Western Pacific Odyssey 2008 No. 2
This follows on from my previous posting covering Auckland, New Zealand to New Caledonia. I will now cover the period leaving New Caledonia onto some of the Pacific Islands commencing with Rennell Island and also the sea-birds seen as we head slowly towards Japan.
View taken as we arrived at Rennell Island.
Butterfly on Rennell Island
Bare-eyed White-eye Zosterops superciliousus on Rennell Island, Solomon Islands. Its endemic to Rennell Island and it forages in flocks looking for insects, seeds, fruits, caterpillars in the forest canopy. It is threatened by the introduction of the brown tree snake. We found five during our visit.
Metallic & Singing Starlings on Rennell Island
Metallic Starling Aplonis metallica on Rennell Island with up to 25 were seen.
Adult and Juveniles Singing Starlings Aplonis insularis on Rennell Island with upto twenty were seen on our visit.
Cardinal Myzomela Myzomela cardinalis we saw six on Rennell Island, and five on Makira Island. Its a member of the Honeyeater family, and has quite a large range from America Samoa, New Caledonia, Samoa, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu. It became extinct on Guam since the invasion of the Brown Tree Snake.
Pacific Imperial Pigeon Ducula pacifica on Rennell Island, we just saw two individuals. It is a widespread species and found on a number of islands. It has suffered from habitat loss and hunting.
Island Imperial Pigeon Ducula pistrinaria on Rennell Island. We just saw a single individual. It is found in the Bismarck and Solomon Islands living in primary and secondary forests and mangroves. It has a stable population and is of least concen.
Silver-Capped Fruit-Dove Ptilinopus richardsii on Rennell Island. Two subspecies. We saw eight of this Fruit-Dove on Rennell Island. It is endemic to the Solomon Islands and its natural habitat is subtropical moist lowland forests. The population is stable and therefore is considered of Least Concern.
Sacred Kingfisher Todirhamphus sanctus. We saw up to five on Renell Island and we also saw four on Norfolk Island and one seen on Kolombangara Island.
Rennell Shrike-bill Clytorhynchus hamlini on Rennell Island. We recorded four individuals during our visit. Endemic to Rennell Island with a continuing decline is suspected from slow forest loss, and is now considered Neat Threatened. It inhabits the dense undergrowth within the understorey of primary forest or with forest re-growth.
Rennell Fantail Rhipidura rennelliana We just found two individuals during our stay. They are endemic to Rennell Island and its nathral habitat is moist lowland forests.
Renell Fantail Gerygone flavolaterlis (fromerly Fan-tailed Gerygone, but now split) on Rennell Island, and New Caladonia, with ten seen on New Caledonia and fifteen seen on Renell Island.
Australian Ibis on Rennell Island
Pacific Swallow on board the Spirit of Enderby
Great Frigatebirds Fregata minor Just seen on four dates with daily maximum of four and one was seen as we were heading towards Rennell Island.
Lesser Frigatebird Fregata ariel We recorded 13 individuals over 5 dates with a daily maximum of six as we were departing from Rennell Island.
Still good numbers of Wedge-tailed Sheatwaters were being seen.
Tahiti Petrel Pseudobulweria rostrata Recorded on six dates with around 100 being seen with a daily maximum of seventy. Breeds in the tropical S. Pacific. Ranges in subtropical and tropical Pacific.
Pomarine Skua Stercorarius pomarinus We recorded 6 over 5 dates. The above Skua was seen as we were heading towards Rennell Island. I was watching from the front of the ship and it came flying directly at me and past virtually over my head. All over in a few minutes, but a lovely view.
Brown Booby Sula leucogaster We recorded the Brown Booby on eleven dates with a daily maximum of fifty. Small numbers were seen enroute to Rennel Island.
It was now time to move to our next Blog No.3, onto our next islands Makira Island, Gudalcanal, and Kolombangara Island.
