Birds Seen in French Polynesia
Peter R. Bono  5-19 November 2009

Red Junglefowl   Gallus gallus
    11/5/2009   Tahiti--Grotto      several
    11/7/2009   Moorea Sofitel Ia Ora Resort      2
    11/8/2009   Moorea Sofitel Ia Ora Resort      3
F Tahiti Petrel   Pterodroma rostrata
    11/9/2009   Tahiti--pelagic to north of island on Pacific Princess      6 seen fairly well; dark hood; white belly
    11/10/2009   Huahine--pelagic to south of island on Pacific Princess      2 in afternoon
    11/11/2009   Huahine to Rangiroa--pelagic on Pacific Princess      4
    11/13/2009   Rangiroa to Raiatea--pelagic on Pacific Princess      12
    11/17/2009   Moorea--pelagic 13 miles nw of island from Pacific Princess      3
    11/17/2009   Moorea--pelagic to northwest of island on Pacific Princess      10
F Kermadec Petrel   Pterodroma neglecta
    11/6/2009   Tahiti to Moorea ferry      1 seen fairly well at distance thru x8.5 bins; all dark with a few white shafts in outer primaries on upper surface of wings
Herald Petrel   Pterodroma arminjoniana
    11/8/2009   Tahiti to Moorea ferry      1 all dark Pterodroma shearwater
Wedge-tailed Shearwater   Puffinus pacificus
    11/10/2009   Huahine--pelagic to south of island on Pacific Princess      50 in afternoon
    11/11/2009   Huahine to Rangiroa--pelagic on Pacific Princess      3
F Christmas Shearwater   Puffinus nativitatis
    11/13/2009   Rangiroa to Raiatea--pelagic on Pacific Princess      2 seen very well; all dark Puffinus
Audubon's Shearwater   Puffinus lherminieri
    11/10/2009   Huahine--pelagic to south of island on Pacific Princess      1 in morning
    11/11/2009   Huahine to Rangiroa--pelagic on Pacific Princess      2
    11/17/2009   Moorea--pelagic 13 miles nw of island from Pacific Princess      4
Red-tailed Tropicbird   Phaethon rubricauda
    11/11/2009   Huahine to Rangiroa--pelagic on Pacific Princess      1
White-tailed Tropicbird   Phaethon lepturus
    11/6/2009   Tahiti to Moorea ferry      2
    11/8/2009   Tahiti to Moorea ferry      2
    11/9/2009   Tahiti--Papanoo Valley      1
    11/10/2009   Huahine--pelagic to south of island on Pacific Princess      3
    11/11/2009   Huahine to Rangiroa--pelagic on Pacific Princess      4
    11/13/2009   Rangiroa to Raiatea--pelagic on Pacific Princess      8
    11/14/2009   Raiatea      4
    11/17/2009   Moorea--pelagic to northwest of island on Pacific Princess      1
Red-footed Booby   Sula sula
    11/6/2009   Tahiti to Moorea ferry      10
    11/8/2009   Tahiti to Moorea ferry      50
    11/10/2009   Huahine--pelagic to south of island on Pacific Princess      2 in morning
    11/12/2009   Rangiroa--entering and leaving lagoon on Pacific Princess      6 in afternoon
    11/13/2009   Rangiroa to Raiatea--pelagic on Pacific Princess      3
    11/15/2009   Bora Bora--pelagic to south of island on Pacific Princess      4
    11/17/2009   Moorea--pelagic 13 miles nw of island from Pacific Princess      11
Great Frigatebird   Fregata minor
    11/6/2009   Tahiti to Moorea ferry      2
    11/9/2009   Tahiti--pelagic to north of island on Pacific Princess      1
    11/10/2009   Huahine--pelagic to south of island on Pacific Princess      1 in afternoon
    11/11/2009   Huahine to Rangiroa--pelagic on Pacific Princess      1 subadult
    11/12/2009   Rangiroa--entering and leaving lagoon on Pacific Princess      11 in morning;4 in afternoon
    11/12/2009   Rangiroa--near Mota Paio      6
    11/12/2009   Rangiroa--motus surrounding Blue Lagoon      3
    11/13/2009   Rangiroa to Raiatea--pelagic on Pacific Princess      6
Lesser Frigatebird   Fregata ariel
