All day Pelagic Report

Hi All


Here is Gary's report from the all-day pelagic tour that took place on the 31st of July. It looks like it was a great success and we will look at puttin gon a spring all-day tour around the spring equinox.

Heading out at 0630 into the dark and headed 120 on the compass. The forecast was not good but that didn't deter the the regular deep sea commandos that have come on every deep sea pelagic that we have done so far. As we got out the North swell started to build but no wind and as it got lighter we witnessed a spectacular red sky which is usual with a nor west forecast. We arrived at 0745hrs at the 18 N.Miles mark off shore that we visited in March that went so well, put the bait in the water and waited with coffee and hot chocolate,chatting while the hard core keept a sharp look out.

We stayed for 3hours at the out side range and had Royals, Black-brows, Shy's, Bullers, but no Wandering and very few Cape petrel which seemed a bit strange. Some great views of Grey faced and westland petrels.

Wind still holding off so we worked our way inshore with a few more stops on the way.
Found a fishing boat off the Conway river and spent some time with them and had the big numbers but still very few Wanderings (2).

One more stop on the inside bank off the Conway and last chance to get a Grey petrel or
Antarctic Fulmar and just as we stopped the cry when up “Fulmar” but it was the only one. The reason that we didn't get many of the other birds was probably the off shore breeze but it was an enjoyable trip and the wind held off and no one was sea sick.

All Day Pelagic Tour Saturday 31st July

Hi All

It has got to that time of year again when we are planning a deep ocean all day pelagic tour to see what unusual species we can spot off the Kaikoura coastline.

The check in time is 6.00am on Saturday the 31st of July (with Sunday 1st August as a backup for weather). The reason for the early start is to be well offshore for first light.

The cost is $175 andwe can provide a packed lunch for $10.

For more info or bookings email: info@dolphin.co.nz or call

on 0064 3 3196777 or freephone 0800 733365

Blue Petrel Beach Wrecked

Local bird enthusiast Bev Elliot brought a beach wrecked bird in to Gary on Thursday. Gary took some photographs (which I will try and post up this week) and sent them around to some of his expert friends, although the tail feathers were missing the i.d. was unanamous and it is likely to be a blue petrel. This species is very unusual for Kaikoura and something we will be looking out for on our July tours.

Banded Gull

Kaikoura regular and ardent birder Peter Langlands snapped this black-billed gull on the beach and managed to ID the tag number, as it turns out it was banded as a chick in 2004 at Bayswater on the Aparima River , Southland.

Its great to see the distance the gulls travel to come to Kaikoura, must be something to do with the very productive food web we have here as caused by the constant upwellings and very deep water close to land.

Photo: Peter Langlands

Photos from All-Day Pelagic

Peter Langlands has sent some photos from the all-day pelagic tour, I will post them up as he sends them to us.

Offshore Pelagic tour 20th March

Hi All

Peter Langlands was on the tour and posted this species list and report on the birding forum:


On Saturday seven birders went out on the Albatross Encounter extended offshore pelagic. Going as far as 20 nm miles SE off Kaikoura Peninsula the trip was an outstanding success- The highlight was the sighting of Cook's, soft-plumaged and mottled petrel with the additional sighting of a FOURTH Cookilaria which may very well be a Gould's Petrel ( I have photos and will post them tomorrow when I get home). This was our finest hour- they came through in a short space of time in morning.
The trip list for the day ( from 8am- 3pm) is as follows
5 Northern royal albatross
2 Southern royal albatross
1 Gibsons albatross
1 Antipodean albatross ( immature)
1 black browed albatross- Campbell Island 10 NZ white -capped albatross
3 Salvin's albatross
3 Southern Buller's albatross
5 northern giant petrel
5 westland black petrel
15 white chinned petrel
10 cape pigeon (nominate)
3 Diving petrel
2 Fariry Prions
50 Huttons shearwater
10 bullers shearwater
1 Sooty Shearwater
5 Short tailed shearwater
6 Wilsons storm petrel
5 Brown skua- chased wandering albatross - ambition !!!
1 Pomarine skua
3 arctic skua
3 black billed gull - 10 miles offshore
5 black fronted tern up to 20 miles offshore

Thanks to Gary for being the skipper- a great day. Took 16 GB of photos !!!
Regards
Peter

Great Shearwater??

Hi All

Gary spotted what appeared to be a great shearwater thisafternoon on the Albatross Encounter tour. He has shown the photographs around some other pelagic experts and the consensus is that it is indeed a great shearwater (usual range is the south Atlantic) if it is confirmed it would make it only the 3rd sighting in New Zealand.