Trip Report
Friday 5th November 2004
Departed Ti-Point at 8:30AM with 20 Pax on board plus our skipper Phil.
Weather was warm and sunny with no wind.
Our trip out to Little Barrier Island produced only small groups of various
species (quite widely scattered - including gannets, Blue Penguin, Fluttering
Shearwater and Diving Petrels). A couple of Buller's Shearwaters were
also spotted on this run, but no Cook's Petrels. We stopped at Little
Barrier for a cuppa and some ginger cake while spotting Kaka flying between
trees above us in the bay.
Leaving Little Barrier Island heading towards the Mokohinau Islands we
came across large numbers of Diving Petrels on the water. A few Fluttering
and Bullers Shearwaters were also spotted. We stopped to chum bringing
in between 20 and 30 Flesh-footed Shearwaters, a couple of White-faced
Stormies, Bullers shearwater and a few Cooks Petrels flew close by for
good viewing. We also spotted a Salvin's Albatross as it flew past the
back of the boat as well as one NZ Storm Petrel.
Going past Simpsons Rock we found small groups of Fairy Prions and a
group of White-fronted Terns on the rocks.
Over at Maori Rocks we looked for the Grey Ternlets but it must be a
bit early for them to arrive. The Gannetry is in full swing with some
fluffy chicks being seen beneath their parents. Groups of Bullers Shearwaters
and Fairy Prions seemed to be associated with this group of islets.
The usual group of Red-billed Gulls associated with the Mokohinaus was
found off Burgess Island. Kakariki (red-crowned parakeet) and bellbird
were seen during lunch in the Arches and Welcome Swallows were seen on
Groper Rock.
Heading back towards Little Barrier the Salvin's Albatross was spotted
again and an immature Black-browed in the distance. Large groups of Fairy
Prions and small groups of Buller's were also seen on the run back to
Little Barrier. We also spotted a couple of whale blows and were able
to identify at least 4 Bryde's Whales as we cruised along. Two Little
Shearwaters were also identified on this run as Cooks Petrels began to
gather in the late afternoon.
We stopped off Little Barrier for a light supper before heading in to
Ti-Point on dusk. This is a great time to experience the calls of the
Cooks Petrels as they are heading into their burrows on top of Little
Barrier Island.
But perhaps the most exhilarating experience of the day was the Common
Dolphins bow-riding into Ti-Point on dark with bioluminescence lighting
up their streamlined bodies as they moved from hull to hull on our catamaran.
This is the first time I had ever seen this and certainly was for everyone
on the boat a sight we will ever forget!
- Karen Baird
Pterodroma Pelagics - Hauraki Gulf Seabird Tours
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