Fantastic pelagic today offshore from Taiaroa Head (Dunedin). Despite the lack of wind forecast needed to bring in some of the seabirds we decided to make the most of the incredible weather. Leaving before the sun was up gave the photographers aboard some awesome golden light to photograph the huge group of red-billed gulls with small numbers of albatross, petrels and fairy prions mixed in. Not long out of Dunedin Harbour, we came across a raft of 5 YELLOW-EYED PENGUIN that swam nice and close to the boat allowing some truly remarkable views for all on board.
After getting out to our chum spot (approx 30km south east of Taiaroa Head) we began to rack in the species with the first appearances of Westland petrel and ANTIPODEAN ALBATROSS. Over the next hour or so a few others trickled in including a single fairy prion, northern giant petrel, a black-browed albatross as well as a few more Antipodean albatross.
As the morning was coming to an end the wind began to pick up and a distant mottled petrel was spotted. 15 minutes later a WHITE-HEADED PETREL flew past at a distance followed by a much closer SOFT-PLUMAGED PETREL seconds later. The latter of which was seen well by all as it slowly drifted off. Not long after that a COOK'S PETREL popped up briefly then a BROWN SKUA bolted in to have a look then quickly turned around and went back the way it came in.
As things started to quieten down we decided to head back into shore with white-chinned petrels and Buller's albatross following us all the way back in.
Big thank you to our skipper John for taking us out and supplying our chum. And of course to Oscar Thomas for organizing this amazing trip
Ebird trip report with photos cane be found here:
https://ebird.org/tripreport/120993
Cheers.
Otago Canyons Pelagic 22d April. Trip report
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