NOTORNIS Journal of the Ornithological Society of New Zealand

Volume 29 Part 1 March 1982 OFFICERS 1981 - 82 President - R. B. SIBSON, 26 Entrican Avenue, Auckland 5 Vice-president - B. BROWN, 39 Red Hill Road, Papakura Editor - B. D. HEATHER, 10 Jocelyn Crescent, Silverstream Treasurer - G. M. H. PETERSON, P.O. Box 22230, Auckland Secretary - R. S. SLACK, c/o Royal Society of NZ, P.O. Box 12249, Wellington Council Members: BEN D. BELL, 45 Gurney Road, Belmont, Lower Hutt BRIAN D. BELL, 9 Ferry Road, Seatoun, Wellington P. C. BULL, 131A Waterloo Road, Lower Hutt D. E. CROCKETT, 21 McMillan Avenue, Kamo, Whangarei P. D. GAZE, Ecology Division, DSIR, Private Bag, Nelson S. M. REED, 4 Mamaku Street, Auckland 5 P. M. SAGAR, 38A Yardley Street, Christchurch 4 Conveners and Organisers: Rare Birds Committee: Secretary, J. E. SQUIRE, 135 Tirohanga Road, Lower Hutt Beach Patrol: R. G. POWLESLAND, Wildlife Service, Dept. of Internal Affairs, Private Bag, Wellington Card Committee: R. N. THOMAS, 25 Ravenswood Drive, Forest Hill, Auckland 10 Librarian: A. J. GOODWIN, R.D. 1, Clevedon Nest Records: D. E. CROCKETT Recording (including material for Classified Summarised Notes) : D. F. BOOTH, 16 Valdese Rise, Browns Bay, Auckland 10 S.W.Pacific Islands Records: J. L. MOORE, 32 Brook St, Lower Hutt Assistant Editor: A. BLACKBURN, 10 Score- Road, Gisborne Reviews Editor: D. H. BRATHWAITE, P.O. Box 31022 Ilam, Christchurch 4 Editor of OSNZ news: P. SAGAR, 38A Yardley St, Christchurch 4 SUBSCRIPTIONS AND MEMBERSHIP Annual Subscription: Ordinary member $16; Husband & wife mem- bers $24; Junior member (under 20) $12; Life Member $320; Family member (one Notornis per household) being other family of a member in the same household as a member $8; Institution $32; Overseas member and overseas institution $5.00 extra (postage). Subscri tions are for the calendar year of first joining and are renewed gy invoice each January. Please pay promptly to ensure receiving Notornis and OSNZ News. Applications for membership, changes of address and resignations should be sent to the Treasurer. Exchanges and library subscriptions should be sent to the Treasurer. Editorial matters ONLY should be sent to the Editor. [Registered with the GPO Gisborne as a publication] ISSN 0029- 4470

CONTENTS BECKON. W . N . Breeding Record of the Whistling Dove of Kadavu. Fiji ...... ONLEY. D . Spotless Crake on Aorangi. Poor Knights Islands WARHAM. J . WILSON. G . J . Size of Sooty Shearwater Popu- lation at. Snares Islands. New Zealand ...... CHILD. P . Additions to the Avifauna of Kiribati and Tuvalu NUGENT. G . Sexing Black-backed Gulls from External Measure- ments ...... VEITCH. C. R . Seabirds found dead in New Zealand in 1980 Classified Summarised Notes ...... Short Notes BROWN. B. Terek Sandpiper feeding like Avocet ...... JENKINS. P . Wood Duck in Marlborough ...... HAWKINS. J . M . Gannets feeding behind trawler ...... CHILD. P . Far inland sighting of Welcome Swallow ...... SIBSON. R . B. Arctic Tern in Manukau Harbour ...... HAWKINS. J . M . Reef Heron on Nelson Haven ...... HOWELL. P . A . G . HARRISON. K . C . A Turnstone-Banded Dotterel relationship...... ONLEY. D . Nomenclature of Spotless Crake ...... BROWN. B . Unusual feeding of Red-billed Gulls ...... BLACKBURN, A . 1927 Record of Laughing Owl ......

Obituary . BOURNE. W . R . P . Averil Margaret Lysaght (1905-1981) ......

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VOLUME 29 PART 1 MARCH, 1982

A BREEDING RECORD OF THE WHISTLING DOVE OF KADAVU, FIJI By WILLIAM N. BECKON

ABSTRACT The first known record of the nesting of the Whistling Dove (Ptilinopus layardi) is presented, along with notes on its diet and very un-dove-like whistled calls. The fact that only the female was seen brooding the young may be of some sig- nificance to an understanding of the evolution of extreme sexual dichromatism in the Golden Dove Group to which the Whistling Dove belongs. INTRODUCTION The Whistling Dove*, Ptilinopus layardi, is confined to the island of Kadavu and the nearby smaller island of Ono, in the south of the Fiji Group. It is one cf the distinctive " Golden Dove Group" of three geographically representative fruit doves, all of which are endemic to Fiji. The other two members of the group are the Golden Dove (P. luteovirens) and the Orange Dove (P. vicfor). The group was originally classified in a genus of its own, Chrysoenas Hartlaub (1854), but in recent years it has generally been considered to be a subgroup of the genus Ptilinopus (Amadon 1943: 5, 6; Cain 1954: 273, 278; Goodwin 1970: 332). The Whistling Dove is the most " primitive "

I have chosen to call this species the Whistling Dove because that name appears to be the most distinctive and most authentic of the English names which have been applied to this bird (Martin 1940: 5). As far as I know, the name Velvet Dove originated with Mayr (1945: 1301, who implied that he had some doubt that the dove gives a whistled call. Goodwin (1970: 378) followed Wood (1926: 116) in using the name Yellow-headed Dove. 2 BECKON NOTORNIS 29

of the group. While sexual dichromatism is very pronounced in the other two species, in the Whistling Dove, adult male plumage is more like that of females and juveniles and that of other doves of the genus Pfilinopus. See Sibson (1972) for Belcher's painting of both male and female. Little has been published about the Whistling Dove since it was originally described in 1875 by E. L. Layard, the British admin- istrator of the newly ceded colony of Fiji. Layard noted that his male specimens, collected in August, had "enormously developed " testes. He concluded that they were breeding at that time. NESTING About noon on 28 September, 1977, I was watching a male Whistling Dove giving his peculiar whistle call in the top of a nearby tree when I stepped back and inadvertently flushed another Whistling Dove off a nest just behind me. The nest was about 3 metres above the ground in forest on a low rounded ridge near the edge of a long- abandoned Fijian teitei, or garden, in the interior of the south-western part of Kadavu, about 3 km south of Richmond Bay (Fig. 1). The nest was a loose thin platform, about 10 to 12 cm in diameter, constructed mainly of twig-like pieces of the vine that grew on nearby tree trunks (Fig. 2). The nest was so sparsely built that one could see right through it from below. It contained a single nestling and a fragment of white shell. A larger piece of pure white shell lay on the ground directly below the nest.

FIGURE 1 .- Location of the Whistling Dove nest in the hterior of the mountainous island of Kadavu FIGURE 2 - Whistling Dove nest, photographed from directly below, after death of hatchling. A 1-foot (30.5 cm) ruler across the nest provides a scale. 4 BECKON NOTORNIS 29

Apparently the nestling had just hatched. The membrane inside the eggshell was still moist, although it had not rained that day. The hatchling lay prostrate; its down was damp and matted. The next morning the nestling held its head erect and its light-coloured scanty down was dry despite the misty rain that was then falling. The nest was situated where two thin branches came close together. It was supported mainly by the long petioles of the large leaves of the tree, which a Fijian schoolboy identified as vecea (Fig. 3). When I first flushed the bird from the nest, it flew off with a loud clapping of wings, like the sound of a Feral Rock Pigeon taking off, but I did not see it well enough to determine its sex. However, during my subsequent visits to the nest throughout the week, I never definitely identified a male either on the nest or within 10 metres of it. When I returned to the site at 2.45 p.m., a female was sitting on the nest. She sat quietly for the next 39 minutes while I watched from about 10 metres away. When I then began approaching the nest, she sat tight until I was directly under the nest. She then flew off without such loud clapping of wings as I had heard the first time. The hatchling gave one soft peep as the female left. On my next eight visits to the nest site over the following two

FIGURE 3 - Whistling Dove nest seen from below and to one side of the nest 1982 WHISTLING DOVE OF KADAVU 5 days, I found the female sitting on the nest four times, the nest was unattended on three occasions, and once, at 6.45 p.m., I was unable to determine definitely the sex of the brooding bird, since darkness had fallen. 29 Sept. 2.45 p.m. Nest unattended, dove whistling nearby 4.05 p.m. Female brooding 5.00 p.m. Female brooding 6.45 p.m. Dove brooding, sex undetermined 30 Sept. 9.00 a.m. Nest unattended, dove whistling nearby 10.15 a.m. Female brooding 1.45 p.m. Female brooding 3.00 p.m. Nest unattended, dove whistling nearby Over this period the female became progressively more wary and quiet in leaving the nest, until by 1 October she was apparently slipping off the nest while I approached, without my seeing her. leaving only the swaying nest as evidence that she had just been there. Thereafter I did not again see a brooding bird on the nest, although I continued to pass near the nest several times each day. On 3 October I found the nestling cn the ground beneath the nest, still alive. After unsuccessfully attempting to feed it slightly diluted sweetened condensed milk, I returned it to the nest. The next day I found it still alive in the nest. On 5 October the nestling was dead in the nest. The small piece of eggshell still remained in the nest where I had first seen it. When I matched this to the other larger piece, a nearly complete eggshell was formed measuring 23.5 mm by 33 mm. CAL,LS Throughout this period, whether or not the female bird was sitting on the nest, I generally heard the male call in the canopy about 10 to 20 metres away. The call was a loud clear rising whistle immediately followed by a softer sound which I can only (inadequately) describe 2:s a falling tinkle (Fig. 4). The whistle was easy to imitate closely, but the tinkle was not humanly reproduceable. The call could be heard at almost any time of the day, from all over the forest. It is probably the same call described by Wood (126: 116) as a " double whistle, the second sound being much less distinct or loud." More recent authors have described the call simply as a " double whistle" (Blackburn 1971: 157; Sibson l972), a description which poorly fits the calls I heard. The male sometimes gave another distinctive call. It sounded somewhat similar to a small, high-speed electric motor starting up, immediately followed by a very high squeaky whistle, falling in pitch, reminiscent of the calls of the Polynesian Starling (Aplonis tabuensis). DIET Layard (1875: 151) reported that the Whistling Dove "fed on the berries of a species of banian." Wood (1926: 116) described its 6 BECKON NOTORNIS 29

food as " berries, or small pea-like fruit." Finsch (1877: 736) found a " fruit about the size of a cherry, with a large hard stone " in the stomach of one specimen. I saw Whistling Doves in the top of a tree (identified by Fijian boys as fugiri) feeding on the fruit, which grew in clusters. The fruit were 2.5 to 3 cm in diameter. Each one apparently opened in situ, exposing three carpels, each filled by two large brown seeds with a small amount of attached reddish-orange pulp. The Whistling Dove did not swallow the whole fruit, but plucked out and swallowed the contents of each carpel. Peale's Pigeons (Ducula latrans) fed on the fruit in the same manner. DISCUSSION The fact that I saw only the female at the nest may be only a coincidence, but on the other hand it may possibly be part of the answer to a baffling puzzle regarding the evolution of the Golden Dove Group. This group includes the most extreme cases in the Columbi- formes of sexual dichromatism, with the development of brilliant plum- age in the male. Yet, as far as 1 have been able to determine, these doves do not very well fit any proposed explanation of the evolution of such dichromatism unless they are quite exceptional among the Columbiformes in breeding behaviour, the males having little or no role at the nest (Beckon: in manuscript). If further observations prove that males do participate in incubating eggs and feeding young, like other better-known pigeons and doves, then the puzzle remains unsolved.

FIGURE 4 - Approximate diagrammatic sonogram of the most common call of male Whistling Doves in south-western Kadavu in September- October 1982 WHISTLING DOVE OF KADAVU 7

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Special thanks are due to my wife, Ruth Beckon, for her help in the field and for editing this paper. I am indebted to the teachers of Richmond High School, Kadavu, for their hospitality; and especially to Paul Howland and to Glenda, Ellen and Jenny for their generous logistic support. Thanks are also due to Sivisivi of Nasegai Village, Kadavu, who helped me find the Whistling Dove nest and who provided Fijian names for the plants I have mentioned.

LITERATURE CITED AMADON, D. 1943. Birds collected during the Whitney South Sea Expedition. 52: Notes on some non-passer~ne genera 3. Am. Mus. Nov. 1237: 1-22. BECKON, W. N. In manuscript. p prediction of polygyny or promiscuity in the Golden Dove Group of Fiji. BELCHER, W. J. 1929. Fragmentary notes on bird life in the Fijis. Condor 31: 19-20. BLACKBURN, A. 1971. Some notes on Fijian birds. Notornis 18 (3): 147-174. CAIN, A. J. 1954. Subdivisions of the genus Ftilinopus (Aves, Columbae). Bull. Br. Mus. (Nat. Hist.) Zoology 2 (8): 267-284. FINSCH, 0. 1877. Reports on the collection of birds made during the voyage of the H.M.S. Challenger," no. IV. On the birds of Tongatabu, the Fiji Islands, Api (New Hebrides), and Tahiti. Proc. ZcoI. Soc. London. 1877: 726-742. GOODWIN D. 1970. Pigeons and doves of the world. London: British Museum [Nat. Hist.). LAYARD, E. L. 1875. Descriptions of some supposed new species of birds from the Fiji Islands. Proc. Zcol. Soc. London 1875: 149-151. MARTIN, A. H. 1940. The b~rdsof Fiji. Trans. Fiji Soc. Sci. Ind. 1: 4-7. MAYR E. 1945. Birds of the southwest Pacific. New York: Macmillan. SIBSON, R. B. 1972. Birds of Fiji in colour. Paintings by W. J. Belcher. Auckland: Collins. WOOD, C. 1926. Field observations. In WOOD, C.; WETMORE, A. A collection of birds from the Fiji Islands, Pt. 3. Ibis (12th ser.) 1: 91-136. WILLIAM N. BECKON, 44503 21st Street West, Lancaster, California 93534, USA

SHORT NOTE

TEREK SANDPIPER FEEDING LIKE AN AVOCET At Karaka shellbanks, Manukau Harbour. on 22 April 1978, J. A. Brown and I sat quietly on the outer bank watching waders. Before us was an area of firm wet mud with many little pools and patches of shells where birds were feeding on a falling tide. Among them was a Terek Sandpiper (Tringa cimrea) working busily towards us. We were able to watch it for about 30 minutes at distances as short as 20-30 m. These are wary birds in New Zealand, and so we were fortunate to have such an opportunity. The weather was fine and calm with clear visibility and 1 was able to note the following feeding methods: Stood still, then ran to pick flies from surface of water with sometimes an extra run as prey escaped. Picked randomly from surface of mud. Jumped to take flying insects. Probed in water about 3 cm deep for ? crabs, which were shaken and turned before being eaten. Bird was distant at this time. 8 SHORT NOTE NOTORNIS 29

5. Used bill in continuous side-to-side sweeps in a small shelly pool. No indication as to what prey was taken. Water half-way up bird's legs. Since 1978 I have looked in vain for a repetition of the last method until at Access Bay, Firth of Thames, on 17 November 1981 a Terek Sandpiper, which had been picking at random over thick wet mud and runnels, carried out side-to-side sweeping in muddy water for 20 to 30 seconds. It then resumed picking as before. At the time I was watching through a x30 telescope with the bird about 50 m distant. The side-to-side passes of the bill presented a continuous almost stirring motion, the right and left movements being rhythmic and deliberate. The bird then dropped into a deep runnel and was gone from my view. Bill sweeping seems to be used infrequently. Whenever possible I have watched this species, which visits New Zealand in very small numbers annually, since 1964. The bill seems to be admirably adapted for such use. This feeding method is similar to that of the Australian Avocet (Recurvirostra novaehollandiae) , which I have watched at sewage treatment ponds in Australia at Alice Springs in April 1979 and at Werribee, Victoria, in October 1980. I have found no record in the literature of T. cinerea feeding by side-to-side bill sweeping. Ali & Ripley (1969, Handbook of the birds of India and Pakistan, vol. 2) say " When feeding probes with its bill deep into the squelchy ooze almost to the eyes so that the base of the lower mandible and chin usually become bare of feathers due to the constant attrition. Often a morsel is shaken in water and carefully washed before being swallowed . . . . Whether the peculiar upturned shape of the bill has any special adaptive significance remains to be studied." On the Avocet (A. avocetfa), they describe feeding thus: " The birds run about and feed on squelchy mudflats or by wading in shallow water. The curious upturned bill is directed obliquely against the ground - like a hockey stick held in play - the curved part skimming the surface. It is then moved back and forth in a rotatory skimming motion churning up the bottom mud along with minute organisms which are collected in the mandibles." The bill of a Terek Sandpiper seems less abruptly upcurved than that of an Avocet and may not be as effective in food gathering in the side sweeping method. This may explain the Terek Sandpiper's infrequent use of a method of feeding for which it appears well suited. BETH BROWN, 39 Red Hill Road, Papakura THE SPOTLESS CRAKE (Porzana tabuensis) ON AORANGI, POOR KNIGHTS ISLANDS By DEREK ONLEY

ABSTRACT Fewer than 50 adult Spotless Crakes plus 24 chicks and four juveniles were found on Aorangi in February and March 1980. They were confined to the valley and preferred a low mixed forest which is being replaced by a less favoured habitat. Habitat preference is discussed and related to changes in numbers in the past. Clutch size is lower than on the mainland and chick production probably lower. The breeding cycle is long. Some observations on the adult-chick relationship are presented. INTRODUCTION I was on Aorangi, Poor Knights Islands, from 19 February to 9 March 1980. The Poor Knights are a group of about 23 islands and stacks lying in subtropical water 20 km off the east coast of Northland, near the edge of the continental shelf. The rock is rhyolitic breccia of Miocene age. The region has a high annual mean temperature of over 13 "C, with a summer mean cf 20 "C, varying by only a few degrees. Rainfall is probably similar to that of the Mokohinau Islands which have a mean rainfall of 1000 mm (Whitaker 1968). The two main islands, Aorangi and Tawhiti Rahi, were intensively cultivated by Maoris until 1823, when intertribal war resulted in depopulation. The only introduced mammals were pigs, present on Aorangi until their extermination in 1936. Aorangi consists cf a broad north-south running valley in the northern part, bounded by steep cliffs to the west and a sharp peak to the east. The southern part of the island rises to the highest point, Oneho Hill, in broad complex ridges. Figure 1 shows the main peaks and ridges. Most of Aorangi is now covered in forest and the approximate distribution of the main types is shown in Figure I. The following description of the main forest types is* based on work done by G. N. Park and is supplemented by my own notes. Mixed low forest A low, 3-4 m high canopy is dominated by tawapou, Coprosma macrccurpu and Myrsine divaricuta, forming together 60-80% of the canopy cover. Curmiclmelia forms up to 10% of the canopy with mahoe occasionally as important. Kohekohe forms 15-20% of the canopy in places. Macropiper excelsum is an important understorey 10 ONLEY NOTORNIS 29

element. The slopes are gentle and the ground is sparsely vegetated and has thick litter and occasional boulders. The canopy is often broken and the probability of whau gap development is high. A whau gap forms when a windfall opens the canopy; whau grows rapidly to fill the gap temporarily. These open places have a thick ground cover of bush grasses and frequent whau to 3 metres and kohekohe, flax, Carmichaelia, Macropiper excelsum and Myrsine divaricata occurring in varying amounts to 1 metre high. Karo-dominated mixed low forest The canopy is low, 4-5 m, with karo forming about 50% and tawapou, C~prosmamacrocarpa and mahoe forming another 20% of the canopy cover. Overall the ground surface is steep but flat terraced areas are frequent at the old pa site near Urupa Point. Litter accumu- lation is thick on flat terraces only, with scree on steeper slopes. Macropiper excelsum is frequent in the understorey and some supple- jack thickets occur. Tall tawapou-kohekohe forest Tawapou forms 20-60°6 of the canopy and kohekohe 15-30%. Large pohutukawa trees form up to 20% of the canopy in some places, especially just west of Tatua Peak. Canopy height is 6-14 m. Kohe- kohe. tawapou, karaka, Coprosma macrocarpa, Myrsine divaricata, mahoe and pigeonwood are the main subcanopy species. Lower levels are generally open, although Macropiper excelsum and supplejack form thickets. The ground is open, the litter cover is thick, and slopes are moderate or gentle. The probability of whau gap development is medium. The ground in these gaps is strewn with dead wood, covered with bush grass, a Polygonum species, thistles and nightshade. Whau up to 7 metres high is przsent with, frequently, a thick growth of Myrsine divaricata, Coprosma macrocarpa and mahoe up to 1.5 metres. There is often a fringe of thick Macropiper excelsum and supplejack. Pohutukawa (Broadleaf) forest The canopy is almost exclusively pohutukawa (over 90%) at heights up to 12 m. Mahoe and Coprosma macrocarpa are important elements in the subcanopy (up to 20% each), while the understorey and ground layers are rather sparse. Slopes are steep. Litter accumu- lation varies considerably. The probability of whau gap development is very low. Kanuka-pohutukawa forest Kanuka forms over 50% of the canopy and pohutukawa about 40%. Canopy height decreases towards the summit of Oneho Hill. Pohutukawa is important ir. the subcanopy (c. 15%) along with Myrsine divaricata and Coprasmu macrocarpa (c. 20% each) away from the summit. The shrub layer is 0.5-1.5 metres high and thick. The ground, in contrast to other forest types, is thickly covered with 1982 SPOTLESS CRAKE 11

nArid

0- 100 ZOO 300

Karo dominated mixed low fomst Mixed tow -- - - Main ridges

o Chick Fbhutuknwa fomt A Ldependent juvenile

FIGURE 1 - Distribution and territories of the Spotless Crake on Aorangi, Poor Knights, February-March 1980. 12 ONLEY NOTORNIS 29

Blechnum capense, dead kanuka, Metrosideros perforata and mosses near the summit and on southern slopes. Litter accumulation is noticeably less than in other forest types. The probability of whau gap development is medium to high only on the lower slopes where the kanuka is large and old. CENSUS METHODS I covered the island several times during our visit and plotted, as accurately as possible in the thick bush, the position of all crakes that were seen or heard. I could soon recognise family groups by the size and number of young and other birds by leg colour (which varied from dull brownish orange to bright orange-red) and behaviour. Adults, chicks and immatures could be distinguished in the field. The positions of the birds are shown in Figure 1. Approximate territory boundaries are shown in Figure 1. The solid lines show well-defined territories where the birds could be individually recognised, occurred regularly, and showed territorial de- fence where territories adjoined. Dotted lines show territory boundaries that were not completely mapped because the birds were difficult to recognise as individuals or were only infrequently seen. RESULTS I recorded a total of 44 adults, 4 independent juveniles and 24 dependent young. Figure 1 shows 22 definite and 5 possible territories. Territories were occupied by several combinations of birds (Table 1). TABLE 1 - Composition of Spotless Crake groups occupying territories on Aorangi (excluding territories that were possible only)

Number of territories

2 adults with young 6 1 adult with young 1 3 adults with young I I 2 adults Is 1 adult 1 I cannot claim a complete precise census, mainly because of the difficulty of finding my position in the thick bush and the lack of a good large-scale map, but I would be surprised if there were more than 50 or less than 40 adult birds on the island. Young were more easily counted as they usually all appeared after 5 or 10 minutes' quiet waiting and the behaviour of adults with young was distinctive. Independent juveniles did not call and often remained well hidden until the last moment (before the boot descended), and so the number of juveniles may well be an underestimate. SPOTLESS CRAKE 13

DISTRIBUTION AND HABITAT PREFERENCES During our visit Spotless Crakes were found in Puweto Valley, apart from three territories near Urupa Point and a single record of a bird seen west of Oneho Hill (Fig. 1). Within the valley crakes were most numerous in mixed low forest and less so in tawapou-kohekohe forest. Those at Urupa Point occurred in karo-dominant mixed low forest, but none occurred in a similar forest west of the valley cliffs. Apart from one record, no crakes were seen in pohutukawa (broadleaf) forest or kanuka- pohutukawa forest. Table 2 shows the numbers of adults and definite territories recorded in each vegetation type. Territories were closer together in mixed low forest than in tawapou-kohekohe forest and closely pac,ked in the small part of the karo forest occupied. Territorial disputes were observed in 15 of 17 territories in mixed low forest, in all three in karo-dominated forest, and in none of the six in tawapou-kohekohe forest.

