Memorandum to:  The Director of Birds Australia

 

From:     Birds Australia Rarities Committee (BARC)

 

Date:      13th March 2006

 

Voting Members: Glenn Holmes   Tony Palliser

    Mike Carter   Andrew Silcocks

    John Hatch    Danny Rogers

    Niven McCrie Jamie Matthew

   

cc.     

 

Submission No 457: Atlantic Petrel Pterodroma incerta Off Port Fairy, VIC. 6th February 2005. Submitted by: Rohan Clarke

 

This submission relates to an Atlantic Petrel photographed on the 6th February 2005 during an organised pelagic excursion from Port Fairy in Western Victoria. The bird was seen by all on board at38º51.62’S 141º49.45’E about 52km SE of Cape Nelson Lighthouse.

 

The bird was seen in association with Great-winged Petrels Pterodroma macroptera, White-headed Petrels P. lessonii and numerous albatross. The photographs and description clearly depict a bird similar in size and shape to a Great-winged Petrel with a slightly smaller head and the wings held slightly straighter. The most distinctive plumage characteristics (the combination of which eliminate all other pterodroma species) include the:

 

·       Brown upperparts featuring an indistinct ‘V’ across the back.

·       Paler brown back, mantle and hindneck.

·       Indistinct pale collar

·       Uniform dark hooded appearance at most angles.

·       Reasonably neat demarcation where the dark feathering met the white of the breast and belly on the upper breast.

·       Heavily scalloped forehead and dark-brown orbital patch.

·       Cream-white lower breast and belly with dark-brown flanks & undertail coverts

·       Legs, feet and inner webbing of the toes flesh pink and the outer webbing black

 

Members agreed unanimously to accept this record as the first confirmed for Australia, satisfied completely with the identification analysis made by the observer. The Atlantic Petrel breeds on Tristan da Cunha and Gough Islands in the southern Atlantic Ocean.

 

Verdict: Accepted

 

 

References:

 

·       Cuthbert, R. (2004). Breeding biology of the Atlantic Petrel, Pterodroma incerta, and a population estimate of this and other burrowing petrels on Gough Island, South Atlantic Ocean. Emu 104 221-228.

·       Enticott, J. & Tipling, D. (1997). Photographic Handbook of the Seabirds of the World, New Holland, London.

·       Harrison, P. (1987). Seabirds of the World: A Photographic Guide, Christopher Helm, London.

·       Lindsey, T. (1986). The Seabirds of Australia, National Photographic Index of Australian Wildlife, Angus and Robertson, Sydney.

 

 

 

Tony Palliser

Chairman, Birds Australia Rarities Committee