25 May 2013

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


4 comments:

  1. Some very unfamiliar looking birds here. What a great trip you had!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Hi Ayuwat,

    Yes, a lot of birds were unfamiliar to us, too...

    Fortunately there were some birders far more familiar with these species than us !

    ReplyDelete
  3. Pygmy parrot looks good. A lot of Boobys too!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Andrew,

      All the parrots were good...and noisy !

      Delete