches and
conservationists working these species? Could they benefit from more
birders - maybe co-financing expeditions?
Cheers
Gunnar
Gunnar Engblom-Lima, Peru.
Kolibri Expeditions
http://www.kolibriexpeditions.com
www.birding-peru.com - checklist and data-base. Record your sightings
on-line, forum, pictures, identification, Expedition Birding, etc.
Tel: +51 1 4765016 cel: 51-1-96437749 or 99007886
-----Mensaje original-----
De:
En nombre de Michael
Hunter
Enviado el: Jueves, 20 de Octubre de 2005 06:09 p.m.
Para: ;
Asunto: [BIRDING-AUS] Tuamoto Sandpiper
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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