9 Jan 2019

2019SUMMERTRIP REPORT
Written By Scott Brooks

THE PETREL STATION TRIP REPORT

This was a special trip out the The Petrel Station where we left about midday, had some time out deep offshore, and then had an early evening BBQ on the boat at the Poor Knights Islands at dusk. After the BBQ we got to watch thousands of Buller’s Shearwaters rafting and swirling about in huge numbers against the orange sunset, before they began to head to their island burrows as the light faded to black. An amazing experience.

One of the highlights of the trip was at least 10 Pycrofts Petrel flying around the boat during our time out deep, and coming back into the Poor Knights Islands to roost (we even got to hear them calling as they flew overhead).

During the trip we saw 20 different seabird species, and saw over 11,000 stunning seabirds in total! A fantastic day (and evening) out.

If you’re interested in coming out to The Petrel Station then check out the upcoming trip dates and get in touch – it’s always a great day.

Here’s the full trip results from the day:

Seabirds seen:

  • 1 x Wandering Albatross (Gibson's)

  • 60 x Fairy Prion

  • 50 x Cook's Petrel

  • 10 x Pycroft's Petrel

  • 18 x Grey-faced Petrel

  • 15 x Black Petrel

  • 1 x White-chinned Petrel

  • 3 x Flesh-footed Shearwater

  • 10,000+ x Buller's Shearwater

  • 100 x Fluttering Shearwater

  • 4 x Little Shearwater

  • 26 x New Zealand Storm-Petrel

  • 8 x White-faced Storm-Petrel

  • 1 x Common Diving Petrel

  • 2 x Little Penguin

  • 11 x Grey Ternlet

  • 1,000 x Australasian Gannet

  • 70 x Red-billed Gull

  • 2 x Black-backed Gull

  • 3 x Pied Shag

Other sea life included:

  • A pod of Common Dolphins

  • 1 x Sun Fish

Scott Brooks
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