6 Jul 2025
THE PETREL STATION TOUR REPORT
Had an awesome winters day out on the latest pelagic seabird tour to The Petrel Station, offshore from Tutukaka (in Northland, New Zealand).
Highlights of the tour were:
8,500 Common Diving Petrels – are highest number ever recorded
6 species of Albatross
Our third ever record of Westland petrel
During the tour we recorded 23 different seabird species, and enjoyed watching just over 18,000 stunning seabirds in total! Conditions on the day were fine, with 10-15 knot S winds and a 1.5m swell. See below for the full list of seabirds recorded on the tour.
We've still got a few spare spaces on the 2 remaining winter seabird tours (and loads of tours throught spring) so if you’re interested in coming out to The Petrel Station then check out the upcoming seabird tour dates and get in touch – it’s always a great day out.
Here’s the full tour results from the day:
Seabirds seen:
2 x Northern Royal Albatross
5 x Buller's Albatross
5 x Campbell Albatross
6 x Black-browed Albatross
1 x Salvin's Albatross
10 x White-capped Albatross
1 x Southern Giant Petrel
1 x Northern Giant Petrel
2 x Brown Skua
7,650 x Fairy Prion
1 x Cook's Petrel
2 x Pintado Petrel
1 x Westland Petrel
14 x Grey-faced Petrel
270 x Fluttering Shearwater
31 x Little Shearwater
2 x New Zealand Storm Petrel
8,500 x Common Diving Petrel
1,350 x Australasian Gannet
135 x Red-billed Gull
8 x Black-backed Gull
43 x Pied Shag
1 x Little Pied Shag
Other marine life included:
43 x NZ Fur Seal