TABLE 2 - Number of adults and definite territories in each vegetation type on Aorangi

No. $ total adults adults

Mixed low forest 28 64

Tawapou-kohekohe forest 10 23

Karo, mixed low forest 5 11

Pohu tukawa (broadleaf) forest 1 2

Kanuka-pohutukawa forest 0 0

Totals 44

DISCUSSION Habitat preferences Buddle (1941 and 1951) observed that Spotless Crakes ate " worms, spiders, beetles and insect larvae " from the litter on the forest floor. All my feeding observations were of birds turning over litter in search of such prey. The preference for the valley floor forests may be due to the quality and quantity of litter under these forests and the food therein. Litter derived from a canopy of 90% pohutukawa and 50% kanuka-pohutukawa will certainly be different from that of the valley forests and may have a different or scarcer invertebrate fauna. The kanuka-pohutukawa forest of the Oneho Hill area has a thick ground cover of Blechnum capense, poor litter 14 ONLEY NOTORNIS 29

accumulation and extensive areas of mosses, all of which suggest that ground litter foraging would be less successful than in the valley floor. Within the valley crakes favoured flatter areas, especially those near the stream, along Maori terrace edges and on the wide shoulders of small ridges. Those territories in karo-dominated forest near Urupa Point, although on an overall steep slope, included areas of flatter Maori terracing. Litter accumulation is generally higher on flatter sites and the mobility of litter on steep slopes prevents the build-up of high invertebrate numbers. A11 but four of the territories included some thick low cover, even if only a few metres square, consisting of bush grasses, a Polygonum species and introduced plants over dead fallen trees. This low cover was invariably associated with whau gaps. Crakes were most numerous in areas where whau gap development was most extensive (mixed low forest), less numerous where whau gap development was medium (tawapou-kohekohe forest) and absent where gap development was low (pohutukawa forest). The only place where whau gap develop- ment was medium to high and crakes were absent was tall kanuka- pohutukawa forest on the lower slopes of Oneho Hill. Buddle (1941 and 1951) mentioned the association of nesting crakes with bush grass. During my visit adults with small young were found near or in thick ground cover. So although they forage in the open, some thick cover in the territory is usually required for nesting. Possible predators of eggs and young on Aorangi are tuataras, harriers and kingfishers. (I have seen both harriers and kingfishers taking small Pukeko chicks on the mainland.) Roy Bell (unpubl. ms. Diary 1908-1911) noted that Spotless Crakes on Raoul Island preferred to nest in swampy areas, emerging to drier open habitats after the young had hatched. He suggested this may be a response to predation by rats. On mainland New Zealand, where there are yet more predators, crakes are always associated with thick marshy cover. With increasing predator pressure there seems to be an increasing trend for crakes to live in areas of thick cover. Changes in cruke numbers on Aorangi The first mention of Spotless Crakes on Aorangi was by Hamilton (1925), who in 1924 saw one bird, which suggests that numbers were low. Not until December 1938 was any estimate of numbers attempted, when Fleming (1941) estimated 12 pairs on Aorangi. He and his party, which included Buddle, camped on the southern part of the island and visited Puweto Valley and the northern coast only once, and so actual numbers could well have been higher (Fleming, pers. comm.). Two years later, in November 1940, Buddle (1941) found crakes well distributed over the greater part of the island (he mentions nests in sedges at high altitude) with the highest concentrations being near the saddle and throughout the valley. He estimated 100 pairs and said that " the evident increase in the numbers of the Crake was 1982 SPOTLESS CRAKE 15

hardly believable." Although it is apparent that crakes were increasing rapidly at this time and had an extensive range on the island, the evidence for an increase from 12 to 100 pairs cannot be taken literally. Although Chambers (1955) mentioned six pairs and Kinsky & Sibson (1959) " quickly located " six pairs in January 1956, both these visits were short and not designed to count crakes, and so actual numbers were certainly higher. Bartle (pers. comm.) estimated that numbers were constant between December 1963 and January 1978 at about 16 pairs. My estimate of 22 territories would seem to be in line with Bartle's estimates for the 1960s and 1970s, suggesting that little change has taken place in recent years. Briefly; numbers appeared to be low in the 1920s, with a rapid increase in the late 1930s to very high numbers in 1940. By the mid-1950s, numbers had probably fallen to a level that remained throughout the 1960s and 1970s. Rapid and extensive habitat changes have taken place on Aorangi since Maori occupation ceased. In 1823 most of the island was clear and all forest trees are post-Maori except for scattered large pohutu- kawas and a group of puriris and associated trees under the valley cliffs (G. N. Park, pers. comm.). When the Maoris left, pigs remained, ranging freely over the island and restricting regeneration, although low mixed forest, pohutukawa forest and kanuka forest probably grew slowly. Hamilton visited the island during this stage, noting only one crake. Pigs not only restricted regeneration of low mixed forest but prevented, by constantly digging and turning over the ground, the accumulation of litter and build-up of invertebrates, destroyed low nesting cover and probably directly interfered with nesting crakes. After the pigs were removed in 1936, a low mixed forest developed throughout the valley, favouring the rapid increase in crake numbers suggested by Buddle 4 years after the extermination. Buddle's reason for the large increase in crake numbers was that the birds favoured the extensive bush grass that grew after the pigs were exterminated. The ill effects of pigs on the crakes had been more on their favoured habitat and litter feeding than on their nesting habitat. The low mixed forest is gradually being replaced by tawapou- kohekohe forest, and the decline in crake numbers by the 1950s might be attributed to the reduction in their favoured habitat. This replace- ment is expected to continue and crake numbers can be expected to decline in the future. A further increase in Buller's Shearwaters, which have doubled since 1964 (Bartle, pers. comm.), may also affect the crakes as their digging disperses much of the leaf litter.

BREEDING This section brings together notes from my visit to Aorangi on breeding and behaviour of crakes and such scattered references as I could find in the National Museum, Wellington. 16 ONLEY NOTORNIS 29

Territory During our visit the breeding season was well advanced, with newly hatched to independent young present. Birds with and without young were strongly territorial. Boundary disputes consisted of one bird calling a short sharp trill preceded by a low quiet ooh ooh ooh. The non-calling bird left, often rapidly, and there was no pursuit. Occasionally the ooh ooh noise was enough to deter another bird, and several times a crake that had moved into a territory occupied by a bird with young would rapidly depart when the territory holder approached without any aggressive behaviour. It seems likely that boundaries between territories were well known and well defined because boundary disputes of any intensity were unusual during our visit, bzing most frequent in the densely populated areas near the stream. Territorial calls are apparently more common earlier in the season, and chasing is frequent (Bartle, pers. comm.). Territory size could be estimated only in the area near the stream, where boundaries between pairs abutted and the smallest territory was 45 x 50 metres, but birds ranged more widely in the tawapou-kohekohe forest. Birds with small young were closely associ- ated with small areas of low, thick cover, often not moving more than 10 metres. Bryant & Amos (1949) estimated that territory size near Melbourne, Australia, was as small as 50 sq. ft. (c. 5 m2). Hadden (1970) at Waingaro, New Zealand, estimated the cover in the nesting territory to be no more than 12 yards square (c. 120 m2), although some open land might also be used. These areas of cover are comparable to areas of thick ground cover within the territories on Aorangi.

TABLE 3 - Frequency of different clutch sizes in New Zealand and Australia

Reference 1982 SPOTLESS CRAKE 17

Breeding season On Aorangi, Buddle (1941) suggested that egg laying began in October and continued at least until early December. In February 1980 1 found newly hatched chicks in four crake territories, and so laying continues until late January. On mainland New Zealand, Hadden (1970) found that egg laying started at the end of August and continued until mid-November, whereas Fraser (1972) found nests with eggs in mid-January and suggested that laying took place from August to January. Roy Bell on Raoul Island (1908-1911) said that nests were built from the first week in September but that laying did not start until mid-October and continued until 10 December. Most birds laid between 10 and 20 November. He suggested that later nesting took place in high water years. In Australia, dates from Bryant & Amos (1949) and Fletcher (1914) suggest that the breeding season is similar, ranging from late September to late January. Fletcher also suggested that laying may continue into February. depending on seasonal rains. Clutch size The commonest clutch size is three, with two frequent on Aorangi and the Kermadec Islands, and four frequent in Australia (Table 3). Although the sample is small there is a suggestion that clutches are larger on mainland New Zealand than on the islands and larger in Australia than in New Zealand. Australian handbooks also support the idea of a larger clutch size for Australia and Tasmania than for New Zealand - 4-6 (Macdonald 1973), 4-7 (Frith 1969), 4-6 (Readers Digest 1976). Smaller clutches on islands have been demonstrated for many species (Bull & Whitaker 1975). Buddle also suggested a reduction in clutch size from three to two later in the season on Aorangi. Incubation Two birds. presumably both parents, incubate (Hadden, in OSNZ nest records). From the date of the last egg to hatching inclusive is 21 days (Hadden, in OSNZ nest reccrds) . Fraser (1972) gave c. 19 days for incubation (not defined) and Fletcher (1914) gave 18 days. Young The young stay in the nest for up to 2 days (Hadden, in OSNZ nest records, Buddle, 1941). Roy Bell said that on Raoul Island the young- - leave the nest on hatching for other nests on dry land. Information on the rate of growth of young after leaving the nest is sparse. Roy Bell says that the young grow very slowly; those hatching at the end of December were only half-grown by April. 18 ONLEY NOTORNIS 29

During my 18 days on Aorangi, it was difficult to see any growth changes in the chicks. Ruddle estimated the earliest nesting on Aorangi would be in October, and newly independent young were present during our visit in February. Obviously, the adults attend the chicks for a long period, probably 4-5 months. Newly hatched chicks on Aorangi during our visit at the end of February would therefore not reach independence until June or 1uly. Spotless Crakes take a long time to raise young. Nest building, preceded by an unknown time when territories are established, starts several weeks before laying. Incubation takes 3 weeks and the young may be accompanied for 4-5 months before becoming independent - a total of 5-6 months. Egg laying from August to late January suggests that some part of the population is involved in raising chicks for most of the year. The immature plumage was overall browner than that of the adult, lacking the blue sheen on the head and breast of the adult and the golden brown on the back of the adult. The chin was white with whitish striations on the breast, and legs were a light pinkish brown but rather variable, occasionally still dark as in the downy chicks. Immatures were noticeably smaller. An immature female in the National Museum weighed 28 g in contrast to adult female weights of 43.0 g and 43.2 g. Breeding success Apart from newly hatched chicks, the young seen during our visit to Aorangi were impossible to age, but they were divided into four categories on the following basis: 1. Small - weak twittering call, not very mobile, staying close to the adult, occasionally being brooded. 2. Medium - single thin risi~gcall, constantly repeated. Downy. Mobile, following adult often at a distance of 20-30 metres. 3. Old - fully feathered but still accompanying adult. No call. 4. Independent - immature plumage, not associated with an adult. Table 4 shows the numbers of young seen on Aorangi in February and March 1980. The large number of " medium " young seen is to be expected as this category probably includes chicks of the greatest age range. A very rough measure of breeding success can be derived from these figures. It is unlikely that all the young seen would reach independence, and two " medium" young from a group of three were lost and two newly hatched young disappeared during our visit. Also the small number of " old " young seen were singles. If 20 of the young reached independence and if all 44 adults counted had bred, less than one half a young per adult would reach independence in a year. 1982 SPOTLESS CRAKE 19

TABLE 4 - Frequency of different-sized groups of young seen on Aorangi, February-March 1980

Bartle's records for the 1960s and this study suggest that the population of crakes is stable at about 40 individuals. A production of 20 young a year suggests that mortality or movement accounts for about one-third of the over-winter population of adults and juveniles if numbers are to remain stable. Attendance of the young by the adults During our visit to Aorangi the number of adults attending young varied according to the age of the juvenile birds. Small newly hatched young were always accompanied by two adults. During the " medium " stage one adult stops accompanying the young, and so by the time the young are fully feathered, only one adult is in attendance. There was one record of three adults accompanying young. The assistance of I-year-old birds in feeding downy young has been noted for the Tasmanian Native Hrn (Ridpath 1968). The behaviour of young and adults throws some light on this seeming lack of parental attention. Small young were not very mobile and stayed close to one parent and were occasionally brooded. The other adult sounded the alarm, at which the young stopped calling, and investigated intruders. As the young became older they foraged widely in the open forest floor, called constantly, and often moved 20 ONLEY NOTORNIS 29

20-30 metres away from the adult. The adults did not call to the young and did not respond to intense calling by the young by returning to them. It seemed, in fact, as though the young followed the adult round the territory. At an alarm call from the adult the young would run rapidly for several metres, sometimes managing to hide and at other times quickly giving up the attempt. Often they continued to call loudly while the adult was calling the alarm. Fully feathered young accompanied the adult at distances of up to 40 metres and were silent. They seldom heeded the adults' alarm calls and continued feeding unconcerned. So, after the initial stage, when there is some division in the adults' roles attending the young, the adults' role is minimal and there seems little need for two adults to look after the young. In two cases the adult not accompanying the young was still in the breeding territory, and one of them was actively defending the territory against a neighbouring crake. In six other cases of a single adult attending young no other adult could be found in the territory. One territory was definitely occupied by a single adult and three other less well defined territories had a single adult only. Whether these birds were the missing parents is not known.

CONCLUSION Although Spotless Crakes are being found in many places on mainland New Zealand with the help of taped calls, the reduction in their marshland habitat is a cause for concern. Aspects of this study illustrate the danger in New Zealand of assuming that our island sanctuaries and reserves are a substitute for adequate mainland reserves. Island systems, especially those of smaller islands, are very specialised, and processes on islands may be very different. This study suggests that for Spotless Crakes, and possibly other species, islands such as Aorangi are not ideal refuges because 1. The population is small - between 40 and 50 individuals. 2. The crake reproductive rate may be slow - clutches are smaller than cn the mainland and less than one chick per pair is raised to independence for each breeding attempt. 3. Their favoured habitat is gradually changing as the forest matures. A small population and a low reproductive rate mean that the birds are susceptible to catastrophes such as bad weather or habitat destruction and cannot easily recover their numbers. With the changing habitat, the occupation of Aorangi by Spotless Crakes may well be temporary. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Thanks to Sandy Bartle for organising the trip to Aorangi and to those who also shared the motor camp, cave, tent and island; Shane Cotter, Paul Sagar and Toy Sagar. The Department of Lands and 1982 SPOTLESS CRAKE 2 1

Survey gave me financial support. Paul Sagar and Sandy Bartle read previous manuscripts. LITERATURE CITED BELL, R. Unpubl. MS Diary 1908-1911. Alexander Turnbull Library. Extracted in Files of W. R. 6. Oliver. National Museum of New Zealand. BRYANT, C. E.; AMOS, B. 1949. Notes on the crakes of the genus Porzana around Melbourne. Victoria. Emu 48: 249-275. BUDDLE G. A. 1941. The birds of the Poor K~ights. Emu 41: 56-68. BUDDLE: G. A. 1951. Bird secrets of New Zealind. A. H. & A. W. Reed. BULL, P. C.; WHITAKER, A. H. 1975. The Amphibians reptiles birds and mammals. pp. 231-276 in Kuschel, G. (ed) Biogeography and'~ology'in New Zealand. The Hague: W. Junk. CHAMBERS, B. S. 1955. Birds of the Poor Knights Islands. Tane 17: 66-67. READERS DIGEST BOOK OF AUSTRALIAN BIROS. 1976. Sydney: Readers Digest Services. FLEMING, C. A. 1941. Annual rsport of the Ornithological Society of New Zealand. NO. 1. FLETCHER, J. A. 1914. Field notes on the Spotless Crake (Porzana immaculata). Emu 13: 197.22 FRASER E. 1972. Some notes on Spotless Crake. Notornis 19: 87-88. FRITH, 'H. J. (Ed.) 1969. Birds in the Auqtralian high country. Sydney: A. H. & A. W. Reed. HADDEN, D. 1970. Notes on the Spotless Crake in the Waingaro District. Notornis 17: 200-213. HAMILTON, H. 1925. Birds of the Poor Knights and Hen Islands. NZ J. Sci. Tech. 8: 15-18. KINSKY, F. C.; SIBSON, R. 6. 1959. Notes on the birds of the Poor Knights Islands. Notornis 13: 132-133. MacDONALD, J. D. 1973. Birds of Australia. Sydney: A. H: & A. W. R*. RIDPATH, M. G. 1964. The Tasmanian Native Hen. AustralIan Natural H~story 14: 346-350. WHITAKER, A. H The lizards of the Poor Knights Islands. NZ J. Sci. 11: 623-651.

GLOSSARY OF ANIMAL AND PLANT NAMES Tuatara Sphenodon punctatus Buller's Shearwater Puffinus bulleri Harrier Circus approximans Pukeko Porphyrio porphyrio Tasmanian Native Hen Gallinula mortierii Kingfisher Halcyon sancta Blechnum capense Flax Phormium tenax Supplejack Rhipogonum scandens Pigeonwood Hedycarya arborea Kawakawa Macropiper excelsum Mahoe Melicytus ramiflorus Karo Pittosporum crassifoliurn Kanuka Leptospermum ericoides Pohutukawa Metrosideros excelsa Metrosideros perforata Whau Elttelea srborescens Karaka Corynocarpus laevigatus Kohekohe Dysoxylum spectabile Tawapou Planchonella novo-zeurlandica Myrsine divaricata Coprosma macrocarpa Puriri Vitex lucens Bush grass - 2 species Oplisuenus undulatifolius Microlsena stipoida D. J. ONLEY, Madman's Farm, Little Totara River, Private Bag. Westport SHORT NOTE

SHORT NOTES

WOOD DUCK IN MARLBOROUGH During the second weekend of the duck-shooting season in April 1980, Wayne Johnston of Blenheim was shooting with his father, Max, at the edge of the Wairau River near the mouth of the Waikakaho. There, some Catchment Board stop banks between the Tua Marina Track and the main river form ponds surrounded by willows. Decoys had been set out on the pond about 9 to 10 a.m. on this sunny morning, when a duck came in against the light towards Wayne. Max was better sighted across the prevailing light and was impressed by the speed of the wing beat, but Wayne's quick shot was fatal. The duck was so unusual that they handed it to the local Acclimatisation Society Ranger. Since then the Ranger has heard reports of a strange light- coloured duck seen in the Spring Creek area before the shooting season. The two areas are only about 4 miles apart. The duck has been identified by Brian Bell as a male Australian Wood Duck or Maned Goose (Chenont-tta jubata), a small goose-like duck. The Annotated Checklist mentions only two records of stragglers from Glendhu, Wanaka (1910) and Orawia, Southland (1944), while the New guide to the birds of New Zealand gives a further two records, both in 1944, from Linwood and Wairaki in Southland. PAULINE JENKINS, 234 Howick Road, Blenheim

GANNETS FEEDING BEHIND TRAWLER During the 1981 wi~ter,while we were trawling in Tasman Bay, there were up to 100 Australasian Gannets (Sula bassana serrafor) within sight of the boat at any one time. As usual they were taking no notice of the boat but sitting on the water or feeding. As we were picking up a morning trawl on 6 June, two adult Gannets joined the Shy Mollymawks (Diomedea caufa), Cape Pigeons (Daption capense) and Black-backed Gulls (Larus dominicanus) that were feeding on the offal and small moribund fish which fall out of the cod end as it comes on board. The Gannets were diving for both the offal and small fish, spitting out the offal and swallowing the fish. We noticed this behaviour several times during the trip and each time there were only one or two Gannets. This is the only time in several years that we have seen or heard of Gannets feeding in this manner. Usually they cast an eye at the boat and the accompanying birds and then continue on their way. J. M. HAWKINS, 772 Atawhai Drive, Nelson THE SIZE OF THE SOOTY SHEARWATER POPULATION AT THE SNARES ISLANDS, NEW ZEALAND*

By JOHN WARHAM and GRAHAM J. WILSON

ABSTRACT The size of the Sooty Shearwater (Pufinus griseus) popu- lation at the Snares Islands was estimated by counting burrows in the main vegetation types. Some 3 287 000 burrows were calculated for Main Island, the highest densities being 1.9/m2 in Poa meadows, with 1.2/m2 under the trees of the Oleuria forest. Most burrows were occupied but data on rates of occupation by breeding birds were not satisfactory. Assuming a 75% occupancy rate. we get a total population of about 2 750 000 burrow-holding peirs on the 328 ha of the two largest islands. INTRODUCTION In recent years there has been a marked increase in attempts to estimate seabird populations. Much of this effort has been to establish base-line information in the face of threats or potential threats posed by new developments in the exploitation of marine resources. Such threats exist in the southern hemisphere as in the northern one, and with the prospect of further explcration oil drilling in the ' Great South Basin,' phosphate mining on the Chatham Rise and similar projects in New Zealand seas, there is a clear need for information on the sizes of New Zealand seabird populations. Such information is also needed to evaluate the mortality occurring in the northern hemisphere, to which many southern species migrate after breeding. For example, King et ul. (1979) ~stimatedthat the shearwaters Pufinus griseus and P. tenuirostris comprised 27% of the annual mortality of 214 000 - 715 000 seabirds killed by the Pixific cffshore salmon gill-net fishery. More recent data (Ainley et cl., in press) suggest that these mortality estimates should be doubled. Contamination by chlorinated hydrocarbons and PCBs while in northern waters may also be important - summary in Bourne (1976). Probably the most important of New Zealand seabirds in terms of cumbers and biomass is the Sooty Shearwater, or New Zealand Muttonbird (Pujrfinus griseus). This breeds in small numbers as far north as Three Kings Islands (34"S), more commonly in Cook Strait (41°S), but its centre of abundance is south of the South Island - in Foveaux Strait and on islands around Stewart Island. The Snares Islands at 483 166"E have big populations. Further south at Antipodes,

" University of Canterbury Snares Islands Expeditions Paper No. 45 2 4 WARHAM & WILSON NOTORNIS 29

Campbell, the Auckland Group and Macquarie Islands only quite small colonies occur. The Sooty Shearwater population at The Snares appears to be in a very healthy state with no evidence of the derelict burrows that are seen at petrel colonies in decline. Many eggs are laid on the surface and abandoned. We found that these averaged narrower than those laid underground and were presumably produced by young birds (Ser- venty 1967): such surface eggs appear to be typical of shearwater colonies in good fettle. On the two largest islands in the group, Main Island (280 ha) and Broughton Island (48 ha), the whole of the peaty soil is burrowed, except where the soil is too thin, areas where the bare peat has been eroded by wind and rain, where the ground is occupied by colonies of Snares Crested Penguins (Eudyptes robustus) or where the soil becomes waterloggzd and burrows flooded after heavy rain. For the purpose of our census only four vegetation types needed consideration - minor types were poorly burrowed and 38 ha of the Main Island and 13 ha of Broughton Island were bare of soil. The deep peat supports a central forest of Olearia lyallii forming an almost closed canopy at about 6 m. This is surrounded by meadows of Poa tussocks which extend outwards to the coastal cliffs. There are small patches of forest dominated by the tree Senecio stewartiae and thickets of the coastal bush Hebe ellipfica. These vegetation types are rather clearly defined and with the help of a series of stereo-aerial photographs and a ground survey, a detailed vegetation map of the Main Island was prepared by C. H. Hay in 1970. This shows the planar areas for each vegetation type. In 1974 a similar map of Broughton Island was made by H. A. Best. Conditions for burrowing vary with vegetation type. Beneath Olearia the ground is clear of understorey and leaf litter as the shear- waters remove all loose vegetation for their nest linings but the soil is interlaced with stout roots which hinder burrowing. Similar conditions apply to the Senecio areas, but these trees tend to occur on rather waterlogged soils. The Poa tussocks are of two types. Poa tennantiana plants are about 0.6 m across and 0.6 m high and form meadows surrounding the central forest. These meadows are themselves sur- rounded by a zone of Pca astonii whose plants tend to form large stools 1-1.5 m high and 0.5 m diameter and extend down steep coastal slopes wherever there is enough soil. This grass does well on quite shallow soils but on steep slopes offers fewer opportunities for burrowing shear- waters, although it is suitable for smaller species of petrels. METHODS To lessen damage through breakthrough in the extensively burrowed ground, while permitting ready movement around the island, an access track was cleared and marked at the start of the study (see map in Warham, 1967). 1982 SOOTY SHEARWATER 25

An estimate of the number of burrows was attempted by sampling burrow densities in the four vegetation types and computing the total number of burrows. On level or near-level ground burrow densities in the two Poa zones were found to be similar and the figures for these have been aggregated. In the summers of 1969/70 and 1970/71 a series of 10 m x 10 m quadrats was pegged out and the number of used burrow entrances counted. Quadrats were located at random within the various zones and burrow entrances counted inside the tape and marked with a short stick as counted. Those on the boundaries were included if the nest chambers were clearly within the quadrat. Used burrows were those whose entrances were free from obstructions, cobwebs and the like, but the only instances of disuse were some burrows in dense Hebe which were blocked with sticks and whose birds had clearly been excluded by the rapid growth of the bushes since the previous season. The planar areas for each vegetation type were measured from the vegetation map by planimeter. Most parts of the Main Island were sampled, and in the Olearia zone some quadrats were close to forest margins and others towards the centre of the island. In the small area of Senecio the few quadrats examined were not chosen randomly but selected to include a high- density area, a poorly drained one, one near the Olearia-Senecio boundary and one at random, to show all the extremes in this vegetation type. No allowance was made for slope in computing burrow densities because, although the ground slopes gently to the east and is dissected by shallow gullies (see Fleming et al. 1953), checks on gully sides showed that in planar projection burrow densities were not greater than on more level ground: such slopes tended to be wet and burrow densities low. On gently sloping ground burrow densities were higher than on flat ground - an effect of better drainage perhaps - but variations between quadrats were far greater than could be accounted for by slope alone. Attempts were made to get information on burrow occupancy from three kinds of data: (a) from the contents of nest chambers accidentally broken into between 3 December 1970 and 24 February 1971, (b) from the disturbance of fences of fine wires set across burrow entrances and checked each morning from 4 to 22 January 1971 while hatching was in progress and (c) from the state of 100 burrows chosen at random under the Olearia forest and examined daily during April 1972 by C. 1. and D. S. Horning. Examination was by feeling an occupant by hand or with a long wire, by noting fresh digging, by finding nestling down in the tunnel and by seeing birds entering burrows. RESULTS The total number of burrows on Main Island was estimated at 3 287 000. See Table I. The highest burrow densities of nearly 2/m2 occurred among tusscck grass. This is probably because burrowing is TABLE 1 - Sooty Shearwater burrow densities on Main Island, Snares Islands

Vegetation Burrows/100 m2 Area covered Estimated no. 95% confidence tYPf n -+ 1 S.E. Range by of intervals *t vegetation (ha) burrows* s

Olearia forest 22 116.1+.7.10 40 - 155 146.80 1 704 000 1 496,000 - 1 913 000 $ z -Poa tussock 15 194.8+ 5.83 159 - 240 76.51 1 490 000 1 401 000 - 1 580 000 Lp Senecio forest 4 45.8 20 - 76 3.32 15 000 in Hebe elliptica 10 68.3 + 11.48 10 - 129 11.45 78 000 51 900 - 91 300 -- 0z TOTAL 238.08 3 287 000 2 963 900 - 3 599 300

Figures rounded to the nearest 1,000 'i' -+ 2 standard errors 1982 SOOTY SHEARWATER 2 7 easier there with less obstruction from roots. Variability between quadrats was also least in the tussock, probably because the plants themselves are very evenly distributed and of rather constant size. Densities fcir the Senecio forest were low, partly owing to the damp ground conditions. The great variability in the counts in the Hebe quadrats directly reflected their cpenness, with dense, nearly impenetrable thickets being almost unused. Figures for Broughton Island are less reliable as no ground sampling was done there, but the shearwater flocks over this island appeared as dense as those over the Main Island. If we assume similar burrow densities in similar vegetation, the 13.5 ha of Olearia/Senecio forest would have 131 900 burrows, the 14.3 ha of Poa 235 600 burrows and the 2.6 ha of Hcbe 14 800 burrows, some 382 000 burrows in all for that island.

