The Petrel Station Seabird Trip Report (6 Oct 2019), Tutukaka, NZ : Black Bellied SP & White-headed Petrel

[ourspot]

Had another great day out at The Petrel Station today with 7 of us venturing out via the Poor Knight Islands to the explore the deep beyond, on the latest pelagic seabird trip offshore from Tutukaka (in northern New Zealand). A good 10-15 knot wind throughout the day provided great viewing of a variety of stunning seabirds.

Highlights of the trip were:

– 1 White-headed Petrel

– 1 Black-belied Storm Petrel
– 13 New Zealand Storm Petrel
– Big boils ups of thousands of Buller’s Shearwaters, Fairy Prion, and gulls following the feeding Trevally around.

During the trip we saw 26 different seabird species - nearly 10,000 seabirds in total! Was a fantastic day out. See the full trip list below.

If you’re interested in coming out on a pelagic seabird trip to The Petrel Station then check out the upcoming trip dates on our website and get in touch – it’s always a great day out. Find out more at: www.thepetrelstation.nz

Cheers
Scott Brooks
The Petrel Station pelagic seabird tour
Tutukaka, New Zealand

P : 021 322 324
E : seabirds@thepetrelstation.nz

Facebook : www.facebook.com/thepetrelstation
Instagram : www.instagram.com/thepetrelstation
YouTube: www.youtube.com/@thepetrelstation

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Here’s the full trip results:

1 x Wandering Albatross (Snowy)
3 x Wandering Albatross (Gibsons)
5 x White-capped Mollymawk

3 x Northern Giant Petrel

1 x WHITE-HEADED PETREL
7 x Grey-faced Petrel

30 x Cook's Petrel

1 x Pycroft's Petrel
3 x Black Petrel

1,500 x Fairy Prion

7,000 x Buller's Shearwater

20 x Sooty Shearwater

4 x Short-tailed Shearwater

12 x Fluttering Shearwater

30 x Little Shearwater

13 x NZ Storm Petrel

1 BLACK-BELLIED STORM PETREL
9 x White-faced Storm Petrel

40 x Common Diving Petrel
3 x Little Blue Penguin

500 x Gannet

600 x Red-billed Gull

2 x Black-backed Gull

51 x Pied Shag

1 x Little Pied Shag

3 x Little Black Shag

[ourspot]

And to top off an awesome day out, with a great range of seabirds, two people on the trip cracked the 200 New Zealand bird species barrier on the trip. Congrats to Harry Boorman and Richard Fenner. A great goal to reach.

Cheers Scott

[sav]

Hey Scott,

That all looks good. Any photos of the Black-bellied Stormy?

Nice one Harry and Richard!!

cheers

[ourspot]

Here's a photo of the Black-bellied Storm Petrel - Image was taken by Bruce Wedderburn from Australia.

[sav]

NICE! That would be a North Island tick for me. And White-headed Petrel....

cheers

[Tim Barnard]

Loved this trip. Has to be the best pelagic running in NZ just now. Great crew. Great birds. Fantastic spectacle!
Thanks Scott as always, and full marks to Paul G for putting the call out on the BBSP ... just a shame the WHP was a hit and run.