Wednesday 6 March 2019

Wild Bird Wednesday 346 - Red-tailed Tropicbirds

Of all the birds you can see on Lord Howe, the Red-tailed Tropicbirds (Phaethon rubricauda) have to be the most spectacular.   When you arrive by plane, you can see the cliffs at the northern end of the island, and you can see dozens - maybe hundreds - of white birds.  In most situations these birds would be gulls, but on Lord Howe they are Red-tailed Tropicbirds.

The walk up to the cliffs at Malabar takes about 1/2 an hour or so - longer if its hot - but its worth it.  The Tropic-birds display all along the cliff edge, and sometimes they are hanging in the air not that far below you.

It's one of the best places I have ever bird watched.

We also found a couple of nest locations - strangely close to the footpaths if the truth be told.  In one place, the bird was less than 50cm from the path! No need for long lenses in that case.














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20 comments:

  1. It always seems to me that tropicbirds are the essence of grace and beauty and emblematic of the freedom of the oceans and the ability to fly above them. Great series of photographs, Stewart.
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  2. These birds are so beautiful and graceful. I have never seen one.

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  3. Those cliffs gave you some great angles for terrific shots.

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  4. Great inflight photos. I like how blue the water looks. Nice photos of them on the ground, too.

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  5. What a beautiful bird and wonderful that you were able to get close to them so have shot these wonderful photographs and especially that one with the young bird being feed.Thanks for hosting and I hope you have a good week ahead.

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  6. Beautiful flight shots! Love the portraits, too!

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  7. Excellent Stewart
    An iconic bird species, great location shots.

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  8. Love these photos, so good to see and thanks for sharing. Cheers Diane

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  9. Fabulous photos! Gorgeous creatures!

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  10. Hello Stewart. It is a beautiful bird. Gorgeous photos.

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  11. Wonderful shots from above with the water below..One doesn't see that angle very often..Love the white against the turquoise water..Amazing nest shots as well...Yes, they look like gulls to me ;)

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  12. Stewart, fantastic capture of the Red-tailed Tropicbirds in flight. Thanks for sharing.

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  13. Great shots! They look so graceful in flight.

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  14. Love those tails...so cool!...:)JP

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  15. Incredible birds...those tail feathers! And to see them up close like that is amazing and certainly worth the hike. Thanks for these and for hosting as always.

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