Some previous figures for shearwater burrow densities have been published. Rowan (1952) estimated ~estdensities of the Greater Shear- water (Pufinus grcvis) at Nightingale Island, Tristan da Cunha, from 15 sample counts in three vegetation types. She found the highest density of 1.5 nests per square yard (1.8/m2) in short tussock and sedge, falling to about 1 per square yard (1.2/m2) in very heavy tussock 2-2.5 m high, and only about 0.6 nests per square yard (0.7/m2) under groves of Phylica trees. She estimated an average burrow density of 1.2/m2. The same figure was gained for a colony of the Short-tailed Shearwater (P. t.muirosfris) from 10 sample counts in the two predominant vegetation types at Cat Island, Tasmania (Warham 1960). Recently Skira & Wapstra (1980) estimated much lower burrow densities (0.21- 0.81/m2) at a number of Puffinus tenuirosfris colonies using a line transect method. For this same Australian species Norman & Harris (1981) reported rather similar densities at Rabbit Island, Victoria, of 0.3-0.6/m2 but Harris & Bode (1981) estimated lower densities of burrows (0.05-0.47/m2) at the small and rather disturbed colonies in Phillip Island, Victoria. At his small colony of 295 nests of Sooty Shearwaters spread over 420 m2 Richdale (1963, p. 94) calculated the burrow density at 0.7/m2. Wormell (1976) counted occupied burrows of Manx Shearwaters (P. puffinus) on Rhum in 36 sample plots, finding a mean density of 150 burrows per square chain (0.37/m2), but densities there are low, partly because the birds burrow under boulders (Bourne, pers. comm.) . Very recently Floyd & Swanson (in press) have estimated breed- ing success and population size and density of the Wedge-tailed Shear- water (P. pacificus) at Muttonbird Island, New South Wales, and compered their findings with those from other Australian colonies of that species. These authors also found that burrow densities varied with vegetation type, their mean being 0.51/m2 with 25-34% of nests occupied. 28 WARHAM & WILSON NOTORNIS 29

None of these figures approaches the burrow density of nearly 2/m2 calculated for Poa tussock at The Snares. The figures for the total numbers are also smaller. Rowan (1952) estimated 2 million Greater Shearwater burrows on Nightingale's 200 ha, but thought that this was an underestimate. Elliott (1970) examined the same species on Gough Island, computing some 600 000 square yards (501 600 m2) as being burrowed, found about 1 chick per square yard (1.2/m2) and hence a breeding population of 600 000 pairs. Warham (1960) calculated that there were 250 000 burrows of P. terzuirostris on Cat Island, Bass Strait (49 ha), and pointed out that there were much larger colonies on bigger islands in the area. Wormell's estimate for occupied burrows on Rhum, stated to be the largest colony of the Manx Shearwater in Britain, was 116 100. The main problem in estimating population sizes by burrow counts lies in the difficulty of relating burrow numbers to the numbers of birds. At the Snares Islands it is quite impossible to establish occupancy by direct inspection for many burrows have long twisting tunnels leading to chambers 0.5-1 m below ground and quite hidden from view. The difficulties are exacerbated by the sensitivity of Sooty Shearwaters to interference. Birds disturbed on eggs frequently desert, and regular handling such as seems possible with Manx Shearwaters is not feasible. None of our attempts to determine occupancy rates was entirely satisfactory. Of 54 nesting chambers accidentally broken into during other work, 30, or 56%, contained eggs or chicks. Fourteen of the others were empty by day and 10 contained one or two adults without egg or chick. This latter group would have included non-breeders and failed breeders. In all, 74% of nests were occupied by day. All 31 fenced burrows examined over a 20-day period had their fences disturbed. At 23 burrows the fences were displaced on 10-18 days (mean 14.2 days); the rest were displaced much less often (0-9 days), mean 4.4 days. If entry about every other day is taken to mean occupancy, then 74% of the sample were occupied during that period. However, some of the more disturbed burrows could have been visited by prospecting non-breeders while some of the less disturbed ones could have held incubating birds, as these often fast for 9 days during their incubating stints (pers. obs.) . More useful are the data from the 100 burrows examined in April 1972, of which at least 86 had occupants. This figure is significant because by April non-breeding and failed breeders have left the island. Richdale (1963, p. SO), for example, found no 'unemployed' birds ashore by day after 8 March and believed that the regimes of such birds were similar to those found for P. tenuirosfris (see Serventy 1967). Disturbances in April must therefore have been caused by parents or by chicks. The probable source of error here, of unknown magnitude, is due to chicks that failed to reach the sea and sheltered in another burrow at daybreak. Skira & Wapstra's figures for Short-tailed Shear- 1982 SOGTY SHEARWATER 29 water chicks in burrows during mid- to late March are much lower, their highest rates of 51.2 and 64.7% being at colonies not subjected to muttonbird harvesting. An occupancy rate of 86% towards the end of the breeding season is very high. However, there was indirect evidence for a high level of burrow use at these islands because (a) large numbers of eggs were laid on the surface and abandoned, which seems unlikely to occur if nesting chambers were readily available, (b) disused or cobwebbed burrows were very seldom seen, (c) even unsuitable ground susceptible to flooding still attracted some burrowers and (d) physical competition occurred for burrows with the eviction of intruders and some fighting. Occupants defended an area around the entrance and this may have acted as a spacing-out mechanism. Deterring others from digging too close to existing nests would reduce the risk of burrow collapse. Nevertheless, we regard none of these figures for burrow occu- pancy 2s being sufficiently reliable, the sizes of the samples being much tco small. Clearly a simple method for determining the presence of birds underground is needed. Fibre-optics are almost useless in the tortuous and obstructed tunnels and the most promising technique we are now investigating is to detect petrels by their heartbeats or breathing using a sensitive microphone. The huge size of some of the southern shearwater populations has long been known. During his remarkable circumnavigation of Tasmania in 1798, Matthew Flinders (1801) described an encounter with a flock of P. tenuirostris which he calculated as containing 151 500 000 birds and requiring 186 geographic square miles of ground for their burrows - he allowed a square yard for each. Although Flinders' arithmetic was faulty - the correct figure on his data is 132 000 000 birds (Campbell 1900). the total is still impressive. So is the size of The Snares Island Sooty Shearwater population. Even at a 75% occupancy rate, some 2 750 000 pairs must be based on Main and Broughton Islands together with an unknown number of burrowless non-breeders. At a mean weight of 800 g (SD 74.5 g; n = 154), a 75% occupancy would represent a biomass of 4 400 000 kg. The density of birds is remarkable too, for the above biomass requires only 328 ha of ground for nesting, while, in addition to the shearwaters, some hundreds of thousands of other petrels and of penguins also breed there. Indeed, this small area supports a bird population similar in size to that of the whole of the seabird population of Britain and Ireland - some 3 million pairs (Cramp et al., 1974) - and although the shearwaters can travel far for food, the surrounding seas must be highly productive to support such a biomass. In turn, the nutrients brought ashore are believed to be important for the plants (Fineran 1969) and doubtless rainwater run-off fertilises the surrounding seas, although we have no data on that. With populations of such magnitude it is not surprising that 30 WARHAM €t WILSON NOTORNIS 29

the southern shearwaters P. gratlis, tenuirostris and griseus can come to dominate the northern waters into which they migrate during the southern winter. For example, Wiens & Scott (1975), using a simulation model approach, calculated that the Sooty Shearwater is the major seabird consumer during its fall passage off the Oregon coast, taking some 24 000 metric t~nsof anchovies during its 2 months' stay. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This work was supported by the Nufiield Foundation and the New Zealand University Grants Committee. W. R. P. Bourne, P. C. Harper, M. P. Harris and C. L. McLay kindly commented on early drafts of the paper, and we are grateful for the survey work done by H. A. Best and C. H. Hay.

LITERATURE CITED AINLEY, D. G.; DE GANGE, A. R.; JONES, L. L.; BEACH, R. J. (in press). Mortality of seabirds in hiah seas salmon ail1 nets. Fisherv Bull BOURNE, W. R. p. 1976. Seabjrds and polluiion. Pp. 403-502 in Marine Pollution (R. Johnston, Ed.). London: Academic Press. CAMPBELL, A. J. 1900. Nests and eggs of Australian birds. Shefield, privately printed. CRAMP. S.: BOURNE. W. R. P.: SAUNDERS. D. 1974. The seabirds of Britain and Ireland. iondon: ~ollins'. ELLIOTF, C. C. H. 1970. Ecological considerations and the possible significance of weight variations in the chicks of the Great Shearwater on Gough Island. Ostrich, Suppl. 8: -385.7'26 -- - .- . FINERAN, B. A. 1969. The flora of the Snares Islands, New Zealand. Trans. Roy. Soc. NZ Bot. 3: 237-270. FLEMING, C. A.; REED, J. J.; HARRIS, W. F. 1953. The geology of the Snares Islands. D.S.I.R. Caoe Exo. Ser. Eull. 13: 1-42 FLINDERS, M.' 1801. Observations on the coasts of Van Diemen's Land, on Bass's Strait and its Islands, and on part of the coasts of New South Wales. London. FLOYD, R. B.; SWANSON, N. M. (in press). Wedge-tailed Shearwaters on Muttonbird Island. an estimate of the breeding success and the breeding population. Emu. HARRIS, M. B.; BODE, K. G. 1981. Populations of Little Penguins, Short-tailed Shearwaters and other seabirds on Phillip Island, Victoria, 1978. Emu 81: 20-28. KING, W. 8.; BROWN, R. G. B.; SANGER, G. A. 1979. Mortality to marine birds through commercial fishing. Pp. 195-199 in Conservatio~ of marine birds of northern North America (J. C. Bartonek and D. N. Nettl?ship, Eds). US Fish & Wildl. Serv., Wildl. Res. Rep. 11. Washington, DC. NORMAN, F. I.; HARRIS, M. P. 1981. Some recent changes in the flora and avifauna of Rabbit Island, Wilson's Promontory, Victoria. Proc. Roy. Soc. Victoria 92: 209-212. RICHDALE, L. E. 1963. Biology of the Sooty Shearwater Puffinus griseus. Proc. Zwl. Soc. Lond. 141: 1-117. ROWAN, M. K. 1952. The Greater Shearwater Puffinus gravis at its breeding grounds. Ibis 94: 97-121. SERVENTY, D. L. 1967. Asrjects of the population ecology of the Short-tailed Shearwater Puffinus tenuirostris. Po. i65-ls0 in Proc. 14th Inter. Ornithol. Conar.-. ID. W. Snow. Ed.). Oxford: Blackwell. SKIRA, I. J.; WAPSTRA, J. E. 1980. Occupation of burrows as a means of estimating the harvest of Short-tailed Shearwaters in Tasmania. Emu 80: 233-238. WARHAM, J. 1960 Some aspects of breeding behaviour in the Short-tailed Shearwater. Emu 60: 75-87. WARHAM, J. 1967. Snares Islands birds. Notornis 14: 122.139. WORMELL P. 1976. The Manx Shearwaters of Rhum. Scot. Birds 9: 103-118. WIENS, J.'A.; SCOTT, J. M. 1975. Model estimation of energy flow in Oregon coastal seabird populations. Condor 77: 439-452. JOHN WARHAM & GRAHAM WILSON, Zoology Department, University of Canterbury, Christchurch 1, New Zealand. ADDITIONS TO THE AVIFAUNA OF KIRIBATI AND TUVALU

By PETER CHILD

After an absence of 25 years my wife and I visited Kiribati (formerly the Gilbert Islands) from 17 July to 14 August 1981. The msin ornithological purpose of this trip was to visit the two northern- most atolls of Butaritari and Makin, which I had not had the opportunity to include during my tour of duty in 1953-56 (Child 1960). We spent from 31 July to 10 August in the north (visiting Makin from 3 to 6 August), the rest of the time being on the central administrative atoll of Tarawa. The tremendous influx of population to Tarawa (estimated 25 000 on the s~uthernside of the atoll) has made this less worthwhile for birdwatching. However, most previously recorded species could still be found there; in particular, the Crested Tern seemed to have increased considerably, and we estimated at least 120, mainly on the lagoon side of Betio. Constant human disturbance on the ocean reefs and lagoon shallows at low tide resulted in only small numbers of Arctic migrants being recorded. One advantage (compared with Tuvalu) is that the Gilbertese people are not allowed rifle permits. Also, the Kiribati government seems to be alive to conservation require- ments, ss is evidenced by their enlightened policies and protection for the Christmas Island bird colonies. They have an active Department of Natural Resources. Butaritari is a very large atoll, being some 30 km by 20 km, with many square kilometres of sand and mudflats at low tide; we did not visit the extensive tidal areas near Bikati in the north-west, nor Kuma in the far east. In the north-east there is a fascinating group of about ten tiny low-lying islets collectively known as Ubrantakoto, which apparently has not previously had an ornithological visit. This group is separated from the southernmost tip of Makin by only 3 km of open ocean. We made the crossing from Makin by launch on 5 August. The islets are sparsely covered in mangrove and three other species of low shrubs (the tzllest being about 6 m). They have beaches of coral pebbles and, being devoid of coconuts, are seldom visited, thus forming natural bird sanctuaries. They harboured thousands of breeding Black Noddy (but no Browns), two small colonies of Black-naped Tern (totalling about 70-80 birds), hundreds of breeding White Tern and a thriving heronry of 50-60 adults and young (with several disused nests seen in the shrubs). We also recorded a few roosting Lesser Frigates, an immature Crested Tern and an assortment of the common Arctic migrants. It is also likely that the Sooty Tern breeds there. 32 CHILD NOTORNIS 29

Because Makin has not previously had an ornithological visit (Amerson 1969), a completz summary is given for that island. (Note that Amerson called Butaritari " Makin " and Makin he called " Little Makin"). Map details for Kiribati atolls are depicted in Amerson's bulletin. New species recorded for Kiribati were Rock Pigeon, Blue-grey Noddy, Asiatic Whimbrel and Asiatic Black-tailed Godwit. ROCK PIGEON Columba livia On 28/7/81, at Betio (Tarawa), about 20 feral pigeons were roosting (mid-afternoon) on a shed at the wharf area. A local informant thought there were upwards of 40 altogether, always in this vicinity where they survived on scraps from shipping cargoes. He also thought some had been here since before World War 11. BLUE-GREY NODDY Procelsterna cerulea On 1/8/81, at Butaritari, a single bird of this species flew in close to us on the ocean reef and then out to sea again. ASIATIC WHIMRREI, Numenius phaeopus variegatus Although Amerson lists a " Whimbrel " for four Gilbert Islands the subspecies is not stated, but is most likely to be the Asiatic. On the lagoon mudflats near Butaritari village we recorded the largest group of 33 on the incoming tide on 9 August, and estimated that at least 50 were present on this atoll during the period of our visit. They are much less approachable than the Bristle-thighed Curlew (N. tahiti- ensis), which was also seen every day in small numbers. ASIATIC BLACK-TAILED GODWIT Limosa limosa melanuroides A single bird was sighted near seven Bar-tailed Godwits (L. lapponica) on 31 July on the Butaritari mudflats. Slightly slimmer than the Bar-tails, it had the pale axillaries diagnostic of this subspecies. It was not seen again on our other visits to this area, although the Bar-tails were present throughout the whole period. RED-FOOTED BOOBY Sula sula A bird banded in the Phoenix group and found dead at Tani- mainiku, Butaritari, earlier in 1981 proved to be 18 years old. A Bird-list for Makin, 3-6 August 1981 Makin atoll (3"20fN 173"00'E), the northern limit of the Kiribati chain, consists of a string of five main islets lying north-south, without a lagoon, and three tiny islets on the far northern edge of the reef. In the centre of the northern islet (Makin) is an interesting tidal and muddy ponded area which attracted Black-naped Terns, Crested Terns, Reef Herons and several species of waders, including the only Whimbrel recorded. Most of the likely habitats were examined during our stay, and, as there is no lagoon, we could cover almost the whole perimeter of the reefs and beaches. Waders are rather limited and scattered because of the lack of lagoon flats and of extensive areas of stable productive sand of mudflat. 1982 AVIFAUNA OF KIRIBATI AND TUVALU 33

The weather was mostly fine and hot, partly cloudy, with a light to moderate easterly; heavy rain fell late afternoon on the 3rd. LESSER FRIGATE BIRD Fregata nriel (Visitant, non-breeding) One male beyond the reef of Makin islet on 4th was seen to chase a Common Noddy until the latter disgorged some food. On 5th, one seen over the ocean south of Onne. GREAT FRIGATE BIRD Fregata minor (Visitant, non-breeding) Four males beyond the reef of Makin islet on the 4th. In addition, six unidentified Frigates passed overhead while we were travelling north on Makin islet on a tractor on the 4th. It is possible that they breed on Ubrantakoto, northern islets of Butaritari. WHITE TERN Gygis alba (Resident, breeding) Common (in hundreds) throughout. Breeding (eggs and downy chicks), especially on breadfruit, pandanus and 'ren' (Messerschmidia) trees. Small groups coming and going from the ocean all day; flocks fishing outside the reefs. BLACK-NAPED TERN Sterna sumatrana (Resident, possibly breeding) Uncommon; total seen 9. One carried a fish from the ponded area to a juvenile on a sandbar nearby. A possible breeding site is the coral beach in the far north of Makin islet. Two breeding colonies were seen on islets of nearby Ubrantakoto, Butaritari. CRESTED TERN Sterna bergii (Visitant, non-breeding) Uncommon; total seen 15. Four in various stages of moult sitting on low rocks on a beach on the 4th. Eleven roosting and fishing in the ponded area on 6th. Unlikely to breed here, but probably does so on Ubrantakoto. SOOTY TERN Sterna fuscafa (Visitant, non-breeding) Only 1 sighted, off the south coast of Onne on the 5th. This species possibly breeds on the nearby islets of Ubrantakoto. BROWN NODDY Anous stolidus (Common Noddy). Resident, breeding) Common (in tens, possibly hundreds, throughout). Coming and going from the ocean all day; breeding mainly on coconut and pan- danus; seemed to be eggs only. BLACK NODDY Anous fenuirostris (Resident, breeding) Abundant (thousands) throughout. Nesting throughout, especi- ally on coconut, breadfruit and ' ren.' Seemed to be on eggs only. Coming and going from the ocean all day, with many ffocks at sea fishing. REEF HERON Egrefta sacra (Resident, probably breeding) Common on reefs throughout; total counted: 41. Of these 23 were white phase, 16 grey and 2 mottled. May breed on low shrubs in the far north; certainly breeds on nearby Ubrantakoto. TURNSTONE Arenaria interpres (Arctic migrant) Scattered throughout low-tide reefs and beaches. Total counted 34 CHILD NOTORNIS 29

128, largest group seen was 31. Various states of plumage, including a few in full breeding dress. WANDERING TATTLER Tringa incana (Arctic migrant) Scattered throughout low-tide reefs and beaches, but not very common. Total counted 33; largest group 6, otherwise mostly individ- uals. SIBERIAN TATTLER Tringa hrevipes (Arctic migrant) A group of five among rocks on the north dead coral on the 4th; flew off with curlews when disturbed. On the same day, one perched on a dead tree in the ponded area and called loudly. No others recorded. PACIFIC GOLDEN PLOVER Pluvialis fulva (Arctic migrant) Fairly common throughout low-tide reefs and beaches, and grassy areas. Total counted 18; largest group 4, otherwise mostly singles. In various stages of plumage, including a few in full breeding dress. BRISTLE-THIGHED CURLEW Numenius tahitietzsis (Arctic migrant) Two at the passage south of Makin islet on the 3rd; a group of nine resting among dead coral in the far north on the 4th; two single birds in the ponded area later on the 4th. ASIATIC WHIMBREL Numenius phaeopus variegafus (Arctic migrant) A single bird of this subspecies was stalked in the ponded area on the 4th; on taking flight it called loudly. LONG-TAILED CUCKOO Eudynamys tailerrsis (NZ migrant) Only one bird heard. This is close to their northern limits of migration - a few reach the Marshalls each season (Amerson 1969). JUNGLE FOWL Gallus gallus (Resident, breeding) Scattered throughout vegetated areas. After an absence of 25 years my wife and I visited Tuvalu (formerly the Ellice Islands) from 15 May to 17 July 1981. Most of the time was spent on the administrative centre of Funafuti, with short visits to the outer atolls of Vaitupu and Nukufetau, 5 days on Nukulaelae and 2 weeks on Nui. New species recorded for Tuvalu were Christmas Shearwater, Audubon's Shearwater, Red-footed Booby, Asiatic Whimbrel, Sander- ling, Siberian Tattler and Ringed Plover. In addition, the first known breeding colony (for this group) of the Red-footed Booby was found on Nukulaelae. Somewhat surprising was the large number (at least several hundreds) of Turnstones present throughout this period of the Arctic summer. Smaller numbers of other Arctic migrants also added interest. Because of the growing human population influx to the capital and increasing numbers of rifle permits being issued, the shooting of birds for food is a matter for concern on Funafuti. Seabird numbers seemed to have fallen drastically there in 25 years, although this was not noticeable on the other atolls visited. The existing protective legislation is very out-dated, confusing and difficult to enforce. 1982 AVIFAUNA OF KIRIBATI AND TUVALU 3 5

CHRISTMAS SHEARWATER Puffinus nativitatis 29/5/81: One bird resting on the sea in the SE passage of Funafuti's lagoon took off leisurely as we approached by yacht. AUDUBON'S SHEARWATER Puffinus lherminieri 3/6/81: One flying low between waves at sea between Vaitupu and Nukufetau. 21/6/81: One outside the reef at Funafuti. 17/7/81: One seen from a ship just north of Nanumea. RED-FOOTED BOOBY Sula Sula 9/6/81: A tame bird, taken as a nestling and now 9 years old, was shown to us at Nukulaelae. Another semi-tame one, 3 years old, was said to be a female as it was bringing sticks to a breadfruit tree in the village - in preparation for nesting? 10/6/81: On the islet of Niuoko (Nukulaelae) we were shown a roosting/nesting area; at 5 p.m. 40-50 birds were wheeling above; the total was said to reach 200-300. Various colour phases were noted. We saw 5 birds sitting on flimsy nests of twigs c.20 m up in a tall " puka " (Pisonia grandis) tree, evidently on eggs. Other trees said to be occupied were not examined. This is the only known breeding colony in Tuvalu, and was believed by our guide to be only 15-20 years old. (I was not told of any colony during my last visit to Tuvalu in 1956). Birds are sometimes shot or taken as nestlings for food. One morning we saw five immature birds which had been killed by hitting them with a stick as they flew low over an open fishing launch. FRIGATE BIRDS Fregafa spp. We recorded both Great and Lesser in various places, the Lesser being much the more common. At Niuoku islet on Nukulaelae, an estimated 300-400 Lesser came in to roost alongside the Red-footed Booby area. There are still no known breeding places in Tuvalu. BLACK-NAPED TERN Sterna sumatrana Common at Funafuti, but at Nui we saw only two. Sometimes the locals confuse it with the White Tern (Gygis alba) and the same vernacular name is used. On 17/5/81 at Funafuti, we noted one with a blue plastic wing streamer - a P.O.B.S.P. marking? TURNSTONE Arenaria inferpres Birds in various stages of eclipse plumage, and a few in breeding dress, were common thrcughout our stay on all atolls visited. On Nui, where we covered all habitats the most thoroughly, we estimated c.350-400 Turnstones present on lagoon beaches and ocean reefs. On 22/6/81, betweec Nukufetau and Nui a single bird flew around the ship for about 5 minutes, twice landing cn the railing, before heading further south-west. (Compare john lenkins' hitch-hiker: Notornis 18: 130.) ASIATIC WHIMBREL Nurnenius phaeopus variegatus Almost daily at Nui between 22 June and 8 July we studied three birds of this subspecies on a lagoon-side mudflat. Detailed comparisons of body features and behaviour were made with Bristle- 36 CHILD NOTORNIS 29

thighed Curlews present in the same area. We later concluded that the Whimbrel, being a much more wary bird, prefers the very extensive low-tide mudflats and lagoon-side sandbars of larger atolls (such as in Kiribati). When disturbed too much they tend to fly over the coconut fringe and " hide " among the dead coral of the ocean reefs. No other Whimbrels were seen on our visits to other atolls of Tuvalu. SANDERLING Calidris alba 29/5/81: One feeding on a sandbar on the edge of the outgoing tide at Funafala, the southernmost islet of Funafuti. Still present in the same spot next morning. 27/6/81: A group of four on dead coral of the ocean-side reef at Nui resting at high tide. We watched this group for several days: mostly they fed on small sandylmuddy flats at the base of the main sand-beach on the ocean-side (exposed at low tide). 1/7/81: Three on the lagoon-side mudflat at Nui - could have been from the above group because on 4 July we found four here, one of which tended to be a " loner." Calls recorded were wheef-weet (sharp and short); a short cheep in flight; and sharp high- pitched chittering flight calls chickity-chick (repeated several times). SIBERIAN TATTLER Tringa brevipes We did not examine closely the numerous Tattlers seen at all places visited. However, this species was definitely present in very small numbers; at Nui on 3/7/81 we found a group of three busiIy feeding on the exposed low-tide ocean reef. They kept together (and apart from Wandering Tattlers) whenever disturbed and were also more difficult to approach. Pee-wee calls were heard in flight. RINGED PLOVER Charadrius hiaticula On 24/6/81 at Nui on the lagoon mudflat so favoured by the Whimbrels, Curlews, Bar-tailed Godwits, Turnstones, Golden Plovers and Tattlers, we discovered this tiny plover busily feeding among a tight group of Turnstones. Later it tended to keep to itself, and when disturbed made short flights of less than 50 metres. When flushed it uttered a sharp chee-ip. We studied this bird on the three succeeding days; on another occasion its flight call was a sharp cher-wee three times. We could not find it again after 27 June. LITERATURE CITED AMERSON, A. BINION. Jr. 1969. Ornithology ~f the Marshall & Gilbert Islands. Atoll Res. Bull. No. 127. Smithsonian Inst. Washington. CHILC), P. 1960. Birds of the Gilbert & Ellice Islands Colony. Atoll Res. Bull. No. 74. Pacific SEience Board, Washington. PETER CHILD, 10 Royal Terrace, Alexandra SEXING BLACK-BACKED GULLS FROM EXTERNAL MEASUREMENTS

By G. NUGENT

ABSTRACT Six body measurements were taken from 283 adult and subadult Black-backed Gulls (Larus dominicanus) in Auckland, New Zealand. Sex was determined in 158 of these by dissection or chromosomal methods. Using measurements from these 158 birds a classification function was derived and used to assign sexes to the remaining 125 gulls. Discriminant analyses were then made on the measurements from all 283 birds to describe the sexual size dimorphism accurately and to derive a simple classi- fication function for the routine sexing of birds in the field. 1NTRODUCTION Gulls are typically monomorphic in plumage patterns and external genitalia, but are sexually dimorphic in body size (e.g. L. argentafus, L. fuscus, Harris & Hope-Jones 1969; L. glaucescens, L. hyperboreus, Ingolfsson 1969; L. dominicanus, Kinsky 1963). A number of workers (Mills 1971 for L. novaehollandiae; Shugart 1977 for L. delawarensis; Ryder 1978 for L. argenfatus; Threlfall & Jewer 1978 for L. argentatus) have been able to predict sex correctly in a high percentage (i.e. >95%) of cases by using two or more measurements in a classification function. Such a function is derived from a discriminant analysis of measurement data, the analytical theory and tests for statistical significance being described by Nie et al. 1975. In this study, discriminant analyses were used to describe the sexual size dimorphism of the Southern Black-backed Gull (L. domini- canus) and give a classification function for routine sexing of this species using two external measurements. METHODS A sample of 283 Black-backed Gulls over 1 year of age was obtained between 15 February and 24 June 1980 from three sites in the Auckland metropolitan area. Potential sampling biases in the sex and size of the birds were minimised by using an unbaited cannon-net on flocks of resting gulls at or near high tide and after 11.00 a.m., when feeding activity was generally low. Six body measurements were taken from each bird: head length, gape, and bill depth (as in Fig. 1) measured to the nearest 0.1 mm; wing chord to the nearest 0.5 cm; tarsus length to the nearest 0.1 mm; and body weight to the nearest 10 g as in Baldwyn et al. (1931). 38 NUGENT NOTORNIS 29

Thirty-one birds killed for gut analysis were sexed by dissection. A further 127 birds were sexed by chromosomal analysis of growing feather tissue (see Nugent 1981). Preliminary data confirmed that male and female size distributions did not overlap at the extremes of the size range. Very large and very small birds could therefore be assumed to be male and female respectively. The time-consuming and expensive chromosomal sexing was therefore carried out on all birds within the overlap region of male and female size distributions, but only on one-third of those at the extremes. All these latter birds were proven to be of the assumed sex. A classification function derived from the measurements of the " known sex " birds correctly predicted sex for 98.7% of the 158 such birds. The so-far unsexed birds were then assigned a sex using this preliminary function. As these " assigned sex " birds were in the main those at the extremes of the size range, no more than 1% of them are likely to have been incorrectly sexed. To describe the sexual dimorphism of this species accurately required that the data from " known " and " assigned-sex " birds be pooled. This data was sub- jected to discriminant analysis to distinguish the most dimorphic measurements. A classification function using two measurements was then derived for routine field use. All analyses were carried out using the sub-program " Discriminant " in SPSS (Nie et a[. 1975). RESULTS The overall difference in body size between male and female Black-backed Gulls is highly significant (6-measurement discriminant analysis, Wilks lambda = 0.1568, Chi square = 537, df = 6, <0.001). The mean for each sex, the standardised discriminant function co- efficient, and a univariate F ratio (one-way analysis of variance) are

Head length (mrn) r -- 1

FIGURE 1 - The three head measurements taken from Black-backed Gulls 1982 SEXING BLACK-BACKED GULLS 39

TABLE 1 - The relative sexual dimor~hism in body measurements of

-

bleasurement mean + one 1 stnndal error SDFC F ratio f=16281 MALE FENA LE

Hcad length (mm) 120.91 f_ 0.20 110.79 + 0.19 -0.461 1164***

Bill depth (mm) 18.93 + 0.05 17.03 2 0.05 -0.261 6OO** *

Body ~t.(gm) 96S.O s 4.5 792.0 + 4.5 -0.248 833***

Gape (mm) 76.36 + 0.18 69.61 2 0.20 -0,057 586***

Ning (a) 41.87 + 0.08 39.64 r 0.08 -0.027 303***

Tarsus (mm) 67.22 + 0.16 62.56 5 0.16 -0,021 373***

N 137 146

SDFC = Standardised discriminant function coefficient. The measurements i

DISCUSSION The sexual size dimorphism of Black-backed Gulls is greatest in the head and bill measurements. These can be easily and accurately 40 NUGENT NOTORNIS 29 measured with vernier calipers, and the function above can then be used to assign sex with nearly 99% accuracy. The function can be easily used in the field with the aid of a pocket calculator, enabling a captured bird to be sexed before being banded and released. As growth in most body parts is largely completed by 4-6 months of age (Nugent 1981), the function can be used to sex all birds older than 6 months of age. There may be regional differences in mean size of gull populations in New Zealand (Kinsky 1963). Therefore, the accuracy of the classi- fication function may differ between populations and would have to be tested in each population with a small sample of known-sex birds. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This work was carried out during a Masters study at Auckland University. I am grateful to P. F. Jenkins and B. McArdle for assistance and supervision in data collection and analysis, and also to C. Challies and G. Hickling for critically reading the manuscript.

