Lord Howe Island

[moloch]

I would like to take you on a photo journey to one of the most beautiful places that I have ever seen. In October 2009, my wife and I visited Lord Howe Island. The island is rugged, mostly forested and an Aussie equivalent to the Galapagos. Plant and animal life is diverse and much of this is endemic to the island.

Lord Howe Island is situated about 700 km northeast of Sydney. It is located between New Caledonia to the northeast, New Zealand to the southeast and Norfolk Island to the east. As a result, the flora and fauna is includes an interesting blend of life from these different areas.


It is surprising but those intrepid sailors, the Polynesians, apparently had not found the island. Lord Howe Island was uninhabited when the Europeans arrived in the late 1700s.


Lord Howe Island once was huge but now, the sea has nearly reclaimed it. All that is left is the small island of Lord Howe (11 km long), the adjacent Admiralty islets and about 23 kms to the east, Ball's Pyramid. This is a photo of a drawing of the island at the island's museum:
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/LordHoweIsland/Oct2009/LordHowe1a.jpg

The cores of an extinct volcano dominate the main island of Lord Howe. These cores are the source of the mountains known as Mt. Lidgbird (777m) on the left and Mt. Gower (875m) on the right.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/LordHoweIsland/Oct2009/LordHowe20.jpg
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/LordHoweIsland/Oct2009/island1.jpg

This is a photo of Ball's Pyramid (550m) from Mt. Lidgbird. Ball's Pyramid is the tallest stack island on the planet. It is an ominous looking place but it is a refuge to both of Lord Howe's native reptiles. It also is the only place in Australia where Kermadec Petrels nest.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/LordHoweIsland/Oct2009/BallsPyramid2.jpg

Ball's Pyramid is also the site where the huge phasmid known as the "Land Lobster" was rediscovered in 2001. Prior to this, the insect was thought to be extinct as the result of the accidental introduction of Black Rats to Lord Howe in 1918. While I was on the island, I was lucky to meet a former ranger who was on the survey team that found the phasmid. He and others climbed the pyramid at night and found 5 on their first visit. They later returned and collected a few to establish a breeding colony at the nursery on Lord Howe. I cannot imagine climbing on that place especially at night due to the nearly shear slopes and unstable substrate! It is possible to view the captive animals at the nursery but I did not have time so had to settle for photos of specimens from the museum:
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/LordHoweIsland/Oct2009/phasmid.jpg

About 80% of Lord Howe has been set aside as a permanent preserve. Most of the island is forested
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/LordHoweIsland/Oct2009/habitat1.jpg

The East Australia Current baths Lord Howe Island so water temperatures range between 18C in the winter and 25C in the summer. These mild conditions have allowed coral reefs to develop and Lord Howe has the most southerly of all reefs. The reef itself is a mix of both hard and soft corals. It was colourful with many blue, purple and green outcrops. Fish diversity was much greater than I expected and I saw a number of fish that I have not encountered further north at the Great Barrier Reef. Butterfly Fish were particularly diverse and included a lovely endemic species.

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/LordHoweIsland/Oct2009/LordHowe4.jpg

[moloch]

Most of the following report will include general natural history shots but I will start with the butterflies. October was a little early for butterflies but I saw several species. These included a few Yellow Admiral (Vanessa itea).
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/LordHoweIsland/Oct2009/arthro_ButterflyAusAdmiral1.jpg
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/LordHoweIsland/Oct2009/arthro_ButterflyAusAdmiral2.jpg


Australian Painted Lady (Vanessa kershawi):
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/LordHoweIsland/Oct2009/arthro_ButterflyPaintedLady1.jpg



Common Grass Blues (Zizina labradus): -- I think
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/LordHoweIsland/Oct2009/arthro_ButterflyBlue1.jpg


I also saw this small but elegant moth. After lots of searching on the web, I found what I think it to be its name. I believe that it is Palpita sp., one of the Pyralid moths.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/LordHoweIsland/Oct2009/arthro_moth1.jpg


Ned's Beach
Ned's Beach was just a 10-minute walk from our accommodation.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/LordHoweIsland/Oct2009/NedsBeach1.jpg
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/LordHoweIsland/Oct2009/LordHowe15.jpg

[moloch]

