Black petrels Bay of Plenty

[Wandoona]

I had a successful day fishing at Penguins South of Mayor Island yesterday on my mate Andy’s boat. In addition to the usual flesh footed shearwaters, white- faced stormies fluttering shearwaters etc were 7 black petrels. They quietly sat around the boat. I haven’t seen them this far South before. Maybe it’s just time of year as I’m usually up North now.

[Wandoona]

And a 4 metre great white visited us for a bit.

[Brent Stephenson]

Hey John,
We have had them in Hawkes Bay before now. They definitely come down the East Coast from East Cape, so I am not surprised you had them in BOP. Seven of them is a good record though.

Cheers,

[Patrick Crowe]

Yep the GPS tracking we've done of BPs show lots heading to Bay of Plenty throughout the breeding season (Dec - Apr). East Cape and Hawke's Bay are also popular spots for breeding birds (mainly directly S of Mahia Peninsula along the shelf break). We've tracked one bird going south of Cape Kidnappers.