Monday, June 27, 2016

SOUTHERN GIANT-PETREL

Photographed on Kiama Pelagic, June 2016
795            SOUTHERN GIANT-PETREL           Macronecteus gigantes

Australia          (639)

Also known as Giant Fulmar, Nelly and Stinker. 80 cm-1 m, wingspan 1.8 - 2.1 m. Breeds in colonies on coasts of Antartica and circumpolar sub-antarctic islands between c. 50 -60 degrees S, incl Macquarie Is. Disperses widely over s. oceans in circumpolar pattern. Immature and sub-adults common winter-spring migrants to Aust coasts n. to beyond Tropic. Most common May-Nov.




NORTHERN GIANT-PETREL

Photographed on Kiama Pelagic, June 2016
794        NORTHERN GIANT-PETREL           Macronectes halli      

Australia     (638)

Also known as Hall's (Giant) Petrel. 80-95 cm, wingspan 1.5-2.1 m. Breeds in sub-antarctic islands, incl. Chatham, Antipodes, Campbell, Auckland and Macquarie Is., NZ region; also Stewart Is. Wide circumpolar range generally n. of Antarctic convergenceImmature birds and some adults common May-Oct in offshore and inshore waters from c. Fremantle (WA) to c. Sydney (NSW).








SALVIN'S ALBATROSS

Photographed on Kiama Pelagic, June 2016
792            SALVIN'S ALBATROSS              Thalassarche salvini

Australia       (637)

Also known as Salvin's Mollymawk. For a long time considered a subspecies of the Shy Albatross. 90 cm, wingspan 2.56 m. Breeds on three distinct island groups: Ile des Oingouins in the Crozet Islands in the Indian Ocean; Bounty Island and the Snares south of NZ; the Pyramid and Forty-Four Islands. At sea they range from South Africa tonAustralia to the east Coast of South America.





BULLER'S ALBATROSS

Photographed on the Kiama Pelagic, June 2016
792              BULLER'S ALBATROSS             Diomedea bulleri

Australia           (636)

Also known as Mollymawk. 76-81 cm, span 2 - 2.13 m. Nominate race bulleri breeds on Solander and Snares Is; race plate breeds only on Chatham and Three Kings Is. Ranges e. to coasts of Chie and Peru and n. to offshore waters of se Aust. Regular uncommon autumn-winter migrant c. Coffs harbour s. to se SA.






BROWN SKUA

Photographed on Kiama Pelagic, June 2016
791            BROWN SKUA             Stercorarius antarcticus

Australia      (635)

Also known as the Antarctic Skua, Subantarctic Skua, Southern Great Skua and Southern Skua. 52-64 cm, span 1.5 m. Breeds in subantarctic and Antarctic zones but moves further north when not breeding. Found off Australian coast generally below Tropic of Capricorn.







FLUTTERING SHEARWATER

Photographed on Kiama Pelagic, June 2016
790            FLUTTERING SHEARWATER          Puffinus gavia

Australia         (634)

Commonest small white-breasted shearwater in se. Aust. 33-37 cm, wingspan c. 76 cm. Breeds Aug.-Dec. on many NZ offshore islands: migrate to coastal waters of se Aust. from se Q to Eyre Pen. (SA)