What a fantastic trip Peter. Thanks for sharing. LHI is still a year away for
me, but reading this just makes my second trip out not come soon enough!
Cheers,
Steve Sass
On 22/04/2013, at 9:18 PM, Peter Ewin <> wrote:
>
>
> Recently got back from a week on Lord Howe Island helping
> celebrate my wife’s birthday with family and friends. This was my third trip
> there but I still had a couple of species to tidy up, but unlike other recent
> visitors, I was really only up for one pelagic. We stayed at Blue Lagoon (next
> to Thompson’s Store) which was perfect for our family (near many of the
> facilities and within walking distance of others) and mixed between
> restaurants
> (Arajilla and Malaysian night at Pandanus were highlights) and cooking
> ourselves (BBQ at Ned’s Beach and freshly caught kingfish were both great) –
> as
> expected most food and tours were expensive, but it was a special occasion so
> we didn’t much care. Non-birding highlights (particularly for the kids) were
> turtles and Galapagos Whalers on snorkelling trips, the fish feed at Ned’s
> Beach and climbing Mt Gower – we lucked out big time on the weather with only
> the last day windy (in fact the last flight of the day was cancelled due to
> the
> weather).
>
> Saw 39 species in the week, with nothing totally unexpected
> (though four cormorant species was I think two more than I had seen
> previously). Daily log follows (number at ends indicates the number of species
> seen that day), with notes on individual species afterwards (* indicates on
> seen on LHI on this trip – see list for rest of trip at end).
>
>
> 6/4 – Arrived on the island and spent about half an hour at
> the airport before heading to our accommodation. Spent the rest day around the
> settlement and the Lagoon trying to organise the rest of the week. 25
>
> 7/4 – Once again the morning was spent around the settlement
> and in the afternoon did a boat trip with Jack Shick – this was the key thing
> I
> wanted to do as I needed to see a couple of seabirds and we were blessed with
> amazing weather and managed to get right around the amazing Ball’s Pyramid.
> Amazing site of hundreds of Providences Petrels at height above us and though
> no rarities were seen, the two targets species (White-bellied Storm-petrel and
> Kermadec Petrel) were. 24
>
> 8/4 – A family trip to North bay including turtle spotting
> and snorkelling. In the afternoon did the Kim’s Lookout/Malabar loop to meet
> the family at Ned’s Beach for a BBQ in the evening. 29
>
> 9/4 – The day with the least bird watching, a snorkelling
> trip to the southern area with the kids and reading (with the odd spot of bird
> watching) around the accommodation. 13
>
> 10/4 – Did the Mt Gower trip with Dean Hiscox – an amazing
> day far harder than I recall last time (though that was 17 years ago).
> Providence Petrels crashing the foliage after being called in is still an
> amazing site. 21
>
> 11/4 – A relaxing day after the climb the previous day –
> took the kid’s to the Clear Place and Ned’s Beach and generally took it easy.
> 25
>
> 12/4 – Decided I needed to do a bit more exercise and
> climbed to the Goat House – the one walk I hadn’t done on previous visits
> (though the bike ride down and back was the part that nearly killed me). The
> afternoon was spent relaxing around the settlement area. 24
>
> 13/4 – Departure day and the wind was up, got caught in a
> heavy downpour while doing the Stevens Reserve loop and spent the afternoon
> waiting for the flight. 24
>
>
> 1. Mallard* - Thankfully the only sightings of these
> horrible hybrids were a pair near the (dry) Airport Swamp o arrival and a
> single bird feeding on the shore at North Bay.
>
> 2. Providence Petrel* - Seen every day but didn’t count the
> tiny specks circling the southern mountains each day. Amazing views of
> hundreds
> of birds at all heights on the boat trip, birds in the hand at Mt Gower,
> distant sightings from the Goat House and one flew low over the airport while
> waiting for the plane. A walk to Little Island in the late afternoon would
> give
> good sightings for those not up to the Gower climb as theer appear to be many
> birds now nesting around the Far Flats.
>
> 3. Kermadec Petrel* - A few birds (mainly dark phase) on the
> trip out to Ball’s Pyramid – maximum of two at any time around the boat.
>
> 4. Black-winged Petrel* - Only seen at Neds Beach where one
> or two birds came in to nests in the late afternoon. Possibly my favourite
> bird
> on the island.