The fish in this bay are protected and extremely tame. Meter-long Kingfish would swim right up to my feet in the shallows.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/LordHoweIsland/Oct2009/fish_king1.jpg
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/LordHoweIsland/Oct2009/fish_king4_400.jpghttp://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/LordHoweIsland/Oct2009/fish_king5_400.jpg


Bluefish are normally gray but they flush this lovely sky blue when excited. This one (left) was definitely excited by bread. The other fish is a Surge Wrasse and was an absolute rainbow of colours.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/LordHoweIsland/Oct2009/bluefish1_400.jpghttp://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/LordHoweIsland/Oct2009/fish_wrasse2_400.jpg


This morning glory was common on the dunes surrounding the beach
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/LordHoweIsland/Oct2009/plant_convolvulus1.jpg


Sacred Kingfisher was a common native.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/LordHoweIsland/Oct2009/bird_CollaredKingfisher1.jpg

[moloch]

Ned's Beach is the area where Lord Howe Island Horned Turtle (Meiolania platyceps) fossils are found. These turtles are thought to have become extinct about 40,000 years ago. They were huge and almost the size of the Galapagos Tortoises
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/LordHoweIsland/Oct2009/turtle2.jpg
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/LordHoweIsland/Oct2009/turtle3_400.jpghttp://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/LordHoweIsland/Oct2009/turtle4_400.jpg
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/LordHoweIsland/Oct2009/turtle5.jpg

Offshore Islets

Offshore Islands have provided refuge to a number of animals that have otherwise become rare or extinct on the main island due to predation by Black Rats. I visited one of these to see some of these endangered animals.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/LordHoweIsland/Oct2009/habitat7a.jpg


Lord Howe Island Gecko (Christinus guentheri): These geckos were numerous on an offshore island. I also saw a single animal near accommodation right on Lord Howe itself. Christinus is a genus of cool-adapted geckos within Australia that are mostly distributed in the southern portion of Australia. It is surprising that this genus of gecko managed to reach the Lord Howe.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/LordHoweIsland/Oct2009/gecko3.jpg


These little geckos exhibited an unusual behaviour. They would form a tight coil and place the large toes from one foot over their head and eyes. When coiled like this, they were very inconspicuous when on rocks and leaf litter of the forest floor. Someone on another forum suggested that the geckos were saying "NO MORE PHOTOS!".
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/LordHoweIsland/Oct2009/gecko4.jpg
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/LordHoweIsland/Oct2009/gecko7.jpg

[moloch]

Lord Howe Island Skink (Cyclodina lichenigera): I saw three of these skinks. This species is about the size of an Eastern Water Skink and is thought to have reached Lord Howe from New Zealand.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/LordHoweIsland/Oct2009/skink5.jpg
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/LordHoweIsland/Oct2009/skink3.jpg
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/LordHoweIsland/Oct2009/skink1_400.jpghttp://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/LordHoweIsland/Oct2009/skink2_400.jpg
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[moloch]

Wedge-tailed Shearwaters nested mostly on the small islets around Lord Howe. They were mostly in their burrows when I visited the islet. They moaned continuously and the sound was quite eerie and almost human-like.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/LordHoweIsland/Oct2009/bird_wedgetailed3.jpg
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/LordHoweIsland/Oct2009/bird_wedgetailed2_400.jpghttp://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/LordHoweIsland/Oct2009/bird_wedgetailed1_400.jpg


Lord Howe Island bush cockroach (Panesthia lata) -- common on an offshore island. These roaches are apparently extinct on the main island of Lord Howe due to predation by Black Rats.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/LordHoweIsland/Oct2009/arthro_roach2_400.jpghttp://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/LordHoweIsland/Oct2009/arthro_roach3_400.jpg


Flat Spider (Hemicloea sp.) and a centipede
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/LordHoweIsland/Oct2009/arthro_spider2_400.jpghttp://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/LordHoweIsland/Oct2009/arthro_centipede1_400.jpg

[Peacock Royal]

Great variety of fauna species, excellent pictures.
Thanks for sharing, David

[orionmystery]

Wow...beautiful place..with great varieties of fauna to boast! Wonderful photos, David!

[bluefin]

Wow, a beautiful series of images, David.
Thanks for sharing. :cheers:

[The Plane]

David, very interesting place and thanks for showing us all the nice photos :thumbsup:

[moloch]

Thanks very much for the feedback. I will post more photos later tonight.

