Trip Report
13 & 14 Feb 2004 (Overnight)
This was the first of our overnight trips. The two boats followed separate
courses although we did meet up from time to time, and we anchored overnight
close to the landing at Burgess Island, Mokohinaus. HAWERE (Skipper Murray
with Karen + five) and ASSASSIN (Skipper Brett with Chris + five).
Trip Report (Aboard Assassin)
Friday 13 Feb
Left Sandspit at 10.30AM; 5-10kn Southerly, 40-50% cloud cover
Takatu Point to Little Barrier
Out from Takatu Point saw several good sized mobs of Fluttering Shearwaters,
and the occasional Buller's Shearwater, Flesh-footed Shearwater, and A
Gannets. Also a Blue Penguin.
Across the Shipping Channel:
A Gannet - individuals sitting on water or flying by
Flesh-footed Shearwater - 6
Black Petrel - 2
Cook's Petrel - individuals, then a couple of small groups closer to Little
Barrier
Saw very little as we moved around the north-western shore of Little
Barrier (as usual) - just a few diving gannets
Little Barrier to Mokohinaus
First Chumming location: Wind dropping, light airs S/SE
Buller's Shearwater 5
Flesh-footed Shearwater 10+
Black Petrel 10+
Sooty Shearwater 1
Short-tailed Shearwater 1
Cook's Petrel - occasional bird flicked through 5+
White-faced Storm Petrel 5+
Moved further north-west: saw 20+ Cook's sitting in a group, more White-faced
SP (flying), Flesh-footed Shearwater (resting), and the occasional A Gannet.
Second Chumming Location: Light airs still, 50% cloud cover
Cook's/Pycroft's Petrel 8
(Mike noted that Cook's get progressively darker through the breeding
season making distinguishing Pycroft's from Cook's even more difficult.
We did see a good number of birds with uniformly dark upperwings)
Buller's Shearwater 5
Black Petrel 1
Flesh-footed Shearwater 3
White-faced Storm Petrel 3
Blue Penguin 2
Moved across to Hawere chumming to our east, to pick up our lunch.
They had a group of Black Petrels, a few White-faced Storm Petrels and
Flesh-footed Shearwaters off their stern.
Cook's petrels were spread out sitting on the water.
Headed northeast into the gap between the Mokes and Great Barrier (east
of Simpson Rock)
Third Chumming Location:
All but calm
Same species as previously in similar numbers
Continued through to 100m Line between Mokes and GBI
Could see more groups of Cook's
Fourth Chumming Location:
Calm. Added another Sooty and the first Fluttering Shearwater that we
saw in the Outer Gulf. One possible Little Shearwater
Maori Rocks, Mokohinaus
In flat clam conditions the grey ternlets, gannet colony and dive/snorkel
at Maori Rocks was particularly inviting.
On arriving at MR there were at least 40 ternlets on two stacks. Hawere
which was a nm north at this time reported seeing a group of at least
15 feeding. When we left about an hour later we counted the ternlets again
- between 50 and 60.
Saw a reef heron on the wave platform below the gannet colony.
With the wind swinging to the north picking up a little we decided to
head south of Fanal Island for one more chumming session, before joining
the other boat at Burgess for dinner.
Flesh-footed Shearwater - a mob of about 20 downwind; a number came in
to the chum
Black Petrel
White-faced Storm Petrel 3
NZ Storm Petrel - a single bird seen flying at speed about 40m away, went
straight by. The first for the day and it was a case of those who'd not
seen one of these birds before noting they'd seen a distinctive black/white
storm petrel. Certainly a better view was needed for a positive ID. To
those of us who have seen these birds before there was no doubt what it
was.
Sooty Shearwater 1
Short-tailed Shearwater 1
Mokohinaus
Tied up alongside the Hawere near the landing at Burgess Island for dinner
in the early evening and a chance for the two groups to chat. Wind by
this time had picked up considerably - 20kns NW and rising. After dinner
and after dark set up the tape players and speakers and ran some storm
petrel recordings. Picked up two or three White-faced Storm Petrels and
a flying fish.