>
> 5. Wedge-tailed Shearwater* - Only definitely seen on the
> Ball’s Pyramid trip but shearwaters that appeared to be coming in to Blackburn
> Island in the afternoon on a couple of occasions may have been this species.
>
> 6. Flesh-footed Shearwater* - Good sightings (at the back of
> the boat) on the Ball’s Pyramid trip, with the other sightings at Ned Beach
> (coming in after dark on one day and a couple just offshore late on another).
>
> 7. White-bellied Storm-petrel* - Up to about 9 on the boat
> trip to Ball’s Pyramid – all light-bellied.
>
> 8. White-faced Heron – The first species seen on the island
> and seen every day.
>
> 9. Red-tailed Tropicbird* - First seen at the airport after
> landing and seen most days when along the coast. Small numbers stuill breeding
> on the northern cliffs and a chick still in the nest at the Goat House.
>
> 10. Masked Booby* - First seen on the boat trip with the odd
> one seen around the coast and even a couple at North bay. Many of the birds
> were this season’s young with dark heads.
>
> 11. Little Pied Cormorant – One seen on the first day flying
> past the jetty was the only sighting.
>
> 12. Little Black Cormorant – The commonest cormorant and
> seen every day, including in the Lagoon, at Ned’s Beach and the largest group
> (about 6 birds) on rocks near the start of the Mt Gower walk.
>
> 13. Pied Cormorant* - Three birds seen at North Bay were the
> only ones seen.
>
> 14. Great Cormorant* - An individual bird seen on three
> occasions –North Bay, Ned’s Beach and at the airport on the last afternoon.
>
> 15. Australian Kestrel – Individuals seen at the airport (on
> arrival and departure) and at Malabar were the only sightings.
>
> 16. Lord Howe Woodhen* - Seen (or heard) every day with
> records at the airport, Blue Lagoon gardens, Mt Gower, Soldier’s Creek and
> Capella Lodge. The best spot was the walk to the Clear Place where three pairs
> (two with dependant young) were seen. Most were banded, but a few (including
> one pair) were not.
>
> 17. Buff-banded Rail* - Abundant in the settlement area and
> seen every day.
>
> 18. Purple Swamphen – Common and seen every day except one –
> largest numbers in the paddock behind Settlement Beach.
>
> 19. Masked Lapwing – Seen most days with most sightings
> around the airport or at Settlement Beach.
>
> 20. Pacific Golden Plover*- First seen at the airport and
> quite common with other sightings at North Bay and Ned’s Beach.
>
> 21. Double-banded Plover* - A few seen at low tide on North
> Bay and a single near Airport Swamp on the ride to the Goat House were the
> only
> sightings.
>
> 22. Whimbrel* - A single bird seen on the Golf Course on the
> morning of the Gower walk and another (or the same bird) near Capella when
> returning from the Goat House walk a couple of days later.
>
> 23. Bar-tailed Godwit* - Common at the airport and at North
> Bay.
>
> 24. Ruddy Turnstone* - Again common at the airport and North
> Bay, and feeds at Ned’s Beach on any of the fish food that manages to wash
> back
> to the shore.
>
> 25. Sooty Tern* - Amazingly the only birds seen were about 4
> adults and one begging young at North Bay – given how common they are in
> November I couldn’t believe this was the only sighting.
>
> 26. Common Noddy* - Seen nearly every day though some early
> sightings may have been the next species. A number appeared to be roosting in
> trees on the Lagoon shore.
>
> 27. Black Noddy* - One of the significant changes since my
> last visit (in 1997) is the increase in Black Noddies breeding on the island
> at
> North Bay (up to 600). First definitely seen at this location, and when I paid
> attention to them afterwards at least some of the birds seen flying around
> were
> also this species.
>
> 28. Grey Ternlet* - Only seen on the boat trip with
> sightings near Gower Island and around Ball’s Pyramid.
>
> 29. White Tern* - Common, large chicks present and recorded
> every day.
>
> 30. Emerald Dove* - Again common with sightings every day.
>
> 31. Sacred Kingfisher* - Seen most days, with up to 4 on
> rocks at the Jetty the highest number.
>
> 32. Golden Whistler – Common, though took me 3 days to see
> one.
