Land Birds
Australasian Grebe ( Tachybaptus novaehollandiae)
This little bird arrived here this year (2011) and stayed for about three months. Hard to get a picture of him as he would always go to the middle of the...
Australian Kestrel (Falco cenchroides)
A great little bird of prey, not a lot of them on the island. You can find them along the lagoon bank, Blinky beach dune and Malabar. Breeds here spring, summer....
Australian Shelduck (Tadorna tadornoides)
One dropped in this year (2011) they have been here before. Beautiful looking large duck. Breeds in southern Australia and Tasmania.
Australian White Ibis (Threskiornis molucca)
One of these blow in once in a while will stay if more than one comes I think.
Australian Wood Duck (Chenonetta jubata)
This one has been here for about a week now 18/12/11. Not a common Duck for the island. Found throughout most of Australia, not sure what he was doing here?
Bar-tailed Godwit (Limosa limosa)
A large wader here most of the year, some stay all year. Wingspan of 700mm. You can find them here on the airstrip grass and on the beach at low tide. They change colour...
Black-winged Stilt (Himantopus himantopus)
Only been seen here four times, a very attractive bird but not a strong looking flyer. Long red legs trailing in flight. Breeds in central Asia.
Buff-banded Rail (Gallirallus philippensis)
A small rail with more colour in the chest than the Woodhen. The Woodhen is mostly brown. Has been breeding here now for about 20 years, over the last 10 years...
Cattle Egret (Ardea ibis)
Large all white bird, they stop over here for a while on their way to NZ. They breed in Northern NSW. You can find them in early winter to early summer around cows in paddocks....
Common Greenshank (Tringa nebularia)
I only got this bird the last week 10/12/11. A first for me but has been recorded here before. He only stayed for about 3 days then kept going. Looks like Terek...
Dollarbird ( Eurystomus orientalis)
This guy was blown in here in Autumn this year 2011, I had never seen one here before. Beautiful to watch on the wing very fast as they dive and catch insects.
Double-banded Plover (Charadrius bicinctus)
We get these hear each year not in big numbers just ones and twos. Tiny little bird you can find them at the airport and on the beach at low tide. Breeds in NZ...
Emerald Ground-dove (Chalcophaps indica)
A bird common in the forests and along the sides of the road, beautiful green wings. The male bird a bit brighter than the female. Breeds on the island their nest...
Fan-tailed Cuckoo (Cacomantis flabelliformis)
This guy blew in here over winter this year (2011), we don't see many of them. A wide spread bird through Australia, breeds in Aus and NZ.
Greater Sand Plover ( Charadrius leschenaultii)
I saw this one a couple of weeks ago at Mosley Park 20/11/11. Small bird looks like a Double banded but has a bigger bill. It breeds in the semi-deserts of...
Hardhead Duck (Aythya australis)
See this one once in a while, blown off course I would think. A large duck. Common in the south east of Australia will go as far as NZ in times of drought.
Little Curlew (Numenius minutus)
A few of these here this year (2011) not in big numbers. I photographed this one near the airport. Breeds in the far north of Siberia, any wonder he looked stuffed!! A...
Lord Howe Golden Whistler (Pachycephala petoralis contempta)
Body length of 170mm
A beautiful little forest bird, common on the island. The male has a gold to yellow chest and belly, white throat and...
Lord Howe Island Currawong (Strepera graculina crissalis)
A unique Lord Howe Island subspecies, common in the forest around the island walking tracks. Very smart bird. Will follow you around in the...
LHI Hybrid Duck
Some black ducks arrived at the island in the 1970 and decided to breed here. Some time later NZ Mallard Ducks arrived. These two have crossed in together producing this LHI Hybrid Duck....
Lord Howe White-eye (Zosterops tephropleura)
Wingspan around 100mm
Only a small bird common in the lowland forest and mountains. Breeds here nest hard to find. Loves to eat fruit, not liked around local...
Magpie Lark (Grallina cyanoleuca)
Black and white bird introduced here in the 1920's. It's common name is Peewee, breeds on the island. They make there nest out of mud usually hi up in a large tree. Easy...
Masked Lapwing (Vanellus miles)
Arrived on the island in 1991 and stayed. They breed here now in open paddocks. Will defend their nest or chick with gusto swooping low over your head. Easy to find in...
Masked Owl (Tyto novaehollandiae)
A really beautiful bird of prey. Masked and Barn Owls were introduced to the island in the 40's to try and rid the island of rats. Breed on the island in hollow trees...
Pacific Golden Plover (Pluvialis fulva)
Great little bird this guy is here almost all year until he heads off to breed. They change into breeding plumage before they leave the island. You can find large...
Purple Swamphen (Porphyrio porphyrio)
A large purple and black bird with red bill and legs, flew in here around 1987 and stayed. They like to hang around swampy areas like the golf club and the swamp at...
Red-necked Stint (Calidris ruficollis)
A tiny little bird would only be about 50g in weight. Not common on the island but a few fly through each year stopping for a short rest. Breeding along the Arctic...
Ruddy Turnstone (Arenaria interpres)
Here for most of the summer months breeds Artic circle, Alaska, Northern Canada and Russia to name a few. Amazing that a small bird can fly that far!! You can find...
Sacred Kingfisher (Todiramphus sanctus )
Body length of 200mm
The kingfisher is a great little bird. They breed on the island. Very fast flyer so hard to get a photo on the wing. Can be found on fence...
Shining Bronze-Cuckoo (Chalcites lucidus)
Beautiful little bird, they get blown in here around March. They could be on their way to NZ. We see them most years but not in big numbers. Only about the size...
Swamp Harrier (Circus approximans)
Wingspan 1400mm body weight of 480g
Swamp Harrier will fly to Lord Howe about once a year, only one or two. They tend to arrive here in about May when the Shearwater...
Tree Martin (Petrochelidon nigricans)
The size of a swallow, there were about 6 of these over here this winter 2011. Not common on the island, very hard to get a photo as they are so small and very...
Welcome Swallow (Hirundo neoxena)
Great little bird arrived here in the 1970 and has stayed, breeds on the island their nests are made out of mud. You can find them over cattle paddocks and bodies of...
White-faced Heron (Ardea novaehollandiae)
A wingspan of about 1200mm with a long neck and long yellow legs, this guy is common here. You can find them most days at the Swamp at the east end of the runway...