Trip Report
HAURAKI GULF PELAGIC
21 January 2006
Eight of us left Sandspit at 9AM, the fine conditions continuing although as soon as we cleared Takatu Point and Kawau Island we headed into a 15kn E with cross swells (NE and SE), wind waves (E) and an outgoing tide creating a very jumbled sea for the first hour or so. Once again we had the familiar sequence of fluttering, Buller's and flesh-footed shearwaters, blue penguins, gannets and white-fronted terns as we headed out across the shipping channel, then Cook's and white-faced storm petrels further out towards Little Barrier Island (LBI). Not so many flutterers in the outer Hauraki Gulf at the moment, we've received reports that the big numbers we'd expect to be around are further in towards Auckland itself, i.e. Tiri and the Rangitoto Channel. Once again we picked up a lot of bird activity along a current line N of LBI (there are reefs and lumps on the seabed there giving rise to some upwellings). Brett (skipper) spied a New Zealand storm petrel (NZSP) out his window as we cruised amongst the birds. This particular NZSP was very obviously foraging every now and dipping to feed. Decided this was a good place to stop and chum, picking up many Cook's petrels, flesh-footed, short-tailed and Buller's shearwaters, a couple of black petrels, 20 or so white-faced stormies and at least 5 NZSPs with two seen at one time (on several occasions).
After an hour and half of being bucked about at the end of the sea anchor we headed towards another big work up: gannets, fleshies, black petrels, Buller's shearwaters, white-fronted terns, white-faced stormies and one NZSP amongst them all; also one pomerine skua (juv). Wind was now up to 25kns so headed to the Mokohinaus and tucked in under the cliffs of Fanal for respite from the sea, with welcome swallows flitting in and out of a sea caves and above the cliff tops, six pied shags standing like sentinels on nearby finger-stacks, a black-backed gull plus the occasional gannet.
At Maori Rocks we counted at least 30 grey ternlets (these birds were quite 'toey' compared to very 'tame' birds we’d encountered at the Kermadecs a few days before) and checked out the gannetry once again. At Burgess we encountered a pod of bottle-nosed dolphins. Aiming to get some sort of handle of the spread of NZSPs on one particular day, we headed NW of Burgess searching for some unmapped outcrop on the sea floor that might promise an upwelling of sorts and try chumming again.
Out beyond the Mokes the seafloor slopes gently between the 100m and 200m lines across a distance of 20 or so kms and there are the occasional pinnacles or lumps. However, the seafloor remained determinedly flat so stopped when we spied a group of black petrels on the water. In two hours we saw black petrels; Cook's, Pycroft's and black-winged petrels (3); fairy prions; flesh-footed and Buller's shearwaters; white-faced storm petrels and at least 5 NZSPs with 3 seen at one time.
At 4.30PM started heading home via Burgess again (a welcome cuppa at Landing Bay with everyone quite exhilarated by what we'd seen). Stopped once again for a final chumming session NW of LBI (i.e. well to the west and downwind of where we'd stopped earlier) and picked up many Cook's petrels, white-faced storm petrels, flesh-footed shearwaters, one fairy prion and at least 6 NZSPs with 4 seen at one time.
On the final run into Sandspit saw many more Cook's petrels (often in groups both large and small), gannets, quite a few blue penguins, more white-faced stormies and of course Buller's, fluttering and flesh-footed shearwaters. Back in at 8PM.
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
|