LITERATURE CITED BALDWYN, S. P.; OBERHOLSER, H. C.; :JORLEY, L. C. 1931. Measurements of birds. Sci. Publ. Cleveland Mus. Nat. Hist. 2: 1s pp. HARRIS, M. P.; HOPE-JONES, P. 1969. Sex~~aldifferences in the measurements of Herring and Lesser Black-backed Gulls. British Birds 62 (4): 129-133. INGOLFSSON, A. 1969. Sexual dimorphism of large gulls (Larus spp.) Auk 86: 732-737. KINSKY, F. C 1963. The Southerr Black-backed Gull (Larus dominicanus) Lichtenstein Rec. Dom. Mus. 4 (14): 149-219. MILLS, J. A. 1971. Sexing Red-billed Gulls from stardard measurements. NZ J. Marine Fresh. Res. 5: 326-8. NIE, N. H.; BENT, D. H.; HULL, C. H. 1977. SPSS Statistical package for social scientists. New York: McGraw-Hill. NUGENT, G. 1981. Chromosomal sexing and sexual dimorphism in a monogamous bird. MSc thesis (Unpubl.), Aucklind Univers~ty. RYDER, J. P. 1975. Sexing King-billed Gulls externally. Bird Banding 49 (3): 218-222. SHUGART, G. W. 1977. A method of exlernaliy sexing gulls. Bird Banding 48 (2): 188-121. THRELFALL, W.; JEWER, D. D. 1978. Notes on rhe standard body measurement of two populations of Herring Gulls. Auk 95: 749.753. G. NUGENT, Forest Resmrch Institute, P.O. Box 31-011, Christchurch, New Zealand.

SHORT NOTE FAR-INLAND SIGHTING OF WELCOME SWALLOW On 15 November 1981, while conducting a survey of the Kyeburn Riverbed, east of Ranfurly, Central Otago, my wife and I saw three Welcome Swallows (Hirundo tahitica neoxena) flying over the river, occasionally soaring to great heights (out of sight to the naked eye) and then descending close to the water again; they were not seen to land. There were no structures suitable for nesting in the immediate vicinity. (Grid Ref: 393367, NZMS 18, Sheet 23.) This is the first sighting for Central Otago, and also the furthest distance from both east and west coasts that this species has been reported. PETER CHILD, 10 Royal Terrace, Alexandru SEABIRDS FOUND DEAD IN NEW ZEALAND IN 1980 By C. R. VEITCH

ABSTRACT During 1980, 2736 km of coast were patrolled by 146 members of the Ornithological Society of New Zealand and their friends. 4351 dead seabirds were found. There were no major wrecks. During one patrol Sooty Shearwaters (Puffinus griseus) were found at a rate of 68.5 per kilometre. Unusual finds were: Eastern Little Tern (Sterna albifrons), Grey Ternlet (Procelsterna cerulea) , Brown Booby (Sula leucogaster), and Yellow-nosed Mollymawk (Diomedea chlororhynchos~. which is also a new record for the Beach Patrol Scheme. INTRODUCTION This paper records the results of the Ornithological Society of New Zealand's Beach Patrol Scheme for 1980. The coastline of New Zealand is divided into 15 sections (Imber & Boeson 1969) with an additional grouping " 01 " for Outlying Islands, which this year includes patrols from the Chatham Islands. This year, patrols were carried out on all sections of coast except Fiordland. 467 Beach Patrol Cards and 21 Specimen Record Cards were filed. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION The numbers of birds found and kilometres of beach travelled and covered per month and per coast are recorded in Table 1. The total distance travelled (3226 km) is below average for recent years (1970-79 ave 3654 km) and the lowest recorded since the 1973 distance of 2737 km. The total number of birds found (4351) is the lowest since the 1972 total of 4046. The average number of birds found per kilometre of coast covered monthly (1.59) is lower than the previous 20 years' average of 2.49. Kilometres travelled (Table 1) are the total lengths of coast patrolled; kilometres covered are the lengths of coast covered monthly. Hence, if a kilometre of beach is patrolled three times in 1 month, 3 km have been travelled but only 1 km covered per month. Monthly and coastal distribution of the less common birds is given in Table 2 and of the more common birds in Tables 3 and 4. There were no large wrecks this year. In January many juvenile Red-billed Gulls (Larus novaehollandiae) were found on one beach at Kaikoura (CN). Such mortality can be expected at this time of year. TABLE 1 - Numbers of dead seabirds recorded and kilometres patrolled on each coast in 1980. 2, COAST CODE MONTH TOTALS BI?DSIKH JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC KM BIRDS ICCAST

AUCKLANC WEST AW KM 6 1 90 126 211 102 BIRDS 69 84 862 186 38 TARANAKI TA KM 0 4 12 25 18 BIRDS 3 1 11 27 12 vIELLINZTOI'I VEST WW KM 3 6 23 12 2 2 BIRDS 5 0 25 3 44 WESTLAHD WD KM - 9 2 - BIRDS - 0 0 - AUCKLANC EAST AE KM 49 3 7 46 21 3 6 BIRDS 5 1 48 6 9 9 17 aAY OF PLENTY B P KM 2 1 18 1 BIRDS 0 0 30 0 0 EAST COAST NI EC KM - 3 2 2 3 BIRDS 0 0 0 0 I~AIRARAPA WA XM - - - - BIRDS - - - - CANTERaUPY NORTH CN KM 5 7 22 7 BIRDS 2 3 24 1 CANTEREUt7Y SOUTH CS KM 7 6 7 9 7 BIRDS 6 7 57 11 6 OTAGO OT KM 1 - - 1 BIRDS - 1 - 7 SOUTtiLANl! SD KM 12 9 1 7 BIRDS 426 1 1 0 AELLINGTON SOUTH 'A S KM 39 19 9 16 BIRDS 20 12 14 44 NORTH COAST SI NS KM - 8 - BIRDS - 23 OCTLY!NG ISLANDS 0 1 KH - - - 18 - BIRDS - ?i

TOTAL KILOMETRES TRAVELLED 269 207 237 246 279 308 262 395 230 228 207 258 3226 TOTAL KILOMETRES COVERED 260 170 174 188 261 262 235 346 204 223 200 213 2736 TOTAL SEASIRDS RECORDED 373 320 156 579 1072 216 210 339 125 161 359 441 4351 SIRDSlKl! COVERED/MONTH 1.43 1.88 0.90 3.08 4.11 0.82 0.89 0.98 0.61 0.72 1.80 2.07 1.59 NO oatrots were reported from Flordland. 1982 SEABIRDS 1980 43

TABLE 2 - Seabirds of which 1 to 5 specimens were found dead in 1980.

SPECIES OR SUBSPECIES NUMBER COAST(S) MONTHCS) FOUND MeZadvptes antipodes 2 WWtBP. MAY .JUL. Eudyptes ~achvrhvnchos 1 CS. JUL. sclaterl 1 WW. SEP. Diornedea e~orno~hora 2 AW .WS. MARIMAY. rnelano~hrvs 3 AW(3). DEC(3). chlororh~nchos 2 AW(2). MAY vAUG. cauta salvini 1 ws. JAN. Phoebetrla ~alpebrata 4 AW(4). MAYIAUGISEP(~). Fulrnarus elacialoides 5 AW(3)rSDvOI. AUGvOCTtNOV(2)rDEC. Pterodrorna SOP* 3 AW(2) IAE. JANvMARgAUG. pycroftl 2 AEvEC JUNINOV. leuco~tera 1 AW. MAY. Pachvptlla crassirostris 1 WS. AUL;. Procellarla cinerea 1 AW. SEP. westlandlca 3 AM(3). JANIMAY ISEP. aequlnoctialls 3 AW(2) rEC. OCT,NOV,DEC. Puff inus SPP* 5 AW(3),AE,OT. JANIJUNINOV(~). eavialhuttonl 2 ECvCN. AUG I OCT. Garrodla nereis 2 AWvCN. DEC(2). Sula leucoeaster 1 AW. APR. Phalacrocorax SPP* 1 AV . AUG. su~cirostris 3 AW(2)vAE. HAY(2) IJUN. rn. brevlrostrls 1 BP. DEC. Stercorarius skua lonnberel 1 AW. NOV. ~arasiticus 2 AW(2). APRt NOV. Sterna albifrons 1 AW. DEC. fuscata 5 AW(5). JANvMAR(4). Procelsterna cerulea 1 A'W . MAR. TOTAL 60 * Species could not be Identifled by the patroller.

In February and December, higher numbers of Blue Penguins (Eudyptula minor) than normal were found on Auckland East beaches. There is no obvious reason for this. During most of December, there were offshore winds. During April, Sooty Shearwaters (Puffinus griseus) were found during one patrol of 6 km of Oreti Beach (SD) at a rate of 68.5 per kilometre. This is the highest ever recovery rate of dead birds found on New Zealand beaches. Mortality of fledglings may be expected at this time. It appears that a combination of periods of calm weather followed by south-west winds brought large numbers of dead birds to this beach. After this, fewer dead Sooty Shearwaters than normal were found on other beaches, and the total for April and May was about average. The expected November/December wreck of Sooty Shearwaters did occur, but fewer birds than average were found. Other high numbers of birds found may be attributed to patrols on new beaches or, occasionally, to human activity, e.g. in May 39 Spotted Shags (Sticfocarbo punctatus) were found shot on one Canter- bury South beach. (Appropriate law enforcement agencies were notified.) The Gould's Petrel (Pterodroma leucoptera) found at Port Waikato (AW) in May is the eighth specimen of this species to be TABLE 3 - Coastal distribution of the more common seabirds found dead in 1980. P P SPECIES OR COAST TOTAL SUBSPECIES AW TI WW WD AE BP EC WA CN CS OT SIRDS

Eudvotula mlnor subs^^* 203 14 alboslenata - - Dlonedea SOP* 5 1 exu lans 3 1 chrrsostoma 12 - bullerl 6 - cauta SU~SPP* 11 - cauta 15 1 Macronectes SPP* 23 2 Daotion capenre 9 2 Pterodroma macro~tera 17 2 lesson11 35 2 ~nex~ectata 26 - brevlrostrls 18 2 cook11 5 - nlerl~ennls 6 - Halobaena caerulea 17 3 Pachr~tllaSDP* 41 6 vlttata 6 - salvlnl 10 - desolata 12 - belcherl 35 - turtur 125 5 Procellarla ~ark~nsonl - - Puffinus carnei~es 7 - buIIer1 78 7

TOTALS 2076 96 225 2 658 117 8 7 220 149 29

*SPeCles Or subsoecles could not be identifled by the Patroller. TABLE 4 - Monthly distribution of the more common seabirds found dead in

SPECIES OR MONTH TOTAL SUBSPECIES JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC BIRDS te Eudvutula mlnor SU~SDP* 14 12i 499 alborlenata Dlomedea sp~r PXU l an5 ChrYSOStoma buIIer1 cauta SU~SDL* cauta Macronectes sppf DaPtlOn ca~ense Pterodroma nacro~tera lessonll IneXDectata brevlrostrlr Cook11 nlerlDennls Halobaena caerulea Pachvutlla ~DD* vlttata salvlnl desolata belcherr turtur Procellarla oarklnsonl

Belecanoldes urlnatrlx - 1 Sula bassana 13 14 IPhalacrocorax carbo - - varlus 1 1 ILeUCocarbo chalconot~s - 1 itlctocarbo Dunctatus 5 4 iarus domlnlcanus 12 13 n. SCDDU 1inus 17 9 bullerl - 1 m~dro~roeneCIS PI^ 4 - Sterna strlata 6 3

TOTALS 368 320 149 577 * Spocles or SUbSPeCles could not be ldentlfled br the Patroller. recorded in the Beach Patrol Scheme. Previous records are: 1946, AW, 1; 1961, WW, 1; 1970, AW, 1; 1971, AW, 1, AE, 1; 1973, AW, 1; and 1975, AW, 1. Third and fourth specimens were found of Eastern Little Tern (Sterna albifrons) and Grey Ternlet (Procelsterna cerulea) respectively. However, in relation to the numbers of these species known to be near our coasts, such finds should be expected. The Brown Booby (Sula leucogaster) found on Muriwai Beach (AW) in April is the second one recorded by the Beach Patrol Scheme. The previous record was from Te Werahi Beach (AE) in January 1971. The two specimens of Yellow-nosed Mollymawk (Diomedea chlororhynchos), one found on the Awhitu Peninsula (AW) in May and the other on Ninety Mile Beach (AW) in August, are new records for the Beach Patrol Scheme. This species is occasionally seen at sea about northern New Zealand (Falla 1979) and one was found on Muriwai Beach about 1930 (Oliver 1930). Miscellaneous birds recorded, but not considered to be seabirds, totalled 173. These were: 29 Magpies, 22 Rock Pigeons, 17 Mallard Ducks, 14 Black Swans, 12 Blackbirds, 11 Variable Oystercatchers, eight Song Thrushes, seven Grey Ducks and Starlings, six South Island Pied Oystercatchers, five Harriers, four Mynas, three Pukeko, two each of White-faced Herons, Reef Herons, Domestic Geese, Pied Stilts, Pheasants, Tuis and Greenfinches, and one each of Cattle Egret, North Island Weka, Kaka, Shining Cuckoo, Long-tailed Cuckoo, Morepork, Little Owl, Spine-tailed Swift, Skylark, Hedge-sparrow, Silvereye, Cirl Bunting, Chaffinch and Goldfinch.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The success of the Beach Patrol Scheme in 1980 is due to the people listed below. who are known to have taken part, and all others who took part but whose names were not entered on the cards. J. Ackley, B. R. Armstrong, Auckland team, H. Ayers, J. Ballan- tyne, M. Barlow, M. Barnes, D. J. Bettesworth, D. Bettridge, K. Bond, D. F. Booth, D. Brannigan, K. Brash, K. Butler, D. Brathwaite, B. A. Calder, W. & J. Campbell, W. Cash, J. Charteris, C. & N. G. Cheshire, J. Cockrem, R. M. & S. Cotter, P. Cozens, S. & B. Creswell, D. & R. Crockett, P. Crombie, L. Davies, G. S. Dumbell, H. Eagles, G. Eller, B. Elliott, R. P. Featherston, J. F. M. & J. S. Fennel, M. Field, C. A. Fleming, P. Fooks, M. Friedlander, R. Froggatt, E. Frisby, R. B. Goffin, D. Goodale, A. & A. Gordon, E. & D. Graham, S. Grant, R. Grayden, E. Grundy, A. Habraken, H. Hagen, M. Hansby, B., E.. R. & T. Harlow, M. Harrison, B. Hartley, T. Hatch, J. Hawken, N. R. Hellyer, V. Hensley, J. Hilliard, R. Hoare, R. Holdaway, P. Horn, D. C. Horne, R. Howarth, L. & A. V. Howell, M. J. Imber, J. R. Jackson, S. Jenkins, A. B. Jones, E. J. Jones, M. Kearns, P. Kearton, R. E. Lambert, M. Lane, D. A. Lawrie, B. & M. Lindsay, F. McCormick, 1982 SEABIRDS 1980 47

A. MacDonald, F. Malcolm, M. Marchant, R. Mayhill, D. G. & J. C. Medway, P. & K. Miller, C. Miskelly, J. Morrison, C. & H. O'Donnell, R. Odgers, K. Parkinson, R. & S. Parrish, C. Pinkney, S. Pitt, B. & A. Poultan, R. G. Powlesland, M. Quinn, S. Reed, B. & M. Ringer, A. Roberts, B. Robinson, N. Rothwell, P. M. Sagar, C. Schischka, B. Searle, M. D. Seccombe, D. Shand, L. Silcock, D. Sim, N. Skitt, R. S. Slack, I. Southey, J. E. Squire, D. Stanley, B. Stephens, G. Strachan, R. R. Sutton, M. K. Tarburton, K. V. Todd, T. & R. Thomas, B. Trott, C. R. Veitch, M. E. Wallis, D. Walter, N. J. Ward, C. & D. Watkins, R. W. Wheeler, P. Winter, T. H. Worthy, A. Young. E & OE 1 am also personally indebted to B. D. Bell, R. G. Powlesland and R. B. Sibson for their helpful comments during the preparation of this paper. LITERATURE CITED FALLA, R. A. 1979. In Falla, R. A,; Sibson, R. 6.; Turbott, E. G. 1979. A new guide to the birds of New Zealand. Collins. IMBER, M. J.; BOESON, 8. W. 1969. Seabirds found dead in New Zealand in 1964. Notornis 16: 50-56. OLIVER, W. R. B. 1930. New Zealand birds. Wellington: Fine Arts (NZ) Ltd. C. R. VEITCH, Wildlife Service, Departnzent of Internal Aflairs, P.O. Box 2220, Auckland * SHORT NOTE ARCTIC TERN IN MANUKAU HARBOUR On the afternoon of 26 November 1980, Beth Brown, R. N. Thomas, A. Habraken and I met at Mangere beside No. 4 pond, Auckland Metropolitan Drainage Board, where three days before RNT had reported the sighting of a Common Sandpiper (Tringa hypoleucos). The day was very blustery and near full tide strong squalls were carrying spray over the Onehunga-Mangere bridge. In the lee of Puketutu Island 4 or 5 White-fronted Terns (Sterna striafa) were fishing a channel which they commonly use in such westerly weather. Among them and sometimes harassed by them was a slightly smaller tern, showing greyish back and upper wing surface and a near-white rump and tail, deeply forked. It was a typical Sterna, not a tern of the Chlidonias persuasion. The stranger was taking a buffeting and tried to avoid the wind by settling among the scoria on the sea-wall road, where RNT was able to back the car within 10 m of it. Some obvious features which we noticed at once were: bill black; crown and cap blackish brown at first glance, but moult starting and grey streaks beginning to appear; some breast feathers were dark with wet but lightened as they dried; for a while there seemed to be a white band almost round the lower neck contrasting with the grey of the nape and the mantle; legs coral red and very short; underparts and underwing white, not grey; wings long, slender and angular; 48 SHORT NOTES NOTORNIS 29 primaries, though frayed and worn, extended a little beyond the tail streamers of the resting bird. Among the stones the bird rested uneasily, crouched as low as it could. The gale had clearly come at an inopportune time when the worn state of its primaries was diminishing its mobility and hampering the search for food, especially in competition with larger and fitter White-fronted Terns. We concluded that it was an Arctic Tern (Sterna paradisaea), probably an adult or subadult which had started the moult into winter plumage, since it had such an extensive dark cap. It could hardly have been a bird of the year which had just arrived from far-northern breeding grounds. Records of Arctic Terns ashore in New Zealand during the southern spring are few. Presumably at this season some should be going south. Imber found one wrecked at Foxton Beach after westerly gales in mid-November 1963. There are other Manukau records for autumn or winter, namely four at Huia on 22/3/61 and one dead at Ihumatao on 29/6/68. Similarly, two recent records from the Bay of Plenty belong to May and June. Nor should we overlook the possibility that subadult Arctic Terns may sometimes spend their first or even their second (southern) winter along the New Zealand coast, as many subadult northern waders do. REFERENCES EDGAR, A. T. Notornis 9: 173. FREW, H. Notornis 16: 56. LATHAM, P. C. M. Notornis 26: 63-67. LATHAM, P. C. M. Nolornis 28: 213-214 R. B. SIBSON, 26 Entrican Avenue, Auckland 5

REEF HERON ON NELSON HAVEN At the top of Nelson Haven on 21 October in the late afternoon 1 noticed an unfamiliar bird flying fairly high to the north. Its neck was fully extended and looked very long. It was having difficulty making headway against the strong northerly and was finally forced to land on the tidal flats near Sewerside Drive. I then had a close-up view and saw that it was a Reef Heron (Egretta sacra). Two (resident?) White-faced Herons (Ardea novaelzol- landiae) immediately began swooping low over the Reef Heron which, after repeatedly ducking its head, flew several hundred metres down the Haven. The White-faced Herons followed and continued swooping but could not move the Reef Heron any further. They finally took up position a short distance away, and at dusk the three birds were still there. This is only the second sighting of Reef Heron in Nelson Haven that 1 am aware of. J. M. HAWKINS, 772 Atawhai Drive, Nelson CLASSIFIED SUMMARISED NOTES 30 June 1980 to 30 June 1981 Compiled by D F. BOOTH Contribrrtors B. R. Armstrong, A. Baikie, D. G. Baker, M. Barlow, D. Bettes- worth, A. Blackburn, D. F. Booth, B. Brown, K. W. L. Buchanan, B. J. Burch, J. M. Clark, R. Cometti, L. Conyngham, W. J. Cooper, M. Craven, T. C. Crocker, L. J. Davies, R. Dickson, P. Dorman, J. Driessen, G. Eller, B. Elliott, C. Exley, J. Ferrell, K. J. Fisher, C. A. Fleming, M. A. Fleming, K. I. C. Fletcher, G. A. Foreman, R. French, R. Fyfe, D. Garrick, R Giblin, B. Gofin, A. J. Goodwin, A. H. Gordon, A. Habraken, T. R. Harty, T. Hatch, B. Hawkins, J. M. Hawkins, R. Hawthorne, B. D. Heather, B. R. Henley, V. H. Hensley, R. Howell, W. M. Hutton, J. G. Innes, R. W. Jackson, P. J. Jenkins, P. V. J. Jenkins, B. Johnson, S. Johnson, C. Jowett, M. P. K. Kearns, E. J. Keeble, B. R. Keeley, R. E. Lambert, P. C. M. Latham, D. A. Lawrie, 0. J. Linscott, J. Lloyd, T. G. Lovegrove, J. Marshall, C. Medway, D. G. Medway, P. Millener, P. Miller, C. Miskelly, G. J. H. Moon, J. Moore, M. Moore, I<. Morrison, J. V. Morrison, A. Munn, A. Mac- donald, P. McLean, D. McVicar, H. Newton, D. J. Onley, K. L. Owen, M. Penwarden, G. M. H. Peterson, S. Pitt, E. Power, R. G. Powlesland, S. Rannels, G. Rawson, S. M. Reed, N. Rothwell, P. M. Sagar, C. Saxby, B. Searle, B. H. Seddon, J. H. Seddon, R. B. Sibson, L. Silcock, J. F. Skinner, M. C. Smale, I. Southey, S. C. Sparrow, J. E. Staniland, B. Stephens, R. R. Sutton, F. J. Taylor, G. A. Taylor, M. J. Taylor, T. B. S. Taylor, T. J. Taylor, R. N. Thomas, K. V. Todd, J. Trollope, D. M. Walter, N. Ward, J. Watt, R. M. Weston, R. W. Wheeler, R. F. White, J. P. Whittle, M. A. Williams, J. W. Wootton. E&OE Abbreviations: BOP - Bay of Plenty; est. - estuary; FP - Forest Park; FoT - Firth of Thames; NP - National Park; 0.p. - oxidation ponds; pen. - peninsula; RP - Regional Park; SF - State Forest; SP - sewage ponds. BROWN KIWI Apteryx australis NI : Tangiteroria, 21 1 numerous and calling (TGL) . Waitakere Valley, Auckland, 24 from Northland released into F&B Matuku Reserve between Dec 1980 and Mar 1981 (JES, MJT) . Mangorewal Otanewainuku region, north Rotorua, Ian, Feb, May 1981, c.100 heard or reported on survey (GAT). Waikaremoana (NE) Urewera NP, several heard during Dec 1979 (GAT). Eltham Borough, 1 seen Aug 1980 and captured; later released at suitable locality (RWW). SI: Precipice Cove, Bradshaw Sound, male calling 2811 (KM). Shark Cove, Dusky Sound, male calling 3/2 (KM). Stewart 1.: Mason Bay, seen Aug 1980 in daytime (GAT). 50 CLASSIFIED SUMMARISED NOTES NOTORNIS 29

