VOL. 12 (1) MARCH 1987

AUSTRALIAN WATCHER 1987, 12, 1-7

Additional Records of from , Indian Ocean

By 1DNY S1DKES1 •4, DON MER1DN2, JOHN HICKS3 and JEFF TRANTER1

1 Australian National Parks and Wildlife Service, Christmas Island, Indian Ocean 6798, Australia 2 New Zealand Wildlife Service, Department of Internal Affairs, Private Bag, Wellington, New Zealand 3 Australian National Parks and Wildlife Service, P.O. Box 636, Canberra City, A.C.T. 2601 4 Present address: 11 Morrissey Street, Waniassa, A.C.T. 2903

Summary Thirty-one of birds previously unrecorded from Christmas Island in the Indian Ocean are listed and discussed, with additional records of 14 species rare to the Island.

Introduction Christmas Island (10 "25 'S, 105 °35 'E) is an Australian Territory situated in the eastern Indian Ocean about 360 km south of the Indonesian island of Java, 900 km north-east of the Cocos (Keeling) Islands, and 1400 km from the nearest part of the Australian mainland in the Port Hedland area (Figure 1). It has an area of 135 km2 and rises to 360 m above sea level. When first settled in 1888 it was covered with tropical rainforest. However, approximately one quarter o(this has now been cleared for the mining of phosphate. Descriptions of the vegetation and physical structure of the Island are available in Andrews (1900), Gibson-Hill (1947) , Mitchell (1974) and Gray (1981). Van Tets (1973, 1983) summarised the 58 species of birds recorded from the Island by previous authors. This paper lists an additional 31 species recorded from the Island and gives further records of 14 species described as rare in the list compiled by Van Tets. Systematic list In the following list, new records for the Island are asterisked and author's initials are used.

Wedge-tailed Shearwaler Puffinus pacificus* A specimen was captured, identified and released by Dr B. Reville on 6 October 1985 on the lawns of The Residence. Small numbers breed on North Keeling Island, 900 km south-west. Matsudaira's Storrn-~trel Oceanodroma matsudairae* Four specimens of this little-known bird have been reported from the Island. The first was found exhausted at Cove on 15 August 1980 by JT. It subsequently died and is now in the Western Australian Museum (reg. no. Al6946). Another was caught at lights in the Settlement on 7 November 1980 and released the following day. The third flew into a window at Flying Fish Cove in February 1983 and is now in the Australian National Wildlife Collection (reg. no. 37623), and the fourth flew AUSTRALIAN S10KES, MER10N, HICKS & TRANTER BIRD WATCHER aboard an oil tanker and became soaked with oil as the tanker drifted near the Island for a week in December 1984. It was received on the 15 December alive but feeble and died the following day; it has been donated to the Australian National Wildlife Collection (reg. no. 39154). These records are further evidence of a regular migration of the species from the Pacific to the Indian Ocean through the Indonesian islands (Bailey eta!. 1968). Pocklington (1979) found it distributed over cooler waters in the Indian Ocean than the similarly dark Swinhoe's Storm-Petrel 0. monorhis and such waters occur around Christmas Island. Australian Pelican Pelecanus conspicillatus* An emaciated specimen was found by JH in Flying Fish Cove on 23 July 1981 and released after several days of care. DM reported that local naturalist David Powell also saw one on the Island in October 1978. The specimen is a vagrant to many oceanic islands (Serventy eta!. 1971, Van Tets 1978b). Great Phalacrocorax carbo* Three individuals were recorded by DM in October-November 1977. One had accompanied a yacht, perching on its mast-head, from the southern coast of Java for two days until it was within sight of the Island. DM saw another off Greta Beach on 8 January 1978 when it swam out to sea and was vigorously attacked by . His final sighting was of an individual in flight over Flying Fish Cove on 2 August 1978. Some of these sightings were mentioned by Van Tets (1978a). Least Fregata ariel* JH saw four or five adult male birds, some carrying sticks, at North-West Point on 31 March 1980. TS has records of an adult male without an inflated gular sac at the Golf Course on 16 March 1982 and an adult female at Douglas Point on 1 June 1984. On 30 March 1985 TS with J.N. Dunlop and Peter Goh saw an adult female, an adult male with an inflated gular sac and an adult male with a deflated sac in a flock of Great Frigatebirds F. minor soaring above Field 27 on Tom's Ridge at North­ West Point. The male with the deflated sac was striking at dead twigs in tree canopies. The species had subsequently been seen frequently in the western and northern areas of the Island to the time of writing (April 1986). These records are strong circumstantial evidence that a small number of Least Frigatebirds is attempting, at least, to breed on the Island, probably near North-West Point. If this is correct, the Island would be the first to have breeding populations of three frigatebird species since the endemic Christmas Frigatebird F. andrewsi is also present. White-faced Heron Ardea novaehollandiae Van Tets (1974) recorded the species as a rare visitor from Australia. It is now a common bird in open areas and probably a breeding resident. Cattle Egret Ardeola ibis* TS saw two at the airport from 19 June 1985 for a week. One was in breeding plumage. Striated Heron Butorides striatus TS saw one at Ross Hill springs on 17 January 1984. Van Tets (1974) listed it as a rare visitor from Asia. Rufous Night Heron Nycticorax caledonicus DM recorded one in trees at the edge ofthe South Point slurry ponds on 10 June 1977, and a night heron in rufous plumage flushed from coastal strand vegetation at Middle Point by TS on 1 October 1984 may also have been this species. Van Tets (1974) recorded it as a rare visitor from Australia. Malayan Night Heron Gorsachius melanolophus* H. Yorkston, M. Stokes and TS flushed an individual on the shore terrace below the Ross Hill springs on 29 January 1982. A clear view was obtained for about five minutes with the bird about 10 m away. It had green legs and orbital skin, a prominent black crest with large white spots, and a brown mantle with white flecks. TS and P. Goh had good views of another at the Christian cemetery on 21 January 1986. A third was trapped in a chicken cage near The Residence on 13 December 1982. JH measured its total length as 400 mm, wing length 255 mm, gape 65 mm and tarsus 123 mm. In flight it showed white near the tail or end of the wings. W. Longmore (in litt.), then of The Australian Museum, identified it from photographs as immature based on the long nape plumes with white subterminal spots, irregular spotting on the back and the facial pattern (Seebohm 1890, Robinson & Chasen 1936). Since the two seen by TS match the photographs of the 1982 specimen, the three records together may indicate a regular movement of the species in December-January, perhaps involving only immature birds. Yellow Bittern Ixobrychus sinensis* DM reported one captured at Waterfall on 17 February 1978 by D. Powell Jnr and released the next day. An immature was found near the Post Office on 16 December 1985 and measured, banded and photographed by TS prior to its release. Black Bittern Dupetor flavicollis DM recorded one at the Ross Hill springs on 25 November 1978. Van Tets (1974) listed one other record from the same area in September 1972. North East Point

