Norfolk Island is approximately a 2 hours flight from Brisbane. It is 8 km by 5 km in
size.
With world heritage listed buildings, a rich cultural
history with links to the mutiny on the Bounty, incredible coral reefs for
snorkelling and stunning national parks sporting endemic bird life this island
has something for everyone.
I stayed at the Pines Apartment just on the edge of Burt
Pine. $700 for 7 nights and this included a car – insurance $140 extra for the
week. It was good value even though the car did not have air conditioning which
I missed as the days were over 30C and very humid.
The island has wonderful rainforest with well marked tracks in the national Park and the botanical gardens is amazing with a brilliant board walk making it accessible to pretty much every fitness level.
I managed to see all the endemics within 24 hours of
arriving so was then able to relax and re-find them to improve on photos over
the rest of the week whilst also enjoying some snorkelling off Emily Bay in
Kingston.
Birding highlights for me was definitely the Green Parakeet
also called the Norfolk Parakeet. They had declined to less than 30 birds.
Efforts had increased the population to over 200 but now their numbers have declined again. This is due to
the massive problem with Cats and Rats on the island along with competition
from the huge population of Crimson Rosellas who steal their burrows and will
actually throw the young out!
I wondered if I’d have trouble identifying the Slender-billed
White-eye but the yellow throat and cream belly was immediately obvious.
Families of California Quail were observed on the grass all
over the island but are very nervous and disappear as soon as I arrived so I
struggled to photograph them. They were introduced on the island with the first
settlers as a food source.
Norfolk Gerygone have a beautiful call and I woke to their
singing each morning.
Pacific Robin were fairly reliable in the National Park,
especially at Palm Glen, which was great for most of the other island endemics.
A lone Wandering Tattler enjoyed eating crabs at low tide in
Kingston.
The airstrip was good for Pacific Golden Plover
The Masked Booby colony on Nepean Island allows for great views of the nesting birds but some also nest on the mainland thanks to Margaret Christian assisting to deal with the feral cats. Margaret runs a great bird tour which is a must do for all birders. She is a wealth of knowledge and funds conservation efforts on the island to assist the Green Parrots and other endemic species.
White Terns are busy feeding their chicks balanced carefully on branches of the Norfolk Pines.
The parent does not get to rest, immediately flying off to get more food....
Black-winged Petrels, Black Noddy's, Sooty Terns, Frigatebirds and Red-tailed Tropicbirds are flying above me as I type this.
Tonight I’ll see the new year in here on Norfolk Island. My 2013
Year list ends on 491 and my Aussie Life List currently sits on 699!! I wonder
what bird will become 700?