    11/12/2009   Rangiroa--entering and leaving lagoon on Pacific Princess      2 in afternoon; distant photo
Pacific Reef-Heron   Egretta sacra
    11/5/2009   Tahiti--Lagoonarium      1
    11/5/2009   Tahiti--Blowhole      1
    11/6/2009   Tahiti to Moorea ferry      1
    11/8/2009   Moorea Sofitel Ia Ora Resort      1
    11/9/2009   Tahiti--Papahue Valley Monarch Sanctuary      1
    11/9/2009   Tahiti--Papanoo Valley      1
    11/10/2009   Huahine--pelagic to south of island on Pacific Princess      1 in morning
    11/10/2009   Huahine--around sacred ruins at Maeva      3
    11/14/2009   Raiatea      1
    11/17/2009   Moorea--Opunopu Bay and nearby interior      1
Striated Heron   Butorides striata
    11/5/2009   Tahiti--Blowhole      1
    11/9/2009   Tahiti--Papahue Valley Monarch Sanctuary      1
Swamp Harrier   Circus approximans
    11/5/2009   Tahiti--Faaa Airport      1
    11/8/2009   Moorea Sofitel Ia Ora Resort      1
    11/10/2009   Huahine--around sacred ruins at Maeva      1
    11/14/2009   Raiatea      1
    11/17/2009   Moorea--Opunopu Bay and nearby interior      1
F Bristle-thighed Curlew   Numenius tahitiensis
    11/5/2009   Tahiti--Blowhole      1 flying by along beach; not great look
    11/12/2009   Rangiroa--motus surrounding Blue Lagoon      3 seen very well at close range; photo
Wandering Tattler   Tringa incana
    11/5/2009   Tahiti--Blowhole      2
    11/6/2009   Tahiti to Moorea ferry      2
    11/7/2009   Moorea Sofitel Ia Ora Resort      2
    11/8/2009   Moorea Sofitel Ia Ora Resort      2
    11/12/2009   Rangiroa--motus surrounding Blue Lagoon      2
    11/14/2009   Raiatea      2
Brown Noddy   Anous stolidus
    11/5/2009   Tahiti--Lagoonarium      6
    11/6/2009   Tahiti to Moorea ferry      150
    11/7/2009   Moorea Sofitel Ia Ora Resort      6
    11/8/2009   Tahiti to Moorea ferry      500
    11/10/2009   Huahine--pelagic to south of island on Pacific Princess      3 in morning; 30 in afternoon
    11/12/2009   Rangiroa--entering and leaving lagoon on Pacific Princess      14 in morning;10 in afternoon
    11/12/2009   Rangiroa--near Mota Paio      30
    11/12/2009   Rangiroa--motus surrounding Blue Lagoon      2 20 at very close range; feeding young on nest; photo
    11/14/2009   Raiatea      20
    11/15/2009   Bora Bora--pelagic to south of island on Pacific Princess      3
    11/17/2009   Moorea--pelagic 13 miles nw of island from Pacific Princess      5
    11/17/2009   Moorea--Opunopu Bay and nearby interior      6
    11/18/2009   Tahiti--downtown Papeete      2
    11/19/2009   Tahiti--Museum of Tahiti grounds and nearby beach      4
Black Noddy   Anous minutus
    11/12/2009   Rangiroa--near Mota Paio      2
F Blue Noddy   Procelsterna cerulea
    11/6/2009   Tahiti to Moorea ferry      1
    11/12/2009   Rangiroa--entering and leaving lagoon on Pacific Princess      2 in morning
    11/12/2009   Rangiroa--near Mota Paio      10
White Tern   Gygis alba
    11/5/2009   Tahiti--Sofitel Maeva Beach      3
    11/6/2009   Tahiti to Moorea ferry      10
    11/7/2009   Moorea Sofitel Ia Ora Resort      12
    11/8/2009   Moorea Sofitel Ia Ora Resort      6
    11/8/2009   Tahiti to Moorea ferry      2
    11/10/2009   Huahine--pelagic to south of island on Pacific Princess      5 in morning;10 in afternoon
    11/10/2009   Huahine--around sacred ruins at Maeva      6
    11/12/2009   Rangiroa--entering and leaving lagoon on Pacific Princess      10 in morning; 10 in afternoon
    11/12/2009   Rangiroa--motus surrounding Blue Lagoon      8
    11/13/2009   Rangiroa to Raiatea--pelagic on Pacific Princess      1
    11/14/2009   Raiatea      2
    11/15/2009   Bora Bora--pelagic to south of island on Pacific Princess      3