[moloch]

Lord Howe Island is the nesting site of a large number of seabirds. Most of these nest during the warm season but there are a few that arrive and nest in the winter as well. October is a peak month for seabird nesting. We saw or heard these birds constantly on all parts of the island.

Brown (Common) Noddy
There was a nesting colony of Brown Noddies at the far end of Blinky Beach. I like the pattern and shape of these terns.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/LordHoweIsland/Oct2009/habitat6.jpg
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/LordHoweIsland/Oct2009/bird_noddy4.jpg
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/LordHoweIsland/Oct2009/noddy2-1.jpg


Masked Booby
Mutton Bird Point was the nesting site of many pairs of Masked Boobies.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/LordHoweIsland/Oct2009/maskedbooby.jpg
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/LordHoweIsland/Oct2009/bird_masked4_400.jpghttp://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/LordHoweIsland/Oct2009/bird_masked2_400.jpg
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/LordHoweIsland/Oct2009/bird_masked3_400.jpghttp://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/LordHoweIsland/Oct2009/bird_masked5_400.jpg

[moloch]

White Tern
The natural habitat has been most altered at this end of the island. This area was settled by Europeans in the early 1800s. Here, many of the exotic Norfolk Island Pines were planted and some of these are now huge trees.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/LordHoweIsland/Oct2009/LordHowe9a.jpg

These trees were a favourite nesting site of the lovely White Tern. I saw large numbers of these nesting in the trees sometimes within a meter or two of the ground. They don't actually build a nest but lay their egg in a slight depression on a branch. White Terns would attempt to drive away other birds such as Pied Currawongs that flew near their nests.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/LordHoweIsland/Oct2009/bird_WhiteTern7.jpg
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/LordHoweIsland/Oct2009/bird_WhiteTern1_400.jpghttp://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/LordHoweIsland/Oct2009/bird_WhiteTern8_400.jpg
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Emerald Ground Doves were often seen as they walked along the forest floor in the wooded areas:
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/LordHoweIsland/Oct2009/emeralddove.jpg

[moloch]

Flesh-footed Shearwaters
At night, one of the most conspicuous birds was the Flesh-footed Shearwater. These birds nest in burrows and would return at dusk. Once it was dark, they were very noisy. Their call vaguely sounded like "pick me, pick me!". They departed before sunrise to return to feed from the ocean.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/LordHoweIsland/Oct2009/bird_Shearwater7.jpg
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/LordHoweIsland/Oct2009/bird_Shearwater3_400.jpghttp://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/LordHoweIsland/Oct2009/bird_Shearwater5_400.jpg
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/LordHoweIsland/Oct2009/bird_shearwater8_400.jpghttp://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/LordHoweIsland/Oct2009/bird_shearwater10_400.jpg


Arthropods and Gastropods of the area included the following:

... a burrowing cricket:
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/LordHoweIsland/Oct2009/arthro_cricket2_400.jpghttp://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/LordHoweIsland/Oct2009/arthro_cricket3_400.jpg

[moloch]

... wasps:
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/LordHoweIsland/Oct2009/arthro_wasp1_400.jpghttp://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/LordHoweIsland/Oct2009/arthro_wasp2_400.jpg


... huntsman (abundant!) and mating slugs:
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/LordHoweIsland/Oct2009/arthro_spider7_400.jpghttp://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/LordHoweIsland/Oct2009/snail2_400.jpg


MOUNTAIN WALKS
Goat House Walk, Mt. Lidgbird
This walk provided a good introduction to the montane plants and also was good for demonstrating what the longer Mt. Gower trek would be like. The trail commenced in the lowlands and then followed a ridge to the first line of cliffs of Mt. Lidgbird. The Goat House is an overhang that forms a natural shelter.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/LordHoweIsland/Oct2009/LordHowe13a.jpg


The trail passed through tall rainforest. Scalybarks (Syzigium fullagarii) were numerous trees and often had buttressed roots.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/LordHoweIsland/Oct2009/plant_syzigium1.jpg


The endemic Pandanus (Pandanus forsteri) with its stilt roots was numerous near the start of the track.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/LordHoweIsland/Oct2009/habitat_goathouse4.jpg


Further along, Curly Palm (Howea belmoreana) became abundant.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/LordHoweIsland/Oct2009/habitat2.jpg

[moloch]

