LORD HOWE ISLAND: The Airstrip

The paddocks and airstrip around the Lord Howe Airport are home to a variety of waders and waterbirds. Cycling the road towards the airport brought us right next to the airstrip, for close views of these species. I saw bar-tailed godwits, masked lapwings, ruddy turnstones, Pacific golden plovers and a distant whimbrel. Perched atop wooden poles were also many welcome swallows and a sacred kingfisher. From the car taking us back to the airport on our last day, I saw a larger selection of birds. While passing a lagoon I could see a group of hybrid mallard x Pacific black duck ducks. Some introduced magpie-larks were present in the field around the airport. Finally, just before the entrance to the airport I saw some self-introduced purple swamphens.

This bar-tailed godwit was part of a mixed species flock

Pacific golden plovers were abundant all over the airstrip

Ruddy turnstones were also present in large numbers

This sacred kingfisher seemed unfazed by my presence