EPIC Petrel Station Seabird Trip Report (7 July 2018), Tutukaka, NZ : Blue Petrel, Soft-Plumaged Petrel, 4 Prion species

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ourspot
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Location: Tutukaka Coast

EPIC Petrel Station Seabird Trip Report (7 July 2018), Tutukaka, NZ : Blue Petrel, Soft-Plumaged Petrel, 4 Prion species

Postby ourspot » Sat Jul 07, 2018 9:09 pm

Had an EPIC pelagic day today (7th July) on the latest pelagic seabird trip with 7 of us venturing out via the Poor Knight Islands to the explore the trench area beyond offshore from Tutukaka (in northern New Zealand). Wind and swell picked up in afternoon providing excellent viewing of a great variety of seabirds.

Highlights of the trip were:
– 1 Blue Petrel
– 1 Soft-plumaged Petrel
– 1 Thin-billed Prion
– 5 Broad-billed Prion
– 15 Antarctic Prion
– 1 Arctic Tern
– 1 Southern Giant Petrel

During the trip we sighted 24 different seabird species. 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

—————————————————————

Here’s the full trip results:

1 Blue Petrel
1 Soft-plumaged Petrel
1 Thin-billed Prion
5 Broad-billed Prion
15 Antarctic Prion
4 Buller's Mollymawk
6 White-capped Albatross
5 Campbell Mollymawk
2 Northern Royal Albatross
5 New Zealand Wandering Albatross
1 Southern Giant Petrel
2 Northern Giant Petrel
2 Cape Petrel
36 Grey-faced Petrel
2 Cook's Petrel
2000 Fairy Prion
50 Little Shearwater
3 Fluttering Shearwater
1000 Common Diving-Petrel
1 New Zealand Storm-Petrel
1 Arctic Tern
1 Pied Shag
440 Australasian Gannet
260 Red-billed Gull

Poor Knights Islands sightings (on or flying above)
1 Swamp Harrier
Last edited by ourspot on Wed Apr 19, 2023 4:03 pm, edited 7 times in total.
Davidthomas
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Re: Tutukaka Pelagic Seabird Trip Results - 7th July 2018

Postby Davidthomas » Sat Jul 07, 2018 9:46 pm

Sounds like a fantastic day spent out in the old briney Scott! Not at all jealous...
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Oscar Thomas
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Re: Tutukaka Pelagic Seabird Trip Results - 7 July 2018 - inc Blue Petrel & Soft-Plumaged Petrel

Postby Oscar Thomas » Mon Jul 09, 2018 5:41 pm

Here's the first of the shots: Blue petrel, Soft-plumaged petrel, Northern & Southern Giant petrel:

PetrelBlue1.JPG
PetrelBlue1.JPG (317.95 KiB) Viewed 2830 times

PetrelSoftPlum2.JPG
PetrelSoftPlum2.JPG (356.59 KiB) Viewed 2830 times

PetrelNthSth.JPG
PetrelNthSth.JPG (497.02 KiB) Viewed 2830 times
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Oscar Thomas
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Re: Tutukaka Pelagic Seabird Trip Results - 7 July 2018 - inc Blue Petrel & Soft-Plumaged Petrel

Postby Oscar Thomas » Mon Jul 09, 2018 5:44 pm

Broad-billed & Antarctic prions, Antipodean albatross?

PrionBroadBill1.JPG
PrionBroadBill1.JPG (414.98 KiB) Viewed 2828 times

Prion5.JPG
Prion5.JPG (287.54 KiB) Viewed 2714 times

AlbatrossW2.JPG
AlbatrossW2.JPG (234.06 KiB) Viewed 2828 times
Last edited by Oscar Thomas on Tue Jul 10, 2018 10:35 am, edited 1 time in total.
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RussCannings
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Re: Tutukaka Pelagic Seabird Trip Results - 7 July 2018 - inc Blue Petrel & Soft-Plumaged Petrel

Postby RussCannings » Mon Jul 09, 2018 6:25 pm

Hi Oscar,

Tough age on the Wanderer but the warm brownish tones to the cap are suggestive of Gibson's to me rather than the solid blackish cap of Antipodian.

Russ
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CMKMStephens
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Re: Tutukaka Pelagic Seabird Trip Results - 7 July 2018 - inc Blue Petrel & Soft-Plumaged Petrel

Postby CMKMStephens » Mon Jul 09, 2018 8:44 pm

Great shots Oscar
Matthias
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Re: Tutukaka Pelagic Seabird Trip Results - 7 July 2018 - inc Blue Petrel & Soft-Plumaged Petrel

Postby Matthias » Tue Jul 10, 2018 10:38 pm

Other birds from Saturday include Arctic Tern, one or two Thin-billed Prion, and two or three Salvin's Prion.
Cheers
Matthias
Last edited by Matthias on Mon Jul 16, 2018 9:51 am, edited 2 times in total.
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ourspot
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Re: Tutukaka Pelagic Seabird Trip Results - 7 July 2018 - inc Blue Petrel & Soft-Plumaged Petrel

Postby ourspot » Sat Jul 14, 2018 3:00 pm

A Thin-Billed Prion and an Arctic tern have now also been confirmed for the trip. I've updated the list above to include these so we had a total of 24 seabird species for the day. There was also possible Salvin's Prion and Sub-Antarctic Little Shearwater but photos so far haven't been conclusive enough for a clear decision.

Cheers
Scott

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