GREAT SPOTTED KIWI A. haastii Scott Creek, Punakaiki, 1 on 11/11 (PMS). YELLOW-EYED PENGUIN Megadyptes antipodes Kakanui River Mouth, Otago, 1 on 2915 (SR). Papanui Beach, Otago pen, 6 on 2113 - moulting (SR). BLUE PENGUIN Eudyptula minor Access Bay, FoT, 1 on 4/12 (BB). Stephens Bay, Nelson, 3 on 1214 in crevice (BE). WHITE-FLIPPERED PENGUIN E. minor albosignata Kaikoura pen., 1 corpse on 25/12 (BE). FIORDLAND CRESTED PENGUIN Eudyptes pachyrhynchus Kahutara River Mouth, Kaikoura, 1 corpse on 2517, now at Cant. Mus. (BE). The Pines Beach, Kaiapoi, 1 on 2313 moulting and in poor condition (IF). Hall ArmISecretary Island, Fiordland, 36 at sea (DGM). CRESTED GREBE Podiceps cristatus Lake Rotoroa, Kaikoura, 4 on 23/10 (BE). Lake Brunner, 1 on 1916 (DJO). Lake Ianthe, South Westland, 1 on 16/9/79 (NW). Lake Mapourika, 2 on 3013 (SR). Lower Waiau River, Lake Mana- pouri, 1 on 2818 (WJC) . NEW ZEALAND DABCHICK P. rufopectus Waiwera Acclimatisation Lake, 3 on 612 (TGL). Hardcastle Lagoon, Reporoa, 1 on 215 (RMW). Lake Rotomahana, 22 on 8/7/79 in one bay (GAT). Tokaanu Wharf, Lake Taupo, 6 on 2613 (GMHP) . Ahuriri, 14 on 2717 (KVT). Kautuku Swamp, Hawkes Bay, 5/12, pair with two young chicks (KVT). Manawatu coastal lakes, 2017, 6 at Foxton Lake (No. 4), 10 at Foxton Lake (No. 3), 5 at Foxton Lake (No. 1) on 2116 (LID). Rangitikei coastal lakes, 1917, 8 at Lake Koitiata, 9 at Lake Heaton (LJD). Waikanae SP, 1-2, 29/3/80; 18, 514; 15, 2014; 14, 1217; 13, 2517; down to 0, 2318; 3118. 1, 25/12, 31/12; 9, 1/2/81; 8, 612; building up to 34, 2713 and 33, 3/5/81 (CAF). Waimeha Lagoon, Waikanae, resident pair throughout year, displaying after completing moult on 20/4/80; third bird on 1718, 1 only 1819, but 2 on 5 and 8/10. Not seen 9/11. 1 on 30111; 13/12, looking haggard; 2 adults with downy chick 25 and 31/12 (estimated 2 weeks old); surviving and healthy 7/2/81. Single adult wintered (CAF) . HOARY-HEADED GREBE P. poliocephalus Bromley SP, Christchurch, 1 on 2818 (PMS). AUSTRALIAN LITTLE GREBE Tachybaptus novaehollandiae Lake Rotoiti, Kaikoura, 2 on 619 (BE). St. Anne's Lagoon, 2 on 2719 in full breeding plumage (PMS); 2 on 28/10 (BRA). BLACK-BROWED MOLLYMAWK Diomedea melanophrys Hen and Chickens Islands, north of Chickens, 1 adult and 1 immature on 2015 (CM, TGL). Coppermine Island, 1 adult and 1 iuv on 2015 (TGL). Little Barrier, 1 on 1217 off to north-east (TGL). Coromandel, off Happy Jack, 1 iuv on 2719 (LJD). Maketu, 1 on 1982 CLASSIFIED SUMMARISED NOTES 5 1

25/5 found alive and released 2 days later (AM). Admiralty Bay, 1 on 2/4 (JMH). YELLOW-NOSED MOLLYMAWK D. chlororhynchos Northern waters, now most numerous mollymawk between May and October (TGL) . Bream Bay, 15 on 15/10 (CM, TGL) , 11 on 2015 (TGL). Mayor Island waters, up to 5 present 12/7-10/8 (PCML). Tasman Bay, 26/10, 12-14 miles from land, 1 iuv (BH) . 1-4/11, 1 iuv; Apr 1981, 1 adult, 3 juv (JMH). Admiralty Bay, Apr 1981, 1 juv, 1 adult (JMH). BULLER'S MOLLYMAWK D. bulleri Tasman Bay, 1 or 2 frequently seen (JMH). Pitt, Mangere and South East Islands, odd birds Oct-Dec 1980 (TGL). SHY MOLLYMAWK D. cauta cauta Busby Head, Marsden Point, 1 on 5/10 (TGL). Bream Bay, 1 subadult on 5/10 (CM, TGL) . Coppermine Island, 1 juv on 2015 (TGL). Foxton Beach, 1 on 2719 passing north (JM, MM). Tasman Bay, up to 20 during Apr, May, June (JMH). GIANT PETREL Macronectes halli Cape Egmont, 1 dead on 2017 - banded on 24/2/80 at Bird Island, South Georgia, 11 325 km from where found (DGM). CAPE PIGEON flaption capense Takatu-Little Barrier, 1 on 2917 (TGL). Tasman Bay, seen up to Nov 1980 and again 20-2314 (JMH). Kaikoura, 30-40 on 2719 on sea iust off wharf; feeding on organisms attracted by light and on small fish (PMS) ; 200 on 2016, 2916 (BE). GREY-FACED PETREL Pterodroma macroptera South Head, Hokianga Harbour, 2 burrows each with egg laid between 22 and 3016. Up to 11 seen calling overhead on dark evenings from end April to end June (DB). Urenui, North Taranaki, 1 landed at 7.30 p.m. at small mainland colony (DGM, REL, RWW). KERGUELEN PETREL P. brevirostris Waikanae Beach, 1 fresh corpse on 1217 (CAF) . KERMADEC PETREL P. neglecta Cuvier Island, dark-phase bird has continued its summer visiting, but not seen after 15/1 (TGL) . COOK'S PETREL P. cookiz Northern Chickens Islands, 2 on 4/10 (CM, TGL). BLACK-WINGED PETREL P. nigripennis Cape Maria Van Diemen, 30 on 2411, killed by cats (CM). Hokianga Harbour entrance, on 213 80, pair calling, chasing over sea and nearby steep hill (DB). The Pinnacles, south of Poor Knights, 6 on 14/2 (TGL). Cuvier Island, 4 on 2011 off landing (TGL). Little Barrier, 1 on 1113, 3 miles off north-western corner (TGL). Te Arai Bluff, recent remains of one bird on 5/12 (RBS). South East Island, Chathams, 26/1, many seen and heard coming in to summit and along West Coast Track to Skua Gully at night (BHS, JHS). 52 CLASSIFIED SUMMARISED NOTES NOTORNIS 29

CHATHAM ISLAND PETREL P. axillark South East Island, Chathams, 2711, 1 in burrow with egg (BHS, JHS). Only 2 seen during 3 weeks' stay late Nov-Dec 1980 (TGL) . BROAD-BILLED PRlON Pachyptila vittata South East Island, Chathams, 1511-27/1, few still coming into burrows (BHS, JHS). FAIRY PRlON P. turtur Mangere Island, some thousands nesting on slopes near hut, Oct-Nov 1980. Often taken by skuas (TGL). BLACK PETREL Procellaria parkinsoni Little Barrier, I fully fledged late July 1980 about to depart from burrow (TGL). Back Beach, New Plymouth, 1 on 1815 found alive but later died (REL). WESTLAND BLACK PETREL P. westlandica Tasman Bay, 20 on 411 1 (JMH). FLESH-FOOTED SHEARWATER Puffinus carneipes Tutukaka, 1914, common offshore (TGL) . Bream Bay, 15 on 4 and 5/10 (CM, TGL). BULLER'S SHEARWATER P. bulleri Northland east coast, numerous offshore from early Oct (TGL). Piercy Rock, Northland, 7/12, thousands on calm sea (RBS). Off Waiheke Island, 50+ on 1413 (BB, JD). SOOTY SHEARWATER P. griseus Busby Head, Northland, 5/10, numerous (TGL) . Bream Bay, 20 on 5/10 (CM, TGL). Little Mangere Island, large numbers arriving at dusk, mid-Oct 1980 (TGL). FLUTTERING SHEARWATER P. gavia Cape Brett, 7/12, hundreds (RBS). Bream Head, 2813, 500 offshore (TGL). Off Waiheke Island, 500+ on 1413 (BB, JD). HUTTON'S SHEARWATER P. huttoni Kowhai River (south branch), Seaward Kaikoura Mountains, 8 and 9/1 at 4800 feet, 100 banded; numerous (LJD). LITTLE SHEARWATER P. assimilis Chicken Islands, 2015, numerous offshore to the north (TGL) . GREY-BACKED STORM PETREL Garrodia nereis Rabbit Island, Chathams, good population (TGL). South East Island, Chathams, 1911-2711, moderate numbers coming in to burrows at night (JHS, BHS). Deep Cove, Doubtful Sound, 2 caught on 2918 (WJC). WHITE-FACED STORM PETREL Pelugodroma marina Bream Head-Pinnacles (south of Poor Knights), few on 2813 (TGL). Motuakino Island, Coromandel, ZOO+ on 25/10, much calling and burrow cleaning (CM). Foxton Beach, 2 on 21/12 passing north close to shore during rough weather (TM, MM). South East Island, 1982 CLASSIFIED SUMMARISED NOTES 53

Chathams, 19/1-2711, coming in at night in large numbers to burrows on forest floor (JHS, BHS) . DIVING PETREL Pelecanoides urinatrix chathamensis South East Island, Chathams, 1911-2711, half-fledged chick in nest (JHS, BHS) . AUSTRALASIAN GANNET Sula bussana serrator Cuvier Island, Ian 1981, several rocks used as roosts (TGL). The Stack, Muriwai, 200 on 1511 ; plateau has reached saturation (RBS) . Horuhoru Island, Hauraki Gulf, 75 pairs and 50 immatures, mainly well grown to grey speckled stage on 1413 (BB, JD). Kaiaua, FoT, c.10 on 27/11 feeding in smooth water close inshore; windy and rough further out; unusual record for this area (BB, DGB, RBS). Kaikoura pen, 1 on 916 at seal colony (BRA). BLACK SHAG Phalacrocorax carbo Miranda, 137 on 2814 (AJG, AH, BB). Papakura Dam, Hunua Gorge, on 1918, 20 adults, 10 chicks on 7 nests (ID). Tuakau, on 917, colony of at least 88 in kahikateas, chicks being fed feral goldfish from Waikato R. (BB, DGB, AH). Hardcastle Lagoon, Reporoa, 20 on 215 (RMW). Wairau River, Kaituna, 23 on 615 (RF). Tuki Tuki River est., 70 on 1814 (KVT). Waikanae est., 1-13 between 22/3/80 and 31/1/80, maximum in Oct, 13 (CAF) . Waikanae SP, 1-14 with highest counts Oct-Dec; 16 on 815 included crested adults with filoplumes and yellow gape (CAF). Washdyke Lagoon, 27 on 2514 (PMS). Christ- church SP, 52 on 1312 (BRA). PIED SHAG P. varius Manukau census, 233 on 2311 1. Hingaia colony, South Manukau on 10/8 had 91 birds. bl nests; ch~ckswere heard. Colony in gum- trees but 2 nests had pine needles instead of gum leaves (BB). Karaka, 55 on 1715 (BB). Port Ohope Spit, 12 on 26/10 (RMW). Kaituna R., BOP, 20 pairs on 3115 nesting, most with well-grown young (new colony) (PCML). Christchurch SP. 6 on 2013 (BRA). LlTTLE BLACK SHAG P. sulcirostris Omapere, on 1317, 11, only birds seen in area for 3 years (DB) . Shoal Bay, Devonport, 50 on 217 (NR). Otakawhe Bay, Waiheke, 90 on 2517 (BS). Te Matuka Bay, Waiheke, 110 on 2817 (BS). FoT, 47 on 14/12, 27 on 716 (BB). Waikato R., Huntly, 60 on 1215 on stranded tree (RBS) . Hardcastle Lagoon, Reporoa, 20 on 215 (RMW) . Otumoetai Beach, 210 on 2416 (KICF). Maketu Lagoon, 24 on 21/6 roosting on posts (PCML). Tarawera River, 40 on 414 (PCML). Rangitaiki River, 120 on 616 (PCML). Ahuriri, 70 on 713 (KVT). Foxton Beach, up to 5 in May and June on est. (JM, MM). Manawatu est., 15 on 1015 (LJD). Waikanae est., 16 on 915 (CAF) . Waikanae SP, 14 on 3118 and again in May 1981 (CAF). Wellington Harbour, up to 20 in luly-Sept (JM, MM). LITTLE SHAG P. r,nelanoleucos brevirostris Far North dune lakes survey, 156 on 3111 (MPK). Opononi/ Ornapere, commonest shag in winter but only juveniles from Oct to Mar (DB). Hobson Bay, Auckland, colony of c.50 pairs. Nesting birds from Aug 1980 to Mar 1981 (MJT). Thames coast, 31 on 21/8 (IS). 54 CLASSIFIED SUMMARISED NOTES NOTORNIS 29

Kawakawa Bay, Lake Taupo, on 513, 4 nests (2 occupied) under cliff overhang on fallen tree (TBST). Te Awanga, 23 on 1619 (KVT). Waikanae est., 1-6 with most in Apr and July 1980, 12 in May 1981 (CAF). Waikanae SP, 1-9 usually to be seen (CAF). Kaikoura pen., 16 on 216 (BE). Christchurch SP, 41 on 1312 (BRA). KING SHAG Leucocarbo carunculatus carunculatus Kapowai Bay, D'Urville Island, 1 on 219 (RGP). CHATHAM ISLAND SHAG L. carunculatus onslowi Rabbit Island. Chathams, incubating in first 10 days of Nov 1980, c.60 nests. 140 birds have been counted (TGL). SPOTTED SHAG Stictocarbo punctatus punctatus Shag Rocks, off Waiheke, 2000+ on 1413, many immatures (BB) . Kaiaua, FoT, 180 on 27/11 fishing very close inshore in sheltered water (BB, DGB, RBS) . Whakatiwai, FoT, 150 on 1/ 12 (AH). Thames coast, 123 on 1618 (IS). Wilson's Bay, Thames, c.730 on 17/10 (AJG). Black Reef, Napier, 3 on 515 (KVT). Bell Block Beach, Taranaki, 1 on 2011 (DGM). Waikanae est., 6 on 4/4/80 in nuptial plumage; 6 on 8/5/80 (CAF). Tumbledown Bay, Banks Peninsula, 67 on 2019, 31 nests with new nesting material (PMS). PlTT ISLAND SHAG S. punctatus featherstoni South East Island, Chathams, 1911-2711, numerous. 30 juveniles, most still being fed by adults (JHS, BHS) . Mangere and Rabbit Islands, Chathams, incubating Oct-Nov 1980. 20 pairs on Rabbit I. on cliff edges (TGL). WHITE-FACED HERON Ardea novuehollandiae Karaka, 1 with white extending well down neck frequents area (BB). Hardcastle Lagoon, Reporoa, 10 on 215 (RMW). Muriwai Lagoon, Gisborne, 50 on 213 (BRK). Waikanae SP, 1-2 autumn and winter 1980, 4 on 14/12, 16 on 25/12, 23 on 30 and 31/12, 31 on 1/2, 25 on 612 (CAF). Hokitika River mouth, 11 on 16/3/80 (NW). Christchurch SP, 10 on 1313 (BRA). Lake Ellesmere, 8 on 3015 seen to catch eels (PMS). Chatham Island, 50 on 1411 at Lagoon Mouth (JHS, BHS). South East Island. Chathams, 2111, nest under rock on rocky shore, 3 almost fledged chicks (JHS, BHS). Rabbit Island, Chathams, 1 on 211 1 (TGL) . KOTUKU Egretta alba Rangaunu Harbour, Northland, 2 on 2618 (BG). Harania Creek. Umer Manukau. 1 on 2415 (RBS) . Pavakura. 2 on 711 1 (TRH. TH) . ~'a;lukaum arb our (from ~buthern ~otorway),1 on 30111 (TCC). Karaka, 2 on 2216 (BB). Sulphur Springs Bay, Rotorua, 1 on 2716 (RWJ). Tarawera River, 1 on 617, 2 on 2617 (PCML). Manawatu River est., 1 on 1015 (LJD). Whakaki Lagoon, Wairoa, 1 on 2717 (GAF). Matata Lagoon, 1 on 315 (PCML). Foxton, 3 on Manawatu River "loop" Sep-Oct (JM, MM); 1 cn 716 (RGP). Bell Block (Henwood Road), New Plymouth, 1 on 17/11 (REL). Waimea est., Nelson, 2 on 813 (BE). Totara Lagoon, near Westport, 1 or 2 present April-June 1981 (DJO). Charleston, Westport, 1 on 2011 1, 1-2 regularly from 7/3 onwards (DJO) . 1982 CLASSIFIED SUMMARISED NOTES 5 5

LITTLE EGRET E. garzetta Waikato River mouth, 2 on 1015 - M & S Graham (per RBS). Lake Rotomanu, New Plymouth, 3 on 1/9/79, 2 on 16/9/79, 2 on 7/10/79; 2 present until 2/11/79, neck and back plumes noted; not observed again until 20/4/8O when 1 present; 1 on 17/5/80 (RWW, DGM, REL). 1 on 19/10 with plumes (RWW). 1 on 2/11 with no plumes (DGM). 1 on 2014, 1015, 816 (RWW, BS). Westshore, 1 on 3015 (JL). Ahuriri Lagoon, Napier, 1 on 2817 (BRK). Manawatu River est., 1 on 315, 1 on 1917 (JM, MM). Waimea est., Nelson, 3 on 813 (BE). Westport airport, 1 on 1515, 1 on 316 (DJO). Orowaiti est., Westport, 2 on 24/3/80 (NW), 1 on 15/4/80 (DJO). REEF HERON E. sacra Ngunguru est., 2 on 21 and 22/10 (BDH). Urquharts Bay, Whangarei Heads, 2 on 3/10 (TGL). Man O'War, Waiheke, 1 on 16/10 (GMHP). Opoutere, 3 on 311 (PCML). Raglan Harbour, 7 on 2812 - E F Keeble (per BB). Kawhia Harbour, 1 on 719 feeding along receding tideline with White-faced Heron and Cattle Egret (IHS, BHS). Sulphur Point, Tauranga, 3 on 5/10 (JHS. BHS). Mokau River mouth, 1 on 811 (KWW). Ohiwa Harbour, 1 on 2115 (MAW). Tolaga Bay, 1 on 1711 (MAW). Pair nesting on island off southern point (GAF). Westshore, 1 on 3015 (KVT). Tuki Tuki River est., 1 on 715 (KVT). Mokau, 1 on 26/4/80 (RWW). Bell Block Beach, NCW Plymouth, 1 on 2/3/80 (RWW). Omata, New Plymouth, 1 on 619 (REL). Oakura. New Plymouth, 1 on 2811 (DGM). Okato, 1 on 2418, 1 on 29/11 (DGM). Breaker Bay, Wellington, 1 on 10/11/79 (BRA). Motueka Sandspit, 1 on 413 (BE). Riwaka, I on 1214 (BE). Kaiteriteri, 1 on 1215 (BE). Kaikoura, 1 on 12/10, 30111 and 2711 (BE). Rangi Unu Wai, Kaikoura Coast, 2 on 29/12 (BE). Halfmoon Bay, Kaikoura Coast, 1 on 619 (PJ, PVJ). Torrent Bay, 1 on 4/11 (JMH). Anchor Island, Dusky Sound, 1 on 15/11 (DGM). Mason Bay, Stewart Island, 1 on 23/8/79 (GAT). CATTLE EGRET Bubufcus ibis Parakai, 2 on 2514, 16 on 815 (CE). Mangere SP, 1 on 2516 (BB) . Waitakaruru, FoT, 28 on 3 and 718 (BB, DGB, LB, AH, TGL) . Rangiriri, 125 on 2418 (BHS). Rangiriri/Huntly, 1611 1, aerial search - none seen (JHS, BHS). Huntly West, 84 on 2816 (AH). Ohaupo, 3 on 2418 (BHS). Hardcastle Lagoon, Reporoa, 3 on 915 (RMW). Matata, 15 on 616 (PCML). Awamata, Wairoa, 2 during May-June 1981 (BRH). Waitara, northern outskirts, 8 on 11/9/79, 9 on 1619, 12 on 1919, 10 on 31/10/79 (DGM, RWW); 7 on 15/4/80 (RWW). Okau, North Taranaki, 1 on 15/5/80 (REL). Onaero, North Taranaki, 1 on 9/1/80, 6 on 27/4/80 (REL, RWW). Normanby, South Taranaki, 1 on farm for most of winter 1980 but not seen after Nov 1980 (JM). Harbour Board Farm. Napier, 1 on 713 showing buff on breast and back (JL, KVT). Maxwell Wanganui, 3 on 21/8/79 (JMC). Lake Waikato, Wanganui, 12 on 3115 (LC). Foxton, 1 on 716, flew into tree tops (RGP). Fcxton Beach, present at No. 1 lake or Manawatu River est. from July to 29/11 with maximum 67 on the est. on 26/10. Only autumn record, 3 at No. 1 lake on 315 (JM, MM). Otorou (between Foxton and Waiterere) 16 on 315 (JM, MM). Lake Horo- whenua, Levin, 2 on 716 feeding in pasture with cattle (RGP). Grove- town, 32 on 113 (PJ, PVJ). Orowaiti est., Westport, 3 on 2712 (DJO), 56 CLASSIFIED SUMMARISED NOTES NOTORNIS 29

Kaikoura, 3 on 1815 (BRA). Arahura Valley, Westland, 2 on 2/12/79 (NW) . Kokatahi, Westland, 8 on 11/10/79 (NW) . Manapouri, Kepler Farm Block, 2 on 1615 (KM, JVM). BITTERN Botaurus poiciloptilus Far North dune lake survey, I1 on 3111 (MPK) . Whataru Bay, Cape Karikari, 2 larger birds, presumably male, chasing and displaying with 1 smaller bird (female?) on 1011 1 (FJT). Waiotira, 2019, first booming heard for season (TGL). Lake Hakaroa, Huntly, 1 on 2418 feeding at lake edge (JHS, BHS). Matata-Awaiti area, 4 sightings of single birds on 617, 2318, 2913, 315 (PCML). Piako, FoT, 1 on 14/12 (BB). Hardcastle Lagoon, Reporoa, 1 on 215 (RMW). Otautu Bay, Lake Rotoehu, 2 on 2716 (RWJ). Lake Wairarapa (South Access Road), 1 seen on various occasions during Jan 1980 (GAT). Waitangi, Hawkes Bay, I on 813 (ItVT). East Clive, Hawkes Bay, 1 on 19/11 (KVT). Tuki Tuki River est., 1 on 1517 (KVT). Lake Horowhenua, Levin, 1 on 716 (RGP). Ngarara Swamp, Waikanae, 1 on 19/7, 1 on 514 (CAF). Waimeha Lagoon, Waikanae, 1 on 517 (CAF). Cape Foulwind, 1 on 316 (DJO). Upukerora River, Te Anau, 1 on 1917, 2017 (KM, JVM). GLOSSY IBIS Plegadis falcinellus Wairoa, 1 on 713 feeding in stagnant water in roadside drain (BRH). Foxton, 1 cn 12/10 (LJD). Farewell Spit, 3 on 414 at high tide roost with 1 1 Royal Spoonbills (KM, JVM) . ROYAL SPOONBILL Platalea regia Westshore, 2 on 2717 (KVT). Manawatu River est., present July to Sep and Dec to June 1981 with maximum of 24 on 215 (JM, MM). Farewell Spit, 11 on 114 with three Glossy Ibis (KM, JVM). Wairau Bar, 10 on 23/8, 3 with plumes and 3 occupying Pied Shag nests. None on 1319 (PJ, PVJ). Motueka Sandspit, Nelson, 10 on 2817 (KLO). Motueka, 21 during April/May 1981 (BE, JMH). Waimea est., Nelson, 12 on 813 (BE). Christchurch SP, 2 on 18/12, 3 on 8/1,2 on 7/1,21/1, 3011, 1 on 613 (BRA). MUTE SWAN Cygnus olor Lake Poukawa, Hawkes Bay, 4 on 1217 (KVT). BLACK SWAN C. atratus Foxton No. I Lake, 125 with 8 broods of young on 25/10 (JM, MM). Waimeha Lagoon, Waikanae, pair with cygnets 25/7/80; well grown 2819. 3 cygnets or. water but adult again sitting on nest 5/10, hatched by 9/11 (still in nest) but on water with parents 15/11 (CAF) . Lake Heron, 198 on 2617 (PMS) . CANADA GOOSE Branta canadensis Tokaanu wharf, Lake Taupo, 16 on 2513 (GMHP) . Hinemaiaia Lake, Lake Taupo, 2 on 2413 (GMHP). Fitzroy, 27 on 315 (DGM). 35 on 5/5 (AB). Bell Block SP, New Plymouth, 2 on 20/10 (RWW, DGM) . Lake Rotamanu, New Plymouth, 2 on 1611 1 (REL) . Harbour Board Farm marsh, Napier, 23 on 4/10 (MC). Kaikoura, 10 on 2318 (BE). Christchurch SP, 627 on 10/1 (BRA). Lake Heron, 198 on 2617 (PMS). Wairaki oxbow lagoon, Southland, 108 on 2112 (MB). 1982 CLASSIFIED SUMMARISED NOTES 5 7

