Sub Antarctic Islands off New Zealand and Australia 1999 No.6. We now continue with this trip, and are now approaching the Chathams, but with the strong wind and rough seas around the Antipodes Island we were unable to land there.
Heading towards the Chathams.
We cruised around a number of Island and stacks off
the Chatham Islands. This is known as the Sail.
We used the zodiacs to get closer to South East Island
as no landings are permitted on this Island.
We searched the wave platforms for both Chatham Island
Oystercatcher and Shore Plovers and found both.
Chatham Island Oystercatcher Haematopus chathamensis on South East Island, and photographed from a zodiac as we could not land. It is restricted to the Chathams with a small breeding population of about 100 pairs. We just saw a total of four birds with a total population of around 100 birds. It is considered to be Endangered.
No white wing flashes but can reflect silvery areas.
Showing some small white patches in the wing on this bird.
Grey-faced Petrels Pterodroma gouldi with 80 seen en-route to the Chathams and 35 seen between the Chathams and Wellington, New Zealand. Breeds around New Zealand including the mainland and ranges in SW Pacific.to S. Australia, although details of at-sea distribution clouded by plumage variation in this and Great-winged Petrel. Its a large dark brown gadfly petrel with variable whitish blaze around base of very stout bill.
Gibson's Wandering Albatross Diomedea gibsoni and forms part of the Wandering Albatross complex, and the pictures shows various adult Gibson Albatrosses We visited a local breeding colony but not a single bird was present, which was strange. Small numbers seen on eight different days with a daily maximum of 50 as we left the Auckland Islands. Ranges in SW and S-Cen Pacific. Identification with more extensive dark barring, with mostly white scapulars and with a piano-key pattern to the tip of the tail. Sometimes it is lumped with Antipodes Wanderer.
Adults Gibson's Wandering Albatross
Juvenile type Gibson's Albatross
Gibsons and Southern Royal Albatrosses.
Little Blue Penguin Eudyptula minor Just odd birds seen. This one was first seen swimming in the sea, but then landed on a wave platform on South East Island in the Chathams and was photographed from a zodiac. Breeds mainly in Australia and New Zealand and is a vagrant to South America.
Red Crowned Parakeets - 150+ were seen on Enderby Island,in the Auckland Islands, where these photographs were taken. They proved to be tame and were feeding on the grass seed. We also saw from the zodiacs, several of the Antipodes Island race chatahmensis, but I was unable to photograph these as owing to the strong wind we were unable to land onto the Antipodes.
On Enderby Island, this distinctive yellow colour form
was seen on a number of different birds.
Pitt Island Shag on its breeding cliff on the Chathams.
We recorded 30 whilst around the Chathams on the zodiacs.
Pitt Island Shag Stictocarbo featherstoni Critically endanagered Shag and endemic to the Chatham Islands. The breeding population in 2011 was 729 pairs, but by 2011 it had declined to an estimate of 434 pairs. We recorded 30 on the Chathams and considered it is to be vulnerable by Collar.
Pitt Island Shag on the Chathams.
Macquarie Island Shag Phalacrocorax purpurascens Endemic to Macquarie Island with a breeding population in 2003 of 470 pairs, and we recorded 6 on the 11th, and 45 on the 12th. It is considered by Collar as Vulnerable.
Northern (Pacific) Bulller's Albatrosses Thalassarche (bulleri) platei Breeds on the Chatham Islands with an estimated breeding population of around 30,000 pairs. Ranges in S.Pacific to the Humboldt Current from central Chile to S. Peru.
Identification of the adult from Southern Buller's Albatross by a darker hood, and a smaller white cap. The underwing pattern is very similar to the Shy Albatross complex.
We recorded them on just 3 dates with 120 seen around the Chathams.
There are 2 species of Bullers Albatross, the second form is known as Southern Buller's Albatross and breeds chiefly on the Snares. They tend to breed late in the season and when we visited the Snares, none
were present. We did however see one during the trip, and they have a much whiter crown than the Northern Pacific Bullers.
Northern Buller's Albatrosses with a Northern Giant Petrel
off the Chathams.
Northern (Pacific) Buller's Albatrosses off the Chathams.
Northern Giant Petrel with Pacific Bullers Albatrosses.
Northern Royal Albatross off the Chathams.
Northern Royal Albatross Diomedea sanfordi 6,500 pairs breed on the Chatham Islands, with a very small breeding population on Taiaroa Head, South Island, New Zealand. Ranges in S. Oceans especially Humboldt current of Chile. The main identification feature between the Southern and Northern Albatrosses are the solid black wings of the Northern.
Northern Royal Albatross with a Cape Petrel,
The all solid black wings identify it from the Southern Royal Albatross.
We recorded Northern Royal Albatrosses on seven dates
with a daily maximum of twelve.
New Zealand Pipit Anthus novaeseelandiae 100 of the distinctive race aucklandicus were seen on Enderby Island in the Auckland Islands. They were extremely tame and not at all like Australisan Pipit, or Richards Pipits. They were even calling like a Flava Wagtail amongst other calls. We also saw 4 of the race chathamensis from the zodiac off South East Island in the Chathams, and they appeared very similar to these birds, from the views we had on the zodiacs.
Auckland Flightless Teal Anas aucklandica After much searching, we located 2 Auckland Flightless Teals on Enderby Island. They were sat in the entrance to their burrows but as we approached they quickly disappeared down into the burrows.
Mottled Petrel Pterodroma inexpectata Distinctive stocky gadfly, white underwings with a thick black band, dark body contrasting with white vent. Very fast flight in typical Pterodroma manner. We recorded it on nine dates during our trip with a daily maximun of fifteen.
Fairy Prion Pachyptila turtur Fair numbers were recorded on several days with a daily maximim of 100.
Fairy Prion
