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Kaikoura South Island New Zealand (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter Ian Cockburn
- Start date
Joe H
Well-known member
Great pictures, Ian!
I’ll try to help but as always, I’m no expert (only one bird-watching trip to NZ and there were only 12 species of Albatross then). I’ll start with #0256. According to Harrison’s Seabirds, An Identification Guide, the black line along the bottom of the upper mandible (the cutting edge or cut line) is diagnostic to the Royal Albatross and the eye shape supports Royal. The wing pattern says Southern. I would expect Northern to show much blacker wings.
Image # 0204 and # 0159 I think are both Gibson’s due to bill shape and the faintest trace of pink ear coverts, and because the Scofield/Stephenson Birds of New Zealand says this species is more likely in NZ waters than Wandering. The flying bird looks very similar to internet photos of Gibson’s taken off NZ’s South Island.
# 0887 and # 0230 appear to be the same species (same bird?) which may also be Gibson’s, but if someone wanted to argue for Wandering/Snowy, I could easily be persuaded.
I hope this gives some ideas towards IDing these great photos.
I’ll try to help but as always, I’m no expert (only one bird-watching trip to NZ and there were only 12 species of Albatross then). I’ll start with #0256. According to Harrison’s Seabirds, An Identification Guide, the black line along the bottom of the upper mandible (the cutting edge or cut line) is diagnostic to the Royal Albatross and the eye shape supports Royal. The wing pattern says Southern. I would expect Northern to show much blacker wings.
Image # 0204 and # 0159 I think are both Gibson’s due to bill shape and the faintest trace of pink ear coverts, and because the Scofield/Stephenson Birds of New Zealand says this species is more likely in NZ waters than Wandering. The flying bird looks very similar to internet photos of Gibson’s taken off NZ’s South Island.
# 0887 and # 0230 appear to be the same species (same bird?) which may also be Gibson’s, but if someone wanted to argue for Wandering/Snowy, I could easily be persuaded.
I hope this gives some ideas towards IDing these great photos.
Mike Crawley
Emeritus President at Burnage Rugby Club
If you are still there, pop in to Albatross Encounters and ask if Gary or Debbie (not absolutely sure that’s her name though) are available ?
Gary has an encyclopaedic knowledge of the birds of the area and I did a few trips out of Kaikoura with Debbie (?) and she is also very knowledgeable
Gary has an encyclopaedic knowledge of the birds of the area and I did a few trips out of Kaikoura with Debbie (?) and she is also very knowledgeable
