WildWings Western Pacific Odyssey Spring 2008 sightings

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Voyage 2

Detailed below are this year’s sightings highlights, reports are being sent every few days by Chris Collins and our group, live from the ship! The complete report will be published during May 2008. These notes edited by JBG.

We have a very few places left for the 2009 voyage, some availability for 2010 and are now taking registrations for 2011 too. Click here for more details.

N = numerous

1^st April

WildWings pre-cruise pelagic into the Hauraki Gulf.

New Zealand Storm-Petrel 2, very close to the boat, ‘chummed in’.

2^nd April

WildWings excursion to Miranda, NZ.

In addition to hundreds ofWrybills, other highlights included 1 Red-necked Stint, 10+ Sharp-tailed Sandpipers and the long staying Hudsonian Godwit.

3^rd April

Through the Hauraki Gulf (New Zealand), the voyage begins!

New Zealand Storm-Petrel, seen in the morning and the afternoon, at least 7 birds.

Little Penguin 2

Campbell Albatross 3

White-capped Albatross 1

(Snowy) Wandering Albatross 1

(Gibson’s) Wandering Albatross 4

White-necked Petrel 2

Black-winged Petrel 3

Pycroft’s Petrel a few ‘probables’

Little Shearwater 1

White-faced Storm-Petrel 1

South Polar Skua 1

Plus good numbers of Grey-faced petrels, Grey Ternlets, Fairy Prions, Black Petrels, Flesh-footed and Buller’s Shearwaters.

4^th April

At sea, towards Norfolk Island

Kermadec Petrel 5+

Gould’s Petrel numerous

Plus more Wandering and Campbell Albatross, White-necked, Black-winged and Grey-faced Petrels

5^th April

At sea, towards Norfolk Island

Tahiti Petrel 1

Grey-faced Petrel 3

White-necked Petrel 1

Black-winged Petrel N

White-chinned Petrel 1

Kermadec Petrel 7

Black Petrel 2

Wedge-tailed Shearwater 9

Little Shearwater 2

Wilson’s Storm-Petrel 4

Red-tailed Tropicbird 4

Grey Ternlet 1

White Tern N

6th April

Norfolk Island (Australia)

The first landing of the voyage yielded the three single island endemics, Norfolk Island Gerygone, Slender-billed White-Eye and Norfolk Island Parakeet. No sign of the probably recently extinct White-breasted White-Eye which was again looked for. Other interesting landbirds included Emerald Dove, Golden whistler and the recently split Pacific Robin.

Back at sea heading towards New Caledonia produced the first cetaceans of the voyage in the form of a group of bow-riding Bottlenose Dolphins plus more seabirds…

Brown and Black Noddys

Sooty Tern

Little Shearwater 15+, some giving great views

Plus lots of White Terns and more Grey-faced, White-necked and Black-winged Petrels.

7^th April

At sea, towards New Caledonia

Polynesian Storm-Petrel 1, seen by all and well photographed, found by Bob Flood at the stern of the vessel, presumably attracted by the fish oil drip. If accepted this will be a first for Australia!

Collared Petrel 5+, including 2 in Australian waters, the first records for Australia were from the inaugural voyage in 2007.

Gould’s Petrel 5

This year’s first Short-tailed Shearwaters and Masked Booby.

Good numbers of Tahiti, Grey-faced, Kermadec, White-necked and and Black-winged Petrels and of Wedge-tailed Shearwaters.

Black Petrel 2

Red-tailed Tropicbirds

8^th April

At sea towards New Caledonia and arrival late PM

An early morning chumming session brought in a few Wilson’s Storm Petrels and then incredibly a New Zealand Storm Petrel! Photographs of this bird have been taken and some are shown below. This is the first record of this recently re-discovered species away from NE New Zealand and may prove to be it’s wintering grounds. The bird was no more than 15 nautical miles of the coast.

Otherwise more Collared, Gould’s and Black Petrels seen.

As the ship finally arrived in Noumea, a Dark-brown Honeyeater flew onto the ship, that’s the first endemic sorted then! Other individuals could be seen in the garden by the dockside as the ship tied up.

New Zealand Storm-Petrel c Chris Collins

Beck's Petrel c Chris Collins

9^th April

Riviere Bleue, New Caledonia

The full day land excursion yielded pretty much all of the possible endemics again!

The star of the show being of course the unique Kagu with up to 10 birds seen in total with excellent close views obtained. The sightings included a family party of five birds (three large youngsters) and even a pair copulating…..