PARADISE SHELDUCK Tadornn variegata Ahipara, pair on 2618 (BG). Trounson Kauri Park, Northland. pair with 7 ducklings on 2618 (BC). Waiotira, June 1981, 45 on damp pasture (TGL). Darpaville, 1 female and 7 males/immature birds on 2318 (BG) . Clevedon (Balfour Polo Ground), 2 on 1019 (AJG). Karaka, 12 on 2116 (BB) . Paparimu, 2 on 1919 (AJG).Whakatiwai, FoT, 2 pairs on 1015 (AJG). Mangatangi, 24 on 716 (BB). Matata Lagoon, 50 on 315 (PCML). Foxton No. 1 Lake, 9 on 26/1 (LJD). Waikanae est. 4 on 4/4/80 (CAF) . Waikanae SP, 11 on 25/12/80 (CAF) . Waimeha Lagoon, during Mar (TJT). Clarence River Headwaters, Nelson Lakes NP, 6 on 1111 (GR) . St. Arnaud, Westland, 18 on 21/1/80 (NW). Begley Valley, Rainbow SP, 4 on 1211 (GR). Upper Waiau Valley, Canterbury, 6 on 911 (GR) . Chr~stchurchSP, 21 1 on 10/1 (BRA). Wet Jacket Arm, Breaksea Sound, 3 on 1511 1 (DCM) . MALLARD Anus platyrhynchos FoT Census, 61 14 on 716. More than usual in Manukau Harbour e.g. 1800+ at Karaka shellbanks on 2116 (BB). GREY DUCK A. superciliosa Miranda coast and south Manukau, a few pairs seen (BB). Hardcastle Lagoon, Reporoa, 20 on 215 (RMW) . Matata Lagoon, 100+ on 3/5 (PCML). Waikanae SP, 10 on 14/10; 25 on 25/12 (CAF). Upper Wairau River, 8 on 31/12 (PI, PVj). GREY TEAL A. gibberifrons Mangere SP, 100 on 11 /5 (RBS) . Karaka, up to 20 in winter 1980 (BB). Miranda, 25 on 716 (BB). Meremere, 30 on 2816 at Island Block Road bridge (AH). Lake Hakaroa, Huntly, 4 on 2418 (JHS, BHS). Kaituna Cut, BOP, counts of 50-60 on 1711 and 813 (PCML) ; 103 on 512 (GAT). Sulphur Bay, Rotorua, 111 on 415 - winter count (GAT). Muriwai Lagoon, Gisborne, 30 on 1613 (BRK). Harbour Board Farm marsh, Napier, 90 on 3015 (KVT). Waikanae SP, 4 on 12/10 (CAF). Charleston, Westport, 1 on 214 and 9/4 (DJO). Rotoiti, Kaikoura, 4 on 619 (PJ). Hokitika SP, 2 on 7/4/80 (NW). Lake Heron, 4 on 2617 (PMS) . Washdyke Lagoon, 12 on 2414 (PMS) . St Anne's Lagoon, 29 on 6/12 (BRA). Waikouaiti Lagoon, 200+ on 413 (MB). Lake McGregor, 104 on 313 (MB). Lake Te Anau, maxi- mum count during May and June 60 on 116 (KM, JVM) . BROWN TEAL A. chlorotis Whangaparapara, Great Barrier, 3 tiny ducklings seen in harbour (A Forgie per AJG) . NEW ZEALAND SHOVELER A. rhynchotis Mangere SP, 3@ on 1115 (RBS). Karaka, 28 on 1018 (BB). Access Bay, FoT, c.8 on 2514 (TC). Maioro, near Waiuku, 44 on 3115 (BB, AJG, GMHP). Lake Hakaroa, Huntly, 12 on 2418 (JHS, BHS). Taharoa, 13 on 619 (JHS). Hardcastle Lagoon, Reporoa, 400 on 2/5 (RMW). Lake Opouri, Volcanic Plateau, 20 on 4/7/79 (GAT). Muriwai Lagoon, Gisbolne, 36 on 1613 (BRK). Bell Block SP, New Plymouth, 2 on 20110 and 9/11 (RWW). Lake Rotomanu, New Plymouth, 7 on 19/10; 1 on 911 1; 2 on 16/11 (RWW) ; 6 during late Nov 1980 (REL). Ahuriri, 180 on 3118 (KVT). Foxton No. 1 Lake, 26 on 2611 (LJD). Waimeha Lagoon. Waikanae. 90 on 22/3/80 58 CLASSIFIED SUMMARISED NOTES NOTORNIS 29

(CAF). Lake Grassmere, 10 on 619 (PJ). Lake Rotoiti, Kaikoura, 13 on 12/12 (BE). Lake Te Anau, maximum count during May and June - 42 on 2415 (JVM). BLUE DUCK Hymenolaimus malacorhynchos Lake Whakamaru, 1 on 1415 (GAT). Waipakihi River, Kai- manawa FP, 9 on 1615 (GAT). Apiti Stream, Urewera NP, 4 adults and 2 chicks on 1611 1/79 (GAT). Maitai River, Nelson, 1 on 518 and 618 (KLO). Riwaka River, Tasman Bay, 1 on 518 (KLO). Brook River, Nelson, 1 on 515 (BE). Spey River/Mica Burn junction, 1 on 2918 (WJC). Wairau River, Marlborough, 1 on 11 / 1 at Six Mile Creek (PVJ). Begley Valley, Rainbow SP, 2 on 1211 (GR). Taipo River, Otago, 6 on 1515 (SR). Otehaka River (Upper), Arthurs Pass, 2 on 19/4/80 (GAT). Deep Cove, Doubtful Sound, 3 on 1914 (WJC). Lyvia River, Doubtful Sound, 1 male on 16/11 (WJC). NEW ZEALAND SCAUP Aythya novaeseelandiae Far North Dune Lakes Survey, 22 on 112 (MPK). Whakatiwai, FoT, 1 on 1/12 on shingle ponds - an unusual record (AH). Hard- castle Lagoon, Reporoa, 15 on 215 (RMW). Lake Mangamahoe, New Plymouth South, 61 on 2/11 (DGM). Ahuriri, 2 on 2717 (KVT). Waimeha Lagoon, Waikanae, 1 on 29/1/80; also at irregular intervals later in year (CAF). Rotoiti, Kaikoura, 25 on 619 (PJ). The Lakes, Kaikoura, 41 on 619 (BE). Lake Tennyson, 4 on 1011 (GR). Lake Mahinapua, Westland, 6 on 30/3/80 (NW). Lake Te Anau, near Internal Affairs Wildlife Park, 150 on 915 and 2116 (JVM). AUSTRALASIAN HARRIER Circus approximans Onewa Lagoon, Northcoie, Sep 1980, pair successfully reared chick (JPW). Lake Tennyson, 1 on 1011 (GR). Malings Pass, Waiau Valley, Canterbury, 2 on 911 (GR). Christchurch, 8 on 613 (BRA). NEW ZEALAND FALCON Falco novaeseelandiae Mt Ngongotaha, 2 on 6/12 seen over bush and giving whistle call (GAT). Mokau River, 1 on 28/12, 811 and 1211 (RWW). Egmont NP (Upper Puniho Rd), 2 in Jan 1980 (RWW). Okato, 1 May 1981 (REL). Pukeiti Reserve, New Plymouth, 1 on 27/10 (REL). Holly Swamp, Egmont NP, 1 during Oct 1980 (AB). Apiti Stream Hut, Urewera NP, 1 on 16/11/79 (GAT). Umakarikari Trig, Kaimanawa SFP, 1 on 18/5/80 (GAT). Middle Hill Hut, Kaweka SFP, 4 during Feb 1980 (GAT). Wairau River, 1 on 2511 at Six Mile Creek (PJ). Ward, on 2513, a large and a smaller bird sitting on macrocarpa hedge while third bird called from a distance but did not come closer than 500 yards; would call 7 times a minute, stop for a few minutes, and start again. The two birds made short flights with the smaller one swooping on the larger playfully. Later both made dives at a Harrier which flew off (TJT). Waitaki River, Benmore Dam, 2 on 29/12 (LJD). Mt Robert, Nelson Lakes NP, 2 on 2414 (GR). Mt Fyffe, Kaikoura, 1 on 214 caught skylark (GR). Hodder Valley, Inland Kaikoura Range, 1 on 25/10 (GR). Upper Waiau, Canterbury, 2 on 911 (GR). Mawhera SF, Westland, 2 on 11/2/80 (NW). Milford Track, 2 on 2312 (JVM). NANKEEN KESTREL F. cenchroides North Westport, 1 mid-September to 24/10 (DJO). 1982 CLASSIFIED SUMMARISED NOTES 59

PHEASANT Phasianus colchicus Rotoehu SF 88, very common along dirt roads in all pine stands, especially recently thinned stands with a grass and scrub ground storey (GAT). Motueka, more common than in previous years - numerous sightings, maximum 4 on 1114 (BE). BROWN QUAIL Synoicus ypsilophorus North Cape, 8 on 2011 (CM). Bland Bay, on 815, flocks up to 20 in manuka fringe (SP). Rangiriri and Lake Whangape, singles seen on 2418 (BB, AJG, JT) . Mt Maunganui-Maketu, only single birds seen where once flocks of 8 or so were not uncommon (PCML). Mangatoi Station, Upper Mokau River, recorded as numerous (REL). PEA FOWL Pavo cristus Mahia Peninsula, 40 on 1018 - feral population seen on road- side (GAF). BANDED RAIL Rallus philippensis Waiotira, 2 in Frb 1981 on roadside (TGL). Whangaparapara, Great Barrier, 2 on 2511 - one quite tame; takes crumbs put out for hens (AJG). Opwtere, 2 on 311 (PCML). Clevedon, 913, calls heard at Landing (AJG). Kawhia Harbour inlets, 5 on 619 (CM). Kinohaku, Kawhia, 5 on 619 (JHS). Maketu Lagoon, 4 on 3115 (PCML). Matata, BOP, 2 on 2615 (MAW). Dickers Road bridge, Tasman, 4 on 614 (BE). Golden Bay estuaries 1980: Puponga Inlet, 1 on 2713; Parapara Inlet (footprints) 1413; Takaka River mouth (foot- prints) 513; Motupipi Inlet, 2 seen and 2 heard on 313; Awaroa Inlet, 1 seen and footprints on 813 (KLO) . WEKA Gallirallus australis Whangamumu, 915 to 1615 loud evening chorus (sr). Davies Bay, Queen Charlotte Sound, 4 on 1213 (GR). Barrytown, 1 on 26}1 feeding on sheep carcase (NW). Milford Track, pair with 3 young on 2812 (JVM). Secretary Island, Fiordland, 2 on 16/11 (DGM). Deep Cove Hostel, Doubtful Sound, 1 on 1411 1 (DGM) . Vancouver Arm, Breaksea Sound, 1 on 1511 1 (DGM) . MARSH CRAKE Porzana pusilla Awapuni Lagoon, Wairoa, 1 on 1013 (BRH). Rotorua, Kaikoura, 1 on 619 (PJ, BE). Appleby, 6 seen at various times during March/ April 1981 (BE). Riverslea Farm Settlement, Manapouri, on 1512, 2 flushed from jancus pallidus (KM) . SPOTLESS CRAKE P. tabuensis Whangamumu, 1015, heard calling and bird seen (SP). Whit- ford, 1 heard during winter census 1980 (CM). Awapuni Lagoon, Wairoa, 1 on 1013 (BRH). New Plymouth (Carrington Road), 4 responded to tape on 7/10/79 (RWW). Ngarara Swamp, Waikanae, tape response Apr 1980 (CAF). AUSTRALIAN COOT Fulica atra australis Lzke Pupuke, Takapufia, 1 on 2617 and 3017 .(EP). Lake Rotoiti, near Ohau Channel outlet, 5 adults plus 3 chicks on 2412 (GAT). Wairaki Oxbow Lagoon, Southland, 1 pair with 3 well-grown chicks and 1 pair with 1 small chick 2112 (MB). St Anne's Lagoon, 3 on 28/10, 2 on 6/12, 7 on 1016 (BRA). Thornbury, 1 on 2915 (OJL). 60 CLASSIFIED SUMMARISED NOTES NOTORNIS 29

SOUTH ISLAND PIED OYSTERCATCHER Haematopus finschi Houhora, 13 on l5/ 12 (RBS) . Whangarei Harbour surveys, 1535 Jul 1980; 350 Nov 1980; 1566 Mar 1981 (MPK). Pt Chevalier, 60 on 23/12, joining Pied Stilts at full tide in public park (RBS). Mangere, on 2013 and 517, albino showing a few dark feathers (RBS). Mangere SP, 1 albino on 2017 amongst 3000 (DGB) . Manukau Harbour census, summer 6108 on 23/11; winter 22 299 on 517 (BB). Mataitai, South Auckland, 500 on 2212 (GMHP). FoT census, 1730 on 14/12; 9807 on 716 (BB). FoT, more and more are feeding inland on sodden pastures (RBS). Mokau, 22 on 30/9/79; 43 on 26/4/80 (RWW). Manawatu est., 74 on 812 (LJD). Waikanae est. (and nearby beach), 35 on 23/11/80; 24 on 2411 (CAF). Avon-Heathcote est., 2161 on 517; 363 on 16/11 (BRA). VARIABLE OYSTERCATCHER H. unicolor Whangarei Harbour surveys, 19 in Jul; 67 in Nov; 31 in Mar (MPK). Tamaki est., 3 (2 black) on 2415 (RBS). Browns Island, Hauraki Gulf, 2 on 2318; 2 on 25/10 (GMHP). Manukau Harbour, 8 on winter census (BB). Muriwai Lagoon, Gisborne, 5 on 1613 and 116 (BRK). Manawatu River est., 6 on 812 (LJD). Akitio River mouth, Wairarapa coast, 2 on 27/10 (LID). Waikanae est., up to 21 Apr 1980. Nest with 3 eggs on 14/12 - hatched 26/27 Dec but 2 chicks survived to flying stage and no longer with parents after Mar (CAF). Avon Heathcote est., 4 on 517, 2 on 4/10 (BRA). Okarito, 5 on 1619 (NW) . CHATHAM ISLAND OYSTERCATCHER H. chathamensis Mangere Island, 2 pairs with 1 juvenile each on 1511. South East Island, 1911-2711, 9 pairs, 4 juveniles and 2 other birds - total 24. Pitt Island, 4 on 2811, 1 pair with nest and 2 eggs (JHS, BHS) . SPUR-WINGED PLOVER Vanellus miles novaehollandiae Far North lakes survey, 9 on 3111 (MPK). Parengarenga, 3 on 1911 (CM). Ahipara-Sweetwater Road, Northland, 1 heard and 2 others seen on 8/11 (FJT). Pukekawa, 314 up to Dec (DMW). Whanga- marino Swamp, Meremere, nest with four eggs on 2519 (PM). Piopio, 3 Aug-Dec (PM). Karapiro (Gorton Road), 2 on 2019 (TBST). Tapuwaeroa River, East Coast (NI) , pair breeding 3 1/I2170 (GAT) . Waiwakaiho River mouth, 5 on 414 (DGM) and on 1015 (RWW). Urenui, North Tzranaki, 2 during late Aug 1979 and 20/9/79 (MP, RWW). Mimi Stream mouth, North Taranaki, 2 on 20/8/79 and 7 on 20/4/80 (MP, RWW). Lake Rotomanu, New Plymouth, 2 on 9/10 (REL). Muriwai, Gisborne, 5 on 317 (BJ, SJ); 4 on 3011 (AB); 47 on 1512 (BJ, SJ). Frasertown, Hawkes Bay, 1 on 12/10 present for 2 weeks (GAF) . Whakaki, Wairoa, 7 on 1/10 (GAF) . Westshore, 15 on 1915 (CS, RG). Poukawa, 2 on 1217 (MC). Tukipo Stream, Central Hawke's Bay, 9 on 1212 (RFW) . Tukituki RiverlKahahahuri Stream, 17 on 1011 (RFW). Manawatu est., 2 on 1718; 3 on 813 (LJD). Foxton Beach, 4 pairs - 3 with broods of well-grown young, seen along 5 km of back roads on 619 (JM, MM). Lake Station, Upper Buller, 50 on 26/12 (PJ). Totara Flat, Ikamatua, 20 on 9/5/80 (NW). Hokitika River mouth, 20 on 29/6/80 (NW). Wainono Lagoon, South Canterbury, 44 on 511 (LJD). Queenstown Airport, 12 on 14/11 (DGM). Chatham Island. 1 pair with juvenile on 1411 (JHS, BHS). 1982 CLASSIFIED SUMMARISED NOTES 61

GREY PLOVER Pluvialis squatarola Karaka, 1 on 26 and 2811 (DMS). Waitakaruru, FoT, 1 on 14/12 (DMS). Farewell Spit, 1 on 414 with black axillaries and white rump clearly seen (KM, JVM). LEAST GOLDEN PLOVER P. fulva Paua, Parengarenga, 300. on 25/11 in paddock (JHS, BHS). Whangarei Harbour surveys, 91 Nov (MPK). Mangawhai, 10 on 26/10 (RNT). Pollen Island, Auckland, 7 on 29/12 (CJ). Karaka, 7 on 8/10, 15 on 26/10 (KJF); 42 on 1811 (BB). Weymouth, 6 on 29/11 (BJB). Mataitai, South Auckland, 4 on 2212, 2 on 2913 (GMHP). FoT census, 149 on 14/12 (BB) . Port Ohope Spit, 33 on 911 (WMH) . Kaituna Cut, 14 on 1012 (WMH). Muriwai Lagoon, Gisborne, 38 on 3011 (AB), 48 on 1613 (BRK) . Westshore, 25 on 2813 included 5 in nuptial plumage (KVT). Manawatu River est., present from 11 Oct to 12 Apr with maximum of 27 on 1512 (JM, MM), 46 on 813 (LJD). Ashley est., 4 on 27/12 (BRA). Lake Ellesmere, 43 on 411, 28 on 1111 (JF); 29 on 1111 (PMS). NEW ZEALAND DOTTEREL Chciradrius obscurus Rarawa Beach, 2 pairs on 2611 1 (JHS, BHS). Ngunguru Sand- spit, 5 pairs 21/10 (3 nests with 1, 2, 3 eggs) (BDH). Whangarei Harbour surveys, 8 in Jul; 11 in Nov; 13 in Mar (MPK). Palmers Beach, Great Barrier, 3 on 2512 (AJG). Oyster Point, Kaipara Harbour, 10 on 215 (RBS). Rocky Bay, Waiheke, 6 on 13/10 (pair nesting) (GMHP). Awaawaroa Bay, Waiheke, 6 on 15/10 (chick caught) (GMHP). Omaru Spit, Matarangi Beach, 22 on 14/12 (GMHP). Mataitai. 24 on 2514 (AJG). Manukau census, summer 18, winter 36 (BB) . Karaka, maximum 10 on 1512 and 2014 (BB) . FoT census, summer 12, winter 13 (BB). Whakatiwai, FoT, 12 on 1415 (HN). Port Waikato, 8 on 9/12 (HN). Onemana Beach, Coromandel, 3 on 31/12 (GAT). Waihi Beach, 2 on 1718 (LS). Maketu est., 4 on 512 (GAT). Maketu, 12 on 2017, 16 on 2311 (PCML). Rangitaiki River mouth, 1 on 3015 (PCML). Tarawera River mouth, 2 on 2318 and 1715 (PCML). Port Ohope Spit, 2 on 26/10 (RMW). Kawhia, 16 plus 2 iuveniles on 2112 (BHS). Sulphur Point, BOP, 30 on 1014 (KICF) . Waikanae est., 1 on 11110, seen sporadically Dec/ Jan (CAF) . Motueka Sandspit, 1 during Feb (BE, JMH) . Otamarakau River mouth. 2 on 1814 (PCML) . Awarua Bay, 1 on 16/2 (KM, JVM) . RED-CAPPED DOTTEREL C. alexandrinus Lake Ellesmere, 1 on 2411 - male in full breeding plumage (PMS) . BANDED DOTTEREL C. bicirictus Whangarei Harbour surveys, 65 Jul; 0 Nov; 9 March (MPK). Jordans, Kaipara, 180 on 1213 (RBS) . Traherne Island, Waitemata Harbour, 70 on 2514 (GMHP). Mataitai, 45 on 2913 (GMHP). Manukau census, summer 1; winter 481 (BB). Miranda, 75 on 914 (RBS). FoT census, summer 8; winter 120 (BB). Tauranga Airport, large flcck wintering (KICF). Harbour Board docks, Tauranga, 26/10, pair nesting on emptv log-storage space (KICF). Maketu Lagoon, 70 on 813 (PCML). Sulphur Point, Rotorua, 9 on 20111 (GAT). Mt Tarawera Plateau, 6 pairs (one pair displaying territorial behaviour) on 31/12/79 (GAT) Muriwai Lagoon, Gisborne, 55 on 213 (BRK). 62 CLASSIFIED SUMMARISED NOTES NOTORNIS 29

New Plymouth Airport, 47 on 116 (DGM). Te Hauke, 60 on 1217 (KVT). Westshore, 10 on 2813 (KVT). Tukituki River, 10 on 6/11 (KVT). Porangahau, 65+ on 1814 (BDH). Rangitikei River mouth, 50+ on 1015 (BDH) . Manawatu River est., 101 on 813 (LID). Ohau, 42 on 215, most in breeding plumage (BDH). Waikanae est., 22 on 215 (CAF) . Buller River, Harleys Rock, pair on 18/10 (PI) . Kaikoura Peninsula, 25 on 914 to 915 (SR); 71 on 3115 (BE). Hokitika River mouth, 65 on 10/2/80 (NW). Ahuriri River, Lake Benmore, 42 on 30112 (LJD). Lake Ellesmere, c.1000 on 3015 (PMS). Aparima River (between Wrey's Bush bridge and Thornbury - 35 km), 23 pairs on 27/10 (MB). Chatham Island, 2 on 1411 at lagoon entrance (JHS, BHS) . MONGOLIAN DOTTEREL C. mongolus Kidds Bay, Karaka, 3+ on 31/12, 4 on 1411 (RBS). FoT, 1 on 2711 1 and 2513 (BB) . Miranda, 1 on 2711 1 (RBS) ; 1 on 2611 (RMW) ; 1 on 2614 (GMHP). Waikariri River, Canterbury, 1 on 27/10, 15 km upstream on sand/silt riverbed (GAT). LARGE SAND DOTTEREL C. leschenaultii Kidds Bay, Karaka, 1 on 23/11 (BB); 2 on 31/12, 2 on 2313 (RBS); 1 on 2116 (BB). Karaka, 1 on 713 (JHS, BHS); 1 on 5/4 (GMHP). Access Bay, FoT, 1 on 3014 (TC). Miranda, 1 on 14/12 (BB); 1 on 2611 (RMW). Maketu est., 1 on 512 associating with Turnstones (GAT). Ashley est., 1 on 14/12 and stayed until at least 1615 (PMS). BLACK-FRONTED DOTTEREL C. melanops Access Bay, FoT, 3 on 1015 (CM). Whakatiwai, FoT, 1 on 1415 (HN). Kaituna Cut, 1 on 2116 (PCML). Tukituki River est., 3 on 3015 (KVT) . Tutaekuri River est., 8 on 1211 1 (KVT) . Wairau Lagoon, Marlborough. 7 on 1115 (BE). Opihi Rivermouth, 5 on 315 (PMS) . Spider Lagoon, South Canterbury, 2 on 2119 (PMS) . Aparima River, Southland, 2 pairs plus 1 on 25/10 (RRS). Thornbury, 4 on 3017 on turnip ground (0JL) . NEW ZEALAND SHORE PLOVER Thinornis novaeseelandiae South East Island, 19-2811, 145 counted including 28 juveniles. Also 6 downy chicks and nest with 2 eggs (JHS, BHS). 26/11-19/12, 101 birds, not including young of the vear; 22 nests found; first chicks seen on 28/11 - usual clutch 3 eggs (TGL). WRYBILL Anarhynchus frontalis Whangarei Harbour surveys, 71 Jul, 0 Nov, 151 Mar (MPK). Oyster Point, Kaipara, 118 on 215 (RBS). Pollen Island, Waitemata Harbour, 16 on 3018 (GMHP). Mangere SP, 200 on 2918, 200 on 11/5 (RBS) . Manukau Harbour, 2 on census day 231 11 ; winter census 597 but Karaka alone had 800 on 2116 (BB). FoT, summer census, 16 on 14/12; 2500 at Swallow Pools on 2513; winter census 3728 on 716 (BB). Sulphur Point, BOP, 136 on 1014 (KICF). Kaituna Cut, 10 on 3115 (PCML) . Uawa River est., Tolaga Bay, 25 on 2511, 1 on 1714 (GAF) . Muriwai Lagoon, Gisborne, 57 on 2312 (AB) ; 48 on 213, 52 on 611 (BRK). Bell Block SP, New Plymouth, 1 on 28/10/79 (in breeding plumage) (DGM, REL). Porangahau, 38 on 3013 (EJK); 18 on 1814 (BDH) . Manawatu est., 24 on 514 (LJD) . Lake Waira- 1982 CLASSIFIED SUMMARlSED NOTES 63

rapa, 3 on 812 (BDH). Lake Ellesmere, 20 on 511, 30 on 2411, 10 on 2212, 6 on 3015 (PMS). FAR-EASTERN CURLEW Numenius madagascariensis Paua, 7 on 2511 1 (JHS, BHS). Manukau Harbour, 6 on summer census 23/11; 3 at Karaka on 813 (BB). Kidds Bay, Karaka, 4 on 213 (RBS). FoT, summer census, 9 on 14/12, 5 on 1413 (BAE) ; 4 on 2513 (BB, AH, SMR); 3 asleep on beach at Kaiaua on 115 (RBS); winter census 4 on 716 (BB). Kawhia Harbour, 1 on 315 (LS). Manewatu River est.. present from 2719 to 1513, maximum 3 (JM, MM, LJD). Uawa River est., Tolaga Bay, 1 on 1511 (GAF). Farewell Spit, 2 on 414 (KM, JVM) . Oreti est., 6 on 22/12 (KM, JVM) . ASIATIC WHIMBREL Nunienius phaeopus variegatus Paua, 13 on 25/11 (JHS, BHS). Manukau Harbour, summer census, 3 on 23/11; Karaka. 5 on 813 (BB). Mangere SP, 1 on 112 (CM) . FoT, 1 on 413 at Miranda (EJK); 4 on 11 /5 at Kaiaua (HN) ; Waitakaruru, 1 on 28/12 (CM) . Kawhia Harbour, 1 on 2112 (BHS) . Port Ohope Spit, 4 on 26/10 (RMW). Westshore, 2 on 2513 (KVT). Okato, 1 corpse in paddock on 25/30/79 (REL). Bell Block SP, New Plymouth, 1 on 20-27110 (REL, RWW, DGM). Ashley est., 1 on 2/12/19 (BRA) ; 1 on 3011 1 feeding on crabs (PMS). Invercargill est., 1 on 6/12 (MB). AMERICAN WHIMRREL N. phaeopus hudsonicus Paua, 1 on 251 11 (JHS). Manukau Harbour census, 2 on 2x1 11, 4 on 517 (BB). Muriwai Lagoon, Gisborne, 1 on 213 and 1613 (BRK). LITTLE WHIMBREL N. minutus Lake Ellesmere, 1 on 511 (JF, PMS); 2 on 1111 and 1 on 2212 (JF). WHIMBREL sp. Awaawaroa, Waiheke, 1 on 2411 (GMHP). Matarangi Beach, Coromandel, 1 on 24/12 with godwits (GMHP). Whitford, 1 on 2519 (GMHP). FoT, summer census at Piako, 19 on 14/12 (BB). ASIATIC BLACK-TAILED GODWIT Limosa limosa melanuroides Mangere SP, I on 1812 (SMR). 2 on 414 roosting with Pied Stilts (per Mr and Mrs Graham - RBS); 1 on 2412 (CM). Ashley River est., 2 on 2/12/79 (BRA). HUDSONIAN GODWIT L. haemastica Mangere SP, 1 on 1411, 112, 2412 (CM). Avon-Heathcote est., 1 on 1718, 1 on 1519 (BRA). EASTERN BAR-TAILED GODWIT L. lapponica East Beach, Kaimaumau, 2000+ on 2711 1 (THS, BHS). Ngunguru, 24 on 21/10 (BDH). Whangarei Harbour surveys, 73 Jul; 1280 Nov; 2692 Mar (MPK). Ruakaka, 30 on 1511 (BDH). Te Matuku Bay, Waiheke, 85 on 16/10 (GMHP). Mataitai, 250 on 26/10; 35 cn 2913 (GMHP). Manukau Harbour, 550 at Karaka 10/8 and 14 000 on 26/10 (KJF); summer census 15 985; 500 on 2414 (KJF); winter census 1493 (BB). FoT, summcr census, 7199 on 14/12; winter census 561 (RB). Port Waikato, 60 on 315 (AH). Matahui Point, Tauranga, c.3000 on 2813 (PCML). Maketu Lagoon, c.550 4/2-8/3 64 CLASSIFIED SUMMARISED NOTES NOTORNIS 29

