THE PETREL STATION SEABIRD TOURS MULTI DAY REPORT
3 DAYS --> 150,000 SEABIRDS --> 31 SPECIES
We just completed 3 brilliant days in a row offshore out at The Petrel Station seabird tours Tutukaka (in Northland, New Zealand).
Highlights of the tours were:
1 x South Polar Skua (scarce in NZ)
2 x Long-tailed Skua (scarce in NZ)
15 x Mottled Petrel
16 x Pycroft's Petrel
Feeding workups of Fairy Prions and Buller's Shearwaters
Over the 3 days we recorded just over 150,000 stunning seabirds, and 31 seabird species (see the full species list below). Conditions over the 3 days were a mix of fine, overcast and rain, with 8-20 knot winds and a 1.2-1.5 m swell.
We’re haifway through our spring seabird season and we’ve had plenty of amazing encounters already … 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 list of all seabirds recorded over the 2 days:
Seabirds seen:
1 x Northern Royal Albatross
2 x Campbell Albatross
1 x Salvin's Albatross
28 x White-capped Albatross
1 x South Polar Skua
2 x Long-tailed Skua
74,500 x Fairy Prion
445 x Cook's Petrel
16 x Pycroft's Petrel
15 x Mottled Petrel
1 x Pintado Petrel
10 x Grey-faced Petrel
61 x Black Petrel
62,500 x Buller's Shearwater
310 x Fluttering Shearwater
22 x Little Shearwater
320 x Flesh-footed Shearwater
47 x Sooty Shearwater
1 x Short-tailed Shearwater
140 x White-faced Storm Petrel
63 x New Zealand Storm Petrel
5 x Wilson's Storm Petrel
2,250 x Common Diving Petrel
4 x Little Blue Penguin
1 x Grey Noddy
8,350 x Australasian Gannet
1,100 x Red-billed Gull
6 x Black-backed Gull
205 x Pied Shag
1 x Little Pied Shag
32 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:
160 x Common Dolphin
5 x Bottlenose Dolphin
6 x NZ Fur Seal
1 x Sunfish
3 x Flying Fish