PURPLE-BACKED FAIRYWREN

Photographed at Lark's Quarry, Queensland, 2017

1238                 PURPLE-BACKED FAIRYWREN              Malurus assimilis

AUSTRALIA                   731

Classified as subspecies of Varigated Fairywren until split January 2018; now separate species which contains four subspecies. Found over much of the Australian continent. Usually inhabits scrubland with plenty of vegetation providing dense cover; prefers rocky outcrops and patches of acacia, Eremophila or lignum in inland and northern Australia.

Photographed in NW Queensland.

Photographed in western WA

Photographed in South Australia

GIBSON'S ALBATROSS

Photographed on Eaglehawk pelagic, Tasmania, January 2018

1237                GIBSON'S ALBATROSS                Diomedea gibsoni

AUSTRALIAN              730

Also known as Auckland Island Albatross or Gibson's Wandering Albatross. Considered by some to be a subspecies of Wandering Albatross and by some to be a subspecies of Antipodean Albatross and by others to be a full species. Breed only on the subantarctic Auckland Islands archaepeligo of New Zealand. Breeding females feed mainly in Tasman sea while male forage further in the sub Australian or mid Pacific sectors of Southern Ocean. Feed mainly on fish, cephalopods and crustaceans; feed on surface or shallow dives just below.

COMMON DIVING PETREL

Photographed on Eaglehawk pelagic, Tasmania, January 2018

1236                 COMMON DIVING PETREL                 Pelecanoides urinatrix

AUSTRALIA              729

Also known simply as Diving Petrel, it is the smallest of the Diving Petrels. Native to waters of South Africa and islands of the southern Indian Ocean, islands and islets off New Zealand and south-east Australian islands. Feeds on continental shelf during breeding season; movements during non-breeding season are poorly known. Catches prey by wing propelled diving, up to 60m; feeds on crustaceans, but known to forage at night on migrating plankton.

SOFT-PLUMAGED PETREL

Photographed on Eaglehawk pelagic, Tasmania, January 2018

1235                  SOFT-PLUMAGED PETREL                 Pterodroma mollis

AUSTRALIA                    728

Generally found over temperate and subantarctic waters in the South Atlantic, southern Indianand western South Pacific Oceans.In Australia the only confirmed breeding spot is Maatsuyker Island off southern Tasmania.

BULLER'S SHEARWATER

Photographed on Eaglehawk pelagic, Tasmania, January 2018

1234                         BULLER'S SHEARWATER                   Ardenna bulleri 

AUSTRALIA                 727

Also known as Grey-backed Shearwater or New Zealand Shearwater. Migrates across north and south Pacific Ocean outside breeding season. Mainly feeds on squid, fish and crustaceans; sometimes follows ships as part of mixed species feeding flock. Breeding season starts in October and lasts nearly 6 months.

GOULD'S PETREL

Photographed on Eaglehawk pelagic, Tasmania, January 2018

1233                 GOULD'S PETREL                 Pterodroma leucoptera

AUSTRALIA               726

Sometimes known as White-winged Petrel. Spends most of its life at sea, coming to land only to breed; breeds on five islands off NSW coast. New Caledonian subspecies breeds on New Caledonia. Forages in the Tasman Sea during the breeding season, and may go as far as Indian Ocean, south of sw WA; after breeding migrates to central and eastern Pacific Ocean. Little is known about their diet or feeding behaviour.

SOUTHERN ROYAL ALBATROSS

Photograph on Eaglehawk pelagic, January 2018

1232                    SOUTHERN ROYAL ALBATROSS                   Diomedea epomophora

AUSTRALIA                    725

One of the largest of sea-birds. Mostly found between 30 and 45 degrees south; the majority of the world's population nest on Subantarctic Campbell Island; range along southern oceans concentrating on west and east coast of southern South America, and waters around NZ. Named after Diomedes, whose companions turned to birds.

JUAN FERNANDEZ PETREL

Photographed on Eaglehawk pelagic, Tasmania, January 2018

1231                     JUAN FERNANDEZ PETREL             Pterodroma externa 

AUSTRALIA              724

Nests on single island, Isla Alejandro Selkirk, off the coast of Chile. During breeding season found off the cost of Chile, in non-breeding season forage in equatorial currents and counter-currents, as far north as Hawaiian Islands.  

NOTE:       First record for Tasmania, second record for Australia.