Martin Beach Point § a C/) ....,0 NATIONAL PARK ttl [ C/) Douglas Existing Rainforest Clearing. :::;> Point 0 Areas approved in principle 3 for clearing for mining. () Egeria Point ::r Extension - Stage 3 g:::!. INDIAN "'C/) C/) OCEAN [-

Scale (km) N• 0 0.5 1. 0 t.S 2.0

Figure 1. Map of Christmas Island, Indian Ocean. AUSTRALIAN 4 STOKES, MERTON, HICKS & TRANTER BIRD WATCHER

Garganey Anas querquedula* DM saw a female at the South Point slurry ponds from 26 to 29 November 1978. Feral Chicken Gallus gallus* TS has seen a flock of 10 timid birds in secondary growth near the airport on a number of occasions. They are reported to have been living there for many years. Sooty Oystercatcher Haerrultopus fuliginosus* W.H. Butler saw an individual at Smith Point on 2 October 1983. Grey Plover Pluvialis squatarola* DM recorded a flock of up to 17 individuals at the airport in September 1978 and fewer numbers in November. Little Ringed Plover Charadrius dubius* DM and JT recorded one or two birds at the South Point slurry ponds on several days between 23 September and 26 October 1978. Oriental Plover Charadrius veredus DM and JT recorded up to five individuals at the airport and South Point slurry ponds on several days between 21 September and 26 November 1978, and TS recorded two at the airport on 8 November 1984. Van Tets (1974) described the species as a rare migrant to the Island. Black-winged Stilt HimLlntopus himLlntopus* TS and J.N. Dunlop saw three immatures at a mining run-off pond in the western area of the Island on 23 May 1985. They remained for a week and one until 6 June. Little Curlew Numenius minutus* JH saw several individuals foraging separately at the airport on 20 January. Wood Sandpiper Tringa glareola B.D. Bell saw five at the South Point slurry ponds in mid August 1975, while DM and JT recorded up to nine individuals there on 18 days in late January and between 20 September and 25 November 1978. TS also saw two at the airport on 25 September 1984. It therefore appears that the species is a frequent rather than rare migrant to the Island as described by Van Tets (1974). Grey-tailed Thttler Tringa brevipes DM saw one in Flying Fish Cove on 9 December 1977 and one at Ross Hill springs on 30 September 1978. Van Tets (1974) listed it as a rare migrant. Marsh Sandpiper Tringa stagnatilis* DM saw one at the airport on 6 November 1978. Terek Sandpiper Tringa terek* DM and JT saw a single individual at the South Point slurry ponds over six days from 6 November 1978. Sharp-tailed Sandpiper Calidris acuminata* DM recorded up to five individuals at the South Point slurry ponds and the airport on four days between 15 October and 26 November 1978. Long-toed Stint Calidris subminuta DM saw one at the South Point slurry ponds on 21-22 September, and JT saw two on 3 November 1978. Curlew Sandpiper Calidris ferruginea* DM and JT saw up to five individuals at the airport and the South Point slurry ponds on 10 days between 23 September and 12 November 1978. Sanderling Calidris alba* DM and JT saw up to five individuals at the Greta and Flying Fish Cove beaches, the airport and the South Point slurry ponds on six days between 12 October and 26 November 1978. Oriental Pratincole Glareola maldivarum DM has records of two from the South Point slurry ponds on 31 October and 53 at the airport on 6 November 1978. Van Tets (1974) listed it as a rare migrant. Australian Pratincole Stiltia isabella D.B. Bell saw three at the airport in mid August 1975. TS saw an immature at the Blowholes in Smithsons Bight on 25 May 1984, and about 50 immatures and adults foraging at the airport from 25 September to December 1984. Another 10 were present on 5 July 1985. Arctic Jaeger Stercorarius parasiticus* An immature was found on Lily Beach road and brought to JH on 5 January 1983. It had a breast injury which may have been caused by a catapult and died that day. Its total length was 435 mm, wing length 320 mm and tarsus length 40 mm. The upperparts were pale brown with nape feathers distinctly VOL. 12 (1) MARCH 1987 Records of Birds from Christmas Island 5