After climbing for an hour and a half, we reached the Goat House. The view over the northern portion of the island was very nice.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/LordHoweIsland/Oct2009/habitat_goathouse2_400.jpghttp://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/LordHoweIsland/Oct2009/habitat_goathouse6_400.jpg
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/LordHoweIsland/Oct2009/lookout.jpg


I found a small trail that continued around to the southeastern slope of Mt. Lidgbird. This area was beautiful. It was cooler and probably received greater rainfall. As a result, the plant life changed dramatically.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/LordHoweIsland/Oct2009/habitat_goathouse1.jpg


Here are a few of the plants from Mt. Lidgbird.
Mountain Rose (Metrosideros nervulosa) had just commenced flowering.
Dracophyllum fitzgeraldii (Epacridaceae) -- the tallest of all the Australian heath plants.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/LordHoweIsland/Oct2009/habitat_goathouse3_400.jpghttp://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/LordHoweIsland/Oct2009/plant_epacris4_400.jpg


Tea Tree (Melaleuca howeana) -- an endemic that is one of the "Aussie" contingent
Mountain Daisy (Olearia balli)
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/LordHoweIsland/Oct2009/plant_melaleuca_400.jpghttp://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/LordHoweIsland/Oct2009/plant_daisy2_400.jpg

[vespa_bicolor]

Beautiful shots of a beautiful, fascinating place. Those "land lobsters" look interesting. Great to see all the interesting fauna there in photos.

[Banded Yeoman]

Emerald Ground Doves were often seen as they walked along the forest floor in the wooded areas:
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/LordHoweIsland/Oct2009/emeralddove.jpg

We have emerald doves here too.:)

[moloch]

Thanks, John and Jonathan.

Yes, I have seen Emerald Doves at Taman Negara. They are also common here in eastern Australia. I live at the south end of their range so I only see them on occasion. Further north, though, they are common.




Summit Trek, Mt. Gower
The most exciting part of my visit was climbing Mt. Gower. The walk is not long but it proceeds from sea level to 875m. The upper section of the trail is steep so the climb is an all-day event. My climb began at 7am and completed at 5:30pm. Walkers can only climb with a guide and weather permitting, there are one or two excursions each week.

The trail commenced about 1.5 km from the cliffs.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/LordHoweIsland/Oct2009/LordHowe6.jpg


It followed the flank of Mt. Lidgbird and passed through dense Kentia Palm forest with Banyan Trees.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/LordHoweIsland/Oct2009/LordHowe21.jpg


The trail eventually reached a cliff. We had a steep climb to a ledge that was 90m above the rocky shore. This section was safe with ropes ... there was no sudden change to the size of our group!
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/LordHoweIsland/Oct2009/habitat_MtGower1.jpg

After an hour or so of a slog up the hill, we reached the saddle between Mt. Lidgbird and Mt. Gower. We stopped at a creek that is home to two species of endemic crustaceans. I found many of the 2cm long shrimp (Parataya howensis) but could not find any of the tiny black crabs (Hymenosoma lacustris):
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/LordHoweIsland/Oct2009/habitat4.jpg
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/LordHoweIsland/Oct2009/arthro_shrimp1_400.jpghttp://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/LordHoweIsland/Oct2009/arthro_shrimp2_400.jpg


The trail became steep above the saddle. Ropes were in place across the most difficult sections so again, it was quite safe. Only one person could use a rope at a time so this gave me plenty of opportunities to take photos (and catch my breath!).
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/LordHoweIsland/Oct2009/habitat_MtGower4.jpg


Finally, we reached the summit where we stopped for lunch. The view over the lagoon was gorgeous.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/LordHoweIsland/Oct2009/LordHowe24.jpg

[moloch]

From the Gower summit, we could look back and down at Mt. Lidgbird.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/LordHoweIsland/Oct2009/LordHowe22.jpg


The top of Mt. Gower is a plateau that is covered with mist forest. The forest was dense and most plants were covered with mosses, lichens, ferns and orchids. Our ranger guide said that the majority of the plants that we saw only grow here on the summit. Lots of endemics!
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/LordHoweIsland/Oct2009/LordHowe25.jpg
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/LordHoweIsland/Oct2009/habitat2a.jpg
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/LordHoweIsland/Oct2009/plant_epacris5_400.jpghttp://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/LordHoweIsland/Oct2009/plant_moss2_400.jpg


