Trip Report: Lord Howe Island (Australia, Southwestern Pacific Ocean), December 21-28, 1997

Lord Howe Island is 570 km east of New South Wales, Australia (31°33' south, 159°05' east). It is a popular tourist destination, and of interest to birdwatchers, has an endemic rail, and is the breeding ground of several species of seabird. Only 400 visitors are allowed at any time.

The island is 11 km long, maximum 2.8 km wide, is sub-tropical, and has a highest peak, Mt. Gower 875 m. Ball's Pyramid, a volcanic spire is 551m and is 23 km to the southeast. There are two distinct bird breeding periods, and some birds only breed on Ball's Pyramid.

Accommodation must be arranged before arrival, there are daily flights from Sydney and Brisbane, shops and restaurants abound. The return flight from Sydney, Australia plus one week's accommodation was $1500(Aus) each (high season). The commonest method of transport was bicycle which, with helmet, was $4 per day.

Birdwatching: About 130 species have been recorded. The island is excellent for photography. Weather permitting, daily activities e.g boat trips are organised which permit good views of the birds. We took a boat trip around the island, a glass bottom boat trip inside the reef, and a day trip to a picnic area. There is a fishing boat to Ball's Pyramid ($100) which is an all-day trip. We climbed Mt. Gower and did several walks. We snorkelled the coral reefs regularly.

Many well-made walking tracks go through the dry rainforest often to lookouts. We recommend the Malabar and Muttonbird Point (both Grade 3) before you attempt to climb Mount Gower (grade 10). In the rear of Simpson & Day's Field Guide to the Birds of Australia, there is a section listing every species, its measure of abundance and time of year. Some of the subspecies may well be elevated to full species.

Birds of Interest:

• Lord Howe Island Woodhen (Lord Howe Rail Gallirallus sylvestris) Once one of the most endangered species in the world, down to 30 birds, now readily seen.

• Black-winged Petrel. A truly beautiful Pterodroma seen wheeling above Ned's Beach and other areas. Often flying spectacularly in pairs. Summer resident.

• Providence Petrel. Common winter breeding bird.

• Kermadec Petrel. Ball's Pyramid. Summer Breeding resident.

• Flesh-footed Shearwater. Nests in burrows in lowland forest during summer. Can be seen easily with a torch along the paths at night.

• Little Shearwater. Common winter breeding bird.

• White Bellied Storm-Petrel. Breeding summer resident. We did not see this bird, but we did not go on the sea journey to Ball's Pyramid.

• Red-tailed Tropicbird. Breeding resident. Spectacular "backwards" flying displays from many lookouts.

• Masked Booby. Breeding resident. Common on small islands close to shore.

• Buff-banded Rail. Easily seen in gardens & on lawns by roadside.

• Bar-tailed Godwit, Whimbrel, Ruddy Turnstone and Asian Golden-Plover. All over the airfield when one disembarks. Several good waders have been recorded over the years.

• Black Noddy. Nesting in trees (Brown Noddy is a ground nester). Seen at Muttonbird Point and on the around island cruise.

• Grey Noddy (Ternlet). Delicate beautiful bird flew around us on the around island cruise. Seen in flocks sitting on rocks.

• Common White-tern. This exquisite bird nests on a bare branch sometimes at eye level during the summer. Pair flying can be seen from most beaches.

• Emerald Dove. Rainforest pigeon is quite tame and can be seen walking along many of the tracks.

• Golden Whistler could be a split as could the White-Eye.

• Pied Currawong. Has a barred tail and calls very differently to mainland bird.

  A list of the species seen by us are as follows

  F Black-winged Petrel                   Pterodroma nigripennis
    Wedge-tailed Shearwater               Puffinus pacificus
    Flesh-footed Shearwater               Puffinus carneipes
    Red-tailed Tropicbird                 Phaethon rubricauda
  F Masked Booby                          Sula dactylatra
    Great Cormorant                       Phalacrocorax carbo
    Australian Kestrel                    Falco cenchroides
    Mallard                               Anas platyrhynchos
    Pacific Black Duck                    Anas superciliosa
    White-faced Heron                     Egretta novaehollandiae
  F Lord Howe Rail                        Gallirallus sylvestris
    Buff-banded Rail                      Gallirallus philippensis
    Purple Swamphen                       Porphyrio porphyrio
    Bar-tailed Godwit                     Limosa lapponica
    Whimbrel                              Numenius phaeopus
    Ruddy Turnstone                       Arenaria interpres
    Asian Golden-Plover                   Pluvialis fulva
    Masked Lapwing                        Vanellus miles
    Sooty Tern                            Sterna fuscata
    Gray Noddy                            Procelsterna albivitta
    Brown Noddy                           Anous stolidus
    Black Noddy                           Anous minutus
    Common White-Tern                     Gygis alba
    Emerald Dove                          Chalcophaps indica
    Sacred Kingfisher                     Todirhamphus sanctus
    Golden Whistler                       Pachycephala pectoralis
    Pied Currawong                        Strepera graculina
    Magpie-lark                           Grallina cyanoleuca
    Eurasian Blackbird                    Turdus merula
    Song Thrush                           Turdus philomelos
    Welcome Swallow                       Hirundo neoxena
    Silver-eye                            Zosterops lateralis
  

  32 Species

  Conclusions: This island is a seabird paradise. It is an excellent place for a holiday and to see some easy new birds in beautiful relaxed surroundings.

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  This page served by Urs Geiser; ugeiser@xnet.com; January 6, 1998; updated November 4, 1998