20 Feb 2025

2025SUMMERTRIP REPORT
Written By Scott Brooks

THE PETREL STATION TRIP REPORT

Had a great day out on the latest pelagic seabird tour to The Petrel Station, offshore from Tutukaka (in Northland, New Zealand).

Highlights of the tour were:

  • Impressive rafts of around 25,000 Buller's Shearwater.

  • A massive Spine-tailed Devil Ray circled the boat for about 15 minutes, and a couple of either Manta/Devil Rays a bit further out.

  • A huge Bryde's Whale feeding in a big workup of Australasian Gannet, Flesh Footed Shearwater and Common Dolphin.

During the tour we recorded 17 different seabird species, and enjoyed watching just over 29,000 stunning seabirds in total! Conditions on the day were fine, with minimal winds (0-3 knots) and a 1m swell. See below for the full list of seabirds recorded on the tour.

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 out.

Here’s the full trip results from the day:

Seabirds seen:

  • 91 x Fairy Prion

  • 116 x Cook's Petrel

  • 19 x Black Petrel

  • 27,500 x Buller's Shearwater

  • 1 x Little Shearwater

  • 5 x Fluttering Shearwater

  • 103 x Flesh-footed Shearwater

  • 20 x White-faced Storm Petrel

  • 4 x New Zealand Storm Petrel

  • 3 x Little Blue Penguin

  • 42 x Grey Ternlet

  • 950 x Australasian Gannet

  • 125 x Red-billed Gull

  • 4 x Black-backed Gull

  • 60 x Pied Shag

  • 1 x Black Shag

  • 1 x Little Pied Shag

Other marine life included:

  • 1 x Bryde's Whale

  • 1 x Spine-tailed Devil Ray

  • 2 x Manta/Devil Ray

  • 62 x Common Dolphin

  • Big school of Skipjack Tuna

  • 1 x Flying Fish

Scott Brooks
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10 Feb 2025