Crow Honeyeater was only seen by a third of the group and other endemics included the beautiful Cloven-footed Dove, NC Imperial-Pigeon, Horned Parakeet, NC Parakeet, NC Cuckoo-Shrike, Yellow-bellied Robin, NC Whistler, Green-backed White-Eye, NC Myzomela, NC Friarbird, Barred Honeyeater, Melanesian Cuckoo-Shrike, Long-tailed Triller, Streaked Fantail, Southern Shrikebill, NC (Melanesian) Flycatcher and Fan-tailed Gerygone with a lucky few participants seeing them all! A few people also saw NC Crow, Striated Starling and Red-throated Parrotfinch. A fantastic day ashore.

10^th April

At sea, towards the Solomon Islands

A quieter start to this sea leg compared to last year.

New seabirds for the trip included 2 Lesser and 1 Great Frigatebird plus 2 Red-footed Boobies and good numbers of Brown Booby. Also 3 Leach’s Storm-Petrel and 2 White-tailed Tropicbirds.

There is much discussion onboard re the ID of Gould’s and Collared Petrels, most birds are now going down as Gould’s/Collared but certainly 2 definite Collareds today at least.

In addition more Wedge-tailed and Short-tailed Shearwaters, Tahiti and 2 White-necked Petrels seen.

11^th April

At sea, towards the Solomon Islands.

Another quietish day but with no new trip species.

Birds seen included Leach’s Storm-Petrel, White-tailed Tropicbird, Brown and Red-footed Boobies, only 1 Tahiti Petrel, Great and Lesser Frigatebirds, Wedge-tailed and Short-tailed Shearwaters plus Sooty Terns.

At last however a few more cetaceans on this leg, good views of 2 Blue Whales which may prove to be ‘Pygmy’s plus 3 Cuvier’s Beaked Whales.

12^th April

Rennell Island, Solomons.

Due to the customs officers flight from Honiara being delayed the group did not get ashore until mid-morning but despite this delay and the heat another ‘clean-up’ onshore. The five single island endemics were all seen again, Rennell Shrikebill, fantail, white-eye, starling and Bare-eyed White-Eye. Also of interest was the island’s Fan-tailed Gerygones did not respond to tapes of their cousins on New Caledonia. Plumage-wise these birds have yellow breasts (rather than vents) and white (rather than dark) eyes. This all strongly suggests being a different species? Other birds seen included Silver-capped Fruit-Dove, Island Imperial Pigeon, Island Thrush, Singing Parrot, the exquisite little Finsch’s Pygmy-Parrot, Moustached Tree-Swift and Shining Bronze-Cuckoo.

13^th April

Makira, Solomon Islands

This was a new expedition landing, in fact the group were the first ever ‘tourists’ to visit this part of the island and they received a very “ moving” welcome from the villagers. 12 endemics are known to exist here and the group saw six or possibly seven of them! White-headed Fruit-Dove, Mottled Flowerpecker, White-collared Monarch (not seen by all), Sooty Myzomela, San Cristobal Melidectes and Brown-winged Starling. The possible was Shade Warbler. Other birds of interest recorded wer e Red-knobbed Imperial-Pigeon, Rainbow Lorikeet (and a very distinct looking subspecies!), Eclectus Parrot, Dollarbird, Rufous Fantail, Chestnut-bellied Monarch and Cardinal Myzomela. Two more brilliant days ashore!

As the vessel sailed for Honiara, a few more seabirds added themselves to the ever-growing list, Bridled Tern, Black-naped Tern plus Common Tern (of the race longipennis).

14^th April

Mount Austin, Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands.

More rainforest birding ashore and more Solomon endemics, Ducorp’s Cockatoo, Buff-headed Couchal, Midget Flowerpecker amongst the many highlights but Ultramarine Kingfisher was heard only this year.

We seem to have lost a day here somewhere, the full post voyage log will clarify this admin error!

16^th April

At sea, towards the western Solomons

A quiet day, two Tropical Shearwaters and three White-tailed Tropicbirds were the only sightings of any real note.

17^th April

Kolombangara, Solomon Islands

The group went ashore here for the first time as last year’s landing was cancelled after the April 2007 Tsunami. The relatively recently discovered endemic Roviana Rail was easily seen well in Kukundu village plus other goodies such as Solomon Sea-Eagle, Claret-breasted Fruit-Dove, Red-knobbed and Imperial Island Pigeons, Blyth’s Hornbill, Solomon’s White-Eye and more.