Mt. Gower's mist forests are the result of clouds that often envelope the summit:
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/LordHoweIsland/Oct2009/habitat_MtGower2_400.jpghttp://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/LordHoweIsland/Oct2009/habitat_MtGower3_400.jpg


The Mt. Gower plateau is the main nesting locality for Providence Petrels (a.k.a., Solander's Petrel). We saw many active nesting burrows but no adult birds. They are autumn/winter nesters that arrive back on the island in March each year. When they first return, the adults will spiral around the summit during the day. At that time of the year, they are inquisitive and fearless. Our guide said that if you shout or make loud noises, the birds will plummet through the canopy and land on the ground around you to see what is making the racket. On my visit, there were young birds in the burrows but the adults were out feeding and they don't return with their catch until it is dark.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/LordHoweIsland/Oct2009/bird_SolandersPetrel1.jpg

[moloch]

The beautiful Gower Pumpkin Tree (Negria rhabdothamnoides) only grows on the upper slopes of the mountains. It is an arborescent member of the African violet family (e.g., Gesneriaceae).
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/LordHoweIsland/Oct2009/plant_gesneriaceae1.jpg
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/LordHoweIsland/Oct2009/plant_gesneriaceae4_400.jpghttp://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/LordHoweIsland/Oct2009/plant_gesneriaceae3_400.jpg


1) unknown,
2) non-stinging member of Urticaceae
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/LordHoweIsland/Oct2009/plant11_400.jpghttp://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/LordHoweIsland/Oct2009/plant2_400.jpg


I really liked the appearance of these Island Apple (Dysoxylon pachyphyllum). Their fruits, like almost all other native fruits on Lord Howe, were not edible to humans.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/LordHoweIsland/Oct2009/apple.jpg

1) Lordhowea insularis -- I really the "original" latin name of this composite.
2) another Island Apple (Dysoxylon pachyphyllum)
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/LordHoweIsland/Oct2009/plant9_400.jpghttp://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/LordHoweIsland/Oct2009/plant_Dysoxylum1_400.jpg

[moloch]

1) Wedding Lilies (Dietes robinsoniana) had flowers that lasted only a day. It also has a bizarre distribution. The genus is only found on Lord Howe Island and in southern Africa.
2) Mountain Rose (Metrosideros nervulosa) had showy flowers. This genus is widespread across the islands of the South Pacific. Some of you may know a relative from Hawaii ("Ohia") that is popular with the Hawaiian Honeycreepers.
3) Mountain Rose
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/LordHoweIsland/Oct2009/plant_dietes_400.jpghttp://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/LordHoweIsland/Oct2009/plant_ohia4_400.jpg
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/LordHoweIsland/Oct2009/plant_ohia3.jpg


Kava plants (Macropiper hooglandii) were common in the understorey of the Gower plateau. These plants apparently do not have the same effect as the species that is so loved in Fiji.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/LordHoweIsland/Oct2009/plant_piper2.jpg


Mt. Gower is known for its diverse and endemic ferns. Here are photos of a few of the species that I saw while climbing to the summit:
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/LordHoweIsland/Oct2009/plant_treefern1_400.jpghttp://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/LordHoweIsland/Oct2009/fern10_400.jpg
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/LordHoweIsland/Oct2009/fern11_400.jpghttp://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/LordHoweIsland/Oct2009/plant_fern2_400.jpg

[moloch]

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/LordHoweIsland/Oct2009/plant_fern3_400.jpghttp://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/LordHoweIsland/Oct2009/plant_fern4_400.jpg
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[moloch]

There are four species of endemic palms on Lord Howe Island. For those interested in palms, there is a good article with island photos at this site:

http://www.lordhowe-tours.com.au/doc...dorrachis2.pdf

Kentia Palm (Howea forsteriana) -- these palms were abundant in the lowland areas. They are grown commercially for use as an indoor ornamental.
Curly Palm (Howea belmoreana) -- most common on the lower slopes a little above the Kentia Palms.
Big Mountain Palm (Howea canterburyana) -- only grows on the mountains above 400m.
Little Mountain Palm (Lepidorrhachis mooreana) -- restricted to mountaintops.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/LordHoweIsland/Oct2009/plant_kentia1_400.jpghttp://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/LordHoweIsland/Oct2009/plant_palm1_400.jpg
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/LordHoweIsland/Oct2009/plant_LargeMountainPalm1a_400.jpghttp://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/LordHoweIsland/Oct2009/plant_SmallMountainPalm2a_400.jpg



