BLUE PETREL

Photographed on Eaglehawk pelagic, Tasmania, June 2018

1255                   BLUE PETREL                   Halobaena caerulea.   

AUSTRALIA                752

Found in the seas off southern Australia from c. Fremantle around to c Sydney. Mostly July -Oct. Commonly beach washed after storms. Breeds on sub-antarctic Islands.

Port MacDonnell pelagic, South Australia, 25 August, 2019

COMMON PHEASANT

Photographed on King Island, June 2018

(* 264)               PHEASANT                Phasianus colchicus 

AUSTRALIA                  751

Also known as Ring-necked Pheasant. Introduced by Europeans, now found on King Island in Bass Strait and on Rottnest Island, WA.  Found in open scrubland, vegetated sand dunes, riverbanks and agricultural land with plenty of cover.

WILD TURKEY

Photographed on King Island, June 2018

(*1204)                     WILD TURKEY                  Meleagris gallopavo

AUSTRALIA               750

Found on farmland, grassland, forest edges. usually small flocks, foraging on ground. Common on King Island and Flinder's Island.

WESTLAND PETREL

Photographed on Eaglehawk pelagic, Tasmania, June 2018

1254                      WESTLAND PETREL               Procellaria westlandica

AUSTRALIA                 749

Also known as Westland Black Petrel. Large member of petrel family. Majority of life spent at sea but breeds in forests of west coast of South Island New Zealand. Nocturnal and hunt at night, preying on fish, squid and crustaceans.

GREY PETREL

Photographed on Eaglehawk Neck pelagic, Tasmania, June 2018

 1253                  GREY PETREL                  Procellaria cinerea

AUSTRALIA              748

Also known as Brown Petrel, Pedlunker, and Grey Shearwater. Occurs in open seas of Southern Hemisphere, mainly between 49 degrees South and 32 degrees South. Numbers are decreasing and believed to be only 400,000 left. Breed in burrows in the ground, laying only one egg.