Stu suggested that I do a post entirely on the birds of Lord Howe Island.. I initially thought there wouldn't be enough to make it at worthwhile post. But as it turns out, I photographed at least fifteen different species of birds while we were there.
This is sort of in chronological order that we saw them.
White Tern (Gygis alba)
Seen all around the pine trees around the main settlement
Flesh-footed Shearwater (Muttonbird) (Puffinus carneipes)
Come in to land at Ned's Beach every evening during summer
Purple Swamphen (Porphyrio porphyrio)
We photographed this one near Old Settlement Beach
Blackbird (Turdus merula)
Also photographed near Old Settlement Beach, but found all around the main settlement
Lord Howe Island Currawong (Strepera graculina crissalis)
This one followed us partway up the walk up to the Goathouse on Mt Lidgbird. One even swooped on Stu on the way down. We had another one follow us between Malabar and Kim's Lookout
Woodhen (Tricholimnas sylvestris)
We saw one of these in the grounds of Blue Lagoon, and a few on the Goathouse walk
Emerald Ground-dove (Chalcophaps indica)
Seen around the palms/grass area on the way to Ned's Beach
Sooty Tern (Sterna fuscata)
All over the place - Ned's Beach, Blinky Beach, top of Mt Eliza, even top of Malabar
Brown Noddy (Anous stolidus)
Similar places to the Sooty Terns, but up the cliffs a bit not on the ground. This one was at Ned's Beach.
Lord Howe White-eye (Zosterops tephropleura)
Seen near the top of Malabar
Red-tailed Tropicbird (Phaethon rubricauda)
Seen off the cliffs of Malabar. They didn't really come close enough to get any good photos of them.
Australian Kestrel (Falco cenchroides)
Seen walking up to Malabar. We got an out of focus one of it looking at us but took off when we got closer.
Ruddy Turnstone (Arenaria interpres)
Seen at Old Settlement Beach
Bar-tailed Godwit (Limosa lapponica)
At least we think that's what it is :) Also at Old Settlement Beach
Buff-banded Rail (Gallirallus philippensis)
This bird was annoying to photograph because it would run off as soon as you got anywhere near it. Seen all around the airport, golf course, grassed areas. This one photographed at the lookout park near the main settlement.
We also saw these birds but didn't get to photograph them (or didn't choose to):
Sacred Kingfisher (Todiramphus sanctus)
Magpie Lark (Peewee) (Grallina cyanoleuca)
Welcome Swallow (Hirundo neoxena)
Hybrid Duck (Mallard cross Pacific Black) (Anas superciliosa x platyrhynchos)
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