Rock Orchids were abundant on the slopes of Mt. Gower.
1, 2, 3) Bush Orchids (Dendrobium macropus). These orchids were flowering in the lower and mid-elevations.
4) Dendrobium moorei, were common on trees at higher elevations.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/LordHoweIsland/Oct2009/plant_orchid4_400.jpghttp://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/LordHoweIsland/Oct2009/plant_orchid2_400.jpg
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/LordHoweIsland/Oct2009/plant_orchid3_400.jpghttp://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/LordHoweIsland/Oct2009/plant_orchid6_400.jpg

[moloch]

Pied Currawong were bold and inquisitive birds. These are an endemic race with a larger bill than those on the mainland. Their call was much the same as what I hear in Wollongong but their song was different. These would sing with rich, organ-like notes that resembled the song of Black Butcherbirds up in the tropics of northern Queensland. Most of the Currawongs were banded as part of an ongoing population study.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/LordHoweIsland/Oct2009/bird_Currawong6.jpg
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/LordHoweIsland/Oct2009/bird_Currawong1_400.jpghttp://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/LordHoweIsland/Oct2009/bird_Currawong4_400.jpg
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Golden Whistlers are also represented by an endemic race. These birds were common in all forest types from the lowlands to the top of Mt. Gower.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/LordHoweIsland/Oct2009/bird_whistler2.jpg
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/LordHoweIsland/Oct2009/bird_whistler3_400.jpghttp://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/LordHoweIsland/Oct2009/bird_whistler1_400.jpg

[moloch]

We are so lucky to still be able to see Woodhens. These big, flightless rails declined to 22 individuals in the 1970s. After that, the Lord Howe Island Board set about trapping feral cats and these pests were eradicated. As a result, the Woodhen population has flourished and there are now more that 200 of these endemics. I was quite surprised by their "songs". They sounded much like the screeching of a falcon. While calling, they would hold their checkered wings partially opened and drooped. They were not at all wary and I usually could approach to within a few meters of the birds. It was quite amusing to watch them run. Their toes seem to be too big so they awkwardly "goose-step" when scampering away.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/LordHoweIsland/Oct2009/bird_Woodhen.jpg
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/LordHoweIsland/Oct2009/bird_woodhen5_400.jpghttp://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/LordHoweIsland/Oct2009/bird_Woodhen2_400.jpg
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http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/LordHoweIsland/Oct2009/woodhen.jpg


I only saw these flies with strange orange eyes at the summit of Mt. Gower. Here, they were enjoying the delights of fresh Woodhen excrement.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/LordHoweIsland/Oct2009/arthro_dipteran1.jpg



I found these beetles to be very interesting. They appear to be flightless and all that I observed lived high up on the slopes of Mt. Gower. Most were feeding on the flowers of a kava. The ridges on the abdomen of the female are so odd.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/LordHoweIsland/Oct2009/arthro_beetle1.jpg

[Archduke]

very interesting place, thanks for sharing these wonderful pictures
:cheers:

[Great Mormon]

Thanks for sharing these wonderful photos with us. The flora and fauna on the island is very interesting, so much to see and experience on that small little island!

[moloch]

Thanks very much, Mark and Anthony.

Here are few final photos of the island.



NORTHERN LORD HOWE
Malabar Lookout
This was a great place to see nesting seabirds. The cliffs were about 400m in elevation at the lookout ... great for vertigo!
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/LordHoweIsland/Oct2009/LordHowe17.jpg


These are some of the little Admiralty Islets that are visible from Malabar Lookout. They all had massive colonies of seabirds.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/LordHoweIsland/Oct2009/LordHowe10.jpg


Grass Skinks (Lampropholis delicata) are an introduced species from the mainland that has flourished on the main island despite the rats. It was interesting that these little skinks appear to have no trouble coping with the rats. Maybe this is because the are small and diurnal whereas the Lord Howe Island Skink is larger and nocturnal.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/LordHoweIsland/Oct2009/Lampropholis_delicata1.jpg


