1-3 Nov 2025
THE PETREL STATION 3 DAY TOUR REPORT
3 DAYS —> 202,000 SEABIRDS! —> 30 SPECIES
We just completed 3 outstanding seabird tour days in a row out at The Petrel Station, offshore from Tutukaka (in Northland, New Zealand).
Highlights of the tours were:
6 x Mottled Petrel
Huge numbers of Buller’s Shearwater on each day
Big numbers of Cooks Petrels
6 x massive Bryde's Whales
Over the 3 days we recorded just short of 202,000 stunning seabirds, and 30 seabird species (see the full species list below). Conditions over the 3 days were fine, with variable 7-15 knot winds and a 1-1.5m 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 Albatross (ssp. Gibson's)
4 x Salvin’s Albatross
1 x Campbell Albatross
53 x White-capped Albatross
2 x Northern Giant Petrel
26,850 x Fairy Prion
6 x Mottled Petrel
755 x Cook’s Petrel
12 x Pycroft’s Petrel
8 x Grey-faced Petrel
14 x Black Petrel
1 x White-chinned Petrel
163,500 x Buller’s Shearwater
310 x Fluttering Shearwater
62 x Little Shearwater
191 x Flesh-footed Shearwater
159 x Sooty Shearwater
77 x White-faced Storm Petrel
22 x New Zealand Storm Petrel
6 x Wilson’s Storm Petrel
2,120 x Common Diving Petrel
7 x Little Blue Penguin
6,100 x Australasian Gannet
12 x White-fronted Tern
2 x Caspian Tern
1,240 x Red-billed Gull
10 x Black-backed Gull
204 x Pied Shag
2 x Little Pied Shag
1 x Little Black Shag
Other marine life encountered:
6 x Bryde’s Whale
105 x Common Dolphin
16 x NZ Fur Seal
4 x Flying Fish