BLUE PENGUIN

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

(*        )                    BLUE PENGUIN                Eudyptula minor

NEW ZEALAND                 95

Also known by Maori name Korora; in Australia known as Little Penguin or Little Blue Penguin. Common native. Breeds on rocky coasts and islands throughout NZ, but can nest hundreds of metres inland. When breeding comes ashore at dusk and departs at dawn. Moults in burrows, under rock piles or in dense vegetation. Often seen in coastal waters.

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.

NORTHERN GIANT PETREL

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

(* 794)                   NORTHERN GIANT PETREL                    Macronectes halli 

NEW ZEALAND                   92

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 convergence. 

BROWN CREEPER

Photographed at Orokonui Ecosanctuary, Dunedin, South Island, New Zealand, April, 2019

1280                  BROWN CREEPER               Mohoua novaeseelandiae 

NEW ZEALAND                  91

Known by the Maori name Pipipi. Locally common endemic. Usually in small fast moving flocks feeding high in the canopy. Forest and scrubs of Stewart and South Island.

YELLOW-EYED PENGUIN

Photographed at Oamaru, South Island, New Zealand, April, 2019

1279                   YELLOW-EYED PENGUIN                Megadyptes antipodes 

NEW ZEALAND                90

Known by the Maori name of Hoiho. Uncommon endemic. About 5000 birds breed and moult around southeastern South Island, Foreaux Strait, Stewart, Codfish, Campbell and Auckland islands. Mainly sedentary, but some disperse northwards to Cook Strait.

OTAGO SHAG

Photographed at Oamaru, South Island, New Zealand, April, 2019

1278                    OTAGO SHAG                   Leucocarbo chalconotus

NEW ZEALAND                89

Was formerly known as Stewart Island Shag but DNA testing led to them being split into Otago Shag (found on rocky outcrops off Otago Peninsula, including as far north as Oamaru) and Foveaux Shag(found in Foveaux Straits and Stewart Island). Species is dimorphic, with two plumages; roughly a quarter of individuals are pied and the rest, known as Bronze or Dark Shags, are dark all over; both morphs breed together.

KEA

Photographed at Arthur's Pass, South Island, New Zealand, April, 2019

1277                      KEA                           Nestor notabilis

NEW ZEALAND                88

Found mainly in the Alpine zones, but also in forest and descends into lowland river flats of the South Island. Mainly herbivorous, berries, shoots etc but also scavenges and will eat carrion.

WEKA

Photographed at Punakaiki, South Island, New Zealand, April, 2019

1276                   WEKA                  Gallirallus australis

NEW ZEALAND             87

Found in forests, scrub and open country with good cover. Omnivorous, eats mainly invertebrates and fruit, also seeds, lizards, eggs and young birds. Originally seen as pests by farmers but now protected. Four subspecies.

SOUTH ISLAND ROBIN

Photographed at Arthur's Pass, South Island, New Zealand, April, 2019

1275                   SOUTH ISLAND ROBIN              Petroica australis    

NEW ZEALAND                  86

Known as by Maori name Toutouwai. Found in native and exotic forest, sometimes tall scrub; most common north of Arthur's Pass and on Stewart Island.

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.