GREAT-WINGED PETREL

Photographed on Port Fairy pelagic, August 2016

800            GREAT-WINGED PETREL           Pterodroma macroptera

Australia             (644)

With other birds it is also referred to as Muttonbird, also by NZ name oi. Recently split from Grey-faced Petrel. 42-45 cm. Breeds in southern hemisphere between 30 and 50 degrees south, including coast of southern Aust.

PAINTED BUTTON-QUAIL

Photographed at Chiltern State Forrest, August 2016

799            PAINTED BUTTON-QUAIL             Turnix varia

Australia            643

Found in scrublands, open woodlands with branch, leaf debris; tussocks, stones; heathlands, farm regrowth, mallee. 17-19 cm, female larger. Range e. and se. Aust., Tas. and s WA: from Atherton Tablelands (ne Q) to Tas., w to Eyre Pen. and Kangaroo Is., n to s Flinders Ras. (SA) In sw WA n to Shark Bay, including coastal islands. Sedentary, nomadic.

Note:  Not a very good photograph but the only ones I have been able to manage of this elusive bird so far.

GREY-BACKED STORM-PETREL

Photographed on Kiama Pelagic, July 2016

798           GREY-BACKED STORM-PETREL          Garrodia nereis

Australia           (642)

Breeds on islands in NZ region; also Macquarie, Kerguelen and islands in s. Indian Ocean and S. Atlantic. NZ population visits offshore waters of se Aust. in all months but mostly winter. Records from Eyre Pen. (SA), w and e Vic., Tas., and c. coast NSW. Flocks of hundreds reported beyond continental shelf.

WHITE-FACED STORM-PETREL

Photographed on Kiama Pelagic, July 2016

797           WHITE-FACED STORM-PETREL         Pelagodroma marina

Australia          (641)

Breeds in late spring and summer on many coastal islands in s. Aust. from Abrolhos group (WA) at least to Broughton Is. (NSW); Bass Strait and Tas. islands; also Kermadecs; NZ and NZ sub-Antartica Is; N. and S. Atlantic. Part of Aust population winter n. Indian Ocean and Arabian Sea; some e. coast birds range into the Pacific. Present offshore s. Aust.in summer; apparently (usually) absent in winter. Migratory.

WHITE-FRONTED TERNS

Photographed at Norah Heads, July 2016

796          WHITE-FRONTED TERN                Sterna striata         

Australia           (640)

Found in offshore waters; bays, reefs, islands. 38-42 cm, wingspan c. 80 cm. Breeds NZ, sunAntartic Islands: regular migrant (March-Oct.) to offshore and coastal NSW, Vic., Tassie; casual n toRockhampton (Q), w. to Adelaide (SA); accidental inland.

SOUTHERN GIANT-PETREL

Photographed on Kiama Pelagic, June 2016

795            SOUTHERN GIANT-PETREL           Macronecteus gigantes

Australia          (639)

Also known as Giant Fulmar, Nelly and Stinker. 80 cm-1 m, wingspan 1.8 - 2.1 m. Breeds in colonies on coasts of Antartica and circumpolar sub-antarctic islands between c. 50 -60 degrees S, incl Macquarie Is. Disperses widely over s. oceans in circumpolar pattern. Immature and sub-adults common winter-spring migrants to Aust coasts n. to beyond Tropic. Most common May-Nov.

NORTHERN GIANT-PETREL

Photographed on Kiama Pelagic, June 2016

794        NORTHERN GIANT-PETREL           Macronectes halli      

Australia     (638)

Also known as Hall's (Giant) Petrel. 80-95 cm, wingspan 1.5-2.1 m. Breeds in sub-antarctic islands, incl. Chatham, Antipodes, Campbell, Auckland and Macquarie Is., NZ region; also Stewart Is. Wide circumpolar range generally n. of Antarctic convergenceImmature birds and some adults common May-Oct in offshore and inshore waters from c. Fremantle (WA) to c. Sydney (NSW).

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.

BROWN SKUA

Photographed on Kiama Pelagic, June 2016

791            BROWN SKUA             Stercorarius antarcticus

Australia      (635)

Also known as the Antarctic Skua, Subantarctic Skua, Southern Great Skua and Southern Skua. 52-64 cm, span 1.5 m. Breeds in subantarctic and Antarctic zones but moves further north when not breeding. Found off Australian coast generally below Tropic of Capricorn.