18^th April

At sea past west coast of Bougainville

Pleasingly at least 10 Heinroth’s Shearwater in the same sea area we saw them last year, most being moderately distant, and seen in the afternoon, again like last year.

Cetacean sightings have hotted up at last, 10+ Sperm Whales, several of which have been right next to the ship. The somewhat prehistoric looking Rough-toothed Dolphin has been seen plus Spinners.

19^th April

Bismarck Sea, off the coast of New Ireland, Papua New Guinea.

We had added an extra at sea day to the itinerary this year as a result of seeing a few last year, months before Hadoram Shirihai’s historic paper published earlier in 2008, but today was indeed Beck’s Petrel day! Three plus birds were seen in the morning, they were attracted in by the fish and oil slick Chris and team had laid on the sea from the back of the ship. It took over two hours of patient waiting but well worth it with the closest birds having been less than 100 metres away. The onboard observers are suggesting they are more distinctive than even Hadoram suggests, being noticeably smaller and with a quite different flight action from Tahiti Petrel. We await more detail in due course, This morning’s birds were present with Wilson’s Storm-Petrels and Wedge-tailed Shearwaters providing useful size comparisons. By the end of the day, no less than 11 Beck’s Petrels had been logged! After discussion it was felt the species exhibited a ‘chicken headed’ look, prominent but relatively small. Congratulations to everyone on board, they have all seen them well. And finally, in the fading light of the day, an all dark petrel was seen flying above the ocean, but almost as quickly as it appeared, it soon vanished into the ever-darkening night.

Beck's Petrels (with Wilson's Storm-Petrels) c Chris Collins

Polynesian Storm-Petrel c Chris Collin

20^th April

At sea, towards Chuuk, Federated States of Micronesia

A quiet start to a fairly quiet sector but with some new seabirds still added to the voyage total. Good numbers of Leach’s Storm-Petrels and two Wilson’s whilst the majority of the ‘wedgys’ are becoming pale-phase birds. Sooty Terns had to contend with a migrating Pomarine and then a Long-tailed Skua.

In the water (and out I assume) were two Spinner Dolphins. Interesting to see Chris comment that they have had a light wind and gentle swell since leaving New Zealand contrasting to the mirror-calm seas we enjoyed for a lot of the southern sector last year, hindering marine mammal sightings somewhat. The presence of continual scattered cloud has also kept the temperatures somewhat lower too, which can’t be a bad thing, it was cooking at times.

21^st April

At sea towards Chuuk.

‘Bird of the day’, miles from anywhere, was a Turnstone, I don’t know which direction it was heading. Very quiet with one Wilson’s and one Leach’s stormies, a White-tailed Tropicbird and two Poms.

22^nd April

At sea, still towards Chuuk

Ten or so Bulwer’s Petrels were today’s highlights, some very close to the vessel. Plenty of White Terns, Short-tailed Shearwaters , six tropicbirds plus a Red-footed Booby complete today’s tropical pelagic birding.

23^rd April

At sea and arrive Chuuk.

Two “Atoll” Shearwaters were seen, a single Bulwer’s Petrel with Black and Brown Noddies on the way in plus lots of White Terns.

The landbird endemics fell thick and fast as Collins, Russ, Howell et al, led the charge ashore in this paradise of atolls and mini-islands. Caroline Islands Swiftlet, Reed Warbler and White-Eye got nailed along with Crimson-crowned Fruit-Dove, Oceanic Flycatcher plus both Micronesian Myzomela and Starling. Add various members of the heron family including Pacific Egret, two real Pacific Black Ducks and a Wandering Tattler and you’ve got a pretty good day’s birding.

As the vessel sailed away two more “Atoll’ Shearwaters, very different plumage wise from the small tropical shearwaters that were seen further south. Black-naped Terns flew around the harbour and back out on the ocean more Black and Brown Noddies. Two Grey-tailed Tattlers flew past at sea, giving some of the passengers both species for the day!

24^th April

At sea towards Japan.

Short-tailed Shearwaters continue to move north plus another “Atoll’ Shearwater, four more Bulwer’s and a few White-tailed Tropicbirds. A single Great Frigatebird should be the last of the voyage and still plenty of noddies and Sooty, Great Crested and Black-naped Terns.

A pod of Striped Dolphins enlivened the late afternoon’s watching from deck.

25^th April

At sea, towards Japan.

Single Bulwer’s Petrel, Wedge-tailed and Short-tailed Shearwaters, a handful of Wilson’s Storm-Petrels , a Leach’s and two species of tropicbird headed the list of 12 species recorded.

