RobHynson
Well-known member
New Caladonian Storm-petrel Southport seamount pelagic (Australia)
Last month I was lucky enough to be part of a group who undertook a 2 day pelagic out of Southport (south of Brisbane in Australia). This pelagic took us out to several seamounts where in previous years we have seen good number of a storm-petrels which superficially resembles a New Zealand Storm petrel. Although similar to New Zealand Storm-petrel, these birds, along with others sighted along the east coast of Australia and to the south of New Caledonia, are thought to be a separate potentially undescribed species.
This trip in March was the third trip to the seamounts that we have seen these birds, the previous two April trip also was about 12 and 25 birds. Interestingly a trip last December failed to see any of these Storm-petrels.
Other highlights on recent trips include a Polynesian Storm-petrel and several Magnificent Petrels.
The highlight of this trip was a light morph Herald Petrel which although breeds on Raine Island off the Queensland coast has only been recorded a handful of times in Australian waters. Interestingly another Herald Petrel was seen several days later on a pelagic out of NSW.
Other good birds seen on this trip include White-necked Petrel, White-bellied Storm-petrel, Gould's Petrel, Brown and Red-footed Boobie, Kermadec Petrel (many morphs) Black Petrel, Black Noddies, Tahiti Petrels, White Terns, Collard Petrel and a Red-tailed Tropicbird.
Below are a few photos and you can see more photos here
http://www.pbase.com/rob_hynson/britania_seamount_pelagic_18_march_2015
and
http://www.pbase.com/rob_hynson/queensland_seamount_pelagic_19_march_2015
Last month I was lucky enough to be part of a group who undertook a 2 day pelagic out of Southport (south of Brisbane in Australia). This pelagic took us out to several seamounts where in previous years we have seen good number of a storm-petrels which superficially resembles a New Zealand Storm petrel. Although similar to New Zealand Storm-petrel, these birds, along with others sighted along the east coast of Australia and to the south of New Caledonia, are thought to be a separate potentially undescribed species.
This trip in March was the third trip to the seamounts that we have seen these birds, the previous two April trip also was about 12 and 25 birds. Interestingly a trip last December failed to see any of these Storm-petrels.
Other highlights on recent trips include a Polynesian Storm-petrel and several Magnificent Petrels.
The highlight of this trip was a light morph Herald Petrel which although breeds on Raine Island off the Queensland coast has only been recorded a handful of times in Australian waters. Interestingly another Herald Petrel was seen several days later on a pelagic out of NSW.
Other good birds seen on this trip include White-necked Petrel, White-bellied Storm-petrel, Gould's Petrel, Brown and Red-footed Boobie, Kermadec Petrel (many morphs) Black Petrel, Black Noddies, Tahiti Petrels, White Terns, Collard Petrel and a Red-tailed Tropicbird.
Below are a few photos and you can see more photos here
http://www.pbase.com/rob_hynson/britania_seamount_pelagic_18_march_2015
and
http://www.pbase.com/rob_hynson/queensland_seamount_pelagic_19_march_2015
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