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.

ALEUTIAN TERN

Photographed at Old Bar, NSW, December 2017

1230                 ALEUTIAN TERN               Onychoprion aleuticus 

AUSTRALIA                  723

Former Latin name was Sterna aleutica. Breeds in colonies on coasts and islands in Alaska and easternmost Siberia; migrates to Indonesia and Malaysia, though little is known about its wintering habits here. Feeds by plunge diving for fish, usually in saltwater environs.

NOTE:  In October 2017, birders Liam Murphy was looking through photographs taken in December 2016. He found an unidentified tern. It was tentatively identified as an Aleutian tern, never before recorded in Australia. He returned to the place where the photographs were taken in December 2017. Liam found a group of 13 Aleutian tern wintering there. (These photographs were taken the next day)

EASTERN GRASS OWL

Only just recording shots, will suffice until I can improve. Taken at Port Macquarie, December 2017

1229                EASTERN GRASS OWL                     Tyto longimembris

AUSTRALIA                   722

Also known as Australian Grass Owl. Found in grasslands coastal heaths, cane fields, agricultural land and swamps feeding on small rodents. Two distinct populations in Australia: one on flood plains of large rivers from Cape York to Manning River (NSW); the other on grasslands on Barkley Tablelands and Channel Country (WA)

SUPERB FRUIT DOVE

(Male) Photographed at Hatten, Queensland, November 2017

1228                   SUPERB FRUIT DOVE              Ptilinopus superbus

AUSTRALIA                721

Also known as the Purple-crowned Fruit Dove. Range: n-e Queensland to n-e NSW, less common further south, but has been seen in pockets near Moruya (NSW) and vagrants in Victoria and Tasmania. Inhabits rainforests and similar closed forest where forages high for the fruit of trees, such as figs and palms. Partly migratory and nomadic.

(Female)

SPOTTED WHISTLING DUCK

Photographed on the Daintree River, Queensland, November 2017

1227                  SPOTTED WHISTLING DUCK              Dendrocygna guttata

AUSTRALIA               720

Ranges throughout southern Philippines, Wallacea and New Guinea; has gradually been colonising northern Australia; now down as far as Daintree, though has been seen in Cairns.

Photographed at Wonga Beach, Queensland, November 2017

RED-BACKED BUTTONQUAIL

Photographed at Eungella, Queensland, November 2017

1226                  RED-BACKED BUTTONQUAIL                   Turnix maculosus

AUSTRALIA                  719

Also known as Black-backed, Black-spotted and Orange-bellied Buttonquail. Found also in indonesia, New Guinea,, Philippines and Soloman Islands. Fourteen recognised subspecies; subspecies melanotus found in northern Australia.

Photographed at MacKay, Queensland February 2018

RED-CHESTED BUTTONQUAIL

Photographed on The Postman's Track, Daybook, Queensland, November 2017

1225                RED-CHESTED BUTTONQUAIL             Turnix pyrrhothorax

AUSTRALIA                    718

Endemic to Australia; widespread though uncommon in NSW, Queensland, northern WA, and NT; classified as vulnerable in Victoria. Habitat is dense grasslands, and open, grassy woodlands of acacia, Red River Gums and Black Box; also in crops and weedy fields with dense cover.

Photographed near Willow Tree, NSW December 2020

BLACK-BREASTED BUTTONQUAIL

Photographed at Noosa Heads National Park, Queensland, November 2017

1224                   BLACK-BREASTED BUTTONQUAIL          Turnix melanogaster

AUSTRALIAN BIRDS                 717

Also known as Black-fronted Buttonquail. Rare bird, endemic to eastern Australia, usually in rainforest, rated as near threatened. Found from Harvey Bay south to ne corner of NSW

COOK'S SWIFT

Photographed Christmas Island, December 2016

 1223              COOK'S SWIFT                  Apus cooki 

AUSTRALIA                      716                 

Breeds in limestone caves in Thailand, Myanmar and Indochina; lays 2-3 eggs on cliff returning to same site each year.