>
> 33. Magpie-lark – Common, seen every day.
>
> 34. Pied Currawong – Recorded every day, though usually only
> heard in the settlement area. Young birds present in the northern hills and on
> Mt Gower.
>
> 35. Eurasian Blackbird – Unfortunately abundant and seen
> every day.
>
> 36. Song Thrush* - One only seen at the airport before I had
> even spotted a Blackbird.
>
> 37. Common Starling – A few at Settlement Beach and a couple
> in the settlement a few days later were the only ones seen.
>
> 38. Welcome Swallow – Common and recorded every day.
>
> 39. Silvereye – Abundant and recorded every day.
>
>
> Of course coming from Mildura, the trip to Sydney to get to
> Lord Howe also yielded a few species. The list below is a summary of the
> species seen on the rest of the trip, notes are only provide for significant
> species – codes as follows:
>
> D – The drive from Mildura to Sydney on 29/3 (yes I drove
> 1000+km in one day with three kids)
>
> S – Various trips around Sydney including Pennant Hills,
> Lane Cove NP and football games at Cronulla and the Football Stadium
>
> PX – My in-laws farm at Payne’s Crossing between Broke and
> Wollombi in the Hunter Valley on the 2-4/4 (including the drive up)
>
> R – The return trip to Mildura on 14-15/4.
>
> * Indicates only seen on one occasion.
>
>
> 1. Emu D, R
>
> 2. Australian Brush-turkey*S – Lane Cove NP
>
> 3. Brown Quail* PX
>
> 4. Black Swan D, S, R
>
> 5. Australian Wood Duck D, S, PX, R
>
> 6. Pacific Black Duck D, S, PX, R
>
> 7. Grey Teal* PX
>
> 8. Chestnut Teal S
>
> 9. Hardhead* S
>
> 10. Australasian Grebe D, PX, R
>
> 11. Australian White Ibis D, S, R
>
> 12. Straw-necked Ibis D, PX, R
>
> 13. Royal Spoonbill* R
>
> 14. Yellow-billed Spoonbill* R
>
> 15. White-necked Heron D, PX, R
>
> 16. Great Egret PX, R
>
> 17. White-faced Heron D, PX, R
>
> 18. Australian Pelican D, R
>
> 19. Little Pied Cormorant D, S, R
>
> 20. Little Black Cormorant D, S, PX, R
>
> 21. Darter D, S
>
> 22. Australian Kestrel D, PX, R
>
> 23. Brown Falcon* D
>
> 24. Peregrine Falcon D, R
>
> 25. Black-shouldered Kite D, PX, R
>
> 26. Black Kite* R
>
> 27. Whistling Kite D, R
>
> 28. White-bellied Sea-eagle* PX
>
> 29. Spotted Harrier* D – Hay Plain
>
> 30. Brown Goshawk S, PX
>
> 31. Collared Sparrowhawk* D
>
> 32. Wedge-tailed Eagle PX, R
>
> 33. Little Eagle R
>
> 34. Purple Swamphen PX
>
> 35. Dusky Moorhen S
>
> 36. Eurasian Coot S, PX
>
> 37. Masked Lapwing D, S, PX, R
>
> 38. Silver Gull S, R
>
> 39. Crested Tern* S
>
> 40. Rock Dove D, S, R
>
> 41. Spotted Turtle-dove* S
>
> 42. Common Bronzewing D, R
>
> 43. Crested Pigeon D, PX, R
>
> 44. Wonga Pigeon PX
>
> 45. Glossy Black-cockatoo PX – At least 4 at Payne’s
> crossing and a loose flock of about a dozen birds near the crossing of
> Wollombi
> Brook travelling back towards Wollombi.
