Trip Report
Hauraki Gulf Seabirds
from a couple of recent pelagics – 11 & 18 February 2007
11 Feb 07
Nine of us departed Sandspit at 9.30AM; cloudy and drizzly conditions (clearing later in the day), wind 15-20kns E and a large swell up to 2m once we were out beyond Kawau Island. A Reef Heron was spotted along the rocky shoreline near Sandspit, with godwits, oystercatchers and White-fronted Terns on the soft shore opposite. Just off the back of Kawau Island we came across large groups of Buller’s Shearwaters flying past with one or two Fluttering Shearwaters amongst them. Not too far out Flesh-footed Shearwaters were seen then Cooks Petrels. Once past Little Barrier/Hauturu the Cooks Petrel numbers increased dramatically with some groups lifting off the water as we approached. We stopped for our first chumming session to the north of LBI and were rewarded with White-faced Storm Petrels; a few Buller’s Shearwaters flicking through but not stopping to compete; Flesh-footed Shearwaters; Black Petrel numbers built up to around 8 or 10; one each of Sooty Shearwater and Short-tailed Shearwater; Cooks Petrels kept coming past; and then a great view of a Black-winged Petrel over the back of the boat. During a session of around 1hr 20 we saw possibly three NZ Storm Petrels, although they kept their distance feeding on the slick we created as it drifted away in the wind.
We continued to the Mokohinaus where we stopped in the Arches for some respite from the sea and a welcome cuppa. Red-crowned Parakeets were seen flying over as well as two Harriers cruising the trees. The Red-billed Gulls were hungry this day and stayed around the boat with a couple of young birds, feeding around the boat. We left Burgess around 3.30PM and headed over to Maori Rocks spotting two Little Shearwaters en route. Around 18 Grey Ternlets were seen on the rock pillars with a further 12+ feeding in the surrounding waters. Gannet numbers in the colony are dropping rapidly at this stage of the season as the chicks fledge, some of which were seen at sea during the day.
Around Maori Rocks we saw a large mixed flock of mostly Buller’s Shearwaters and Fluttering Shearwaters, with a Black Petrel and Flesh-footed Shearwater plus good numbers of Grey Ternlets and Red-billed Gulls – all following a surface-feeding school of trevally. This is a fairly common sight at Maori Rocks and a reminder of the importance of these feeding associations and perhaps the unknown impact that could be caused by over-fishing of these resources.
Returning southwards we stopped once more this time near Simpson’s Rock around 1km NW of it, where we chummed for about an hour. After only about 10 minutes a NZSP flew in but once again stayed some distance away feeding on the edge of the slick we were creating. Other birds seen there were White-faced Storm Petrel, Flesh-footed Shearwater, Sooty Shearwater, Black Petrel, Buller’s Shearwater and Cooks Petrels. Left around 5.40PM and headed for home.
--Karen Baird
18 Feb 07
Sixteen of us (including 11 Tiri Supporters) departed Sandspit at 8.45AM, superbly fine, no wind! What a contrast to the week before. Once again there was a Reef Heron near the wharf. Fairly quiet out through Kawau Bay and Channel (a few gannets and gulls), then a stream of Buller’s and Fluttering Shearwaters out beyond Takatu Point (steady but not spectacular) before numbers dropped right away. It was only when we approached NW Reef (NW of LBI) that numbers picked up, with groups of Cook’s Petrels lifting off the water, then the sight of Buller’s Shearwaters and Cook’s Petrels sort of ‘milling about’. Stopped to chum and soon had Flesh-footed Shearwaters, Black Petrels, the occasional Fluttering Shearwater and a handful of White-faced Storm Petrels.
Then plenty of Cook’s Petrels with the occasional Buller’s and Fluttering Shearwaters on the run across to Simpson’s Rock, south of Fanal Island (Mokohinaus). Once again stopped to chum, similar range of species although we had a Common Diving Petrel flick through at one stage (something of a surprise). However, the biggest surprise came with another winged creature, a Manta Ray which cruised around the boat. Everyone had great views. It was about two and half metres across and the whole body could be seen clearly at times. Superb and first for us in the Hauraki Gulf. This was followed by a Hammerhead Shark although this guy didn’t come so close. On the way to the Mokes we spied possibly a second Manta Ray – this one doing a couple of graceful somersaults underwater. Near Fanal we saw the first of a number of flying fish – the large blue variety which is quite common in the Gulf over summer. At Maori Rocks we were treated to 70+ Grey Ternlets on or close to the stacks, the usual bustle of the gannet colony (departure is imminent) and another work up of trevally – although this time it was all Red-billed Gulls in attendance. We headed a few nms north for another chum session – close to a boat that was fishing. Plenty of Black Petrels and White-faced Storm Petrels, and some nice views of Cook’s Petrels flying in close. By this time the wind was up to about 5kns. After an hour and half we did a scenic shimmy around Burgess Island and through Edith Passage (between Burgess and the rest of the western Mokohinau Islands) before heading south towards LBI. South of Simpson’s Rock we spied a big work up of kingfish (some leaping clear of the water), gannets, Flesh-footed Shearwaters, Black Petrels and some Cook’s Petrels. At one stage we saw a juv Pied Shag flying towards us, and then when it passed overhead about ten of the Cook’s Petrels gave chase, some of them harrying it skua-like. The pursuit went on until the birds were out of sight – and we were distracted. Once we were underway a whale was sighted, and got reasonable albeit distant views before it sounded and stayed down. A Bryde’s Whale, one with a nick at the base of its fin (a photo has been sent on to the researchers studying these whales). A few nms north of LBI we could see large areas with deep-red algal blooms. We weren’t seeing anything different in really calm glassy conditions so we headed south-east of LBI. Although we found some wind, the bird numbers were disappointing, more good views of Cook’s though. On the run back to Sandspit there appeared to be more activity than in the morning, although we were more south of our earlier route. In the Shipping Channel we came across another decent sized work-up of birds, this time White-faced Terns joining in the usual crew. Off Kawau we could see another large algal bloom.
So, despite the lack of NZ Storm Petrels sightings a fascinating day with a variety of marine life. Will be intriguing to see what is going on out there next Saturday.
Chris Gaskin
Pterodroma Pelagics
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