(PCML). Kawhia Harbour, 1929 on 2112 (BHS) . Muriwai Lagoon, Gisborne, 166 on 213 (BRK). Mimi River est., North Taranaki, 1 on 20/9/79 (MP). Bell Block SP, New Plymouth, up to 18 between 14/10 and 11/11/79; up to 6 between 19/10 and 27/10/80 (RWW, REL, DGM). Wairoa River est., Hawkes Bay, 180 on 12/10 (GAF). Porangahau, 20 on 1814 (BDH). Manawatu est., 390 on 813, 8 on 716 (LJD) . Waikanae est., 1 female several dates between 11/ 10180 and 915 (CAF). Hokitika River mouth, 2 on 29/10 (NW). Okarito, 6 on 15/9/79 (NW). Heathcote-Avon, 1125 on 27/12/79 (BRA). Lake Ellesmere, 2 on 511; 5 on 2411 (PMS). GREENSHANK Tringa nebularia Far North dune lakes survey, 1 on 112 (MPK). Te Werahi Stream, Cape Reinga, 1 on 2411 (same location as sighting by CAF 13/2/78) (RNT, GE. CM, VHH). Matahui Point, Tauranga, 1 on 2813 (PCML). Bell Block SP, New Plymouth, 1 on 19/10 (RWW, REL, DGM). Lake Wairarapa, 1 on 1714 (EJK). Awarua Bay, 2 on 16/2 (KM, JVM) . 1 on 2315 (EJK) . MARSH SANDPIPER T. stagnatilis Access Bay, FoT, 1 on 1015 and on 17/5/80 (CM); FoT census, 1 on 14/12 at Miranda (BB) . WANDERING TATTLER T. kana Kaikoura Peninsula, 2 on 7/12 (BE); 1 on 914 in breeding plumage (SR) . SIBERlAN TATTLER T. brevipes Access Bay, FoT, 1 on 17/5/80 (CM). Karaka, 1 on 514 (GMHP, TJL) and regularly seen; still present 2216 - rested with mixed waders in fields and fed actively on mudflats (BB). Farewell Spit, 1 on 414, faint barring, white undertail coverts, flight calls ter- wer-wee (KM, JVM). Kaikoura, 1 on 2819 feeding among rockpools (PMS) ; 2 on 29/10 (BRA) ; Armers Beach, Kaikoura, 4 on 1711 (JF) . COMMON SANDPIPER T. hypoleucos Mangere SP, 1 on 23/11 (RNT); 1 on 112 (CM). TEREK SANDPIPER Xenus cinereus Kidds Bay, Karaka, 1 on 1411 (RBS); Karaka, 3 on 1317 (BB), 2 on 26/10 (KJF); 1 thereafter and still present 2014 (BB). FoT, 1 in summer (BB): Miranda. 1 on 3118 (GMHP). Manawatu River est., 1 seen from Jul to 1214 (JM, MM, LJD). Waimakariri River mouth, 1 on 1114 (GAT). Oreti est., 1 on 22/12 (TVM) . TURNSTONE Arenaria interpres Paua. 900 on 2511 1 (JHS, BHS) . Whangarei Harbour surveys, 5 in Jul, 33 in Nov, 12 in Mar (MPK). Ruakaka, 20 on 1511 (BDH). Tamaki Sandspit, 8 on 2016 (GAT). Manukau Harbour census, summer 474; winter 139 (BB) Miranda coast, flocks often visit stony or poorly grassed paddocks - 30 on 2711 1 120 on 1413 (RBS). FoT census, summer 191, winter 14 (BB). Maketu Lagoon, 33 on 14/12 (PCML). Bell Block SP. New Plymouth, 2 on 22/10/79, 5 on 28/10/79 (DGM, REL) . Tutaekuri River est., 6 on 811 1 (KVT). Manawatu River est., 8 on 23/11 (LJD). Motueka sandspit, 200 on 2612 (BE). Kaikoura (seal colony carpark), 200 on 1611 1/79 (BRA). Kaikoura Peninsula, 1982 CLASSIFIED SUMMARISED NOTES 6 5

40 on 914 (SR), 68 on 30110 (BRA). Ashley River est., 6 on 30111 (PMS). Lake Ellesmere, 5 on 1111 (PMS). Chatham Island, 6 on 1411 at lagoon entrance (JHS, BHS) . CHATHAM ISLAND SNIPE Coenocorypha aucklandica pusilla Mangere Island, 15-1811, present in Robin Bush, some with downy and fully fledged chicks (JHS,BHS). South East Island, 19-2811, present; adult probing in litter for insects, which were picked up by chick (JHS, BHS) . KNOT Calidris canutus East Beach, Kaimaumau, 2500 on 2511 1 (JHS, BHS) . Whangarei Harbour surveys, 0 Jul, 90 Nov, 3045 Mar (MPK). Ruakaka, 46 on 1511 (BDH). Manukau Harbour census, 21 990 on 23/11, 12 000 of these at Karaka and same number still present 5/12; 11 500 on 813. Winter census total 3575 (BB). Miranda, 500f on 2611 (RMW). FoT, summer census 7438; winter census 505 (BB). Maketu Lagoon, 60 on 1711 (PCML). Muriwai Lagoon, Gisborne, 4 on 213 (BRK). Bell Block SP, New Plymouth, present from 14/10/79 to 11/11/79 - up to 28 (RWW, DGM, REL); up to 7 between 25/10 and 211 1 (DGM, REL). Lake Rotomanu, New Plymouth, 21 on 30110 (RH). Wairoa River est., Hawkes Bay, 25 on 12/10 (GAF). Tutaekuri River est., 16 on 5/12 (JL). Manawatu River est., 158 on 812 (LJD) . Waikanae est., 10 on 18/10 (CAF). Motueka sandspit, 40 on 3014 (BE). Ashley River est., 19 on 30111 (PMS). Lake Ellesmere, 11 on 511 (PMS) . SHARP-TAILED SANDPIPER C. acuminata Mangere SP, 1 on 2619 (GMHP, SMR). Karaka, 5 on 1811 (AH); 14 on 2611 (DMS); 7 on 1512 (BB) . Kidds Bay, Karaka, 13 on 3 1/ 12, 5 on 213 (RBS) ; 11 on 1313 (BHS) . FoT census, summer 3 on 14/12 at Miranda; winter 4 on 2614 (BB, GMHP). Miranda, 3 on 2611 (RMW) ; 3 on 914 in bright breeding plumage (RBS). Kaituna Cut, 7 on 1012 (WMH); 10 on 813 (PCML). Harbour Board marsh, Westshore, 3 on 713 (KVT). Tutaekuri River mouth, Hawkes Bay, 1 on 23/10 (BRK). Manawatu River est., 3 on 31/12, 7 from Jan to 1513 (JM, MM, LJD). PECTORAL SANDPIPER C. rnelanotos Kaituna Cut, 1 on 14/12 and 813 (PCML). Muriwai Lagoon, Gisborne, 1 on 3011 (AB) ; 1 on 212 and 1613 (BRK). Lake Waira- rapa, 2 on 1714 (EFK). Manawatu River est., 1 from 211 to 113 (JM, MM); 2 on 813 (LJD). Armers Beach lagoon, Kaikoura, 1 on 12/10 (BE). Spider Lagoon, South Canterbury, 1 on 27/12 (PMS). CURLEW SANDPIPER C. ferrupinea Paua, 17 on 2511 1 (JHS, BHS). Whangarei Harbour survey, 5 in Mar (MPK). Kidds Bay, Karaka, 2 on 31/12 (RBS). Manukau Harbour census, summer, 5 on 23/11; 4 at Karaka on 1715; 2 on 2116; winter, 1 (BB). Miranda, 21 on 19/10 - 2 seen pursuing a Little Tern, which finally dived into water (JHS, BHS). FoT census, summer 35 on 14/12; most seen 38 on 2614 when majority highly coloured and only 2 pale (BB, AJG, AH, GMHP). Miranda, 3 on 3118 (GMHP); 5 on 2611 (RMW); 30 on 914 (RBS). Kaituna Cut, 1 on 2116 (PCML) . Tutaekuri River est., 5 on 23/10 (BRK) ; 6 on 17/12 (KVT) . 6 6 CLASSIFIED SUMMARISED NOTES NOTORNIS 29

Manawatu River est., 1 from 2017 to 12/10 (JM, MM) ; 2 on 23/11 (LJD). Farewell Spit, 17 on 414 (KM, JVM). Lake Ellesmere, 2 on 1111, 17 on 2411, 20 on 2812, 2 on 3015 (PMS). Awarua Bay, 12 on 1612 (KM, JVM) . RED-NECKED STINT C. ruficollls Tapora, 23 on 231 1 1 (JHS, BHS) . Karaka, 26 on 413 (JHS, BHS); 23 on 1317, 24 on 1018, 26 on 8/10 (BB, AH, KJF). Manukau Harbour census, summer, 25 on 23/11; 31 on 7/12, 30 on 813, 2 on 2014, 3 on 1715, 6 on 2216 (BB, AH, KJF). FoT, 5 on 27/11; 4 on summer census and on 2513 (BB). Miranda, 1 on 2611 (RMW). Kaituna Cut, 5 on 2311; 3 on 813 and on 2116 (PCML) . Muriwai Lagoon, Gisborne, 36 on 2312 (AB). Bell Block SP, New Plymouth, 4 on 14/10 79 (RWW) . 1 on several occasions between 22/10/79 and 11/11/79 (REL, DGM). Tutaekuri River est., 3 on 23/10 (BRK); 2 on 17/12 (KVT) . Porongahau, 5 on 1814, two well reddened (BDH) . Manawatu River est., 6 on 813 (LJD). Ashley River est., 1 on 30111, 2 on 14/12 (PMS) ; 2 on 6/12 (BRA). Lake Ellesmere, 15 + on 511. 50+ on 2411, 59 on 2812, 5 on 3015 (PMS). SANDERLING C. alba Awarua Bay, 2 on 9/12 (MB). PIED STILT Himantopus himantopus leucocephalus Whangarei Harbour surveys, 645 Jul; 218 Nov; 417 Mar (MPK). Manukau Harbour census, summer 1 115; winter 4079 (BB). FoT census, summer 908; winter 2078 (BB). Auckland suburb, 72 on 2918 on remnant of St John's lake (RBS). Meremere, 300+ including a very conspicuous albino on 2116 (RBS). Taupiri, 1 on 1716, albino with greyish underwing (SMR). Maketu Lagoon, Kaituna Cut and adjacent fields, 500 on 3115; 700 on 2116 (PCML) . Sulphur Point, Rotorua, 101 on 2011 1; 121 on 415 (GAT). Muriwai Lagoon, Gisborne, 260 on 2312 (AB). Be11 Block SP, New Plymouth, 68 on 28/10/79 (DGM, REL). Lake Wairarapa, 340 north end and 122 south end on 812 (BDH). Manawatu River est., 320 on 215 (JM, MM). Lake Horowhenua, albinistic adult 3 to 813; body and wings white except for many black secondaries and inner primaries and scattered black patches on upperwings and sides of head and neck (BDH). Waikanae est., 78 on 4/4/80. Pair with eggs 11-18/10/80. 4 pairs nesting on driftwood 14112 (CAF) . Washdyke Lagoon, 122 on 2414 (PMS) . Christchurch SP, 100 on 10/1 (BRA). BLACK STILT H. noyaezeelandiae Wiroa Island, Auckland Airport, 1 on 415 - totally black, including underwing. Also present 2 smudgy birds with white patches on upper breast and head, together with partial albino with light brown markings on back - these four birds were roosting with a flock of 150 Pied Stilts. 2 on 3115 - 1 totally black, the other with a small patch of white under tail (BG). Manurewa, Jan/Feb, 1 all black but for a little white around bill and at vent (BB) . Karaka, 1 juvenile 2415 (CM) . Whangapoua causeway, Coromandel, 1 on 813 all black except for white around bill and on belly towards undertail (PD). FoT, 1 wintered in 1980 (BB). Kawhia, 8 on 2916 and on 2112 (JHS, BHS). Manawatu River est., 1 smudgy bird 1618 until 1513 (JM. MM, LJD. 1982 CLASSIFIED SUMMARISED NOTES 67

BDH). Whanganui Inlet, Nelson, 1 immature smudgy bird on 1/4/80 (KLO). Lake McGregor, 1 on 313 (MB). SOUTHERN GREAT SKUA Stercorarius skua lonnbergi Mangere Island, 80 resident birds Oct (TGL). South East Island, 100 Oct (TGL) . POMARINE SKUA S. pomarinus Whangarei Harbour, 2 on 1312 (TGL, CM). Muriwai, 1 on 911 1 (CM) . Access Bay, FoT, 1 on 2112 (CM) . ARCTIC SKUA S. parasiticus Omapere, 1 on 2514 (DB) . Waiheke, on boat trip around island, 5+ on 1413 (BB, JD). Manukau Harbour and FoT, present Nov-Mar; on 2513, 1 seen to chase a Black-backed Gull at Kaiaua (BB, AH). Papamoa Beach, 1 dark phase on 2412 (PCML). Tarawera River m~uth,3 dark and 1 pale phase on 2913; 1 dark phase on 414 (PCML). Charleston, Westport, 1 on 20-2213 (dark phase) (DJO). Arahura River mouth, Westland, 3 on 8/2/80 (NW). BLACK-BACKED GULL Larus dominicanus Manukau Harbour census, summer 616; winter 737 (BB). FoT census, summer 772; winter 1966 (BB). Manawatu River est., 380 on 113 (JM, MM) . RED-BILLED GULL L. scopulinus Manukau Harbour census, winter 970 (BB). FoT census, winter 2345 (BB). Wairoa River, Hawkes Bay, 3 on 615 - first seen from Mohaka to Mahia for about 6 years (GAF). BLACK-BILLED GULL L. bulleri Kaiaua, 101 on 716, some on sodden paddocks with Pied Stilts (RBS, BB). Tarawera River mouth, 11 on 3015 (PCML). Muriwai Lagoon, Gisborne, 72 on 2312 (AB). Mokau, 1 on 2614 (RWW). Mokau River mouth, 1 on 1211 (RWW). Tutaekuri River est., 300 on 915 (KVT). Lake Poukawa, 20 on 1217 (KVT). Manawatu River est., 9 on 716 (LJD). Waikanae est., 22 on 2019 (CAF). Lake Wairarapa, 70+ at north end on 812 (BDH). Hutt River (below Melling Bridge), 30 on 1115 (CAF). Rotoiti, Nelson Lakes NP, 5 on 3018 (PJ). Hokitika River mouth, 300 on 11/5/80 (NW). Wainono Lagoon, 56 on 511 (LJD). WHITE-WINGED BLACK TERN Clzlidonias leucopter~~s Whakatiwai, FoT, 1 on 27/11 fed over shingle ponds or roosted precariously on power wires in high wind (BB, DB, RBS); still present and seen at Kaiaua on 2415 (AJG, BDH). Bell Block SP, New Plymouth, 1 on 20/1/80 and 414 in winter plumage (DGM). Waitangi marsh, Hawkes Bay, 1 on 8/11 (KVT). Opihi River mouth, 1 on 315 in full breeding plumage roosting with Black-fronted Terns (PMS). lnvercargill est., 1 on 6/ 12 (MB) . GULL-BILLED TERN Gelochelidon niluticu Ashley River, est., 1 on 2418 (JF). CASPIAN TERN Hydruprogne caspia Whangarei Harbour surveys, 12 in July; 12 in Nov; 6 in Mar (MPK). Manukau Harbour census, summer 57, but Karaka had 46 68 CLASSIFIED SUMMARISED NOTES NOTORNIS 29

on 1317 and 111 on 219; winter 172 (BB, AH). FoT census, summer 49; winter 92 (BB). Waikato Heads, colony 76 adults and 3 juveniles on 315 (AH). Kawhia Harbour, 29 on 29/6/80; 103 on 2112 (JHS, BHS) . Sulphur Point Bay, Rotorua, 18 on 415 (GAT). Wherowhero Lagoon, Muriwai, Gisborne, 2 on 2819, 5 on 1512 (BJ, SJ). Mokau River, 1 on 911 (RWW) . Bell Block SP, New Plymouth, 4 on 311 1/79 (REL). Cape Egmont, Okato, Oakura, Bell Block, Waitara, Mokau. 2017-27/11 observations of up to 3 birds (DGM, RWW, REL). Tuki- tuki River est., 28 on 114 (KVT). Manawatu River est., 25 on 813 (LJD). Waikanae est., 17 on 2019 (CAF). Seal Island, Kaikoura, 2 on 2711 (BE). Ashley River est., 1 on 30111 and 12 on 2016 (PMS). Heathcote-Avon, 6 on 1519 (BRA). Opihi River mouth, 13 on 315 (PMS). Porarai River mouth, Westland, 4 on 26/1/80 (NW) BLACK-FRONTED TERN Sterna albostriata Rangitaiki River mouth, 32 on 616 feeding along surfline (PCML). Tutaekuri River est., 5 on 2817 (BRK); 60 on 316 (KVT). Manawatu River est., 1 on 813 (LJD). Lake Horowhenua, 2 on 911 feeding over lake; only previous record 2 seen by E. B. Jones on 26/8/65 (BDH). Waikanae est., 9 on 5/7/80, 5 on 414, 10 on 215, 3 on 1715 (CAF). Motueka River, 30 on 613 (BE). Kahutara River, Marlborough, 18 on 15/12 (BE). Seddon, for a week during mid-rune. 100 feeding (TJT). Upper Wairau Valley, Westland, 2 adults, 1 juvenile on 21/1/80 (NW). Ashley River est., 10 on 2/2/80, 48 on 1917 (BRA); 212 on 2017; 8 on 1615; 25 on 2016 (PMS). Ahuriri River, Lake Benmore, 43 on 30112 (LJD). Doctor's Creek, south of Kurow, 14 on 413, hawking over paddock (MB). Hedgehope, 31 on 1316 (MB). Aparima River (between Wreys Bush bridge and Thorn- bury - 35 km), 8 on 27/10 (MB). ARCTIC TERN S. paradisaea Tarawera River mouth, 1 on 1715 (PCML) . FAIRY TERN S. nereis Whangarei Harbour survey, 10 in Mar (MPK). Waipu River wildlife refuge, pair on 611, courtship display (AHG). Sulphur Point, Tauranga, 1 on 2411 (JF). LITTLE TERN S. albifrons Rangiputa Bank, Rangaunu Harbour, 57 on 27/11 (JHS, BHS). Whangarei Harbour survey, 3 in Nov (MPK). Bucklands Beach, 1 on 20110 (SP). Kidds Bay, 12 on 27/10 (RBS). Manukau Harbour census, summer 12 (BB). FoT census, summer 10, still 6 on 2814 at Access Bay (BB, AH, AJG). Miranda, 9 on 1413; present all summer (RBS). Maketu-Kaituna Cut lagoons, 2 on 14/12 and 813 (PCML). Port Ohope spit, 2 on 26/10 (RMW). Muriwai Lagoon, Gisborne, 1 on 3011. 212 and 213 (BRK). Lake Horowhenua, 2 on 2911 1 in non-breeding plumage; Ohau est., 4 on 215 (BDH). Charles- ton, Westport, 1 on 6/10, 1 immature on 1514 (DJO). Lake Elles- mere, 1 on 2812 roosting with Black-fronted Terns (PMS). Invercargill est., 1 on 16/12 (MB). Oreti River est., 1 on 22/12 with nesting White-fronted Terns (KM, JVM). Paterson Inlet, Stewart Island, 5 on 10-1313 - southernmost record in NZ (GJHM) . 1982 CLASSIFIED SUMMARISED NOTES 69

WHITE-FRONTED TERN S, striata Oaia, 200 on 3018 (RBS). Manukau Harbour census, summer 33; winter 121 (BB). FoT census, summer 1224; winter 236 (BB). Tutaekuri River est., 500 on 27/9 (JL). Manawatu River est., 84 on 813 (LJD). Nelson Harbour entrance, 1400 during Apr (JMH). East Head, Kaikoura Peninsula, 271 10-31/ 12 maximum c.300; c.292 eggs on 17/11 (BE). Ashley River est., 332 on 1615 (PMS). Okarito Lagoon mouth, 110 on 2/6/79 at 10 a.m. (GAT). GREY TERNLET Procelsferna cerulea Sugarloaf Rock, south of Poor Knights Islands, 7 on 1412, 3 on 2813. No evidence of breeding during 1980-81 season (TGL, CM). NEW ZEALAND PIGEON Hemiphaga novaeseelandiae Manurewa, 2 or 3 persist in suburban Hill Road garden eating taraire, totara, kahikatea and maire berries (JD). Karaka, 1 on 2414 among Knots (KJF). Gisborne, pair Apr-Jun in suburban plantation (AB). New Plymouth, 13 on 1/2 in one tree (RWW). Maraetotara, 4 on 215 (KVT). Davies Bay, Queen Charlotte Sound, 2 on 1213 feeding on tawa fruit (GR). Peel Forest Bush Reserve, 6 flying on 29/3 (BHS) . Te Anau, present all winter 1980 but not seen May/ Jun 1981. Maximum around township 55 on 318. Feeding flocks on white clover Te Anau-Manapouri, 17, 66 and 81 on 318 (JVM). Lake Manapouri, Hope Arm and Back Valley Tracks, 1 on 18-2115 feeding on kahikatea, miro, putaputaweta and broadleaf fruits (KM, JVM) . CHATHAM ISLAND PIGEON H. novaeseelandiae chathamensis Flight of 8 over Tuku camp 2 1 112 (TGL) . ROCK PIGEON Colutnba livia Kinikini, Mahia Peninsula, 200 on 1018 living in sea caves (GAF) . WHITE COCKATOO Cacatua galerita Waiuku Forest. 1 regularly flies from roost south of Waikato over river to feed in pines (BB, JD). Sutherland's Bush, Turakina Valley, 4 on 1413 (LJD) . KAKA Nesfor rneridionalis Hotwater Beach, Coromandel, 1 possibly 2 on 25/7 (and 3 weeks previously) (DM). Castor Bay, Auckland, 1 on 2614 (RD). Meadowbank, Auckland, 1 on 916 (SMR) . Cornwall Park, Auckland, 1 on 218 (PM). Kaiaua, FoT, 2 around village from Sept (JWW). Papamoa, 1 on 12/5 (PCML). Te Puke, 2 on 2618 (PCML). Whiri- naki and Pureora Forests, heard daily (JGI). Lake Waikaremoana, Whanganui Hut, 12 on 1111 at 7 p.m. feeding on flowering rata (BB). Tauranga-Taupo River headwaters, Kaimanawa Ranges, on 26/10 numerous in tops beech forest (BB). Egmont NP, 1 heard Jan 1980 between Pouakai and Kaitake Ranges (JMC). Mt Marchant Ridge. Tararua Range, 2 on 1911 (BG). Mt Whore, D'UrviIle Island, 1 on 16/6/80 heard calling (KLO) . St Arnaud Range, heard 30112 (PJ) . Wakamarina Valley, Mt Richmond FP, 2 on 615 (GR). Travers Valley, Nelson Lakes NP, 2 on 411 in beech forest (GR). Teetotal Bush, Buller River, 2 on 1811 (PJ). Hope River, Canterbury, 1 on 3011 heard calling up valley from Jacob Hut (SCS). Lake Te Anau, Ten 70 CLASSIFIED SUMMARISED NOTES NOTORNIS 29

