Hi Birders,
As previously reported on 12 June 2006, a Broad-billed Prion was blown
ashore during strong wings on the NSW Central Coast on 7/6/2006. The bird
was found in the yard of a house in Huntleys St Bensville (Lat longs S 33 29
49, E 151 22 36), which is on the northern shore of Cockle Broadwater, in
Brisbane Water and about 5 km inland from the nearest part of the coast. The
bird was still alive and was photographed but soon died. The photograph
showed it to be a typical Broad-billed Prion.
Today I had an opportunity to view the carcase which will be sent to the
Australian Museum. The measurements were:- Bill Length 34.7 mm, bill width
21.5 mm, bill depth 17.2 mm, tarsus 38.3 mm and mid toe & claw 45.3 mm. All
these measurements were consistent with the measurements provided in HANZAB
for a Broad-billed Prion.
As far as I can ascertain this is the 16th record for the Broad-billed Prion
in NSW and the first for the Central Coast. There were 13 records for
beach-cast birds between 1904 & 1973, the best years being five specimens
from Sydney to Ulladulla in July-August 1954 and four from Nadgee NR to
Ulladulla in July 1973. Then there was along gap until 2000, when birds were
seen at sea off Long Reef 17/6 and off South West Rocks 9/7. There were then
no records until now.
This specimen record therefore is consistent with previous reports
(Jun-Aug), and is the 16th NSW record, the first since 2000 and possibly one
of the few specimen records in the past 50 years.
Alan Morris
Birding NSW Records Officer
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