AUTUMN & WINTER 2025 (Apr to Aug) : The Petrel Station seabird tours, Tutukaka, NZ

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The Petrel Station AUTUMN and WINTER 2025 seabird tours dates have now been released (April to August) – check out all the upcoming dates at: www.thepetrelstation.nz

In autumn, as the weather and oceans cool down, it’s migration time for the seabirds heading up from the southern oceans so there’s potential for some interesting, scarcer species passing through, and also a good variety of albatross species show up in the area. The local winter breeders return to the area and begin to build in numbers, while most of the local summer breeders will have departed on their migration. The delightful New Zealand Storm Petrel are still around in autumn and there's still usually a few Grey Noddy (Ternlet) around till the end April as well.

In the cooler winter months the albatross are still around, and a mix of southern seabirds come north up to our area. The local winter breeding seabirds are also around in good numbers too. We’ve also had some real winter rarities show up during this time as well (ie Blue Petrel, Providence Petrel, Pink-footed Shearwater, 4 Prion species) so there’s no telling what could turn up.

Check out the 'Seabirds', 'Seasons' and 'Trip reports' sections of The Petrel Station website to see which seabird species have been recorded during these seasons.

If you’re interested in coming out on a pelagic seabird tour to The Petrel Station then check out the upcoming tour dates on our website and get in touch – it’s always a great day out, and the best way to experience these stunning seabirds is out on the ocean, in their world :)

The tours are based offshore from Tutukaka, in Northland, New Zealand.

Cheers Scott Brooks
The Petrel Station seabird tours and research - Tutukaka, New Zealand
021 322 324 • seabirds@thepetrelstation.nz • www.facebook.com/thepetrelstation

[ourspot]

Hi

Just wanted to let you know ...

We're having a 20% OFF SPECIAL ON ALL 'MAY TO AUGUST 2025' SEABIRD TOURS during Autumn and Winter out to The Petrel Station (offshore from Tutukaka, New Zealand)!

These months are a fantastic time of year out at The Petrel Station with a great variety of stunning Albatross species, and other southern seabirds species too. The local winter breeding seabirds species are around in good numbers, and the delightful New Zealand Storm Petrel can still be encountered in smaller numbers during most of these months (except August). We’ve also recorded some real rarities during these cooler months as well (ie Blue Petrel, Providence Petrel, Pink-footed Shearwater, Light-mantled Sooty Albatross, several Prion species, and more) so there’s no telling what could turn up on the day.

If you’d like to join us for a 20% OFF autumn / winter seabird experience during May to August 2025 then check out the upcoming tour dates on The Petrel Station website and book a spot. On our website you can also check out the 'Seabirds', 'Seasons' and 'Trip reports' sections to see which seabird species have been recorded during these months. The cooler months can be stunning out on the ocean ... and it's always a great day out with the New Zealand seabirds.

www.thepetrelstation.nz

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SATURDAY 10 May 2025
GLOBAL BIG DAY out at The Petrel Station

Be part of the world’s biggest birding event with The Petrel Station seabird tours. We've got a special seabird tour scheduled on 10 May 2025 to coincide with Cornell Lab's 'eBird Global Big Day' event where birdwatchers around the world head out to see how many bird species can be recorded globally in a single day (usually around three-quarters of the world’s bird species!) ... and out at The Petrel Station we've got a very good chance of adding a bunch of stunning seabirds to the Global Big Day list that won't get seen anywhere else in the world on the day (ie. NZ Storm Petrel for one).

All sightings on the day are added to eBird, as well as to The Petrel Station's long term at-sea seabird sightings research project that's being run in conjunction with our seabird tours.

This seabird tour is also part of our 20% OFF special, so if you're keen for a great day out with some stunning seabirds, and getting to be part of the Global Big Day, then check out the upcoming tour dates on our website and get yourself booked in. There are currently 4 places left on the tour.

www.thepetrelstation.nz

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It’s always a great day out ... and the best way to experience these stunning seabirds is out on the ocean, in their world. Hope you can join us :)

Cheers Scott Brooks
The Petrel Station seabird tours and research - Tutukaka, New Zealand
021 322 324 • seabirds@thepetrelstation.nz • www.facebook.com/thepetrelstation

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Had a fantastic day out on the 24 May 2025 pelagic seabird tour out to The Petrel Station. Highlights of the tour were:
- Soft-plumaged Petrel
– Antarctic Prion
– 6 Grey Noddy (normally they depart early May so this is the latest we've ever recorded them).
– Loads of Little Shearwater throughout the day

You can views photos from the day and the full tour report either on The Petrel Station Facebook page, or on our website at www.thepetrelstation.nz/trip-reports/24-05-2025

Soft-plumaged Petrel are pretty scarce up this far north in New Zealand and this is only our 4th record so we had a super happy team onboard the boat when it showed up. The other 3 records have been during winter so if anyone's keen on the chance to possibly encounter one of these stunners, or the awesome seabirds we encounter, then check out our website for the upcoming winter tour dates - it's always a great day out 😁

www.thepetrelstation.nz

Cheers Scott Brooks
The Petrel Station seabird tours and research - Tutukaka, New Zealand
021 322 324 • seabirds@thepetrelstation.nz • www.facebook.com/thepetrelstation

[ourspot]

There's now only 4 spaces left on the remaining 3 winter seabird tours out to The Petrel Station, so if you're wanting to take advantage of the 20% discount offer on the winter 2025 tours then check out the upcoming tour dates on our website and get in touch.

www.thepetrelstation.nz

It’s always a great day out, and the best way to experience these stunning seabirds is out on the ocean, in their world :)

Cheers Scott Brooks
The Petrel Station seabird tours and research - Tutukaka, New Zealand
021 322 324 • seabirds@thepetrelstation.nz • www.facebook.com/thepetrelstation