Nasoata Island Visit - Pacifc Birds

BACKGROUND
A reconnaissance visit to Nasoata Island was made by members of the Ramsar Working Group on 20th April 2001. The purpose was to make an initial assessment as to the potential for Nasoata to be Fiji’s Ramsar nomination site.
The party arrived at the island at about 0930 and left at 1515. Low tide was at 1027.
This note records wildlife observations and impressions on the mangrove habitat.

WILDLIFE – TERRESTRIAL VERTEBRATES
Mammals
Mongoose Herpestes auropunctatus. Common – several individuals seen and tracks observed throughout the mangrove.
Rats. No sign noted but may well occur.

Reptiles

Skinks
Blue-tailed Copper Skinks Emoia cyanura/impar. Common
Moth Skink Lipinia noctua. Recorded.
Neither the Snake-eyed Skink Cryptoblepharus eximius or the Green Tree Skink Emoia concolor were observed, but may well occur

Geckos
Oceanic Gecko Gehyra oceanica. Recorded
Mourning Gecko Lepidodactylus lugubris. Recorded

Birds

Land & Freshwater Birds

Beo Reef Heron Egretta sacra

Visako Mangrove Heron Butorides striatus

Ganiviti Pacific Black Duck Anas superciliosa. Several flocks feeding or resting on mudflats. 60 in three flocks counted from one spot during our lunch break. The largest number I have ever seen at one time in Fiji.

Sësë Collared Kingfisher Todiramphus chloris. Observed and heard several times.

Kikau Wattled Honeyeater Foulehaio carunculata.
Very common and noisy.

Vanikoro Broadbill Myiagra vanikorensis. At least 2 pairs calling.

Maina Jungle Mynah Acridotheres fuscus. 6 individuals seen in the mangroves – a rather surpising observation of this introduced bird.

Sea and Shore Birds
Lesser Frigatebird Fregata ariel.
A single individual flying overhead

Crested Tern Sterna bergii. Approximately 50 observed resting on flats adjacent to the island.

Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus. 30 observed on the mudflats off the southern beach. This is a large flock of this uncommon and shy migrant, by Fijian standards.

Dilio Pacific Golden Plover Pluvialis fulva. A few individuals mixed in with the Wandering Tattlers (see below).

Bar-tailed Godwit Limosa lapponica. 8 noted (but see note below).
Turnstone Arenaria interpres. A few individuals mixed in with the Wandering Tattlers.
Juli Wandering Tattlers Heteroscelus incanus. A flock of over 200 on the mudflats off the southern beach.

POINTS OF INTEREST – WILDLIFE
As to be expected, nothing of great interest or unexpected in the mangroves or the small dry-land area. However, the mudflats adjoining the island are extensive and of major interest in respect of Nasoata’s possible selection for Ramsar nomination. Over 300 waders were observed on these mudflats, the majority of which were Wandering Tattlers which are our last waders to leave on their northern migration (they leave in late April or early May). Fiji’s other commoner wader, the Golden Plovers, Bar-tailed Godwits and Turnstones have already left on their northern migration which accounts for their low numbers during our visit. If these waders occur around Nasoata in the same proportion as they do at Suva point, where the numbers are monitored, then peak numbers in February, March at Nasoata would be approximately 900-1000, a very impressive number by Fijian standards, and a major attribute for Nasoata’s possible selection, provided the adjacent mudflats are part of the selected site. Two of these muflats are quite elevated, ie they concentrate the waders as the tide rises and allow them to rest and feed when much of the surrounding flat is submerged.

MANGROVES
The visit confirmed the observations made in 1985 that Nasoata Island has an outstanding stand of Dogo Bruguiera gymnorhiza, as impressive as any I have seen anywhere in Fiji. The small area of Dabi Xylocarpus granatum dominated mangrove is also very impressive. Overall the mangroves look almost completely untouched, whereas many similar areas on the `mainland’ have had some felling – Nasoata was never included in Forestry’s coup plan for the Rewa mangroves.