Nature Notes

Black-footed Albatross

A 20 knot wind kicked up rough seas which made observations and photography difficult, but resulted in a good mix of birds.

Black-footed Albatross are always found from this trip and we saw about 50 on this day. There was a mix of young birds with a dark upper rump, and adult birds with a white upper rump and more extensive white on the face.

Sooty Shearwaters are one of the world’s most abundant seabirds, numbering in the millions, and they were numerous. However, at this time of year they were outnumbered by Northern Fulmar which comes in a number of plumages. In the west they are mostly dark and intermediate.

Good numbers of Pink-footed Shearwaters were present, a species which breeds on islands off the coast of Chile and migrates in great numbers throughout the Pacific. Small numbers of Buller’s Shearwater made there way past, a very elegant looking bird.

Fork-tailed Storm-Petrel were seen although numbers were small, as expected at this time of year.

Jaegers commonly made passes by the boat, both Pomarine and Parasitic .

A selection of sea mammals were seen, the stars being 3 Sperm Whales. Pacific White-sided Dolphin and Harbor Porpoise came along side as well.

This trip was operated by The Bird Guide, who run a very professional operation. It was run in September/2007.

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