Mile Bush, 1 on 1015 (KM, JVM). Stewart Island, North Coast, 1 on 2912 (SR). KEA N. notabilis Brown Acre, Nelson, 10 on 1513 (BE). Mt Robert, Nelson Lakes NP, 3 adults on 2414 (GR). Travers Saddle, Nelson Lakes NP, 5 adults and 2 juveniles on 511 (GR). Hodder River headwaters, Inland Kaikoura Range, 2 on 25/10 (GR). Kowhai River, South Branch, Seaward Kaikoura Mountains, 9 on 911 at 4800ft (LJD). Kaikoura, 1 on 1517 (BE). George Sound, on 413, adult regurgitating fuchsia fruit to young bird (KM). EASTERN ROSELLA Platycercus eximius South Hokianga, observed feeding on seeds from Pinus pinaster cones, willow leaf buds, groundsel flowers and biting open puriri flowers for nectar (DB). Browns Bay, Auckland, pair on 3118 (DFB). South Auckland, becoming more numerous in outer suburban areas as well as scrubby edges of farmland and bush (BB). Athenree Gorge, near Waihi, 3 on 2813 (PCML). RED-CROWNED PARAKEET Cyanoramphus novaezelandiae Opuawhanga, Northland, 1 seen on 14/5/80 (JFK). YELLOW-CROWNED PARAKEET C. auriceps Cuvier Island, several in January 1981 (TGL). Hope River, Canterbury, on 3011 common in bushed flats between Jacob Hut and Kiwi Stream (SCS) . Poulter River, Arthurs Pass, 1 on 17/6/79 (GAT). Hollyford and mid-Pyke River Valleys, 20 counted between 115 and 815 (SR). SHINING CUCKOO Chrysococcyx lucidus Opuawhanga, Northland, heard from 2919 (JFK). Waiotira, 2412, young bird being fed by Grey Warbler (TGL). Waiotahi River, Urewera NP, 5 on same branch on 1211 1/79 (GAT). Remuera, 9/10 first song (RBS). Te Matai, Otanewainuku, Jan common (GAT). Papamoa Beach, 1 on 25/11 (PCML). Rotorua SF, Dec common (GAT). Braggs Bush, Manawahe, BOP, 1 on 19/10 (RMW). New Plymouth, 1 on 3013 (REL). Motueka, 4 on 313 (BE). Charleston, Westport, 1 on 3013 (DJO). Punakaiki, Westland, 1 on 2/10 (DJO). LONG-TAILED CUCKOO Eudynamys taitensis Opuawhanga, Northland, 212 to 26/3/80 heard daily (JFK). Little Barrier, still present mid-Mar (TGL). Remuera, 1 on 1015 (GE). Titirangi, 2 on 3-413 (RC). Mt Moehau, Coromandel, 2911 several birds calling (JES, MTT). Rotoehu SF, Dec common (GAT). MOREPO RK Ninox novaeseelandiae Opuawhanga, Northland, 1 on 5/10 at 3.43 p.m. started calling wok wok wok, Rosellas started alarm call (JFK) . Waiotira. 119, one being mobbed by Blackbirds while Fantails and Grey Warblers kept distance (TGL). Browns Bay, Auckland, 1 on 3018 (DFB). Remuera, 26-2913. calling at dusk or after dark; not yet another bird lost to suburbia (RBS). Manurewa, 1 in January feeding young at 7.30 p.m. (TD). 1982 CLASSIFIED SUMMARISED NOTES 71

LITTLE OWL Athene noctua Wither Hills, Blenheim, heard during Mar (PI). Kaikoura, 1 on 1912; 1 on 113 caught by cat, safely rescued (BE). Aylesbury, Courtenay and Greenpark, 1 during Dec and Jan (JF). NEW ZEALAND KINGFISHER Halcyon sancta vagans Eglinton Valley, Walker Creek, 1 on 1012 taking trout fry (KM, JVM) . RIFLEMAN Acanthisitta chloris Little Barrier, numerous March (TGL). Mt Maungatautari, 2 on 2614 (LS). Hongi's Track, Rotorua, 2 in Jan (MCS). Okataina Scenic Reserve, 2 on 1712 feeding with Whiteheads and Pied Tits (JGI). Mt Paeroa, Volcanic Plateau, 2 on 4/7/79 (GAT). Pukeora SF, North Block, 8 on 1315 in rimultotara forest (GAT). Maraetotara, 2 on 215 (JW). Waikanae Beach, immature male on 411 flying into Cordyline, tree lucerne, plum tree, karaka in garden - nearest bush 4.5 km to east (CAF, MAF). St Arnaud Range, Nelson Lakes NP, 15 in beech forest, altitude 900 m, along track form tops to St Arnaud (GR). Nelson Lakes NP, 2 groups of 10 and 15 along Travers Valley Track (GR). ROCK WREN Xenicus gilviventris Waiau Pass, Nelson Lakes NP, 3 adults, 1 fledgling on 811 (GR). Harmen Pass (near Arthurs Pass), 1 on 2813 (GAT). Maruia Valley, Victoria Range, S Westland, 2 on 26/4/80 (GAT). SKYLARK Alauda arvensis Northcote (Onewa Lagoon), Dec, found resting on motorway verges (JPW). Mangere and South East Island, present Oct-Dec (TGL) . WELCOME SWALLOW Hirundo tahitica neoxena Waiotira, nest on meter box in back porch - chicks hatched 519 and eggshells deposited on doormat as evidence! (TGL). Red Hill, Papakura, resting on clothes line summer and winter; one chased over roof by Monarch butterfly (BB). Bell Block SP, New Plymouth, 60 on 3/8; nesting under bridge near Cape Egmont on 2911 1 (DGM). Motueka River mouth. 47 on 613 (BE). Hapuku, Kaikoura, 20 on 4/12 (BE). Wairau Pa, Marlborough, 107 on 2412 on power lines (RF) . NEW ZEALAND PIPIT Anthus novaeseelandiae Muriwai, pair on 3018 on slopes above gannetry (RBS). Oyster Point, 1 on 215 on bare earth of new stop bank (RBS). Mangatangi Dam, 1 on 911 eyeing visitors (RBS). Manukau Harbour census, I on 14/12 at Puketutu (BB). FoT census, 1 on 617 at Whakatiwai (BB). Te Matai SF/Mangorewa Gorge, 3 in Feb (GAT). Clifton, 7 on 5/5 (KVT). Waiau Pass area, Nelson Lakes NP, 4 on 811 feeding on cicadas (GR). Mt Fyffe, Kaikoura, 3 on 2/4 at bushline (GR). Hodder Valley. Inland Kaikoura Range, 2 on 25/10 (GR). Kawatiri Tunction, N Westland, 5 on 2/1/80 (NW). Chathams, common on Mangere and South East lslands and present on Rabbit Island (TGL). DUNNOCK Prunella modularis Waiotira, 2/8, 2 birds singing (TGL). Lake Whangape, 1 on 2418 singing (BB, AJG, JT). Port Ohope Spit, 10 on 26/10 (RMW). 7 2 CLASSIFIED SUMMARISED NOTES NOTORNIS 29

Kaiti Hill, Gisborne, 2 on 1811 (BRK). Arthurs Pass (Edwards Hut), 4 flying 28/7/79 when shrubs under 2 feet of snow (GAT). FERNBIRD Bowdleria punctata Pollen Island, Upper Waitemata Harbour, 918 several heard (TGL). Te Puti Hill, Kawhia, 3 on 3/5 (came to taped call) (LS). Pureora SF, North Block, 2 on 1315 (GAT). Port Ohope Spit, 2 on 1 /I (RMW). Te Wera SF, 1 on 2914 in raupo swamp (DG). Egmont NP, remote swamp at 2200 feet recorded by Park Ranger on 2819. Recorded in Potaema swamp near Stratford Mountain House road during Oct (REL). Hatepe River, Taupo, 1 on 719 heard in bracken (ID) Wainui Inlet, Nelson, 2 on 1/3 (BE). Giles Creek, Inangahua West SF, heard on 27/5/80 (NW). Mahinapua SF, heard during Feb/Mar 1980 (NW). Upper Pyke River Valley, 2 on 515 (SR). BROWN CREEPER Finschia novaeseelandiae Dun Mountain. Nelson, 4 on 2913 at 3000ft (BE). Ward, late Jan, several feeding noisily. One caught grub about 2 cm long, nipped it several times and left it on a branch for another bird which also nipped it but then swallowed it (TIT). Rotoiti, Kaikoura, on 619, ulentiful in manuka (PJJ); 14 on 29/11 (BE). Fyffe-Palmer Reserve, Kaikoura, 10 on 214 (GR). Hope River, Canterbury, 50 on 1/2 adjacent to Jacob Hut (SCS). Mahinapua SF, 4 on 3/3/80 (NW). Bradshaw Sound, Fiordland, 2 on 1611 1 (DGM) . WHITEHEAD Mohoua albicilla Hauturu North Road, Oparau, 2 pairs on 619 chasing Grey Warbler (BHS). Lake Waipapa, 1 on 811 feeding on caterpillars obtained from mossy branches (TPW). Hatepe River, Taupo, several pairs on 719 (JD). Otanewainuku SF, present Jan/Feb (GAT). Lake Waikaremoana Track. 11 on 4-611 (GAT). Southern Ruahine Range, 5 on 1715 during a 2-hour walk through mixed rimu-broadleaf forest up to cedar and leatherwood zones, Delaware Road (LJD). GREY WARBLER Gerygone igata Oyster Point, Kaipara; Upper Tamaki; Miranda; common among mangroves (RBS) . PIED TIT Petroicu macrocephala toitoi Opuawhanga, Northland, 2 males seen on 1719 (JFS). Blue Mountain, Coromandel, 12 on 27/12 (CM). Hatepe River, Taupo, 2 pairs on 7/9 (JD). Otanewainuku, 2 females, 5 males on 215 (PCML). Southern Ruahine Range, 4 on 1715 during 2-hour walk through mixed rimu-broadleaf forest uv to cedar and leatherwood zones on Delaware Road (J,TD). 2 on 27/11 during 24 hour walk through rimu-mixed broadleaf forest on Diggers Hut Track, Makawakawa Stream (LID). NORTH ISLAND ROBIN Miro longipes Mt Ngongotaha, 9 on 6/12 (GAT). Otanewainuku, large population 2/5 (PCML). Lake Waipava, 3 on 1-1511 in regrowth manuka and tanekaha (JPW). Hatepe River, Taupo, 1 on 1815 (JD). SOUTH ISLAND ROBIN M. australis Canaan. Nelson. c.8 on 17-2014 (BE). Lake Rotorua, Kaikoura. 4 on 1212 (BE). Big River, Paparoa SF, Westland, 2 seen, 1 heard 1982 CLASSIFIED SUMMARISED NOTES 73 on 16/5/80 (NW). Lake Matiri district, 1814 present around western shore of lake (GAT). SONG THRUSH Turdus philomelos Remuera, first tentative song on 1114 (RBS) . St Arnaud Village, on 7/12, one acting as a Bellbird trying to work way up beech trunk gathering food, but as its tail gave it little support, it frequently fell off (PJ). BELLBIRD Anthornis melanura Tyndalls Beach, Whangaparaoa, 1 on 17-21 July eating privet berries (RC). Matata, 5 on 2913 (PCML). Peel Forest Reserve, 2913 numerous, feeding on kahikatea and totara fruit (BHS). Hanmer SF, 19-2014, large numbers feeding on honeydew in Mountain Beech (KM, JVM). Doubtful and Dusky Sounds, on 14-17/11 most noticeable of bush birds recorded (DGM) . TUI Prosthemudera novaeseelandiue Red Hill, Papakura, Tuis, Mynas and House Sparrows all visiting flax in gardens several times daily in flowering season (BB). Kawa- kawa Bay, 78 on 2819 in flowering kowhais (ID). Sabine Forks, Nelson Lakes FP, 4 on 711 (GR). Fyffe-Palmer Reserve, Kaikoura, 6 on 214 (GR). Doubtful Island, Lake Te Anau, 8 on 16/10 feeding on fuchsia nectar (KM, JVM). Lake Manapouri, Black Valley Track, 1 on 1815 eating mapau fruits (KM, JVM). CIRL BUNTING Emberiza cirlus Mangapapa, Gisborne, 1 on 1616 (MAW). Tuahine Point, Gisborne, 13 on 1613, male singing 1515 (BRK). Wither Hills, Blenheim, present on 1912 and for week or so (PJ). Kaikoura, 2 on 5/ 11 (BE) ; 1 on 217 (EJK) . CHAFFINCH Fringilla coelebs Remuera, first tentative song on 2318 (RBS). GREENFINCH Carduelis chloris Red Hill, Papakura, family group returned daily to flax until last seed eaten (BB) . Foxton Beach, c.200 on 11/10 being harried by White-backed Magpie (JM, MM). GOLDFINCH C. carduelis Remuera, on 2014, back among liquidamber cobbles - a source of food over mid-winter (RBS) . Hardcastle Lagoon, Reporoa, 400+ on 215 (RMW). Mangere Island, 1 on 1911 1 (TGL). REDPOLL C. flammeu Waiotira, 26/9, seen and heard (TGL). Blue Mountain, Coro- mandel, 8 on 27/12 over rough farmland (CM). Hardcastle Lagoon, Reporoa, 20 on 215 (RMW). Te Hauturu North Road, Oparau, a few on 719 (BB). Lake Waipapa, common in manuka scrub. One seen to tear open nest of nursery-web spider and feed greedily on spiders inside (fPW). STARLING Sturnus vulgaris Red Hill, Papakura, 12 birds "anting" early each morning for a week in summer. Birds jostled to pick ants from base of a Callistemon (BB) . Te Hauke, 1000 on 1217 (KVT) . 74 CLASSIFIED SUMMARISED NOTES NOTORNIS 29

NORTH ISLAND KOKAKO Callaeas cinerea wilsoni Otanewainuku, 2 on 215 seen from Mountain Road summit track (PCML). Te Matai SF, 1 on 2315 feeding on hinau leaves (GAT). Upper Waitara River, North Taranaki (Rerekapa area), 1 in Feb, seen being chased from miro tree by a Bellbird (JMC). BLACK-BACKED MAGPIE Gymnorhina tibicen Longburn, Palmerston North, 1 on 22/12 (JM, MM). Kaikoura, occasionally seen among White-backed Magpies (BE) . WHITE-BACKED MAGPIE G. tibicen hypoleuca Massey Golf Course, Auckland, 6 on 1512 (AMac). Mt Maunga- nui Reserve, 2 on 2612. Well established at Matakana Island (KICF). Ashley Clinton-Tikotiko, 120 on 1513 (KVT) . Foxton Beach, c.70 on 619 feeding in paddock (JM, MM). ROOK Corvus frugilegus FoT census, 60 on 617 at Access Bay (BB). Kaiti Hill, Gisborne, 16 on 1513 (BRK). Te Hauke, 20 on 1217 (KVT). Brunswick, Wanganui, 3 on 3115 (LC). Kaikoura, 3 on 2318 (BE). * SHORT NOTES A TURNSTONE-BANDED DOTTEREL RELATIONSHIP Banded Dotterels (Charadrius bicinctus) are always at the Ashley River estuary in numbers varying from tens to several hundreds. One day in late August, we found a newly arrived Turnstone (Arenaria interpres), still with traces of breeding plumage, resting on a gravel bank near full tide in company with some ducks, terns and gulls. As we watched, the Turnstone flew off to join a male Banded Dotterel in full breeding plumage, which had arrived on a nearby gravel spit. The two birds then began to feed in company, and for an hour they were never more than a few metres apart, flying from island to island and working their way around the perimeters. Sometimes one bird, sometimes the other would lead on the short flights between exposed islands. Each was obviously seeking the company of the other deliberately. This was clearly illustrated on one occasion when the Turnstone moved out of an area suitable to the dotterel on to coarse muddied pebbles. The dotterel became agitated, running back and forth between the mudbank and the Turnstone, and eventually it induced the Turnstone to follow it back to a place that suited both to feed. This behaviour was in striking contrast to the aggression normally shown between one Banded Dotterel and another on their feeding patches or between Banded Dotterels and Wrybills (Anarhynchus frontalis), when conduct ranges from evident irritation to extreme pugnacity. Turnstone, how- ever, seem much more gregarious and often feed in tightly bunched groups. P. A. G. HOWELL; K. C. HARRISON SHORT NOTES THE NOMENCLATURE OF THE SPOTLESS CRAKE (Porzana tabuensis) The nominate race Porzana tabuensis tabuensis occurs throughout Australia and most of the South-west Pacific. Amadon (1942) separated the birds from the southern part of the range by their larger size, suggesting for the race P. t. plumbea an average wing-length of 85 mm with a range wholly over 80 mm. From many localities Amadon had only a few specimens, which with large wing-length ranges (for example, 15 mm around an average of 80.2 mm for eight specimens), makes his comparisons doubtful. I have included in Table 1 and Figure 1 only those localities from which Amadon had more than five specimens and have added measurements from specimens in the National Museum, Wellington, for the Kermadec lslands and New Zealand. Amadon originally had only four specimens from New Zealand and one from the Kermadec Islands. With the additional data for New Zealand, the case for a larger race in the southern part of the birds' range is less convincing. The wing-length range of New Zealand birds overlaps all those from further north, and the average is lower than that of the Tubuai Islands birds (23%) and no greater than 2 mm (2.5%) longer than in four other

70! I I I I I I I 1 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 Latitude ("S) FIGURE 1 - Spotless Crake wing-length averages and ranges. Latitudes are south of the equator. 7 6 SHORT NOTES NOTORNIS 29

TABLE 1 - Latitudinal variation in wing length of Spotless Crakes Approx. Average No. Lat. OS mm specimens

New Guinea

Marquesas

Santa Cruz

Samoa

Tubuai Is.

Norfolk I.

Chatham Is. ) Tasmania and ) S. Australia )

New Zealand

localities. The range of Amadon's data for the Chatham Islands, Tasmania and South Australia overlaps all but that of the smallest birds in Samoa. A cline in accordance with Bergmann's rule can be seen in Fig. 1, with the Samoan birds standing out as anomalous. Considering measurements alone, one wonders why Amadon did not separate the Samoan birds. Amadon said that he found no variation in colour that is unquestionably geographical, but Dillon Ripley (1977) said that P. t. plumbea can be separated by the upperparts being brighter and more reddish brown than in P. t. tabuensis. He tentatively assigned the Kermadec Island birds to the nominate race and New Zealand, Tasmania, Chatham Island and South Australian birds to P. t. plumbea. The back colour of birds from Raoul Island (Kermadec Islands) in the National Museum is not noticeably different from that of the mainland specimens. However, two specimens from Meyer Islet (Kermadec Islands) do have brighter backs, but they also have noticeably stouter bills and tarsi than all the other National Museum specimens, suggesting that this small island population of not more than 20 pairs (Merton 1970) may have developed distinctive characteristics. If so, back colour, already a dubious characteristic dismissed by Amadon, may not be of much use in delineating the subspecies P. t. plumbea. The specimens in the National Museum do not support the separation of the southern Spotless Crake as the subspecies Porzana tabuensis plumbea but suggest that random size and colour differences occur. 1982 SHORT NOTES 7 7

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I am grateful to the staff of the National Museum, Wellington, especially Sandy Bartle. LITERATURE CITED AMADON, D. 1942. Birds collected during the Whitney South Sea Expedition XLIX. Notes on some non-passerine genera 1. Am. Mus. Novit. 1175: 10. DILLON RIPLEY, S. 1977. Rails of the world. David R. Godine, Massachusetts. MERTON, D. V. 1970. Kermadec Islands Exisedition report. Notornis 17: 147-199. DEREK ONLEY, Mudman's Farm, Little Totara River, Private Bag, Westport

UNUSUAL FEEDING OF RED-BILLED GULLS While at Miranda, Firth of Thames, on 18 April 1981, Barbara Burch and I watched a flock of Red-billed Gulls (Larus scopulinus) feeding for half an hour in an unusual way. It was almost low water with a strong south-westerly wind blowing. The outer shellbank shelved steeply to an extensive area of thick mud covered with a thin film of water. All over this exposed flat of perhaps 400 x 600 m hundreds of squirts of water were being propelled 5 to 12 cm above the surface, creating an extraordinary sight. Gulls flew from the shore 5 or 6 at a time out to the tide's edge and, turning into wind, started to feed. Their course took them over the jets of water and diagonally back to the bank. The small flocks would make three or four round trips, returning to rest on the shell, when another group would replace them. Birds hung on the wind with wings slightly arched and legs dangling just above the surface. After each quick peck the feet would lightly pat the surface, though this was often only a token gesture, the arch in the wings would increase and the bird would move forward to peck again. We were reminded of the dancing flight of storm petrels (Hydrobatidae) . Blackburn (1962, Notornis 10: 42) recorded unusual feeding behaviour of Red-billed Gulls at Gisborne. He suggested that they used beating wing-tips and trailing feet as a kind of net to drive a fish forward until it sought escape by leaping from the water, when it was caught unerringly by the birds. It appeared that the trailing feet also acted as a brake to reduce the birds' speed noticeably. In the Miranda observation there was no beating of wings on the water, but both of Blackburn's suggestions on the effects of trailing feet could apply. We could not determine what the gulls were taking. It was very small and apparently not connected directly to the myriad squirts. These squirts perhaps were disturbing small animals, which the birds were taking. The gulls were still feeding when we left. Professor J. E. Morton (pers. comm.) told me that the origin of the squirts may have been a bivalve such as Mactra ovata. From 26 December 1980 to 14 January 1981, as on other holidays at Opoutere, Coromandel Peninsula, I watched Red-billed Gulls (L. 7 8 SHORT NOTES NOTORNIS 29

scopulinus) feeding each evening. Up to 150 birds regularly hawked insects from just after sunset until the light failed about an hour later. Mostly they flew briskly over the hillside, which rises steeply on the northern side of the narrow Wharekawa Harbour, dodging to catch prey and frequently changing direction. As the light lessened the birds swirled to a considerable height to use the last rays of the sun. I spent several evenings high on the hill watching closely through binoculars and found that they were taking small beetles. These beetles were out in plenty, especially one night when a property was being cleared of manuka and pines, which were pushed into heaps and burnt. The pattern continued on other nights over areas which were untouched, with the birds spread out more widely. The easily recognisable manuka beetle (Pyronota edwardsii) was flying during this pericd, as was another which was probably the pine longhorn (Navomorpha sulcatus 1. A further feeding method was noted on 14 lanuary when the excited squawking of the gulls drew my attention to the zostera-covered tidal flats at low water. where the gulls were in scattered groups. While the light lasted I watched one little flock of seven birds. They ran forward rapidly in a row but close together, calling loudly and pecking at high speed. Each burst of activity lasted 10 to 20 seconds. I suspect that the prey was a hatch of shore flies (Ephydridae). BETH BROWN, 39 Red Hill Road, Papakura

BROWN DUCK AND OTHER BIRDS SEEN AT DUSKY SOUND From 29 March to 9 April 1981, I was in a party of five people searching for moose in the rugged bush country between Wet Jacket Arm and Supper and Shark Coves at the head of Dusky Sound. I was working mostly in the valleys. The only lake 1 visited was an unnamed lake on Herrick Creek about 2 km from the mouth. Here I saw 7 Brown Duck (Anas chlorotis) , 15 Scaup (Ayfhya novaeseelandiae) , and 4 Black Swan (Cygnus atratus). Wherever I went, 1 was impressed with the abundance of the Bellbird (Anthornis melanura), the Brown Creeper (Finschia novae- seelandiae) , and the New Zealand Pigeon (Hemiphaga novaeseelandiae) . The other species I recorded were as follows: Black Shag, Pied Shag, White-faced Heron (1 only), Mallard, Paradise Shelduck, Grey Duck, Black-backed Gull, Black-billed Gull (1 only), Red-billed Gull, Black Oystercatcher, Weka, Kiwi (heard in Herrick Creek), Morepork, Kea, p~rakeetsp., Kaka, Pipit (on the open tops), Tomtit, Robin (1 in Fanny Bay, 1 in Shark Cove), Fantail (pied and black), Chaffinch, Redpoll, Blackbird (2 only), Song Thrush (2 only), Grey Warbler, Silvereye, Goldfinch (several small flocks), Yellowhead (5 in Henry Burn, 2 at head of Wet Jacket Arm), and Rifleman. BRUCE ROBERTSON, Puponga Farm Park, Puponga, Golden Buy OBITUARY 79

A 1927 RECORD OF THE LAUGHING OWL During Easter 1927 I was camped at a spot called Ormond's Camp, which is at the head of the first inlet on the right hand, after passing through the Narrows from Waikaremoana to Wairaumoana. Some 300 metres distant, on the eastern side of the inlet, is a high, sheer limestone outcrop with its base surrounded by heavy bush. For five successive evenings, when full darkness set in, several extremely loud piercing calls came from the face of the bluff, calls which can be described as prolonged kee-wee, both syllables being of equal length and intensity. At the time 1 could only think of the calls as coming from a Laughing Owl (Scelaglaux albifacies) but did not realise the import of the record. In his excellent article on the Laughing Owl in the November 1981 issue of Forest and Bird, M. H. Douglas quotes W. W. Smith (1884) in the NZ J~urnalof Science 2: 86-88 as saying " The call of the adults on waking up in the evening is precisely the same as two men cooeeing to each other from a distance." Unfortunately there were no answering calls in 1927 to what I presume was a lone male. A. BLACKBURN, I0 Score Road, Gisborne

OBITUARY

AVERIL MARGARET LYSAGHT (1905-1981) AND THE NATURAL HISTORY RECORDS FROM COOK'S VOYAGES

When Captain James Cook took a series of cargoes of naturalists to the Pacific in the 1770s they were so overwhelmed by the number of new things that they found that all their successors have been trying to sort them out ever since. One of the more distinguished recent contributions has been made by a New Zealand scholar little known in her own country, Averil Lysaght. Dr Lysaght was brought up below Mount Egmont, where she first distinguished herself by finding a new noctuid moth named after her, Melunchra averilla, at the age of fifteen. In due course she headed the pass list in botany and zoology for all the New Zealand universities at her first degree examination, and went on to hold lecturing posts at her own college, Victoria College, and at London, Hull and Notting- ham Universities in England, where she also worked at Rothamsted (Agricultural) Experimental Station and the Plymouth Marine Lab- 80 OBITUARY NOTORNIS 29

oratory and was awarded a PhD (which she did not use). During the war she worked for the China section of the Ministry of Information and afterwards on the zoology sections of Chambers' Encyclopaedia. Thus she had become a very experienced general biologist. Then during one of her periodic return visits to New Zealand she discovered an unpublished transcript of the diary kept by Sir loseph Banks during Cook's first voyage. She discussed this with Professor J. C. Beaglehole, who was editing Cook's own journal of the voyage, and subsequently devoted herself to the elucidation of the natural history records of Banks's and Cook's voyages, which provided an opening for exact scholarship in a romantic setting to her taste. She began with an annotated list of the bird paintings collected by Banks in the Historical Series of the Bulletin of the British Museum (Natural History), Vol. 1, pp. 251-372, which is an invaluable guide to the origin of many important early records, and continued with annotations of Beaglehole's editions of Cook's and Banks's journals in 1961-62 and the recent facsimiles of the journals produced by Genesis Publications. She also edited " Joseph Banks in Newfoundland and Labrador, 1766: his diary, manuscripts and publications " (London, Faber & Faber, 1971), which led to an invitation to Newfoundland to receive an honorary Doctorate of Literature in 1979, and " The Book of Birds: five centuries of bird illustration" (London, Phaidon, 1975) and pro- duced various lesser works. In person she was a perennially youthful enthusiast with a habit of constructing private empires in obscure corners of learned institutions, which were regarded with delight by the staff and grave misgiving by their superiors. After being moved on from the Bird Room and Botany Department of the British Museum (Natural History) she eventually settled in Imperial College nearby. She went to roost in a cluttered apartment a little below Sadler's Wells theatre and overlooking the insalubrious surroundings of King's Cross station, where she was in the habit of offering distinguished visitors strange meals. It is curious that the more eminent they were, the better they liked it, and I first got to know such people as Bob Falla at her table. Shortly before her death she was thrilled to discover stolen silver hidden in the garden. She also helped uncover much buried treasure in the literature, and formed a most attractive ambassador for New Zealand abroad. - W. R. P. BOURNE