Whakatane Pelagic

[Ken George]

An enjoyable and productive day out in the beautiful Bay of Plenty around Whakaari White Island yesterday 8 March 2023, from Whakatane. Myself, Tim Barnard and Erik Forsyth. Tim had seen Grey Ternlet around Volkner Rocks Marine Reserve (about 5kms north-west of Whakaari) on a previous trip some time ago. Yesterday we estimated there were over 100 ternlets there, both around the rock stacks and the surrounding waters, with some very close views as they flew around the boat. The gannet roost on Whakaari seen well. We then stopped engine about 3 kms east of Whakaari at the point where deep water started, and drifted for a couple of hours north east at 200 to 600m depth, chumming as we drifted. Birds seen on trip: grey ternlet (100 plus), Parkinson's Petrel (approx 20 coming and going), flesh-footed shearwater (8 or more), Bullers Shearwater (6), Cook's Petrel (8) Northern Royal Albatross - at the back of the boat (1), White-capped Mollymawk- at the back of the boat (1), NZ Storm Petrel- flew around the boat (1), plus fluttering shearwater, gannets, gulls, two whales and two flying fish. A GPS visual of our track attached if anybody else wants to try a pelagic in this under-observed part of the country.