Below is a brief summary of highlights seen during our 4 days at sea. More details will be on Ebird thanks to Chris Tuffley.
Chatham Albatross Locally common around Pyramid with occasion birds visiting at other locations.
Buller’s Albatross. Northern.
Salvin’s Albatross 3-4 juv birds
White capped Albatross 3+
Northern Royal Albatross Regularly seen.
Snowy Albatross 1 first cycle.
Black browed Albatross I Juv
N. Giant Petrel 4+max
Cape Petrel 4+
Black winged Petrel Seen in small numbers each day
*Chatham Petrel. 2.seen reasonably well. One around the boat but brief.
Cook’s Petrel. Occasionally seen.
White chinned Petrel 1 or 2 most days.
*Goulds Petrel. 1.
Grey faced Petrel 1.
White faced Storm Petrel. Common in slick up 200+ at times.
Grey backed Storm Petrel. Occasionally seen in slick.
Sooty Shearwater. Regularly seen through out the days.
Buller’s Shearwater Occasionally seen
Fairy Prion
*Pyramid Prion. One confirmed image of bird south of South East Island.
Arctic Skua. 6+
Chatham Skua. 2+ off the Pyramid.
Chatham Shag
Pitt Shag
White Fronted Tern. Occasionally at see at see, large breeding flocks On Pyramid and Forty Fours.
Plus all realistic land birds endemics.
Sub Antarctic Fur seal at seal colony at Port manning.
Image 1) Gould’s Petrel.
Image 2) Pyramid Prion (left) and local Fairy Prion (right hand)
Image 3) Chatham Petrel.
Planning to repeat this trip at the end of this year (7days on the Island including 4 day trips at sea.) with some adjustments on what we have just learnt. Four places available at the moment with dates to be confirmed. If you are interested get in touch to secure a spot and for further details.
Steve.
Chatham Island Pelagic - Jan 2024
- Steve Wood
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- Michael Szabo
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Re: Chatham Island Pelagic - Jan 2024
Here's our eBird trip report with 47 checklists - photos are being added as and when we download them:
https://ebird.org/tripreport/200258
https://ebird.org/tripreport/200258
'New Zealand Birders' Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/857726274293085
- David Riddell
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Re: Chatham Island Pelagic - Jan 2024
Sounds like a fantastic trip, but I've just booked on a "Birding Special", run by Flowerpot Bay Lodge on Pitt Island! Three days, including a pelagic out to the Pyramid. Also a good range of endemics on and around Pitt itself, including nesting Chatham petrels and Antipodean albatross. If anyone can't wait until the end of the year I think there are still a few spaces available, dates are 8-11 and 22-25 March - see https://www.facebook.com/bernnbrents
- Steve Wood
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Re: Chatham Island Pelagic - Jan 2024
Hi Dave, the “Birding Special” sounds like a good choice with some great birds and special places on offer.
The trip that is on offer at the end of the year, is more geared for the hard core sea birder/photographer although we also cover all of the main Chatham Island and all it has to offer, all land birds, but no birds in burrows, just free flying ones
The trip that is on offer at the end of the year, is more geared for the hard core sea birder/photographer although we also cover all of the main Chatham Island and all it has to offer, all land birds, but no birds in burrows, just free flying ones
- Michael Szabo
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Re: Chatham Island Pelagic - Jan 2024
Good luck for your trip, David - I'm interested to know what bird species you see over there.
'New Zealand Birders' Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/857726274293085
- Michael Szabo
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Re: Chatham Island Pelagic - Jan 2024
I've uploaded more photos to our eBird trip report:
https://ebird.org/tripreport/200258
https://ebird.org/tripreport/200258
'New Zealand Birders' Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/857726274293085
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Re: Chatham Island Pelagic - Jan 2024
Steve, what's a Chatham skua? Is that a mistype for something else?
- Michael Szabo
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Re: Chatham Island Pelagic - Jan 2024
'New Zealand Birders' Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/857726274293085
- Steve Wood
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Re: Chatham Island Pelagic - Jan 2024
Hi Jan,
I was referring to the Chatham race of sub Antarctic Skua, so yes a typo.
I was referring to the Chatham race of sub Antarctic Skua, so yes a typo.
- Michael Szabo
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Re: Chatham Island Pelagic - Jan 2024
Btw Steve, I see that Peter Harrison's 'Seabirds: The New Identification Guide' (2021) has an illustration on page 243 of 'Chatham Brown Skua' showing it with a 'copper neck' and the text describes it as having a 'Lion's mane' that contrasts with the mantle.
'New Zealand Birders' Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/857726274293085