New Zealand Part 6

New Zealand Trip Report Part 6

Wednesday Feb 19^th

We tried a couple of spots around Kaikoura for Cirl Bunting but couldn’t find any. Along the shore and off to sea there was Black-fronted Dotterel, our first Hutton’s Shearwater, Spotted Shag, Black-fronted Tern, Dusky Dolphin and NZ Fur Seal.

Spotted Shag

Starfish

It was then time for one of the highlights of the trip – the legendary Kaikoura Pelagic. 

We boarded the boat on dry land

We left at 9.20 and headed a short way out to sea. The conditions were good with a gentle breeze and just a little swell. It didn’t take long for the Northern Giant Petrels to find us and these marine garbage disposal units were practically ever present for the two hours we were at sea. With albatrosses also beginning to appear off the wake we made our first of several stops and dropped the fish bait – a large plastic basket containing fish with mesh sides so that the birds could only rip pieces off rather than devour the lot in one sitting.

Arctic Skua chasing a White-fronted Tern

Cape Petrel

Northern Giant Petrel

A NZ Wandering Albatross dominated the first stop, fighting off the Giant Petrels with its large bill and a lot of vocal warnings. Both species of Royal Albatross flew around the boat with the occasional Northern stopping to investigate. Salvin’s and White-capped made the albatross list to five species but neither took any food. Cape Petrels came in to investigate but they were no match for the bigger species so had to be content with sitting on the water in the back row snaffling any small snacks that drifted their way.

NZ Wandering Albatross & Northern Giant Petrel

NZ Wandering Albatross

Northern Royal Albatross & Cape Petrel

Salvin's Albatross & Cape Petrel

Salvin's (left) & White-capped Albatross

Salvin's Albatross

White-capped Albatross

Four species of shearwater: the now familiar flocks of Fluttering, occasional Buller’s, some distant Hutton’s and a single Cook’s flew past or sat on the sea but none seemed interested in the fish handouts. White-chinned and the similar-looking Westland Petrel made several close fly-bys but there were no storm-petrels.

Buller's Shearwater

Fluttering Shearwater

Westland Petrel

It was a great experience being out on the sea in a small boat within touching distance of these great oceanic wanderers and one I had wanted to do for a long time since I first read about the Kaikoura pelagics.

After a couple of hours we headed back to the harbour and dry land. There was time to visit their gift shop before the inevitable bakery shop stop for lunch which we had back at the motel. The afternoon was a rest half-day so I caught up on my notes and photos as well as making a short walk to the supermarket to stock up on snacks.

An odd looking House Sparrow