Trip Report
Monday 6 December - Tuesday 7 December 2004
(Overnight live-aboard trip)
Six of us did an overnight trip out in the Outer Hauraki Gulf 6/7 December.
Basically a trip organised for Steve Howell, a Research Associate at Point
Reyes Bird Observatory CA USA and author/co-author of various US Field
Guides, papers including identification of Pterodroma petrels (eg Cook's/Pycrofts).
Steve is currently working on a Tubenoses of North America book. Eric
Preston (US), Chris Rogers (UK) and Hauraki Gulf residents Karen, Brett
and Chris. We left Sandspit 1PM Fine conditions, 15-20kns SW wind which
dropped away through the afternoon. We made 3 chumming stops to the north
of Little Barrier, the last to the NW of Groper (Mokohinaus) before dark.
Seabirds seen (6 Dec):
Black Petrel 20+
Cook's Petrel 100s all the way out from LBI to beyond the Mokes. Great
to have Steve on board to work through these birds as they came through.
Pycroft's Petrel - later in day we had a number of dark hooded birds flying
in close to the boat and these were discussed keenly (with sketches).
A real learning curve for all.
Grey-faced Petrel 10+ - particularly later on.
Buller's Shearwater 50+ - mainly out past Mokes where there was a light
stream of them flying through. Some coming close to the boat
Flesh-footed Shearwater 100+
Fluttering Shearwater 20+ - mainlyseen just off Takitu Point as we crosed
to LBI.
Little Shearwater 30+
Sooty Shearwater 1
Short-tailed Shearwater 2
Fairy Prion 10+ mainly out near the Mokes (Groper)
White-faced Storm Petrel 100-200 seen from midway across to LBI all the
way to the Mokes
Common Diving Petrel 10-20 again only out near the Mokes later in the
day
Blue Penguin 10-20
A Gannet
White-fronted Tern
Red-billed Gull
Black-backed Gull
Also
Bryde's Whale 5 - in three different locations
Common Dolphin two pods
Bottle-nosed Dolphin
Blue Shark
NZSP 0 seen during the day.
Birds seen (or heard) on LBI - Kaka, Tui, Bellbird (H), Saddleback
(H), Red-crowned Parakeet, NZ Pigeon, Welcome Swallow, Starling and Pied
Shag
Overnighted in the lee of the Mokohinau Islands. Clear bright sky ruined
any chance of spotlighting - Grey-faced Petrel coming into sites on Hokoromea
(Flax Islands), a couple of White-faced Strom petrel and several Blue
Penguins including one luminescent torpedo! Plus 2 Reef heron. Pied Shags
roosted in the trees above the boat.
4.30AM start and aimed for a chumming location between Mokes and Hen.
5-10kns W wind. Just before our appointed spot two stormies were seen
flying in the same direction - WFSP and NZSP. Even in the half light the
differences were obvious. Decided to stop to chum shortly afterwards.
After about half an hour NZSPs started to follow WFSPs towards the boat.
A couple of hours later (and a stunning sunrise over the Mokohinaus -
b'fast of bacon/eggs wasn't half bad either!) we headed towards Hen &
Chicks. By this time the wind had died right away so we quietly stooged
around looking for work-ups and birds either flying or resting on the
water. Under the light at Coppermine Island (we'd headed to the Chicks
to look for LSw and Fluttering Sw for Steve) we had a large pod of Long-finned
Pilot Whales with Flesh-footed Shearwaters and WFSPs. The group which
included a young one stayed with the boat checking us out including spy-hopping
and swimming under the boat. Mating activity was also observed in front
of the boat. After photographing and filming a Little Shearwater feeding
about 20-30m from the boat between Coppermine and Hen we started heading
towards LBI. Off Hen we spied a work-up of Gannets diving, Flesh-footed
Shearwaters and WFSPs. Also 2 Bryde's Whales and a pod of Common Dolphins
(incl a copulating pair of CD beside the boat) which switched their interest
between fish, and riding the bow-waves of both whales and our boat. On
the way back to Sandspit we tried chumming at one location but settled
for quietly cruising.
Birds seen during day:
Probable White-capped Albatross (seen about 50m ahead of the boat as we
headed back inside LBI maintaining 20kns - the boat overheated, the bird
just kept on cruising along in no wind)
Black Petrel (12) 20-30 - we had several birds amongst the group sitting
round the boat making very deep throated sounds (aggression towards each
other?)
Cook's Petrel 100+ - most seen early on, then later as we passed LBI (following
the Shipping Channel). Variability in head noted and sketched
Pycroft's Petrel 10-20 - again the most discussed bird.
Grey-faced Petrel approx 10 - seen early on at the first chumming location
Buller's Shearwater 100+
Flesh-footed Shearwater 100+
Fluttering Shearwater - for most of the day NZSPs outnumbered the Fluttering
Sw seen! However as we came inside LBI on the run back in we picked up
the occasional small group and birds coming through in 3s and 5s.
Hutton's Shearwater 1 possible id'd - a pair of 'flutterers' lifted off
the water at the same time. One was clearly seen to be larger, darker
(particularly underwing), with bigger/longer bill. Goes part-way to confirming
what we've seen on earlier trips what appears to be significant variation
amongst 'Fluttering Shearwaters' here in the gulf as distinct from the
Marlborough Sounds where the birds appear to be more uniform.
Little Shearwater 30-50 - great views, sometimes at very close range (eg
two birds 10m flying beside the boat while steaming along). Several small
groups of LS - one group of 8 birds. Significant increase in LS in recent
weeks.
Sooty Shearwater (2) 5+
Fairy Prion 10s - early on only near Mokes.
White-faced Storm Petrel - good numbers right through the gulf including
inside LBI
NZ Storm Petrel - (3) 4-5
Common Diving Petrel 10-20
Blue Penguin 40+
A Gannet
Black-backed Gull
Red-billed Gull
Arctic Skua
Birds seen on Coppermine Island: Kaka, Red-crowned Parakeet,
Tui, Bellbird, Saddleback, NZ Pigeon, Kingfisher, Welcome Swallow, Starling,
Pied Shag, Harrier, Myna. A highlight for one flora-orientated soul were
the pohutukawa in flower and the many wonderful big-leafed Puka on the
island.
Also
Brydes whale 3
Common Dolphins 20+
Long-finned Pilot Whale 20+
--Chris Gaskin
Pterodroma Pelagics - Hauraki Gulf Seabird Tours
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