Submission No. 373: Westland Petrel Procellaria westlandica. Ballina, NSW. 12th January 2003. Submitted by: Wendy Mc Fadden & June Harris.

Verdict: Accepted

This submission concerns a beach-cast specimen found in 'good' condition at Flat Rock, Ballina on the 12th January 2003 a week of very strong off-shore winds. Biometric details were taken along with a series of photographs.

The measurements appear rather rudimentary. The bill is quoted 'Bill Depth at Base' and 'Bill Width at Base', stated to be 2.5 cm and 2.75 cm respectively. In this species they should be nearer 1.5 and 2.0 cm. We can assume that bill length has also been measured improperly as the stated measurement is longer than any quoted in HANZAB. However, the description does describe the overall dark plumage, black legs and the dark slate colour of the nostrils.

The three photographs of the corpse show without doubt, that the beach-cast bird was a Westland Petrel Procellaria westlandica as claimed and the extent of black on the bill suggests a juvenile. The committee had no hesitation in unanimously accepting this record, the third to be accepted by the committee.

References and Bibliography:

· Enticott, J. & Tipling, D. 1977. Photographic Handbook of the Seabirds of the World, New Holland, London.
· Harrison, P. 1983. Seabirds: an Identification Guide. Croome Helm, Kent.
· Harrison, P. 1989. Seabirds of the World: A Photographic Guide. Christopher Helm, London.
· Marchant, S. & P.J. Higgins. (Eds). 1990. Handbook of Australian, New Zealand & Antarctic Birds. Volume 1 (part A). Oxford University Press, Melbourne.

Tony Palliser
Chairman Birds Australia Rarities Committee (BARC)