Kiama Pelagic

Oh yes! The pelagic is on! After our Sydney pelagic was cancelled a couple of weeks ago due to some bullshit reason we were very (and I mean very) excited to get on the ocean today. The day got off to a great start with our one and only Australian Hobby of the trip flying over whist we were still docked. The previous evening we'd done a seawatch from Kiama headland and seen quite a few Humpback Whales and as we headed out to sea this morning passed a few more. There were lots of Wedge-tailed Shearwaters today and they were far and away the most numerous seabird seen today.

Wedge-tailed Shearwater

A few Australasian Gannets were also seen early doors...

Australasian Gannet

We also saw tens of Fluttering and Huttons Shearwaters flying by but it took most of the day to get decent views, but no pics. Heading out further it was apparent that there weren't big numbers of birds today and we went a spell without seeing much, until our first Black-browed Albatross appeared and we definitely saw 3 different individuals.

Black-browed Albatross

Then we began picking up what the local birders are calling Solander's Petrels, although this is not yet split from Providence Petrel by IOC.

Solander's (Providence) Petrel

At least 3 White-capped Albatross also began following our chum slick....

White-capped Albatross

We also saw a White-faced Storm Petrel, 4 Short-tailed Shearwaters and a single Flesh-footed Shearwater.

White-faced Storm-Petrel

Flesh-footed Shearwater

One of my personal targets was Indian Yellow-nosed Albatross and I was pretty excited to see a couple individuals....

Indian Yellow-nosed Albatross

But the undoubted highlight of the day was seeing this Wandering Albatross (exulans) come flying in from the horizon and then alighting on the water right beside us. Wow! The bird was captured and ringed and although it was rather humbling to be able to see this majestic bird so close, I didn't like the length of time it was kept in people's hands and also doubt the scientific value of stressing this beautiful creature so much.

Wandering Albatross

New Caledonia (cont)

Our second day in New Caledonia saw us driving a few hours across the island to Parc des Grande Fugieres and our quest to mop up on the remaining endemics. It took a bit of finding but eventually we did and set out on the trails, taking a random route in high hopes more than due to careful planning! The best bird we had to start with was this stunning and very confiding White-bellied Goshawk...

White-bellied Goshawk

I enjoyed spending some time photographing this stunning endemic.

Moving on we headed lower down the trails and saw a bunch of other endemics we'd already seen. I'd already given up on the thicketbird so we concentrated on Cloven-feathered Dove. Well, we walked a long time and had some reasonable views in the forest but nothing too great. A Melanesian Cuckooshrike was a catch up bird from yesterday....

Melanesian Cuckooshrike

We also had much better views of Red-throated Parrotfinch and Melanesian Flycatcher.....

Melanesian Flycatcher

With the day getting very hot we decided to start heading back to Noumea, but a random stop just outside the park resulted in some very nice views of Cloven-feathered Dove...

Cloven-feathered Dove - oh yes!

And that was our birding finished as we are flying back to Sydney tomorrow and heading out on a pelagic...

New Caledonia

We flew to New Caledonia this afternoon, arriving about an hour before sunset. Now although this was Noumea Airport, it's roughly a 45 minute drive to the modern city of Noumea. We've based our trip on using Google Maps to find our way around so far, however upon arrival here it was apparent that Google Maps doesn't work here, or rather our cell phones don't work here. So we're totally buggered. I did order a Satnav when I booked the hire car but there wasn't one available, not even paper maps so we have to wing it. Anyway, we do find our apartment eventually on the south side of the city and get settled in.

The next morning we are up a couple of hours before daybreak and set out on the drive to Parc de la Riviere Bleu. I was able to download the route on Google maps last night using wifi but it goes all wonky on the drive to the park and we arrive late to the meeting spot where we are due to pick up Isobel from Birding Caledonia who is going to show us around today.  It's my 50th birthday today and I didn't want any mess ups or anything going wrong. So we pick up Isobel and then drive for ages to the park. Upon arrival we see New Caledonian Friarbird (5997), Dark-brown Honeyeater (5998) and then I missed a flyover White-bellied Goshawk whilst walking back to get the car. Driving further into the park we head to the Kagu site - seeing this bird has been a long held dream of mine and I've been saying I want to see this bird on my 50th birthday for years. 

Goliath Imperial-Pigeon

And now we are actually on the way..... The next stop gives us Goliath Imperial-Pigeon (5999) and then Isobel is scraping the leaf litter with her boots. Apparently this brings in a Kagu and there it is..... Species 6,000 on my 50th birthday...

Kagu - lifer 6,000 on my 50th birthday

We enjoy this bird for ages before walking along the road and nailing a number of endemics and other goodies: Southern Shrikebill, Striated Starling, Melanesian Flycatcher, Streaked Fantail, New Caledonian Myzomela, Barred Honeyeater, Yellow-bellied Robin, New Caledonian Crow, Green-backed White-eye, Crow Honeyeater, New Caledonian Parakeet, New Caledonian Cuckooshrike, New Caledonian Whistler, Fairy Gerygone and eventually Horned Parakeet.

Barred Honeyeater

Dark-brown Honeyeater

New Caledonian Crow

New Caledonian Myzomela

Southern Shrikebill

Yellow-bellied Robin

We ended this fantastic day with a pair of Kagu along a narrow trail. Amazing!

Kagu

A Happy Birthday indeed

Mount Hypipamee

Somehow this post was never uploaded so I'm including it for sake of completeness....

This was the first morning that Google Maps let us down and took us on a wacky journey through country lanes to a dead end, instead of the entrance road to Mount Hypipamee. So we arrived late but in the gloomy, overcast conditions it didn't really matter as it kept bird activity up. We saw our first Torresian Crown and pretty soon after found a pair of Golden Bowerbirds thanks to a tipoff from Carol at Kingfisher Park. A Hornbill Friarbird was also new and we ended the day at Hasties Swamp where Spotless Crake was a great find.

Golden Bowerbird

At night we staked out the mammal viewing platform where a Black-and-white Possum and Sugar Glider appeared.

Black-and-white Possum

Sugar Glider

Last Day in Queensland

It's our last day in Queensland and we're really not sure what to do. In the end we plump for another visit to Cattana Wetlands on the edge of Cairns. I'd missed Crimson Finch on our last visit and am very pleased when we pick up a single bird low down beside the water. That's lifer No 5995 for me. There's a bunch of other commoner species around but nothing else new. Well, we also decided to try and find a roosting Rufous Owl in downtown Cairns but all we had was the street name. We bowled up and there were two areas of parkland with big trees and as luck would have it, we bumped into a local birder who took us straight to the right tree. And there it was - Rufous Owl. What a beast.

Rufous Owl

A last look at the mudflats from Cairns Esplanade produced lots of Sharp-tailed Sandpipers, both Greater and Lesser Sandplovers, Ruddy Turnstone and others.

So we're off to Sydney where we are staying overnight before our flight to New Caledonia....