Trip Report
Hauraki Gulf Seabirds
29 October 2006
Yesterday 6 of us headed out from Sandspit at 10AM Sunday 29 October on one of our regular Hauraki Gulf pelagics. The forecast overnight had been pretty ominous but with some very keen birders it was hard not to go and give it a go! Actually for the first leg across to Little Barrier condition weren't too bad - N 20kns and a metre swell, overcast with the mainland disappearing into a rainstorm not long after we departed.
Strangely quiet heading out past Takatu Point (Tawharanui) with noone for the usual stream of fluttering shearwaters, however we started to pick up gannets, diving petrels and Cook's petrels after a short while. About two-thirds the way to Little Barrier the bird activity increased quite dramatically with sooty, flesh-footed, Buller's and little shearwaters, plus good numbers of Cook's petrels and more diving petrels. We threw in a chumming session and added a white-faced stormy. Just sou'west of Little Barrier we joined a huge work-up of Common Dolphins, gannets, flesh-footed, Buller's and sooty shearwaters plus quite a few Cook's petrels. An immature white-capped albatross put in a brief appearance. Given the conditions it was hard to estimate the numbers of dolphins but they were spread out and active across a wide area. At one point we watched as line-ups of half-a-dozen or so dolphins would surf on (and within) waves towards the boat. We tucked into the lee (southern) shore of Little Barrier for lunch and to listen to saddlebacks, bellbirds and tui onshore.
By this time it was clear the wind and sea was up, but everyone remained keen so we trundled slowly round the western side of the island and northwards towards the Mokohinaus. Started picking up groups of Cook's petrels sitting on the water (some groups 50+ birds), more sightings of Common Dolphins and our first black petrel of the day. About two-thirds the way to the Mokes we had great views of little shearwaters, diving petrels everywhere, the occasional white-faced storm petrel and a steady stream of Buller's, flesh-footed and fluttering shearwaters. Watching the time we decided we were far enough north (the Mokes about 4nms away were vague grey shapes in the rain and low cloud) and put in a decent chumming session to see if we could tease anything else out the day. Over the next hour we added a probable Pycroft's, Grey-faced petrel, fairy prion, imm Campbell albatross and yes, New Zealand storm petrels. We had superb views of fluttering shearwaters, black petrels, Cook's petrels and Buller's shearwaters around the boat. Diving petrels in big numbers raced by the boat almost continuously - great to get really close views of these brilliant hyperactive little birds.
After an hour and half we were on our way home - a rollicking, surfing, sleigh-ride back to Kawau Bay. Fortunately the wind was still to the north (behind us) although the sea was (2-3m swell) and the wind sending spray flying from the whitecaps (gusting 47kns at Channel Island). Had it been like this at the start we wouldn't have ventured out.
Right at the start I'd commented we had a Plan B if the weather was too bad to go far. This proved irresistible and we stopped at Mansion House Bay on Kawau for weka which were found quite quickly (Kawau is something of a stronghold for this species) and had a pod of Bottle-nosed Dolphins as a bonus. Fun and games.
Birds seen:
Campbell albatross (imm)
White-capped albatross (imm)
Northern giant petrel - this on the run home
Cook's petrel - in superb plumage at the moment, their heads very very pale grey, the M marking on the upper surfaces very dark. Saw thousands during the day and the build up later in the day to the west of Little Barrier remains one of the Gulf's spectacles
Pycroft's petrel - one probable. As usual good subject for debate.
Black petrel - out near the Mokes only
Grey-faced petrel - 3 later in the day south of the Mokes (very overcast stormy conditions)
Buller's shearwater - present throughout the day
Flesh-footed shearwater - present throughout the day
Fluttering shearwater - good numbers out near the Mokes
Sooty shearwater - about 20 sightings through the day
Little shearwater - seen to the W of LBI and near the Mokes/Simpson's Rock
Fairy prion - 2 seen while chumming
Common diving petrel - common!
White-faced storm petrel - only about 20 seen during the whole day, most towards the Mokes
NZ storm petrel - two seen while chumming
Australasian gannet - common through the day, especially with the huge work-ups west of LBI (saw another on the run home)
Pied shag - at LBI and Sandspit
Little shag - under the wharf at Sandspit
Black-backed gull
Red-billed gull
White-fronted tern
Also:
Weka
Banded rail (two on the lawn next to the carpark and mangroves at Sandspit - good place for them by the way)
Reef heron (Sandspit)
White-faced heron (Sandspit)
Saddleback (LBI)
Tui
Bellbird (LBI)
Welcome swallow (LBI)
Starlings (LBI
Kookaburra (for me heading home)
Common dolphin
Bottle-nosed dolphin
Happy birding folks
Chris Gaskin
PTERODROMA PELAGICS
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