These islands have been colonized for a long time.
Travelling to the last remnant of original forest
habitat was challenging!
Very little original habitat remains.
The petrels nest inside the woodland.
They are encouraged by playing
their calls at night.
A petrel burrow.
Chatham Island Petrel
Magenta Petrel
Areas of native forest are once
more being replanted.
Poison baits & traps are set widely
to try & keep the numbers of
introduced predators in check.
Weka.
They are encouraged by playing
their calls at night.
A petrel burrow.
Chatham Island Petrel
Magenta Petrel
Areas of native forest are once
more being replanted.
Poison baits & traps are set widely
to try & keep the numbers of
introduced predators in check.
Weka.
Chatham Island Pigeon, once down to 40
individuals, but because of conservation measures
is thriving again.
This was the day! (30th
November). The day we go ashore on Chatham
Island to the famous Sweetwater
Covenant. We were lucky with both Chatham Island Petrel & Magenta
Petrel being in burrows. These are lone males looking for females, so we were
not disturbing nesting birds. It was a brilliant few hours listening to the two
guides, who were very knowledgeable. It was great to hear the story of their
trials & tribulations of the project. An outstanding experience!
The rest of the day was spent in the pub, before we
returned to the ship for dinner.
Best birds were:
3 Chatham Albatross; 10 Northern Buller’s (Pacific)
Albatross; 80 Northern Giant Petrel; 45 Cape Petrel; Chatham Island Petrel; Magenta Petrel; 1,000+ Sooty Shearwater; 10
Grey Backed Storm Petrel; 25+ White Faced Storm Petrel; 8 Black Shag (Great
Cormorant); 10 Pitt Island Shag; 12 Swamp Harrier; 3 Weka; 7 Spur Winged Plover;
5 White Fronted Tern; 75+ Chatham Island
Pigeon; 2 Chatham Island Red-Crowned Parakeet; 15 Chatham Island Tui; 2 Chatham Island Gerygone; 2 New
Zealand Fantail & 2 Chatham Island Pipit.
The research station.
Chatham Island Shag
As soon as you leave the islands behind,
the seabirds return!
Buller's Albatross
This species migrates east to west
across the Pacific Ocean.
across the Pacific Ocean.
They had just returned to their breeding grounds.
It is White
Rabbits Day: 1st
December! Where did the year go? We are anchored off Manguire & Little
Manguire Island. After breakfast we move off around the headland & see a
few Chatham Island Shags.
Once chumming started it is a free for all!
Buller's Albatross
Northern Royal Albatross
Once the big boy lands, it dominates
all other species.
all other species.
Buller's Albatross
Chatham Island Albatross
Northern Giant Petrel & Buller's Albatross
White capped Albatross
Buller's & White capped Albatross
& Northern Giant Petrel.
Northern Giant Petrel
White capped Albatross
Northern Royal Albatross
Northern Royal & Buller's Albatross
Chatham Island Albatross
Buller's Albatross
Three species of Albatross together!
Northern Royal Albatross
Buller's Albatross
Chatham island Albatross
Cape Petrel
White capped Albatross
Buller's & White capped Albatross
& Northern Giant Petrel.
Northern Giant Petrel
White capped Albatross
Northern Royal Albatross
Northern Royal & Buller's Albatross
Chatham Island Albatross
Buller's Albatross
Three species of Albatross together!
Northern Royal Albatross
Buller's Albatross
Chatham island Albatross
Cape Petrel
We did a session of chumming, which was superb, but
nearly ended in total disaster! People were on the tail gate at the stern, when
a rogue wave engulfed them. Six people were knocked off their feet & many
cameras ruined! I was OK. This could have been a total disaster: we were lucky!
We then head out to sea for our return to the New
Zealand mainland. I did a bit of sea watching but it was surprisingly
disappointing. Tried again later, but same result, so retired to the bar!
Best birds were:
10 Northern Royal Albatross; 3 White Capped Albatross;
Salvin’s Albatross; 25 Chatham Albatross; 100+ Northern Buller’s Albatross; 50
Northern Giant Petrel; 15 Cape Petrel; 20 White Chinned Petrel; 7 Sooty
Shearwater; 30 White Faced Storm Petrel; 2 Pitt Island Shag; 3 Chatham Island
Shag; 8 Brown Skua & 6 Chatham Island Tui.
White chinned Petrel
Soft Plumaged Petrel
Pycroft's Petrel
A difficult species to see!
Mottled Petrel
Difficult to photograph as they rarely
come close to the ship.
come close to the ship.
The underwing pattern is exceptional!
2nd
December & 3rd December I
am all at sea! We made steady progress towards New Zealand, but still have a
long way to go. I spent all of the day sea watching & it was a little
challenging in the morning, due to the heavy seas, but calmed just a tad by
afternoon. My final possible seabird for this trip was Pycroft's Petrel & I managed to see eight of them but all distantly. This is a tough species to see, so I was very pleased.
Showing the underwing pattern nicely.
Grey-headed Albatross
White capped Albatross
Salvin's Albatross
These are famous waters for seabirds & sea-birding so I was a little disappointed with my haul!
Best birds were:
As we neared the mainland Otago Shag & White-fronted Tern were noted.
Sighted the New Zealand mainland on 4th December & the trip was over! It had been an excellent trip. I saw everything that I could have wished for. Till the next time Heritage!
Southern Royal Albatross
Campbell Albatross
Showing the underwing pattern nicely.
Grey-headed Albatross
White capped Albatross
Salvin's Albatross
Best birds were:
Southern Royal Albatross; 3 Northern Royal Albatross; 12 White capped Albatross; 80+ Salvin's Albatross; 3 Campbell Albatross; Grey-headed Albatross; 2 Northern Giant Petrel; 7 Cape Petrel; 18 Fairy Prion; Black winged Petrel; 34 Mottled Petrel; 8 Pycroft's Petrel & 38 Grey-faced Petrel.
Otago Shag
First views of South Island NZ.
Sighted the New Zealand mainland on 4th December & the trip was over! It had been an excellent trip. I saw everything that I could have wished for. Till the next time Heritage!