TONGA RECORDS 89 
BIRDS 
Black-winged Petrel (Lafu) Prerodroma nigripennis 
Lofanga: B1338, in spirit, coll. S.P. Fanua 14 January 1987. 
White-tailed Tropicbird (Tavake) Phaethon lepturus 
Tongatapu: Several at Hufangalupe Beach and about nearby cliffs. Niuvatoputapu: 
Seen August 1988 (Fabian). 
Brown Booby (Ngutulei) Sula leucogaster 
Tongatapu: Seen singly off Fafa I. July 1987, February 1988 and September 1988 
(Fabian). One off Hufangalupe Beach July 1988 (Fabian). ‘Ewa: Nesting on south-east 
cliffs June 1987 (Fabian). 
Lesser Frigatebird (Helekosi) Fregata ariel 
Tongatapu: Adult female at cliffs near "Utulau. 
White-faced Heron Ardea novaehollandiae 
Tongatapu: One on mudflats at Sopu west of Nuku’alofa (6 July 1988). Seen clearly 
and closely for many minutes. 
Reef Heron (Motuku) Egretta sacra 
Tongatapu, Lifuka, Foa: Common around the coast. One at the lake in central Foa. 
Lofanga: One at a small beach. 
In July 1988 total sightings for all islands combined were 12 in dark colour phase, 
6 in white phase and 4 mottled. 
Grey Duck (Toloa) Anas superciliosa 
Tongatapu: 30-40 feeding in lagoon and estuarine pools along coast west of 
Nukw’alofa (6 July 1988). Foa: At least 60 at the lake and swamp at the centre of the 
island. 
Niuafo’ou Megapode (Malau) Megapodius pritchardii 
Niuafo‘ou: B1861, skin, male, coll. R.H. Beck, 3 August 1925 (collector’s no. 341). 
B1855, B1857, B1858, 3 eggs, coll. G.W. Quensell, 26 July 1940. 
Banded Rail (Veka) Rallus philippensis 
Tongatapu: Seen intermittently on the main island in plantation areas and once in a 
Nukw’alofa garden (Fabian). Seen on Fafa I. June-August 1987 (Fabian). Lifuka: One 
running across main road north of Pangai. Foa: One at edge of swamp. Lofanga: 
Several seen on foot-tracks and foraging on the main sandy beach, even bathing at the 
water’s edge. They seemed more numerous and more confiding than on the larger 
islands. 
Purple Swamphen (Kalae) Porphyrio porphyrio 
Tongatapu: One at Sopu west of Nuku’alofa September 1988 (Fabian). Seen on Fafa 
I. July and August 1987 (Fabian). Foa: A few around edge of swamp. 
