9 May 2026 Report
OVERVIEW
Fine, some cloud cover. 21C. South-westerly winds to 18 knots shifting towards south in the afternoon. Seas 3.2m. Sea surface temperatures at shelf 21.3C.
TRIP SUMMARY
Today's trip was coming off the back of a few days of southerly blows with cold conditions brought to the area. Seas were big and challenging with a number succumbing to sea sickness.
Every bird we encountered was hungry, including an offshore White-bellied Sea Eagle! We thought at first a Skua had arrived as the gulls suddenly gathered together higher in the sky. It was a Sea-Eagle. It quickly snatched up a piece of fish and headed back to land. Speaking of gulls, a handful of them followed us out to the shelf. This rarely happens as most peel off around the 15NM mark and give up following us any further.
By halfway out we'd gathered a following which were to remain with us throughout the day. Arriving at a the shelf we set up a drift. It took a little while before we added two new species. As expected Wilson's Storm-Petrels appeared and worked the drift for the remainder of the time we were there. Rather surprisingly two Wedge-tailed Shearwaters came in to feed. Both appeared to be fresh birds. juveniles. Even more surprising were the lack of Pterodromas!
Also Sooty Shearwater and a Short-tailed Shearwater made the most of the berley and stayed with us for some time giving everyone excellent views.
The only new bird for the day was a lone Flesh-footed Shearwater which was no doubt attracted to the many birds behind the boat on the trip back. It joined us some 8NM offshore.
BIRD LIST
(Note that the numbers in parentheses represent the approximate maximum number of that species in view at one time)
| Silver Gull | 170 | (140) |
| White-fronted Tern | 4 | (3) |
| Greater Crested Tern | 12 | (3) |
| Buller's Albatross | 2 | (2) |
| Shy Albatross | 25 | (15) |
| Black-browed Albatross | 15 | (8) |
| Campbell Albatross | 4 | (3) |
| Wilson's Storm Petrel | 1 | |
| Flesh-footed Shearwater | 1 | (1) |
| Wedge-tailed Shearwater | 3 | (2) |
| Short-tailed Shearwater | 2 | (1) |
| Sooty Shearwater | 1 | |
| Hutton's Shearwater | 1 | (1) |
| Australasian Gannet | 36 |
OTHER
| Fur Seal sp. | 5 |
Highlights
(Photographs Meysam Makvandi, Michael Nikulin and Greg McLachlan).
Meysam Makvandi
Meysam Makvandi
Meysam Makvandi
Michael Nikulin
Greg McLachlan
Greg McLachlan
Greg McLachlan
Greg McLachlan
Greg McLachlan
Greg McLachlan
Greg McLachlan