Birds (and things) of the Seychelles by Paul Mellor

The week in June 2002 that I spent in the Seychelles was not primarily a "birding" holiday, but I couldn't resist taking some snaps of the residents. I was based on the main island, Mahe, but was lucky enough to spend a day as the guest of a research worker on Cousin Island, which is a BirdLife Seychelles reserve (see Birds magazine, Summer 2002, page 42).
Unfortunately, none of the endemic birds are very colourful, an evolutionary quirk, but the immigrant birds and vegetation make up for this somewhat.

Film used varied from Kodak GT 800 ISO print, used in sometimes dense woodland, to Fujichrome Sensia 200 ISO slide for brighter situations and views.

Equipment was a Canon EOS 1000 and two telephoto lenses covering 35mm to 300mm, all kindly loaned for the trip by Ken Hayter.

Fairy Tern and egg Cousin Island. Photographically irresistable

Fairy Tern chick Cousin Island

White-Tailed Tropicbird youngster Cousin Island.
Note well developed tail streamer.

Wedge-Tailed Shearwaters Cousin Island.
15,000 pairs nest here in burrows.

Seychelles Magpie-Robin (endemic). Cousin Island. Endangered species, about 100 exist.

Barred Ground Dove (another immigrant) Mahe Island.
Half the size of our Collared Dove

Seychelles Sunbird (endemic) Mahe Island. Robin sized.

Palm spider (100 - 150mm across) Mahe Island. Completely harmless!

Fairy Tern and chick Cousin Island

Bridled Tern Cousin Island Much rarer than the similar Sooty Tern

White-Tailed Tropicbird chick Cousin Island (Aahh!) 1000 pairs breed on Cousin

Lesser Noddy (on nest) Cousin Island
80,000 pairs breed here.

Seychelles Fody (endemic). Cousin Island. Cheeky and sparrow-like, only found on three small islands.

Indian Mynah (the commonest scavenger) Mahe Island. Sometimes preys on chicks

Cattle Egret Mahe Island In its "natural" habitat, Victoria fish market!

Wright's Skink (endemic). Cousin Island.
About 300mm long