    11/17/2009   Moorea--Opunopu Bay and nearby interior      6
    11/17/2009   Moorea--pelagic to northwest of island on Pacific Princess      2
    11/18/2009   Tahiti--downtown Papeete      4
    11/18/2009   Tahiti--Sofitel Maeva Beach Resort      2
Sooty Tern   Onychoprion fuscatus
    11/6/2009   Tahiti to Moorea ferry      6
    11/7/2009   Moorea Sofitel Ia Ora Resort      1
    11/11/2009   Huahine to Rangiroa--pelagic on Pacific Princess      3
    11/12/2009   Rangiroa--entering and leaving lagoon on Pacific Princess      1 in afternoon
    11/13/2009   Rangiroa to Raiatea--pelagic on Pacific Princess      4
F Gray-backed Tern   Onychoprion lunatus
    11/12/2009   Rangiroa--entering and leaving lagoon on Pacific Princess      8 in morning
    11/12/2009   Rangiroa--near Mota Paio      10
Great Crested Tern   Thalasseus bergii
    11/5/2009   Tahiti--Sofitel Maeva Beach      4
    11/5/2009   Tahiti--Lagoonarium      2
    11/6/2009   Tahiti to Moorea ferry      6
    11/7/2009   Moorea Sofitel Ia Ora Resort      4
    11/8/2009   Tahiti to Moorea ferry      4
    11/10/2009   Huahine--pelagic to south of island on Pacific Princess      6 in afternoon
    11/10/2009   Huahine--around sacred ruins at Maeva      2
    11/12/2009   Rangiroa--entering and leaving lagoon on Pacific Princess      16 in morning; 6 in afternoon
    11/12/2009   Rangiroa--motus surrounding Blue Lagoon      8
    11/14/2009   Raiatea      5
    11/17/2009   Moorea--Opunopu Bay and nearby interior      4
    11/17/2009   Moorea--pelagic to northwest of island on Pacific Princess      2
    11/18/2009   Tahiti--downtown Papeete      2
    11/18/2009   Tahiti--Sofitel Maeva Beach Resort      2
    11/19/2009   Tahiti--Museum of Tahiti grounds and nearby beach      4
Rock Pigeon   Columba livia
    11/5/2009   Tahiti--Sofitel Maeva Beach      many
    11/7/2009   Moorea Sofitel Ia Ora Resort      1
    11/8/2009   Moorea Sofitel Ia Ora Resort      2
    11/9/2009   Tahiti--Papanoo Valley      many
    11/14/2009   Raiatea      many
    11/18/2009   Tahiti--downtown Papeete      many
    11/18/2009   Tahiti--Sofitel Maeva Beach Resort      several
    11/19/2009   Tahiti--Sofitel Maeva Beach Resort      several
    11/19/2009   Tahiti--Museum of Tahiti grounds and nearby beach      several
Zebra Dove   Geopelia striata
    11/5/2009   Tahiti--Sofitel Maeva Beach      4
    11/5/2009   Tahiti--Paul Gauguin Museum      4
    11/6/2009   Tahiti to Moorea ferry      10
    11/7/2009   Moorea Sofitel Ia Ora Resort      6
    11/8/2009   Moorea Sofitel Ia Ora Resort      6
    11/9/2009   Tahiti--Papanoo Valley      many
    11/10/2009   Huahine--around sacred ruins at Maeva      several
    11/14/2009   Raiatea      many
    11/17/2009   Moorea--Opunopu Bay and nearby interior      many
    11/18/2009   Tahiti--downtown Papeete      many
    11/18/2009   Tahiti--Sofitel Maeva Beach Resort      several
    11/19/2009   Tahiti--Sofitel Maeva Beach Resort      several
    11/19/2009   Tahiti--Museum of Tahiti grounds and nearby beach      several
F Gray-green Fruit-Dove   Ptilinopus purpuratus
    11/10/2009   Huahine--around sacred ruins at Maeva      2 seen well but briefly thru 8.5x bins
    11/14/2009   Raiatea      5
F Blue Lorikeet   Vini peruviana
    11/12/2009   Rangiroa--motus surrounding Blue Lagoon      7 seen very well; heard also; photos
F Polynesian Swiftlet   Aerodramus leucophaeus
    11/9/2009   Tahiti--Papahue Valley Monarch Sanctuary      1 75 in one nesting colony
F Tahiti Kingfisher   Todiramphus veneratus
    11/9/2009   Tahiti--Papahue Valley Monarch Sanctuary      3 heard and seen well