>
> 46. Yellow-tailed Black-cockatoo* PX
>
> 47. Galah D, S, R
>
> 48. Long-billed Corella* S
>
> 49. Little Corella S, R
>
> 50. Sulphur-crested Cockatoo D, S, PX, R
>
> 51. Cockatiel* R
>
> 52. Rainbow Lorikeet S, R
>
> 53. Little Lorikeet* PX – At least one pair flew over
>
> 54. Australian Ringneck D, R
>
> 55. Crimson Rosella D, S, R – Both Yellow and Crimson races
>
> 56. Eastern Rosella D, PX, R
>
> 57. Red-rumped Parrot D, R
>
> 58. Australian King Parrot S, PX
>
> 59. Superb Parrot* R – A pair at Tombullen Storage
>
> 60. Shining Bronze-cuckoo* PX
>
> 61. Powerful Owl S, PX – Apparently called every night while
> we were in Sydney but only heard one night (at 4AM) at Payne’s Crossing and
> the
> last morning before we left Pennant Hills
>
> 62. Southern Boobook PX, R
>
> 63. Laughing Kookaburra D, S, PX, R
>
> 64. Superb Lyrebird PX
>
> 65. White-throated Treecreeper S, PX
>
> 66. Brown Treecreeper* R
>
> 67. Superb Fairy-wren PX, R
>
> 68. Variegated Fairy-wren S, PX, R
>
> 69. Spotted Pardalote S, PX, R
>
> 70. Striated Pardalote PX, R
>
> 71. Speckled Warbler* PX – Had to hunt hard this time to
> find a pair
>
> 72. White-browed Scrubwren S, PX
>
> 73. Weebill* R
>
> 74. Brown Gerygone S
>
> 75. Brown Thornbill S, PX
>
> 76. Chestnut-rumped Thornbill* D
>
> 77. Yellow-rumped Thornbill PX, R
>
> 78. Yellow Thornbill PX, R
>
> 79. Striated Thornbill S, PX
>
> 80. Yellow-faced Honeyeater S, PX
>
> 81. Singing Honeyeater D, R
>
> 82. White-eared Honeyeater PX
>
> 83. Yellow-tufted Honeyeater PX
>
> 84. White-plumed Honeyeater D, R
>
> 85. Lewin's Honeyeater S, PX
>
> 86. Bell Miner PX
>
> 87. Noisy Miner S, PX, R
>
> 88. Blue-faced Honeyeater D, PX, R
>
> 89. Brown-headed Honeyeater PX
>
> 90. White-naped Honeyeater PX
>
> 91. Noisy Friarbird PX
>
> 92. Striped Honeyeater* PX
>
> 93. Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater D, R
>
> 94. Little Wattlebird S
>
> 95. Red Wattlebird D, S, R
>
> 96. New Holland Honeyeater* S
>
> 97. White-cheeked Honeyeater* S
>
> 98. Eastern Spinebill S, PX
>
> 99. White-fronted Chat* D – Hay Plain
>
> 100. Eastern Yellow Robin S, PX
>
> 101. Jacky Winter PX
>
> 102. Rose Robin* PX – a nice male
>
> 103. Grey-crowned Babbler PX, R
>
> 104. Eastern Whipbird S, PX, R
>
> 105. Spotted Quail-thrush* PX – Fantastic views of a pair of
> this species that I have been expecting at this location for years
>
> 106. Golden Whistler S, PX
>
> 107. Rufous Whistler PX
>
> 108. Grey Shrike-thrush PX
>
> 109. Grey Fantail S, PX
>
> 110. Willie Wagtail D, PX, R
>
> 111. Magpie-lark D, S, PX, R
>
> 112. Leaden Flycatcher* PX
>
> 113. Grey Butcherbird D, S, PX, R
>
> 114. Pied Butcherbird D, PX, R
>
> 115. Australian Magpie D, S, PX, R
>
> 116. Pied Currawong D, S, PX
>
> 117. White-breasted Woodswallow* R
>
> 118. Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike D, PX, R
>
> 119. Australasian Figbird* S – In figs at the SCG.
>
> 120. Little Raven D, R
>
> 121. Australian Raven D, S, PX, R
>
> 122. White-winged Chough D, PX, R
>
> 123. Apostlebird D, R
>
> 124. Satin Bowerbird PX
>
> 125. Eurasian Blackbird D, R
>
> 126. Common Starling D, R
>
> 127. Common Myna D, S, PX, R
>
> 128. Welcome Swallow D, S, PX, R
>
> 129. Fairy Martin D, R
>
> 130. Tree Martin D, PX
>
> 131. Silvereye D, S, PX
>
> 132. Mistletoebird D, S, R
>
> 133. House Sparrow D, S, R
>
> 134. Red-browed Finch S, PX
>
> 135. Double-barred Finch* PX
>
>
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