David Mitford has advised
me that he saw 23 Streaked Shearwaters in “90 minutes” from Maroubra (approx. 10 km south of Sydney CBD). This is quite
a high number for this uncommon species for NSW. I thought seeing 3 one
afternoon was good. Though according to the book “Birds of Sydney”
by Ern Hoskin, a flock of
28 plus were seen on a pelagic off Sydney Heads on 24/4/82.
David also in that fantastic 90 minutes a White-necked
Petrel, another regular but uncommon species off NSW that breeds on Norfolk
Island a few hundred km’s off from
NSW.
Interestingly both the Streaked Shearwater and White-necked
Petrel were not even mentioned in the 1980 edition Pizzey
Field Guide!
Edwin Vella
