LHI - Petrels on the way to Ball's Pyramid

This is the White-Bellied Storm Petrel. They were absolutely magical to watch as they 'danced' across the waves. It is the smallest of the seabirds that breed at Lord Howe, and are only ever seen on the trip down to Ball's Pyramid.


Length 20cm
Weight 48gm
Lays one egg (in rock crevice) which hatches in 37 days and the chick flies in 80 days.
When feed the WB Storm Petrel hands in the breeze with its feet dangling, pattering the water.

LHI - Black Noddy

We spent the entire day over at North Bay, travelling to and fro by flat-bottomed barge. Pinetrees provided us with a massive BBQ. We pushed through the beaten-path to Old Gulch were the large pebbles on the beach got the better of me. Then we went around the white expanse of beach and up into the rookery. Finally, we climbed as far as allowed up Mount Eliza. I made sure I was next behind the guide, to give me that extra psychological imperative to keep going.


These notes are taken from Ian's massive guide to LHI.

Black Noddies nest exclusively in the lowland forest. When they first colonised LHI in 1990, they were nesting in stunted Melaleuca bushes high up the cliffs of the Old Gulch. After their numbers increased to around 30 pairs, the colony migrated to the line of Norfolk Island Pines on the foreshore behind North Beach.


It was mainly the removal from the island of feral pigs, goats and domestic cats, that provided the impetus for the renewal of breeding. Cats especially have been totally removed, something resisted by residents for a while. Dogs are allowed, but this must be approved by the Board on a case-by-case basis.


Length 36cm. Weight 100gms. Sooty black body and wings. Forehead and crown are silver-white. Snatch fish and crustaceans from the surface.


Build a substantial nest of seaweed and excretea. Only lay one egg, which hatches after about 35 days. The chick flies after 50 days.


Sorry this last shot is not as focussed as I would like. I was wandering in and under the tree where anything could land on my head. Lucky I had substantial shoes on! It was quite dark under there and I could not get the shutter-speed high enough to counter the 800 ISO. However, I wanted to show you the feet ... umm ... another word I cannot think of.

Lord Howe Island - White terns

The white terns nest in the Norfolk Island Pines close to the row of boat sheds along Lagoon Beach. This is close to a flurry of cottages which provide a bit of protection to the terns from the predations of owls and rats. A number of times I saw the carcass of a White Tern where the owl had ripped out the juicy breast mid-flight.


Ooo they are a pretty bird, a delicate bird, a fragile bird. And sooo white ... They lay their egg balanced on a limb of the pine, open to the elements. Islanders have banded together so that after strong winds, they scout around early in the morning and ensure that eggs and young are replaced on branches, out of the way of you-know-who.


Length 30cm and weight 110gm. White all over, thin black circle around eyes, forked tail. Eggs hatch in 28 days. Plucks small fish and squid from the surface. Swift, rapid wingbeats, parallel courtship flights.


So, how did we get so close to the chick? His location was well-known to our guide (shall introduce you to our guides tomorrow). He was sitting on a fence post beneath an overhanging tree, at the rear of the town meeting place. He had been there for a couple of weeks and would remain there until about the 70th day when he would fly off with his parent.