30 Oct 2025
THE PETREL STATION TOUR REPORT
92,000 SEABIRDS --> 26 SPECIES!
Had another awesome spring day out on the latest pelagic seabird tour to The Petrel Station, offshore from Tutukaka (in Northland, New Zealand).
Highlights of the tour were:
Huge workups of Buller's Shearwater and Fairy Prion
In total we recorded just over 92,000 stunning seabirds, and 26 seabird species (see the full species list below). Conditions on the day were mostly overcast, with 0-5 knot winds and a tiny 0.5m swell.
Keen to join us for some unique spring seabird action? Check out our upcoming seabird tour dates and get in touch – the best way to experience these stunning seabirds is out on the ocean, in their world. It’s always a great day out!
Here’s the full tour results from the day:
Seabirds seen:
1 x NZ Wandering (ssp. Gibson's)
1 x Buller's Albatross
19 x White-capped Albatross
1 x Northern Giant Petrel
37,500 x Fairy Prion
48 x Cook's Petrel
4 x Pycroft's Petrel
1 x Mottled Petrel
1 x Grey-faced Petrel
3 x Black Petrel
50,000 x Buller's Shearwater
1,450 x Fluttering Shearwater
11 x Little Shearwater
110 x Flesh-footed Shearwater
13 x Sooty Shearwater
31 x White-faced Storm Petrel
2 x New Zealand Storm Petrel
2 x Wilson's Storm Petrel
850 x Common Diving Petrel
20 x Little Blue Penguin
1,900 x Australasian Gannet
7 x White-fronted Tern
600 x Red-billed Gull
9 x Black-backed Gull
78 x Pied 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:
5 x NZ Fur Seal