Mike Funnell

I startled what I thought might be a Whimbrel, which took off over the lagoon. While it was too far away for a decent photo, I think this is sufficient to ID it as an Eastern Curlew. (Some sources say “Far Eastern”: presumably because it breeds in Siberia — which is north and west of here 🤷‍♂️😂)

A Pacific Emerald Dove on Lord Howe Island.

I was supposed to leave Lord Howe Island today but my ✈️ flight has been cancelled due to weather. Not sure when I’ll be able to leave. Oh, well 🤭🏝️

Five cormorants on a rock — Lord Howe Island.

Another somewhat elusive bird: the Masked Lapwings here don’t much like being approached..

I managed to get a pair of (elusive) Sacred Kingfishers in the same tree! Normally they’re in the same rough area but not perched near each other.

The Golden Whistlers on Lord Howe Island are more often heard than seen — but sometimes briefly show their beaky faces. The males (little show-offs 😍) have especially bright plumage:

A glass or two of wine and good conversation by The Boatshed, watching the sun set over Lord Howe Island lagoon. It’s a tough job but someone has to do it 🤷‍♂️😂

I seem to be doing a bit of “nature red in beak and claw” stuff of late. Here’s a White Faced Heron with a lizard (or salamander? 🤔🤷‍♂️) that didn’t make it..

After writing this column, Kogan.com got in touch upset that I didn't point out Kogan subsidiaries did pay tax (assume they mean company tax, they didn't say). Was happy to add it and provide the the full context. We're talking about $1.8bn revenue, about $20m tax... thepoint.com.au/off-the-char...

Ned’s Beach (Lord Howe Island) from Malabar Ridge.

A Lord Howe Island Silvereye or White Eye (depending on who is naming them):

Mostly, when I’m chasing Sacred Kingfishers (which I seem doomed to do) they stay well-distant — as this one did. While distant (and the photo has been cropped a bit) I did like the light and the framing (while wishing the damned bird was closer)..

What a beautiful, devastatingly poignant tribute to Helen Haines by @fionakatauskas.bsky.social ❤️‍🩹

Here’s a Lord Howe Island Currawong finishing dinner. Judging by the feathers around the claws, I’m guessing some poor little bird died so a Currawong can live 😬

Please don’t tag Helen with her Bsky account, unless it’s well wishes. She or family don’t /wont need all that in her mentions. Can use a hashtag instead. #auspol

I’d seen Pacific Emerald Doves around on this trip to Lord Howe Island — but not with camera in hand (mostly while riding my bike) .. up until this morning. One flew into some bushes. Then another. Then they, um, went about their business without seeming too fussed by me 🤷‍♂️😂

Americans have voted for him once, had time to reflect, then voted him in again anyway. Maybe this is bigger than Trump. Maybe we can't trust America. It's definitely time to act accordingly.

Crowded airspace at Ned’s Beach — Sooty Terns coming in to land..

Taking terns landing… One of the White Terns landed on a branch, shuffled along, then its mate came in..

A Pacific Golden Plover:

Little more personal today x www.thenewdaily.com.au/opinion/2026...

This is supposed to be an island-specific species or subspecies which Ian Hutton (who literally wrote the book on Lord Howe Island birds) wants to call the LHI “White Eye”. I can’t really see much if any difference from mainland Silvereyes 🤷‍♂️

Daylight robbery. My cartoon in today's @theageaustralia.bsky.social and @sydmorningherald.bsky.social

I’ve photographed birds so I guess it’s time for a bee:

I'm thrilled to share my first foray into nature writing. I describe my travels through Aotearoa New Zealand to see the country's rarest birds—and use this as a vehicle to tell the stories of the islands' evolutionary history and the bold conservation efforts that saved these creatures. Gift link

On Lord Howe Island everybody rides bicycles - even the birds 🦅 🚲

Biosecurity on the island is in good paws 🐾

A couple of birds from yesterday and one from this morning (the weather wasn’t great yesterday — it happens even in paradise — but I did get out a bit). A Black Noddy, a Sacred Kingfisher and this morning’s welcome little Welcome swallow..

Another photo of the elusive Sacred Kingfisher:

A Sooty Tern cruising by the water at Blinky Beach.

A somewhat distant Sacred Kingfisher, from this morning:

A White Faced Heron on Lord Howe Island. These are the same as the mainland ones, and seem to have made their way here all by themselves.

Male Blackbirds on Lord Howe Island (these are an introduced European species, from “way back when” and are quite common on the island).

The Island Trader is docked at the Jetty at Lord Howe Island this morning. This is A Big Deal as the island is quite dependent on sea freight — and sometimes weather or tides prevent it from getting through the reef passage. Made it this time 😃😮‍💨

Male and female Golden Whistlers. This sub-species is unique to Lord Howe Island, though similar to their mainland cousins:

A parawing hydrofoil sailboard scooting along at Ned’s Beach, Lord Howe Island.