Western Pacific Odyssey 2013 Part 4 - To Rennell Island

Bare-eyed White-eye

Woodfordia supercilious

From New Caledonia three full days of sailing north into the tropics brought us to the southern part of the Solomon Islands group.

The weather had warmed a lot by the time we went ashore on April 6th.  The seafront at Rennell looked like a south sea island paradise should; white sand, clear waters and swaying coconut palms. 

The island is a flattish, raised coral atoll with a good covering of forest. Led by Chris Collins who had been there several times before most of the endemics were easily seen.  Here are some of them.

Rennell Flying Fox  

Pteropus rennelli

Rennell Flying Fox  

Pteropus rennelli

Wikipedia describes the Rennell Island Flying fox as a "megabat".  A term doubly impressive to me because spellcheck on this fabulous computer doesn't recognize it.  Lots of megabits, perhaps, but only one "megabat".

Bare-eyed White-eye

Woodfordia supercilious

Rennell White-eye

Zosterops rennellianus

Rennell Fantail

Rhipidura rennelliana

Cardinal Myzomela

Myzomela cardinalis sanfordi

Cardinal Myzomela

Myzomela cardinalis sanfordi

Cardinal Myzomela

Myzomela cardinalis sanfordi

Fantail Gerygone 

Gerygone flavolateralis citrina

Silver-capped Fruit Dove

Ptilinopus richardsii cyanopterus

Pacific Imperial Pigeon

Ducula pacifica

Pacific Imperial Pigeon

Ducula pacifica

Collared Kingfisher (female)

Todiramphus chloris amoenus

Collared Kingfisher (male)

Todiramphus chloris amoenus

Rennell Shrikebill

Clytorhynchus hamlini

Finsch's Pygmy Parrot

Micropsitta finschii finschii

Finsch's Pygmy Parrot

Micropsitta finschii finschii

After four hours of tramping along the road and paths we returned to the village for fresh coconut…. best I've ever had !

Skink "Sp." 

Did I mention palm trees....?

And a few more seabirds from the seas around the Solomons..... 

Masked Booby

Sula dactylatra

Masked Booby

Sula dactylatra

note YELLOW eyes

Red-footed Booby

Sula sula

Red-footed Booby

Sula sula

Red-footed Booby

Sula sula

Polynesian Storm -Petrel

Nesofregetta fuliginosa

Collared / Maginificent Petrel

Pterodroma brevipes / magnficens

Providence Petrel 

Pterodroma solandri

Providence Petrel 

Pterodroma solandri

Providence Petrel 

Pterodroma solandri

Band-rumped Storm-Petrel

Oceanodroma castro

Band-rumped Storm-Petrel

Oceanodroma castro

Band-rumped Storm-Petrel

Oceanodroma castro

Finally, not a bird at all...(first sighted by Geoff Jones and the photographers at the front of the ship)

Hawksbill Sea Turtle 

Eretmochels imbricata