Red-tailed Tropicbird
Lord Howe Island has the largest nesting colony of Red-tailed Tropicbirds in the world. October is the month when these birds nest and they were everywhere along the cliffs. I loved to sit at Malabar Lookout and watch them fly gracefully back and forth along the cliff face. Sometimes, they would display. The first photo below shows the display posture where the birds would lower their long red tail streamers. On occasion, several birds would interact. They would catch thermals, spiral upward and then drop again while holding their tail streamers downward like this. It was an interesting sight to see multiple birds looping around and around while calling harshly. Once in awhile, I would see synchronized flying by a pairs.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/LordHoweIsland/Oct2009/bird_RedBilledTropicbird1_400.jpghttp://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/LordHoweIsland/Oct2009/bird_RedBilledTropicbird2_400.jpg
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http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/LordHoweIsland/Oct2009/tropicbird.jpg

[moloch]

Sooty Terns
Sooty Terns were the most abundant seabird on the island. They nested in a variety of habitats that included grassy pastures, rocky hilltops, beaches and offshore islets. These birds would swoop at me when I was near their nests but I never was actually hit by their bills.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/LordHoweIsland/Oct2009/bird_SootyTern1.jpg
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http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/LordHoweIsland/Oct2009/lookout2.jpg

[moloch]

Here are a few of the plants that grew near the Malabar Lookout.
1) Christmas Bush (Alyxia ruscifolia) -- pretty shrubs with orange fruits.
2) Hopwood (Dodonea viscosa)
3) Exocarpus homalocladus
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/LordHoweIsland/Oct2009/plant1a.jpg
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/LordHoweIsland/Oct2009/plant4a_400.jpghttp://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/LordHoweIsland/Oct2009/plant6_400.jpg

Orchids were numerous along the cliffs between Malabar and Kim's Lookouts. Some of these were flowering. I think that all of these were Bush Orchids (Dendrobium macropus):
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/LordHoweIsland/Oct2009/plant_orchid9_400.jpghttp://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/LordHoweIsland/Oct2009/plant_orchid10_400.jpg
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/LordHoweIsland/Oct2009/plant_orchid1_400.jpghttp://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/LordHoweIsland/Oct2009/plant_orchid8_400.jpg


Our week long trip went fast and all too soon, it was time to leave. Lord Howe is such a beautiful place and well worth a visit.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/LordHoweIsland/Oct2009/LordHowe28.jpg


Regards,
David

[butterfly_effect]

I love your scenery and bird photos! Makes me wanna walk right into the sea of your photos! Sure would love to have been there!

[moloch]

Thanks, Ellen. Lord Howe is an excellent place to snorkel or dive. I snorkeled and saw the endemic anemone fish, angel and butterfly fish as well as dozens of other species. Wrasses and butterfly fish were the most conspicuous fish. The coral is more colourful than what I see up at the Great Barrier Reef. Water temps are cooler so there has been no problem with coral bleaching that is so prevalent up at the Great Barrier.

While birding one day from a lookout, I saw a large Tiger Shark that was cruising through the shallows. I watched it with my telescope. I was glad that I was watching from high up on the rocks rather than through my mask! I like to see exciting animals but seeing a Tiger Shark up close is not something that I want to experience.

[orionmystery]

Wow....more wonderful flora and fauna...thanks David.

Are these rove beetles?
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/LordHoweIsland/Oct2009/arthro_beetle1.jpg

Guys, when do we go there?:D

[moloch]

Thanks, Kurt. Sorry for the delay in getting back to you. They do look like Rove Beetles and I believe that was the suggestion from an entomologist in Arizona. I was told that these are flightless endemics of Lord Howe.

Regards,
David

[butterfly_effect]

Thanks, Ellen. Lord Howe is an excellent place to snorkel or dive. I snorkeled and saw the endemic anemone fish, angel and butterfly fish as well as dozens of other species. Wrasses and butterfly fish were the most conspicuous fish. The coral is more colourful than what I see up at the Great Barrier Reef. Water temps are cooler so there has been no problem with coral bleaching that is so prevalent up at the Great Barrier.

While birding one day from a lookout, I saw a large Tiger Shark that was cruising through the shallows. I watched it with my telescope. I was glad that I was watching from high up on the rocks rather than through my mask! I like to see exciting animals but seeing a Tiger Shark up close is not something that I want to experience.

NO!!! You scuba dive?!?! WOW!!! You're a versatile photographer! Tiger shark!!! EEP! I wanna go scuba diving there (minus the tiger of course... all other sharks are fine except for these sharks: Mako, White, Tiger and Bull). Whale sharks are my favourite! :D