Norfolk Island

National Park

In the northern part of the island the National Park must be one of Australia's smallest. The tall fir trees are often covered in moss which reflects the purity of the air. This is where to find the bush birds and there are some great endemics to find here. 

The prettiest has to be the Pacific Robin. Closely related to other Australian robins (but interestingly not to the New Zealand robin), it wouldn't look out of place mainland Australia at all.

The Green Parrot, on the other hand, is very similar to the Kakariki of New Zealand. It is bigger but really looks pretty much identical. Last time I was on the island I spent a long time photographing this one feasting on guava in the rain. 

Sadly, the Norfolk Island Parakeet is classified as Critically Endangered by the IUCN. Due to habitat loss, predation by invasive species, and competition for resources, their population plummeted to a dangerously low point in the late 20th century. 

The Slender-billed White-eye is a member of the Silvereye family and the long bill is very distinctive and it uses it to dig out bugs on branches, as you can see in the photo. It is endemic to Norfolk Island and can be difficult to separate from Silvereyes, which are also on the island. 

The fantastic thing about Norfolk Island are all these endemics, which all count to the Australian list. And the endemics are not finished yet. The last in the National Park is the Norfolk Island Gerygone. It can be heard and seen there, but it can also be found throughout the island, with sightings reported in a variety of habitats.

Island Lookouts

The island has a multitude of cliffs that are accessible (and dangerous). Some have built in lookouts like Captain Cook's and some are flat picnic areas. One of the most wonderful birding experiences I have ever had was sitting in one of these places at dusk. The Wedge-tailed Shearwater gather in rafts on the water's surface before flying in together. In the gathering darkness, you don't see them coming. A  delicate thud can be heard as they crash land on the grass. They then gather their breath and waddle off to find their burrows. Not many places where you can eat your fish and chips and watch that!

The Nankeen Kestrel has a vast range, inhabiting mainland Australia, Tasmania, New Guinea, and nearby islands. It thrives in various open habitats, including temperate grasslands, open woodlands, savannahs, agricultural areas, sandy deserts and even coastal cliffs.

That is where I shot this bird. They are present on the island at certain times of the year and from these cliffs you can watch them hovering at eye level and below.

One of my favourite sights from the Captain Cook's Lookout was the Great Frigatebird which would circle around a neighbouring small island. These majestic and ancient looking birds are such a treat to see but their unique physical features have important purposes.

Their hooked beak is well-suited for their kleptoparasitic lifestyle. They harass other birds, particularly seabirds, to force them to regurgitate their food, which the frigatebird then snatches mid-air. The powerful talons are used to grasp these stolen meals in flight.

Frigatebirds have some of the longest wingspans relative to their body size among birds. These long wings allow them to soar effortlessly for long distances over the open ocean, using minimal energy while searching for food or potential targets for kleptoparasitism.

The deeply forked tail provides maneuverability during aerial pursuits and allows for quick changes in direction while chasing other birds.

Red Knots are incredible long-distance migratory shorebirds. Their migration journey is one of the longest of any bird species, spanning vast distances between their breeding and non-breeding grounds. 

Breeding Grounds:

Red Knots breed in the high Arctic tundra regions, primarily in: Northern Canada, Alaska and Siberia.

Non-breeding Grounds:

Depending on the population, Red Knots migrate to various locations in the Southern Hemisphere for the non-breeding season. Here's a breakdown by population:

I enjoyed very much finding and following a Grey-tailed Tattler one year. I think it was the first time I had ever seen one and I remember loving how it would stretch out while looking for food. 

They are opportunistic hunters with a diverse diet that allows them to thrive in their coastal habitats. Like the bird photographed, they search for bristle worms, small mollusks like clams, snails, and limpets. Crabs, shrimps, and other crustaceans are also on the menu for Grey-tailed Tattlers. They are particularly fond of smaller crabs and may spend considerable time manipulating and discarding shells before consuming the crab meat.

I was glad to get a clear shot of this Greater Sand Plover as they are so difficult to identify in non-breeding plumage. These migratory birds breed in high-elevation arid areas of Central Asia, favouring open habitats sometimes near water.  In winter, they travel to coastal mudflats and estuaries.

Greater Sand Plovers can be found in Australia, where they are more common in the north. They are also seen in East Africa, South Asia, and Southeast Asia.  While rare, they have been spotted as vagrants in western Europe and North America.

They can be difficult to distinguish from the Siberian (previously known as the Lesser) Sand Plover, particularly when not in breeding plumage. Look for the Greater Sand Plover's larger size, heavier and longer bill, paler legs, and larger-headed appearance.

The highlight of this and all other visits was getting to the top of Phillip Island. We could see all around the island and down the back were some sheer cliffs. This was the domain of the Red-tailed Tropicbird. We had seen them nesting in the hollow at the bottom of a tree. This adult was seeing off another bird showing too much interest in the chick behind. 

But the very best part of seeing these incredible creatures was watching them flying. As part of their courtship displays, they partake in some amazing aerial acrobatics flying backwards, diving and circling. I just loved watching them reverse like we would park a car!

Their long, pointed tails and narrow wings give them exceptional control over their flight, allowing them to navigate the updrafts and downdrafts over the ocean with remarkable precision.

When hunting fish, Red-tailed Tropicbirds will often swoop down from great heights, using their agility to chase and capture their prey  just above the water's surface.

Norfolk Island - go there!