Hawere stayed at anchor and we moved to a position off the SE end of
Atihau Island. Again playing tapes and using the spots. Picked up a few
more White-faced Storm Petrels and couple of Cook's. Also more flying
fish landed close by and some garfish nosed up to the boat.
Raced across to Fanal to see if anything was around, but zilch. Decided
to call it a night at rejoined Hawere at Burgess. As we came in to anchor
saw a bird flying around the Hawere's mast light. Using our spots managed
to entice a Cook's very close to the boat, and picked out two more White-faced
Storm Petrels.
Saturday 14 February
Totally different conditions with a very strong NW 25kns gusting to 35kns.
Although the wind was stronger through the night. Four of us did a quick
trip ashore and walked up to the lighthouse on Burgess Island before breakfast.
Great place. Saw several Red-crowned Parakeets, Welcome Swallows, Tui
and Bellbirds, a couple of fantail and one NZ Pigeon. Pied Shag on rocks
and in trees. Noted Buller's flying just out from the windward shore of
the island. A lot of activity further out gave a good feeling about the
rest of the day.
After breakfast headed out to the north of Groper Rock. Lots of birds
in the air and passed a few small feeding groups. Saw a Flesh-footed Shearwater
in hot pursuit of a Buller's - forcing it into then across the water and
back into the air.
First Chumming Location:
Buller's Shearwater
Flesh-footed Shearwater
Black Petrel
Cook's/Pycrofts
White-faced Strom Petrel 10+
NZ Storm Petrel 1 - we had very good views of this bird around the boat
and upwind along the slick line, before it went out of sight.
After a while things seemed to go quiet and we were drifting in towards
Groper Rock so decided to steam further out just beyond the edge of the
Shipping Channel. Passed groups of
Second Chumming Location (we drifted for about an hour and half):
Buller's Shearwater 30+ in a group close by at the start; more came in
over time
Black Petrels 20+ Great views of these birds diving underwater right beside
the boat
Flesh-footed Shearwaters 10+
Cook's/Pycroft's occasional
A gannets individuals passing by occasionally
White-faced Storm Petrels 20-30 coming upwind towards the boat. Would
always have about 5 around the boat and upwind on the slick at any time.
Two WFSP were seen to dive underwater in pursuit of sinking scraps.
NZ Storm Petrel - at least 6 as many as 12. On three occasions we had
2 birds in view.
We watched another Flesh-footed Shearwater in hot pursuit of an unfortunate
Buller's, all very skua-like.
Bryde's Whale - one surfaced about 30m astern. Saw its fin and a couple
of blows.
Marlin - one cruised through about 20m away.
The Run Home
Early afternoon and need to get back to other commitments. Headed down
the Shipping Channel and back to Sandspit. By the time we were inside
Little Barrier the wind dropped away then turned to the SW off Takatu
Point. Return to Sandspit 3PM.
During the trip there was a lot of speculation and discussion about possible
numbers of NZ Storm Petrel and breeding locations. Also a lot of discussion
about the other birds - either those species we saw (eg Cook's, Pycroft's
and Black Petrels, Little Shearwater) or finished breeding in the Gulf
and not seen during February (eg Diving Petrels, Fairy Prions).
--Chris Gaskin
Pterodroma Pelagics - Hauraki Gulf Seabird Tours
Trip Report (Aboard Hawere)
Fri 13 February
Departed Ti-Point at 11.00AM., SE wind 5knots SST 20C
Ti Point to Little Barrier
Immediately starting seeing groups of Fluttering Shearwater's on the water.
Saw at least 7 groups of 30-40+
Gannets 1
Flesh-footed Shearwater 2
Buller's Shearwater 1
Pterodroma sp small group of 5 flying
By 11.40AM the wind was rising - 10-15knots
Stopped for lunch in a sheltered bay beside LBI
LBI north to 5-6nm
Started chumming
30+ Flesh-footed Shearwater
2 White-faced Storm Petrels
2 Sooty Shearwaters
Continued to Mokohinaus
3.30PM a large group of Flesh-footed Shearwaters on the water - 100+ 1
black petrel
2 Sooty Shearwaters
Just south of Fanal Island ran into a large group (40+) Bottlenose Dolphins.
