The Red billed Tropicbird was first observed at Lord Howe Island on 6/10/10 by the Lord Howe Island Board bush regeneration team, whilst sweeping seacliffs for bitou bush, bridal creeper and ground asparagus. The team work amongst seabirds daily so know when they see or hear something different. This bird was originally thought to be a White tailed Tropicbird.
The bird was found sitting tight under a LHI teatree on the 29/10/10 and would periodically fly out amongst the Red tailed Tropicbirds giving a shrill chattering call (quite different to the Red tailed Tropics). The team took photos which I was shown at the end of the day. After consulting HANZAB it was apparent there is a third tropicbird species and a quick google matched the teams photos of Red billed Tropicbird to those posted on the net. I inspected the site on 31/10/10 and the bird was again regularly seen throughout yesterday as the bush regeneration team continued their sweep of the seacliffs for weeds.
The location where the bird is sitting is off the track and access is not open to the public without a guide as it is prone to erosion/degradation and supports nesting seabirds. However the bird can be viewed from the main track across the northern hills when it is in flight.
Other interesting records for the island in the past few weeks include Dollarbird, Channel billed Cuckoo, Shining Bronze Cuckoo, Pectoral Sandpiper, Cooks/Pycrofts?? Petrel and Lesser Sand Plover.
The Lord Howe Island Board maintain a database of rare/vagrant and threatened species and welcome any reputable records, which should include date, name of recorder, MGA coordinates or detailed location descriptions.
For more information you can contact me during business hours at contact details below.
Hank Bower
Manager Environment/World Heritage
Lord Howe Island Board
PO Box 5 Lord Howe Island
NSW 2898
ph: 02 6563 2066
fax: 02 6563 2127
email: hank.bower@lhib.nsw.gov.au
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