    11/17/2009   Moorea--Opunopu Bay and nearby interior      1 juvenile at sacred ruins site
Pacific Swallow   Hirundo tahitica
    11/5/2009   Tahiti--Grotto      1 on nest above grotto entrance
Red-vented Bulbul   Pycnonotus cafer
    11/5/2009   Tahiti--Sofitel Maeva Beach      4
    11/5/2009   Tahiti--Paul Gauguin Museum      2
    11/6/2009   Tahiti to Moorea ferry      12
    11/7/2009   Moorea Sofitel Ia Ora Resort      10
    11/8/2009   Moorea Sofitel Ia Ora Resort      10
    11/9/2009   Tahiti--Papahue Valley Monarch Sanctuary      several
    11/10/2009   Huahine--around sacred ruins at Maeva      several
    11/14/2009   Raiatea      many
    11/17/2009   Moorea--Opunopu Bay and nearby interior      many
    11/18/2009   Tahiti--downtown Papeete      many
    11/18/2009   Tahiti--Sofitel Maeva Beach Resort      several
    11/19/2009   Tahiti--Sofitel Maeva Beach Resort      many
    11/19/2009   Tahiti--Museum of Tahiti grounds and nearby beach      many
h Tahiti Reed-Warbler   Acrocephalus caffer
    11/9/2009   Tahiti--Papanoo Valley      4 different birds heard well skulking in thick bamboo; could not locate any of them
F Tahiti Monarch   Pomarea nigra
    11/9/2009   Tahiti--Papahue Valley Monarch Sanctuary      1 pair seen and heard well at nest
Silver-eye   Zosterops lateralis
    11/5/2009   Tahiti--Grotto      1
    11/5/2009   Tahiti--Paul Gauguin Museum      2
    11/7/2009   Moorea Sofitel Ia Ora Resort      2
    11/8/2009   Moorea Sofitel Ia Ora Resort      2
    11/9/2009   Tahiti--Papahue Valley Monarch Sanctuary      4
    11/10/2009   Huahine--around sacred ruins at Maeva      1
    11/14/2009   Raiatea      1
    11/17/2009   Moorea--Opunopu Bay and nearby interior      many
    11/18/2009   Tahiti--Sofitel Maeva Beach Resort      3
    11/19/2009   Tahiti--Sofitel Maeva Beach Resort      6
Common Myna   Acridotheres tristis
    11/5/2009   Tahiti--Paul Gauguin Museum      many
    11/6/2009   Tahiti to Moorea ferry      many
    11/7/2009   Moorea Sofitel Ia Ora Resort      many
    11/8/2009   Moorea Sofitel Ia Ora Resort      many
    11/9/2009   Tahiti--Papahue Valley Monarch Sanctuary      many
    11/10/2009   Huahine--around sacred ruins at Maeva      many
    11/14/2009   Raiatea      many
    11/17/2009   Moorea--Opunopu Bay and nearby interior      many
    11/18/2009   Tahiti--downtown Papeete      many
    11/18/2009   Tahiti--Sofitel Maeva Beach Resort      many
    11/19/2009   Tahiti--Sofitel Maeva Beach Resort      many
    11/19/2009   Tahiti--Museum of Tahiti grounds and nearby beach      many
Common Waxbill   Estrilda astrild
    11/7/2009   Moorea Sofitel Ia Ora Resort      6
    11/9/2009   Tahiti--Papahue Valley Monarch Sanctuary      2
Red-browed Firetail   Neochmia temporalis
    11/5/2009   Tahiti--Waterfall      1
    11/18/2009   Tahiti--Sofitel Maeva Beach Resort      6
    11/19/2009   Tahiti--Sofitel Maeva Beach Resort      several
    11/19/2009   Tahiti--Museum of Tahiti grounds and nearby beach      4
Chestnut-breasted Munia   Lonchura castaneothorax
    11/5/2009   Tahiti--Sofitel Maeva Beach      2
    11/6/2009   Tahiti to Moorea ferry      10
    11/7/2009   Moorea Sofitel Ia Ora Resort      4
    11/8/2009   Moorea Sofitel Ia Ora Resort      8
    11/9/2009   Tahiti--Papahue Valley Monarch Sanctuary      4
    11/14/2009   Raiatea      2
    11/18/2009   Tahiti--downtown Papeete      many
    11/18/2009   Tahiti--Sofitel Maeva Beach Resort      8
    11/19/2009   Tahiti--Sofitel Maeva Beach Resort      many
    11/19/2009   Tahiti--Museum of Tahiti grounds and nearby beach      many

205 sightings; 39 species seen or heard; 12 life birds (including 1 heard only).