There were at least 3 calves in this group and lots of activity (socializing)
going on. As we motored slowly through the pod dolphins came to swim in
the bow wave including mothers and calves. The calves would swim under
the mother about 2/3rds of her body length back (ie in her slip stream,
coming up frequently to breathe). There were also lots of big males.
Mokohinaus
Cruised through to Maroi Rocks to look at the grey ternlets.
They were occupying 3 rocks - both the small stacks plus roosting on a
large rock next to the bigger stack. We counted a minimum of 44.
The gannet colony is slowly emptying out, with some adults and juveniles
still present, about a quarter occupancy.
Continued north of the Mokohinaus to 1.5nm north. Very little activity
although saw a group of 7 Grey Ternlets out there and 1 Bullers Shearwater.
Headed back towards the Mokohinaus and then diverted out towards Groper
Rock, just to the NW a fishing boat was hauling in a catch of frost fish
and had a large group of birds sitting behind it so we motored over to
have a look.
Flesh-footed Shearwater - 100+
Black Petrel 30+
Birds were feeding on squid and bits discarded or squeezed through the
net. One bird got caught in the net as it was being hauled aboard but
was disentangled and released. After taking lots of photos of the long
silver frost fish and birds on the water we headed back to the Mokohinaus
for a refreshing snorkel and swim
Snorkelling in the crystal clear waters of the Mokohinaus is almost as
rewarding as watching birds above, with schools of tiny fish, two-spot
demoiselles, black angelfish and several stingrays lying on the bottom.
Even a small shark came through to have a look at us. I recall watching
the beautiful male Sandagers parrotfish underwater and lifting my head
to hear red-crowned parakeets flying overhead!
Later on the other group on board Assassin joined us for dinner on the
Hawere. Slight disappointment as we hadn't seen any NZSP's yet.
Evening spotlighting from the Hawere we saw a number of wf stormies,
Cook's Petrel and Buller's Shearwaters. Also blue penguins floating near
the boat and flying fish coming in to the lights
Sat 14 February
During the night heard high winds overhead, but had dropped back to about
20knots by morning. After breakfast we landed on Burgess for a wander
round. Walked up to the "Dragon" an amazing hole in the ground
which constantly roars like a dragon and occasionally puffs "steam".
Continued up to the lighthouse for a fantastic view of the islands of
the Hauraki Gulf. The vegetation on the Mokohinaus is regenerating but
the birdlife is prolific and skinks dart everywhere underfoot as you make
your way up the path to the lighthouse.
Birds seen were:
NZ pigeon 1
Red-crowned parakeet - about 10
Tui 5+
Welcome swallow 5
Harrier hawk
Blackbird
Bellbirds
We departed Burgess after another refreshing swim and just south of Fanal
began chumming as there were a number of seabirds around with the wind
around 15-20knots
10.30-11.00AM
White-faced Stormies 12+
Flesh-footed Shearwater 20+
Black Petrels - 12+
Bullers' Shearwaters
Pterodromas 2
We could see good numbers of White-faced Stormies coming in to the chum,
but no black and whites. Decided to head over to Assassin who were chumming
off Groper Rock and had seen them
3nm West of Grouper Rock, chumming again a few hundred metres from Assassin
3 sacks out
12 White-faced Stormies
Flesh-footed Shearwater
Black Petrels
Buller's Shearwaters
2 NZSP
A gale warning was in force and wind still at about 20knots so decided
to head back to Ti-Point. En route we had 1 definite sighting of a NZSP.
We stopped and tried chumming, but it must have just flicked through.
The second sighting was not as certain. Wf stormies were also seen scattered
throughout the route back. Instead of the wind getting up, it calmed right
down until back near the coast it had clamed right off. We found a sheltered
bay (V-Bay near Cape Rodney) where we anchored for lunch, sharing it with
a group of resting Bottlenose Dolphins - mostly females and claves, one
very young calf with apparent fetal folds. One dolphin spent quite a bit
of time swimming around with a large piece of kelp - Ecklonia including
the stipe in front of it's dorsal fin. Apparently they just like the feel
of it!
As we sat eating lunch we could look out beyond the bay and see large
numbers of mostly fluttering shearwaters going past in the wind.
--Karen Baird
Pterodroma Pelagics - Hauraki Gulf Seabird Tours
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