Australian Wood Duck
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?
Fan-tailed Cuckoo
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.
Little Curlew
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 strongly migratory species wintering in Australasia.
Australian White Ibis
Australian White Ibis (Threskiornis molucca)
One of these blow in once in a while will stay if more than one comes I think.
Black-winged Stilt
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.
Whimbrel
Whimbrel (Numenius phaeopus)
Here most of the year a very shy bird. Hard to get close to get a good picture. You will see him on the golf course and airstrip grass. Not big numbers but not hard to find. A wide spread wader breeding across much of Subarctic North America, Europe and Asia
Australasian Grebe
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 swamp, rather timid. Common in Australia, NZ and near by Pacific islands.
Lord Howe Island Hybrid Duck
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. Here all the time, there are measures to try and eradicate them from the island with little success. One now is almost white!!
Australian Shelduck
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.
Grey Teal
Grey Teal (Anas Gracilis)
Five of these arrived this year 2011, great looking duck. I only got the one good shot as they didn’t stay for long. They breed in Australia and NZ.