29 Sep 2026
THE PETREL STATION TOUR REPORT
60,000 SEABIRDS --> 24 SPECIES
An awesome day offshore to start the spring spring season out at The Petrel Station, offshore from Tutukaka (in Northland, New Zealand).
Highlights of the tour were:
Southern Royal Albatross (scarce this far north)
3 Southern Giant Petrel (scarce this far north)
Over 50,000 Buller's Shearwaters in multiple workups!
In total we recorded just over 60,000 stunning seabirds, and 24 seabird species (see the full species list below). Conditions on the day were mostly overcast, with strong 15+ knot winds and a 1m swell.
Keen to join us for a unique seabird experience? Check out our upcoming tour dates and get in touch – It’s always a great day out 😁.
Here’s the full tour results from the day:
Seabirds seen:
1 x Southern Royal Albatross
2 x Northern Royal Albatross
4 x NZ Wandering Albatross (ssp. Gibson's)
35 x White-capped Albatross
3 x Southern Giant Petrel
2 x Northern Giant Petrel
4,000 x Fairy Prion
1 x Cape Petrel
16 x Cook's Petrel
18 x Grey-faced Petrel
53,000 x Buller's Shearwater
2 x Hutton's Shearwater
53 x Fluttering Shearwater
41 x Little Shearwater
8 x White-faced Storm Petrel
20 x New Zealand Storm Petrel
1,100 x Common Diving Petrel
2 x Little Blue Penguin
1750 x Australasian Gannet
80 x Red-billed Gull
8 x Black-backed Gull
62 x Pied Shag
1 x Little Black Shag
1 x Little Black Shag
Learn more about the seabird species seen on this tour:
Albatross • Petrels • Shearwaters • Storm Petrels • Prions • Skuas • Other Seabirds
Other marine life encountered:
40 x Common Dolphin
1 x Possible Bluefin Tuna
22 x NZ Fur Seal