Trip Report
7 Feb 2004
Left Sandspit Wharf at 8.30AM. Very light S to start with - no more than 5kns
10 of us on board plus the skipper
Sandspit to Takatu Point
A Gannet - scattered individuals right from the estuary
Arctic Skua - 2
Pomarine Skua - 1
Blue Penguin - 2 (incl one that appeared to have broken flipper)
White-fronted tern - 3 diving at a Blue Penguin
Takatu Point to Little Barrier
Buller's Shearwater - scattered birds through the first couple of nms plus occasional small groups
Fluttering Shearwater 3
Flesh-footed Shearwater 2
White-faced Storm Petrel 2
A Gannets - birds moving through
Then were distracted by two Bryde's Whales and 30+ Common Dolphins moving roughly parallel to the shipping channel
About 100 A Gannets and 10s of Flesh-footed Shearwaters feeding through the activity. Buller's Shearwaters hanging on the fringes
Back with the route to Little Barrier - quite quiet through the shipping channel
Buller's Shearwater - individuals
Flesh-footed Shearwater - individuals, well spread
White-faced Storm Petrel - 2
Blue Penguin - 2
Cook's Petrel - closer to Little Barrier first individuals then a group of 15; after that small loose groups
Pycroft's Petrel - one positively ID'd
Moved along Western shore of Little Barrier.
Little Barrier to Mokohinaus
Started with the light SW wind and not many birds. About 2nms off the island started picking up birds.
Pterodromas (Cook's/Pycroft's) - a few scattered individuals
One Pterodroma with very solid black underwing lines and darkish cap - very strong Black-winged Petrel possibility
Buller's Shearwaters - a few
First Chumming Location - SST 21.2C
Birds moving up towards the wind from the NW
Cook's Petrels including birds with some signs of moulting
Pycroft's - a few identified when we able to compare with Cook's nearby
Flesh-footed Shearwater - 10s
Black Petrel - 10+
Buller's Shearwater - 10+
White-faced Storm Petrel - 5-10
NZ Storm Petrel - 4+ in the 40mins we were chumming
Wind dying away so decided to move - wind picked up a little as we closed in on the Mokes
White-faced Storm Petrel - 5+
Cook's Petrel - 10+ individuals then loose groups lifting off the water as we moved by
Pycroft's Petrel - a handful +ID'd
Flesh-footed Shearwater - scattered individuals, either flying or resting on water
Buller's Shearwaters 3; then group of 18 resting on calm water just south of Fanal Island
Flying fish!
Mokohinaus
Wind dropped to zero, very calm
Harrier, both Gulls and White-faced Terns on Fanal Island.
Buller's Shearwaters - 2 as we approached Maori Rocks
Maori Rocks
Grey Ternlet (Blue-grey Noddy) - 33+ (on two stacks) Most we've seen of these neat little birds
A Gannets - Looked more deserted than last time, many juvs probably fledged, most chicks left well-advanced and near fledging, although a few still had white down on neck
Had a leisurely lunch at the Arches - a superb cove surrounded by glowing cliffs capped with flax and pohutukawa - Red-crowned Parakeet, NZ Bellbird, Tui, Fantail the birds seen. Two very large Stingrays cruising right under the boat didn't deter some folks diving in for a snorkel and swim -black angel fish, sandagers parrotfish, v. large pigfish and schools of blue maomao and two-spot demoiselles under the arches.
Leaving the Mokes headed NW towards the Shipping Channel, north of Groper Rock. Followed a long calm current line with White-faced Stormies feeding along it, about 15 every 50m
Occasional Buller's, then a mob of 15 with some Flesh-footed Shearwaters
Second Chumming Location - not very hopeful with no wind to speak of.
Brought in White-faced Storm Petrels - 10+
Flesh-footed Shearwaters - 10+
Black Petrels - 4
Cook's Petrels - 2
Decided to run towards the Chicks via the Niagara Wreck site to try and pick up some wind
White-faced Storm Petrels - scattered birds, very occasional
Cook's Petrel - 1
Black Petrel - 3
Buller's Shearwater - several
One Marlin close to the Niagara site.
One NZ Bellbird heading for Mokes!!!!
Then as we closed in on the Chicks picked up more and more birds and what appeared to be a bit more wind.
Buller's Shearwaters, Black Petrels, Flesh-footed Shearwaters, Cook's/Pycroft's (Pterodroma sp), A Gannet
Then just east of Hen Islandas we cruised we noticed one storm petrel with a very different jiz and flight pattern - very determined rather than the balletic prancing of the White-faced Storm Petrels - great to pick up another NZ Storm Petrel (although this one appeared much darker on the underside than the others we'd seen earlier).
Immediately stopped and started to chum but without any wind couldn't entice the little guy to join our party!
Third Chumming Location
White-faced Storm Petrel - several
Drew birds from groups of Buller's/Flesh-footed Shearwaters and Black Petrels resting nearby
Gave up chumming after a rather fruitless session
Hen & Chicks to Little Barrier
From a position east of the Chicks we started heading back towards Little Barrier. Late in the afternoon. More and more birds gathering - Flesh-footed Shearwaters and Cook's/Pycroft's Petrels. More the latter with the location although it would be too early to say they were predominantly Pycroft's (they breed on Hen & Chicks). Still too hard to call with a number of birds.
Two separate pairs of observers saw birds that were consistent with Black-winged Petrel
Flying fish again.
Finally hit the wind (late afternoon land breeze) and ran parallel to its edge towards Little Barrier. 10-15kns SW.
Moving to a position just north of Little Barrier the numbers of Cook's Petrels lifting off the water (and catching the sun) was significant. 100s flying fast upwind
Also Flesh-footed Shearwaters, White-faced Storm Petrels, the occasional Buller's Shearwater and more and more Cook's Petrels
Fourth Chumming Location
North of Little Barrier (similar position to our first)
With a decent wind and plenty of birds in the air it seemed our chances of drawing in birds were greatly improved - certainly the case:
Buller's Shearwaters - 10+
Black Petrels - 5+
Flesh-footed Shearwaters - 20+
Cook's Petrels (great views - good to see the clean white underwing and sharp slight black line from the running from the bend of the wing) - 10+ passing close by not landing
White-faced Storm Petrels - 10+
NZ Storm Petrels (at least 10 with the first turning up with about 5 mins of starting chumming)
Sooty Shearwaters (2)
Also, a second Marlin passed by about 40m from the back of the boat
Called it day then headed in to the shelter of Little Barrier for an evening snack and glass or two of wine.
By evening light quietly made our way round the east side of Little Barrier, past Pohutukawa Flat then the shortest line to Takatu Point and Sandspit.
Good numbers of Cook's Petrels could be seen milling about either flying or lifting off the waves in the last light.
--Chris Gaskin & Karen Baird
Pterodroma Pelagics - Hauraki Gulf Seabird Tours
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