BAIRD'S SANDPIPER

Photographed at Lake Walyungup, Perth, WA, March, 2019

1274                           BAIRD'S SANDPIPER                     Calidris bairdii

AUSTRALIA                774

Breeds in northern Tundra from eastern Siberia to western Greenland; long distance migrants, wintering in South America. Usual habitat is coastal and some inland sites, margins of fresh water and brackish wetlands; often feeds on margins of drier vegetation as well as damp areas and mudflats. Rare vagrant to Australia but a few scattered sightings in most states. 

LONG-TAILED JAEGER

Photographed between Ashmore Reef and Scott Reef, nw WA, March 2019

1273                   LONG-TAILED JAEGER                  Stercorarius longicaudus                   

AUSTRALIA                  773

Also known as Long-tailed Skua. Breeds in Arctic of Eurasia and North America, with major populations in Russia, Alaska, and Canada. Winters in the south Atlantic and pacific. Feeds on fish which are mainly caught from other sea birds, smaller birds, food scraps, small mammals, fruit and carrion. Regular but uncommon visitor to off-shore Australian waters.

BULWER'S PETREL

Photographed between Ashmore Reef and Scott Reef, nw WA, March 2019

1272                 BULWER’S PETREL                    Bulweria bulwerii                

AUSTRALIA              772

Breeds in North Atlantic in colonies on islands in Cape Verde Islands, Azores, Canary Islands and Madeira Groups, and across Nth Pacific from east of China to Hawaii; in Australia records as vagrant off ne Queensland and Victoria; may be common from Sept. to April off nw WA. Highly pelagic feeder and rarely found near land. Eats small fish, squid and some crabs, krill, shrimp.

TRINDADE PETREL

Photographed on West Island, Ashmore Reef, WA, March 2019

1271                TRINDADE PETREL                 Pterodroma arminjoniana                    

AUSTRALIA                     771

Was considered conspecific with Herald Petrel. Considered vulnerable due to habitation loss and small breeding range. Breeds on oceanic islands and atolls, usually on cliff edges; notably Trindade Island 1,100 kms from Brazilian c last, and Round Island in Indian Ocean.  On some islands breeding birds threatened by rats and cats.

NOTE: First Australian record.