Submission No 258: South Island Pied Oystercatcher Haematopus finschi; Robins Beach, South Ballina, NSW, from 6th November 1998. Submitted by Bo Totterman in association with Greg Clancy and Robert Moffatt.

Verdict: Accepted

A most interesting case that relates to a sighting of an Oystercatcher first observed on the 6th November 1998 associating with ‘Australian’ Pied Oystercatchers Haematopus longirostris on a stretch of sandy beach just south of Ballina in northern NSW. Since the announcement and publication (Straw 1999) of the find in mid January 1999 this record has created considerable interest in the ornithological community and has subsequently been observed by many individuals, including some committee members. First thoughts were that this bird may have been a hybrid. However, after consultation and further research, the bird was identified as a South Island Pied Oystercatcher a species normally migrating from the breeding grounds (shingle river-beds & farmland) of the South Island to the coastal areas of the North Island of New Zealand each autumn (January-March).

The submission includes an excellent series of field notes, sketches, photographs (by Simon Walsh, Brad Cheers and Greg Clancy) and comments on how the bird was identified. Careful consideration ruled out the possibility of hybridisation and all other species of Oystercatcher including H. longirostris, H. unicolor, H. chathamensis, H. ostralegus and H. palliatus. In summary, the key features mentioned, which when combined, are diagnostic for South Island Pied Oystercatcher, and in particular eliminate ‘Australian’ Pied Oystercatcher (Carter 1998) include:

• Greater extent of white on the upperwing forming a band of white extending to the trailing edge of the inner wing.
• Extensively white secondaries on the underwing and entirely white greater under-secondary coverts.
• Triangular shaped white rump and back.
• Slightly smaller body, head and neck.
• Longer and finer bill (described as orange with a yellowish tip).

In addition, the shorter leg length was noted, particularly the tibia, which was reckoned to be about half the length of nearby ‘Australian’ Pied Oystercatchers.

Members voted unanimously in favour of acceptance. With several members commenting that the age, and reason for the birds arrival at this location at that date remains difficult to ascertain. The bill colour, lack of a striking orbital ring and dull eye, suggests a sub-adult. It has been convincingly suggested that sightings of oystercatchers from Norfolk and Lord Howe Islands (Carter 1998) may represent H. finschi but this record represents the first "confirmed" sighting for Australia. Our congratulations go to those involved in finding and identifying this bird. There is no doubt that the sighting has provided a unique opportunity to compare the two species in the field.

References and Bibliography

• Straw, P. 1999. South Island Pied Oystercatcher: First Australian Record? Tattler 18: 7.
• Carter, M. 1998. SIPO or OZPO? South Island Pied Oystercatcher Haematopus finschi not Pied Oystercatcher H. longirostris on Norfolk Island. Australian Birding 4, Vol 4: 16-19.
• Chandler R.J. 1989. North Atlantic Shorebirds. Macmillan, London.
• Marchant, S. & P.J. Higgins 1993. The Handbook of Australian, New Zealand and Antarctic Birds. Oxford University Press; Melbourne.
• Hayman, P., et al 1986. Shorebirds: An identification guide to Waders of the World. Croom Helm, London.

Tony Palliser
Chairman Birds Australia Rarities Committee (BARC)