A Brit abroad

Birding Noumea

After 14 hours of flying, we arrived at Osaka airport, where I was able to digibin this Black-backed Wagtail on the tarmac. A distant all-black cormorant and a large dark-mantled gull (Slaty-backed?) were the only other birds seen.

9 more hours of flying and several terrible movies later, and we finally arrived in Noumea, the main city in New Caledonia. Our base was the youth hostel, which has a decent view over the town and harbour.

It also has a good-sized garden, and I spent a productive few hours in the early morning and late afternoon getting acquainted with the local birdlife. The first birds I saw were a large flock of Glossy Swiftlets buzzing around at head height (probably due to the strong wind and low clouds). There were also several Dark Brown Honeyeaters, an abundant and noisy endemic that can be seen just about anywhere on the island.

The attractive endemic Green-backed White-eye is equally widespread.

In contrast, two or three Silvereyes on the approach road to the youth hostel were the only individuals I saw.

Other native species seen in the vicinity of the youth hostel included Fan-tailed Gerygone, Grey Fantail and a dusk gathering of Rainbow Lorikeets (in spite of being noisy, colourful and gregarious, I have yet to obtain a decent photo of one).

Introduced bird species are, sadly, also abundant around human habitations, most notably the Common Mynah,

but also Spotted Dove, Red-vented Bulbul and House Sparrow.

Thanks to an unseasonal cyclone raging in the north, we had an extra day on the mainland, so I asked Stephane to drop me off at the Auberge at Mont Koghi for a couple of hours' birding. Unfortunately, the anticyclone was depositing bucketloads of rain on this high-elevation site. I naiively thought that the dense forest might offer some shelter, but twenty minutes later I was soaked to the skin, with 2 Southern Shrikebills and a single Yellow-bellied Robin the only birds seen. I retreated to the auberge to dry off, and over a couple of cups of coffee was able to add Metallic Pigeon and this Striated Starling to my list.

The afternoon was spent stocking up on chocolate, cookies and dramamine ready for the 40-hour boat odyssey the next day...

Posted by rjhall at December 14, 2006 4:39 PM