Stewart Island pelagic February 2022

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Matt Jones
Posts: 65
Joined: Fri Feb 18, 2011 10:16 pm
Location: Oban Stewart Island New Zealand
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Stewart Island pelagic February 2022

Postby Matt Jones » Tue Oct 12, 2021 12:56 pm

Tuesday 8th February 2022 there will be a full day Stewart Island pelagic departing Halfmoon Bay around 8am on Aurora Charters catamaran, skippered by Ian Wilson.

A bit of background first because this will dictate the price! Wrybill Birding Tours NZ have a 21-day tour around NZ with some Aussie birders and the pelagic will be part of this tour. If it goes ahead, NZ birders could join just the pelagic for about $330pp.

BUT given the current climate / international border closures if the 21-day tour does NOT go ahead, then the charter is still available for NZ-based birders but then the cost would be dependent on number of passengers so *minimum numbers are required to make it a go-er*. Price TBA.

I will be guiding the Wrybill tour so will be on the pelagic anyway. If interested contact me directly and I'll put your name down - and then book accommodation at Stewart Island pronto!

Stewart Island is well worth a 2-3 night visit to fit in Ulva Island and evening kiwi spotting. Look forward to hearing from you - cheers, Matt
Matt Jones
Rakiura :: Stewart Island :: NZ http://www.mattjoneswildlifeimages.com
Ulva's Guided Walks - ultimate Ulva Island birding
Wrybill Birding Tours - great birds, real birders
User avatar
Matt Jones
Posts: 65
Joined: Fri Feb 18, 2011 10:16 pm
Location: Oban Stewart Island New Zealand
Contact:

Re: Stewart Island pelagic February 2022

Postby Matt Jones » Wed Dec 15, 2021 11:18 am

This Pelagic is still on for the 08th February 2022, but obviously now just for NZ based birders. As the Wrybill Birding Tour with Aussies birders has postponed.

The trip will depart Halfmoon bay on the 08th February at 08:30 and should return around 16:00/17:00 ish!

The cost for this pelagic is $320pp.

Contact me if your keen for your southern seabird fix..

Cheers
Matt
Matt Jones
Rakiura :: Stewart Island :: NZ http://www.mattjoneswildlifeimages.com
Ulva's Guided Walks - ultimate Ulva Island birding
Wrybill Birding Tours - great birds, real birders
User avatar
Matt Jones
Posts: 65
Joined: Fri Feb 18, 2011 10:16 pm
Location: Oban Stewart Island New Zealand
Contact:

Re: Stewart Island pelagic February 2022

Postby Matt Jones » Wed Feb 09, 2022 11:19 am

TRIP REPORT

Yesterday morning at 8:30am the Aurora left Halfmoon bay wharf Oban, first stop was Sarah's Cove where we found three moulting Fiordland Crested Penguins in a cave.
Then past Bench Island and Flat Rock, we headed south to Wreck Reef.
With no wind or breeze to speak of it was always going to be a challenge! But it turned out to be a fruitful pelagic....

With no storm-petrels seen, probably the highlight was the constant stream of Mottled Petrels slowly cruising past the vessel.
The other surprise/highlight was a possible Gray's or Hector's Beaked Whale which surfaced by the vessel a couple of times.

Cheers
Matt


Wandering Albatross (Gibson) X1
Southern Royal Albatross X39
Northern Royal Albatross X1
White-capped Albatross X68+
Salvin's Albatross X6
Buller's Albatross X7
Campbell Island Albatross X1
Northern Giant Petrel X5
White-chinned Petrel X7
Mottled Petrel X85+
Cooks Petrel X16
Cape Petrel X29
Common Diving Petrel X28
Fairy Prion X154+
Sooty Shearwater 2000+
Short-tailed Shearwater X1
Hutton's Shearwater X2
Fiordland crested penguin X5
Little Blue Penguin X8
Southern Brown Skua X2
Kelp Gull X20+
Red-billed Gull X100+
White-fronted Tern X22+
Foveaux Shag X140+
Spotted Shag X9
Pied Shag X2

Hector's or Gray's Beaked Whale X1
Blue Shark X1
NZ Fur Seal X30+
Matt Jones
Rakiura :: Stewart Island :: NZ http://www.mattjoneswildlifeimages.com
Ulva's Guided Walks - ultimate Ulva Island birding
Wrybill Birding Tours - great birds, real birders

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