Other Seabirds of The Petrel Station
Tutukaka, New Zealand
Beyond the core pelagic tubenose groups, The Petrel Station also encounters a wide range of other seabirds, from Grey Noddy and Little Penguin to Gannets, Terns, Gulls, and Shags.
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OTHER SEABIRD SPECIES SEEN
The Petrel Station also records a rich supporting cast of other seabirds, including Grey Noddy, Australasian Gannet, Little Penguin, terns, gulls, and shags, all of which add to the character and diversity of the day.
Among these, the standout specialty is the Grey Noddy, a beautiful tropical seabird that visits the Poor Knights area from the Kermadec Islands and is a real highlight of for many birdwatchers coming out with us.
There are also important Australasian Gannet and Red-billed Gull colonies on the offshore islands we visit, while Little Penguin, New Zealand’s most northern breeding penguin, adds another layer to the local seabird story.
Below are the other seabird species recorded on The Petrel Station seabird tours, along with when they are most likely to be seen — although, as with all pelagic birding, surprises can always occur outside the usual pattern.
JUMP TO SPECIES:
Grey Noddy • Little Penguin • Australasian Gannet • Arctic Tern • White-fronted Tern • Caspian Tern • Red-billed Gull • Southern Black-backed Gull • Pied Shag • Black Shag • Little Black Shag • Little Shag
Grey Noddy
SPECIALTY SEABIRD of The Petrel Station
When seen: December to April (and occasionally a month either side).
Occurrence: Regular seasonal visitor
Scientific name: Anous albivitta
From December to late April, the delightful Grey Noddy / Ternlet return to the Poor Knights Islands and are one of the highlights of our summer tours, and a real specialty seabird of The Petrel Station seabird tours.
In mainland New Zealand, they are known to visit a handful of offshore rock stack islands, and the Poor Knights is one of the easiest places to see them. Grey Noddy generally breed in the Kermadec Islands, around 1,000 km to the north-east.
Numbers of Grey Noddy tend to build through summer as more birds arrive, and on past tours we have recorded up to 225 individuals.
Little Penguin
When seen: August to March (occasionally seen at other times).
Occurrence: Regular local breeder
Scientific name: Eudyptula minor
The Little Penguin is the smallest penguin species in the world, and it is always a real treat to encounter one offshore. They breed in small patches along the Tutukaka Coast, and we semi-regularly come across them in small numbers, especially around the breeding season.
Australasian Gannet
When seen: Year round
Occurrence: Abundant local breeder
Scientific name: Morus serrator
Australasian Gannets are among the great fish-hunters of the seabird world, and one of the species other seabirds often watch closely to see where the food is. When feeding, these striking birds plunge from great heights like white torpedoes straight into swarming baitfish — a spectacular sight, especially when lots of gannets are diving at once during a big feeding frenzy workup event.
There is a large colony of Australasian Gannets on the Poor Knights Islands, so they are regularly encountered on The Petrel Station seabird tours.
Arctic Tern
When seen: July (only encountered once)
Occurrence: Very rare vagrant visitor to New Zealand
Scientific name: Sterna paradisaea
Arctic Terns complete one of the greatest migrations in the natural world, travelling from the Arctic to the Antarctic and back again each year, with some flying over 80,000 km. They are very scarce in New Zealand, so any sighting is special, and they are also tricky to separate from several other tern species found in New Zealand.
White-fronted Tern
When seen: Year round
Occurrence: Regular local breeder
Scientific name: Sterna striata
White-fronted Terns are the most common tern species in New Zealand and a familiar part of the coastal seabird scene. Usually found closer to the coast or around the islands, they are graceful, lively birds that we’ll sometimes encounter amongst amongst the huge offshore feeding workups.
Caspian Tern
When seen: Year round in Tutukaka harbour
Occurrence: Infrequent local breeder
Scientific name: Hydroprogne caspia
Caspian Terns are the largest tern species in the world, and with a wingspan of around 1 metre they are impressive birds to see. They are especially striking to watch when hunting, as they patrol the harbour and then suddenly drop down to snatch prey from the ocean surface.
Red-billed Gull
When seen: Year round
Occurrence: Common local breeder
Scientific name: Larus novaehollandiae scopulinus
Red-billed gulls breed in quite large numbers on the nearby offshore islands, and at times we can encounter big groups of them. One of the nice things about getting to encounter them well offshore is seeing them behave as true seabirds, feeding naturally on marine food such as zooplankton rather than scavenging chips and scraps around towns and wharves.
During the huge feeding frenzy workups there is often several hundred Red-billed Gulls mixed in among thousands of Buller’s Shearwaters and Fairy Prion, adding even more energy to the spectacle.
Southern black-backed gull
When seen: Year round (in small numbers)
Occurrence: Common local breeder
Scientific name: Larus dominicanus
Southern Black-backed Gulls are the largest gull regularly encountered on the New Zealand coast, and their size and power make them an impressive bird to see well. We usually encounter them in small numbers around the harbour, and offshore.
Pied Shag
When seen: Year round in Tutukaka harbour
Occurrence: Common local breeder
Scientific name: Phalacrocorax varius
Pied Shags are large, striking shags with vivid blue eye-rings and yellow facial skin. We have a small colony nesting in the pōhutukawa trees around Tutukaka, so they are a familiar sight on tour — whether perched in the trees, flying overhead, or hunting in the harbour.
Known as Pied Cormorant in some parts of the world.
Black Shag
When seen: Year round in Tutukaka harbour
Occurrence: Infrequent local breeder
Scientific name: Phalacrocorax carbo
Black Shags are large, powerful-looking birds, usually seen alone rather than in groups. Their size and dark, heavy build make them an impressive sight in the harbour, although we do not encounter them very often.
Known as Black Cormorant in some parts of the world.
Little Black Shag
When seen: Year round in Tutukaka harbour
Occurrence: Regular local breeder
Scientific name: Phalacrocorax sulcirostris
These stunning shags, with their dark plumage and striking emerald-green eyes, are sometimes encountered in the harbour, either roosting quietly or diving actively for fish.
Known as Little Black Cormorant in some parts of the world.
Little Shag
When seen: Year round in Tutukaka harbour
Occurrence: Occasional local breeder
Scientific name: Microcarbo melanoleucos
The sweet Little Shag is sometimes encountered in the harbour, either roosting or hunting for fish.
Known as Little Cormorant in other parts of the world.
Yet to be seen…
Here are some other seabird species that have been recorded within the wider area where The Petrel Station seabird tours operate, but we haven’t yet recorded on one of our tours — yet!
Southern Fulmar
Brown Booby
Sooty Tern
Brown and Black Noddy
White-tailed and Red-tailed Tropicbird
Lesser Frigatebird
This is just one group of the remarkable seabird diversity we’ve recorded on The Petrel Station seabird tours offshore from Tutukaka. Check out the other seabird groups we’ve recorded including Albatross, Petrels, Shearwaters, Storm Petrels, Prions and Skuas.
You can also visit our Seasons page for an overview of when different species are most likely to be encountered, and explore our past Tour Reports for a fascinating insight into what can be seen offshore on a seabird tour.
We also recommend the very informative www.nzbirdsonline.org.nz
Want to experience these amazing seabirds for yourself? Join The Petrel Station seabird tours for an unforgettable day offshore.