Birds and Ile des Pins

Birds we have seen in New Caledonia so far:
Silvereye
New Caledonian Myzomela - Ile Ouen
New Caledonian/Goliath Imperial Pigeon - Ile Ouen
Red-vented Bulbul in marina
Silver Gull same as Red-billed Gull in New Zealand
House Sparrow in Noumea and marina
Black Noddy 1000s on passage from Ile Ouen flying, diving, fishing, sitting.
Brown Noddy 100s on same passage diving, fishing.
Great Crested Terns at sea and resting on reef - as in all South Pacific
Gray-eared/Dark Brown Honeyeater - Ile Ouen
Osprey at sea, fishing
Common Waxbill in city
Purple Swamphen, same as Pukeko in New Zealand
Rainbow Lorikeets - Noumea Central Park, same as Vanuatu
White-faced Heron - same as New Zealand
Spotted Dove in Noumea
Fan-tailed Gerygone - Ile Ouen and same as Vanuatu
Common Myna in Noumea

Also turtles, very large. A sea snake in Port Moselle harbor,
There are many more sea birds here than in Vanuatu. Our theory is that in New Caledonia the French have a military presence and keep out the illegal Southeast Asian fishing fleets. More fish equals more sea birds. We see the war ships patrolling off south Grand Terre.

Our sail from Grande Terre to Ile des Pins was fast, smooth and lovely. More turtles here and the yacht, "The Rose" which we met in Surrarow.

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