SOUTHERN GIANT-PETREL

Photographed on Kiama Pelagic, June 2016

795            SOUTHERN GIANT-PETREL           Macronecteus gigantes

Australia          (639)

Also known as Giant Fulmar, Nelly and Stinker. 80 cm-1 m, wingspan 1.8 - 2.1 m. Breeds in colonies on coasts of Antartica and circumpolar sub-antarctic islands between c. 50 -60 degrees S, incl Macquarie Is. Disperses widely over s. oceans in circumpolar pattern. Immature and sub-adults common winter-spring migrants to Aust coasts n. to beyond Tropic. Most common May-Nov.

NORTHERN GIANT-PETREL

Photographed on Kiama Pelagic, June 2016

794        NORTHERN GIANT-PETREL           Macronectes halli      

Australia     (638)

Also known as Hall's (Giant) Petrel. 80-95 cm, wingspan 1.5-2.1 m. Breeds in sub-antarctic islands, incl. Chatham, Antipodes, Campbell, Auckland and Macquarie Is., NZ region; also Stewart Is. Wide circumpolar range generally n. of Antarctic convergenceImmature birds and some adults common May-Oct in offshore and inshore waters from c. Fremantle (WA) to c. Sydney (NSW).

SALVIN'S ALBATROSS

Photographed on Kiama Pelagic, June 2016

792            SALVIN'S ALBATROSS              Thalassarche salvini

Australia       (637)

Also known as Salvin's Mollymawk. For a long time considered a subspecies of the Shy Albatross. 90 cm, wingspan 2.56 m. Breeds on three distinct island groups: Ile des Oingouins in the Crozet Islands in the Indian Ocean; Bounty Island and the Snares south of NZ; the Pyramid and Forty-Four Islands. At sea they range from South Africa tonAustralia to the east Coast of South America.

BULLER'S ALBATROSS

Photographed on the Kiama Pelagic, June 2016

792              BULLER'S ALBATROSS             Diomedea bulleri

Australia           (636)

Also known as Mollymawk. 76-81 cm, span 2 - 2.13 m. Nominate race bulleri breeds on Solander and Snares Is; race plate breeds only on Chatham and Three Kings Is. Ranges e. to coasts of Chie and Peru and n. to offshore waters of se Aust. Regular uncommon autumn-winter migrant c. Coffs harbour s. to se SA.

BROWN SKUA

Photographed on Kiama Pelagic, June 2016

791            BROWN SKUA             Stercorarius antarcticus

Australia      (635)

Also known as the Antarctic Skua, Subantarctic Skua, Southern Great Skua and Southern Skua. 52-64 cm, span 1.5 m. Breeds in subantarctic and Antarctic zones but moves further north when not breeding. Found off Australian coast generally below Tropic of Capricorn.

FLUTTERING SHEARWATER

Photographed on Kiama Pelagic, June 2016

790            FLUTTERING SHEARWATER          Puffinus gavia

Australia         (634)

Commonest small white-breasted shearwater in se. Aust. 33-37 cm, wingspan c. 76 cm. Breeds Aug.-Dec. on many NZ offshore islands: migrate to coastal waters of se Aust. from se Q to Eyre Pen. (SA)

CAPE PETREL

Photographed on Kiama Pelagic, June 2016

789           CAPE PETREL          Daption capense

Australia         (633)

Also known as Cape Pigeon. Follows ships, in some places gathers near shore to feed on offal at sewerage outfalls. Breeds widely on coasts of Antartica and many Antarctic and sub-antarctic Islands, incl. NZ. Circumpolar dispersal through s. oceans to beyond tropic Capricorn. Regular, fairly common winter and spring.

SHORT-TAILED GRASSWREN

Photographed near Stokes Lookout, Flinders Ranges, South Australia June 2016

788           SHORT-TAILED GRASSWREN          Amytornis merrotsyi

Australia         (632)

Found in spinifex; in tall Trodia with shrubs. 14.5-16 cm. Range: scattered and disjunct populations in se Flinders Ranges NP and adjacent pastoral properties, Gammon and Gawler Ras. SA.

GIBBERBIRD

Photographed just outside of Cooper Pedy June 20116

787          GIBBERBIRD           Ashbyia lovensis

Australia         (631)

Found in open gibber, with sparse dwarf bushes, grass-turf; wind scalded, bare earth in saltbush-bluebush. 12.5 cm. Range: inland e. Aust.: far s NT; far w. Q.; far nw NSW; ne SA; vagrant inland WA. Uncommon, nomadic.

CHESTNUT-BREASTED WHITEFACE

Photographed at Cooper Pedy June 2016

786          CHESTNUT-BREASTED WHITEFACE             Aphelocephala pectoris

Australia           (630)

Found in semi-desert tablelands with bare ground and gibber, sparsely vegetated with bluebush, saltbush, black oak, mulga etc with sparse grass, ‘dead finish’ Acacia tetragonophylla, and Eremophila app. 10 cm. Range: confined to nc and ne SA. Rare, elusive; locally nomadic.