Trip Report
HAURAKI GULF PELAGIC
12 January 2006
Ten of us left Sandspit Landing at 9.16AM, flat calm conditions, with light 0-2kn W. Plenty of Blue penguins, white-fronted terns and fluttering shearwaters in Kawau Bay (between Kawau Island and the mainland). Beyond Takatu Point we picked up the usual sequence of seabirds, first fluttering shearwaters coming through individually; Buller's shearwaters sometimes individually, then in groups on the water; and the occasional flesh-footed shearwater, A. gannet and then, when we were between Cape Rodney (near Leigh) and Little Barrier Island (LBI), rather surprisingly, one grey-faced petrel.
Further across and Cook's petrels were added to the mixture of seabirds, their numbers increasing as we headed north-west of LBI. In these light conditions with the sea glassy in wide patches it's possible to see activity a long, long way off - we spotted a wide-spread feeding work-up of birds NW of the LBI. There were many gannets circling high, diving or sitting on the water, with Buller's, flesh-footed and fluttering shearwaters continually milling around. Amongst them were a number of white-fronted terns daintily hovering and diving. The whole show was very mobile with their prey obviously moving quite quickly. As we moved quietly amongst them we could see schools of kingfish, these would be chasing smaller fish etc. which the birds would be feeding on. Stopped to chum when there was lull in activity, and brought in flesh-footed, Buller's, sooty and fluttering shearwaters; black and Cook's petrels; white-faced and New Zealand storm petrels (NZSPs); and white-fronted terns. Even the kingfish were attracted and cruised by under the boat, clearly visible in the clear water. With the NZSPs we had six birds in the slick in view at one time, and saw possibly another two or three in the hour or so we were there.
Headed towards the Mokohinaus with good numbers of birds scattered all the way including big groups of Cook's petrel resting on the water (one of these included a black petrel). We decided to stop at Simpson's Rock (south of Fanal Island, Mokes) when we spied a fishing boat parked there: a couple of guys catching kingfish and having a ball! Although dead calm they had a good number of birds flicking about them and when we closed in on the rock itself (to photograph some white-fronted terns roosting there) we caught sight of a couple of NZSPs flying around. Decided to try chumming again nearby and had an extraordinary session with mostly NZSPs and white-faced stormies around the boat; also Buller's and flesh-footed shearwaters and black petrels. Once again we had six NZSPs in view at one time, and maybe one or two more (hard to say).
At Maori Rocks (Mokes) we checked out the grey ternlet roost (25 birds) and the gannetry (young well advanced). Also saw pied shags, white-fronted terns, red-billed gulls - and flies! As we headed for Burgess Island (Mokes) saw a group of fairy prions on the water, swimming around with heads under the water searching for food, also some white-faced stormies in this stretch between the islands. After spending a pleasant hour or so cruising and swimming amongst the islands and stacks of the Mokes. Saw red-crowned parakeets, tui, bellbird and kingfisher. Tried a short chumming session just west of Groper Rock (Mokes) which didn't yield much.
Headed home with a light breeze and a few deviations to check out massed birds (Cook's petrel). Back in at 7PM.
A checklist of seabirds and other marine life seen during the day is posted on our Hauraki Gulf pelagics sightings page.
Chris Gaskin
Pterodroma Pelagics NZ
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