Masked Booby (Sula dactylatra fullageri)
Wingspan 1800mm body weight of 2.2kg.
This great bird is here all the time, breeds on the outer islands and two places on the main island, has a chick by September. Can be viewed on Mutton Bird Point from the viewing platform. You can tell male and female apart by their call the male whistles and the female honks. Boobies dive into the water to get their food from about 30m up.
Kelp Gull (Larus dominicanus)
Wingspan 1350mm body weight of around 2kg.
We saw this one sitting on Balls Pyramid last Sunday 4/12/11 not a good picture as I couldn’t get the boat close enough in the rather large swell. Breeds in NZ and Southern parts of Australia. A first sighting for me.
Brown Booby (Sula leucogaster)
Wingspan 1700mm-1900mm body weight of 2kg.
I only have the one shot of this guy. We do see them only every now and again. More common from Queensland north.
Australasian Gannet (morus serrator)
Wingspan 1700mm-1900mm body weight of 2kg.
I only have the one shot of this guy. We do see them around over summer but not in large numbers. Breeds in NZ and Southern Australia.
Brown Noddy (Anous stolidus)
Wingspan 820mm, body weight of 200g
Breeds on Lord Howe on small bushes around the cliffy slopes Spring -Summer. You can see them at Old Gulch, south end of Blinkie beach and Mutton Bird point. Not as dark as the Black Noddy so the white cap on the head isn’t as prominent also a bit bigger than the Black.
Grey Ternlet (Procelsterna cerulea)
Wingspan 520mm body weight of 70g.
Present here all year round, Lord Howe is the only breeding ground in Australia. Local fisherman use this bird to locate fish, common name used by locals is Blue Billy.
Gull-billed Tern (Sterna nilotica)
Wingspan 800mm body weight of 250g
This bird was blown over here during winter this year (2011) when we had some very strong West winds. First time I have seen one. Breeds in Australia and Asia.
Caspian Tern (Sterna caspia)
Wingspan 1300mm body weight of 574-782g
Only a blow in to Lord Howe. We may see one or two here per year, great looking bird.
Black Noddy (Anous minutes)
Wingspan 700mm body weight of 100g
Black Noddy’s are here over the summer months you can find them breeding in the pinetrees at the north end of North bay. By November they have their chick.
Sooty tern (Sterna fuscata)
Wingspan 900mm body weight of 180g
Sooty terns or Wide-a-wake as locals call them are the most abundant sea bird here over summer around 100,000 of them. They are here from August to May. Lord Howe being the only place in NSW where they breed. Easy to find this one Neds Beach, Mt Eliza and North bay. Their eggs were once collected in the good old days for food.