Whiskered Tern Chlidonias hybrida Plate 2 Photo: H.E. Tarr

Sooty Tern Sterna fuscata Plate 3 Photo: H.E. Tarr AUSTRALIAN 6 S10KES, MER10N, HICKS & TRANTER BIRD WATCHER

flecked with white and chestnut tips. The tops of the outer primaries were white when spread. The underparts were flecked light brown with a dull white abdomen. Previously a jaeger had been found on a road on the Island at some time in mid 1979 and handed to N. Gare. From a photograph it was identified by The Australian Museum, the Rarities Committee of the journal British Birds, E.J. van Ijzendoom and P.J. Fullagar (all pers. comm.) as either an Arctic or a Long-tailed Jaeger S. longicauda. Whiskered Tern Chlidonias hybrida* A specimen was collected by D. Powell on the Island but there is no record of where or when. It is now in The Australian Museum (reg. no. 58479). DM recorded seven at the airport on 23 September 1978. Sooty Tern Sterna fuscata* A specimen was collected by D. Powell on the Island but there is no record of where or when. It is now in The Australian Museum (reg. no. 58748). White Tern Gygis alba* An immature with some dark plumage on the mantle and wings was seen by J.N. Dunlop as it foraged over the ocean off Rocky Point in the Settlement, at 0640 h on 10 January 1985. Rose-ringed Parakeet Psittacula krameri* A pair of these birds was said to have been released deliberately in the mid 1970s and one or both were seen by many people, including DM, in the Settlement area until 1983-84. Unidentified parrot* DM briefly saw an unidentified parrot of about 30 em in length with dark plumage and an erect crest in flight near Lily Beach on 7 May 1977. Pallid Cuckoo Cuculus pallidus* An immature specimen was struck by a vehicle on 28 December 1980 and found by H'ng Kim Chey. It is now in the Western Australia Museum (reg. no. A16947) . Previously D. Powell and DM had seen one near Murray Hill on 20 October 1'f77. Fork-tailed Swift Apus pacificus* TS saw three flying over the open area of minefield 26 near the western boundary of the National Park on 9 November 1984, and two over Flying Fish Cove on 4 and 5 December 1985. Unidentified swiftlet* TS saw an unidentified swiftlet with a white upper rump near the Central Area Workshop on 8 April 1984. It was about half as large again as the endemic Glossy Swiftlets Collocalia esculenta natalis with which it was flying, and had a slower wing beat. Sacred Kingfisher Halcyon sancta* A live specimen was found at night on the road at Smith Point on 14 May 1984. It had a few white crown feathers and was possibly an immature. It was photographed, banded and released. TS saw a pair on the sea coast in front of the General Manager's house on 9 June 1985. An unidentified Halcyon kingfisher seen by TS at the same location on 12 and 16 April 1984 may have been this species also. Collared Kingfisher Halcyon chloris DM recorded one at Lily Beach on 7 September 1978. Van Tets (1974) listed it as a rare visitor. Red-romped Swallow Hirundo daurica* Eight were seen by TS, P. Goh and Dr B. Reville on 17 January 1986 as they flew to and fro over ore dumps at Loading Bridge no. 4. Good views were obtained using 7 x 42 binoculars. They were in company with hawking Glossy Swiftlets and were of similar size. The birds closely matched the description and illustration in King et al. (1975). Most, if not all, had breast streaking indicating that they were of the light form. Their chestnut rump graded into a paler colour at the base of the tail feathers. A weather depression to the north-east of the Island may have blown them to the Island from their normal range in South-East Asia. Richard's Pipit Anthus novaeseelandiae* DM recorded one at Silver City on 22 October 1977. Yellow Wagtail Motacilla jlava DM recorded one near the Central Area Workshop on 12 December 1977 and another at the South Point slurry ponds on 13 October 1978. J. N. Dunlop saw an adult in eclipse plumage at Rocky Point in the Settlement on a number of days in January and March 1985. It perched on coastal Scaevola bush or foraged over grass. Van Tets (1974) considered it to be a rare visitor. Grey Wagtail Motacilla cinerea DM recorded several at various places on the Island in November 1977 and September to October 1978. Likewise TS saw several individuals or pairs at various places between August and December 1983 and 1984. The species seems to be a regular rather than a rare visitor to the Island as suggested by Van Tets (1974). VOL. 12 (1) MARCH 1987 Records of Birds from Christmas Island 7

