SOOTY ALBATROSS

Photographed on Eaglehawk pelagic, Tasmania, June 2019

1295                 SOOTY ALBATROSS              Phoebetria fusca

AUSTRALIA                 778

Frequents sub-Antarctic/temperate waters of s oceans; regular in autumn off Vic/SA, vagrant to NSW. Mostly beyond continental shelf; rarely seen from land. Usually singly or occasionally small groups. Effortly follows hips, passing interest in fishing vessels. Breeds on sub-Antartic Islands of Indian/Atlantic Oceans.

GIBSON'S ALBATROSS

Photographed off Kaikoura, South Island, New Zealand, April, 2019

(* 1237)                   GIBSON'S ALBATROSS                Diomedea gibsoni

NEW ZEALAND               111

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.

SOUTHERN ROYAL ALBATROSS

Photographed off Stewart Island, April, 2019

(*1232)                 SOUTHERN ROYAL ALBATROSS                 Diamedea epomophora

NEW ZEALAND               100

Also known by Maori name Toroa. Breeds on Campbells and Auckland Island. Ranges widely through circumpolar oceans; most commonly seen in NZ in winter.

BULLER'S MOLLYMAWK

Photographed on the crossing from Bluff, South Island New Zealand to Stewart Island, New Zealand, April, 2019

(* 792)                  BULLER'S MOLLYMAWK                 Thalassarche bulleri   

NEW ZEALAND                  96

Locally common endemic. Southern Bullers breeds on The Snares and Solander's Islands; Northern Bullers breed at Kings and Chathams. Commonly seen off NZ coast or behind boats and trawlers during breeding. Most disperse to eastern Pacific after breeding.

Photographed off Stewart Island, New Zealand, April, 2019

WHITE-CAPPED MOLLYMAWK

Photographed off Otago Peninsula, South Island, New Zealand, April, 2019

1281                  WHITE-CAPPED MOLLYMAWK                     Thalassarche cauta steadi              

NEW ZEALAND              94

Also known as Shy Mollymawk. Common native. Breeds around Tasmania and NZ subantarctic, mainly at Disappointment Island, Auckland Island and Adams Islands and a few at Bollons Island, Antipodes. Ranges widely through southern oceans, and often to NZ coastal waters, especially seen around fishing boats.

Photographed off Stewart Island, April, 2019

NORTHERN ROYAL ALBATROSS

Photographed off Otago Peninsula, South Island, New Zealand, April, 2019

(* 273)                     NORTHERN ROYAL ALBATROSS                Diomedea sandfordi   

NEW ZEALAND               93

Known by Maori name Toroa. Locally common endemic. Breeds at Taiaroa Head, Dunedin and The Sisters and The Forty-fours, Chatham. Ranges widely circumpolar through the southern oceans, and most often seen in NZ coastal waters in winter, except seen throughout the year at Taiaroa Heads where 30-35 pairs breed.

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.

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.

ANTIPODEAN ALBATROSS

Photographed on Kiama pelagic, July 2016

802                    ANTIPODEAN ALBATROSS        Diomedea antipodensis

Australia         (646)

Also known as Antipodes Albatross, New Zealand Albatross, and Gibson's Wandering Albatross. 1.1 m; span 2-3 m. Nominate race breeds Antipodes and Campbell Is. Outside breeding season ranges over s. Pacific, including s. Aust waters. Race gibsoni breeds on Auckland Is., forages in Tasman Sea and sw Pacific; common off s NSW. Endangered.

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.

WANDERING ALBATROSS

276        WANDERING ALBATROSS          Diomedea exulans

Australia          (246)

Longest-winged ocean bird. Range around southern oceans from Fremantle (WA) to Whitsundays (Q). 1.1-1.35 m, wingspan 2.5-3.5 m.

Juvenile, photographed on Kiama pelagic, July 2016