Tree Sparrow Passer montanus* Several individuals have frequented the Flying Fish Cove cantilever area since at least March 1983 and possibly for two years beforehand (D. Powell pers. conun.). They are very timid but do not appear to be expanding their range on the Island. They were probably introduced accidentally by ship.

Acknowledgements We sincerely thank all of the Island residents who have reported unusual birds to us over the years, especially D. Powell, H. Yorkston, J. McMaster, J.N. Dunlop and Dr B. Reville. The following people and institutions kindly assisted with the identification of photographs and/or specimens: W. Longmore, W. Boles and T. Lindsey (The Australian Museum), Dr P.J. Fullagar and Dr R. Schodde (Australian National Wildlife Collection, CSIRO), R.E. Johnstone (Western Australian Museum), C. Corben, P. Grant and E.J. van Ijzendoorn.

References Andrews, C.W. (1900), A Monograph of Christmas Island (Indian Ocean) , British Museum (Natural History), London. Bailey, R.S., Pocklington, R. & Willis, P.R. (1968), 'Storm-petrels Oceanodroma spp. in the Indian Ocean', Ibis llO, 27-34. Gibson-Hill, C. A. (compiler) (1947), Papers by various authors on the natural history of Christmas Island in the Indian Ocean, Bull. Rnffles Museum ll, 5-177. Gray, H.S. (1981), Christmas Island - Naturally, H.S. Gray, Geraldton, West. Aust. King, B., Woodcock, M. & Dickinson, E.C. (1975), A Field Guide to the Birds of South-East Asia, Collins, London. · Mitchell, B.M. (1974), 'The forest flora of Christmas Island', C'wealth For. Rev. 53, 19-29. Pocklington, R. (1979), 'An oceanographic interpretation of seabird distributions in the Indian Ocean', Marine Biology 51, 9-29. Robinson, H.C. & Chasen, F.N. (1936), The Birds of the Malay Peninsula, vol. 3, Witherby, London. Seebohm, H. (1890), The Birds of the Japanese Empire, Porter, London. Serventy, D.L., Serventy, V. & Warham, J. (1971), The Handbook of Australian Seabirds, Reed , Sydney. Van Tets, G.F. (1974), List of bird species found at Christmas Island, in Conservation of Endangered Species on Christmas Island: A Report of the House of Representatives Standing Committee on the Environment and Conservation, Aust. Govt Pub!. Serv., Canberra. --(1978a), 'Transmarine dispersal of Black ', A 'asian Seabird Group News!. 10, 21-24 . --(1978b), 'Transmarine dispersal of Australian Pelicans', A'asian Seabird Group News!. ll, 5-6. --(1983), List of bird species found at Christmas Island, Annex E in The Preservation of Abbott's on Christmas Island, Report of the Senate Standing Committee on Science, Technology and the Environment, Aust. Govt Pub!. Serv., Canberra. •

Corrigenda- Yo!. 11 no. 3 'The Black Falcon Falco subniger: a summary of information and comparison with the Brown Falcon Falco berigora': in the discussion of display vocalisations (p. 88), Austin's report of Black Falcon calls should read 'parrot-like notes unusual for a falcon'.

Vol. 11 no. 4 'Parental care and investment in the Tooth-billed Bowerbird Scenopoeetes dentirostris (Ptilonorhynchidae)': in the discussion of nest and nestling defence (p. 112), the quoted figure for Green Catbird nesting success rate should have been 65% , not 75% . This does not affect the conclusions regarding breeding systems in the catbirds versus bowerbirds.