26^th April

At sea, towards Japan

Today produced the first of the trip’s Matsudaira’s Storm-Petrels, two Flesh-footed Shearwaters and a Pom Skua plus the usual supporting cast.

27^th April

At sea, towards Japan

More Matsudaira’s and three species of skua including long-tailed.

28^th April

At sea, towards Japan

This year’s first Bonin Petrels appeared today, six plus birds going down in the log, other goodies included a number of Bannerman’s Shearwaters, a pale Kermadec Petrel and up to 12 Matsudaira’s on view at any one time! Good numbers of pale phase Wedge-tailed Shearwaters were present plus three species of booby with up to nine birds roosting aboard at night. The Red-foots fly around the bridge and dive down to try and catch any flying fish flushed by the ship, in mid-air! Two more Bulwer’s, some shearwaters, a Wilson’s S-P, more terns and three species of skua still, completed another excellent day.

29^th April

At sea, towards Chi-Chi-Jima, Japan

Lots more Bonin Petrels today, including birds coming very close to the ship, you can hear those shutters clicking away…..another Bannerman’s and a ‘smaller’ black and white shearwater too. Probably the last Brown Noddy of this year’s voyage, still no Tristram’s stormies yet, plenty of Matsudaira’s in the wake at least. Chris comments that the numbers of Short-tailed Shearwater are much lower than last year, perhaps being a little later most of these birds are already further north? Also, no passerine migrants aboard ship so far, a few days to go still however.

Cetaceans included three Sperm whales and a pod of Blainville’s Beaked Whales early in the morning.

30^th April

Chi-Chi-Jima (Bonin Islands), Japan

The vessel arrived and cleared customs and immigration. Not planned to be much of a birding stop, a local park produced Brown-eared Bulbuls, Japanese Bush-Warblers and White-Eyes plus Blue Rock-Thrush. Again, no passerine migrants!

Back at sea in the afternoon, the ship sailed north up the west coast of the main island. Tristram’s Storm-Petrels finally appeared, with good numbers recorded by the end of the day. A rather expensive bottle of champers was drunk by a gentleman resident on the Isles of Scilly apparently, his last storm-petrel under the belt! More excitingly for WildWings, Laysan Albatross finally joined the voyage list, having not been seen in 2007 or 2005, a single bird logged. Black-footed Albatross numbers built up as the day went on too, other seabirds included Bonin Petrels, Wedge-tailed and Short-tailed Shearwaters , Wilson’s Storm-Petrel but no Matsudaira’s today.

1^st May

At sea off Torishima Island, Japan

Chris was just making an announcement from the bridge, as the island finally started coming into view through the mist and murk when an adult Short-tailed Albatross flew across in front of the bows! Some later chumming, about 3 nautical miles off the island produced about 30 birds, in all plumages, coming in close, giving the photographers aboard a field day! The ship went as close as a mile from the island early in the afternoon but it was deemed not worth trying a Zodiac cruise. More chumming brought in a few more Short-Tailed and Black-footed Alberts, but a poor performance compared to the morning’s show. Other tubenoses included 3 more Laysans, Streaked, Flesh-footed, Wedge-tailed and Short-tailed Shearwaters, Wilson’s, Matsudaira’s and Tristram’s Storm-Petrels. The Save the Albatross auction onboard raised a further US$1600 as most people retired to their cabins for the night with big smiles on their faces, yet again.

2nd May

Ko-Jima, Japan

Today the weather finally turned with a Force 9 gale blowing most of the day with frequent heavy rain. Three murrelets were glimpsed through the rain but much better views required to identify them for sure.

3rd May

Morning Miyake-Jima, Afternoon at sea, heading towards Yokohama, Japan.

Yesterday's weather had all but gone and so a final successful landing with Izu Thrush, Ijima's Leaf-warbler, Japanese Robin, White-Eye and Pygmy Woodpecker amongst the more interesting species seen ashore. Not all the passengers had gone ashore though and when the main group returned to the vessel they were somewhat gripped off with tales of 20+ Japanese Murrelets whilst the ship had been drifting! Expedition Leader Aaron Russ agreed to take the ship back over towards the rocks the birds had been around and soon everyone had big smiles on their faces again. As the vessel headed north in the afternoon, approx 100,000 Streaked Shearwaters were logged, a truly amazing spectacle.

Another Laysan Albatross was seen with the voyage's last Tristram's Storm-Petrels. A superb end to a "mindblowing" and “awesome”voyage

(passenger quotes).

Many thanks to the Captain and crew of the Professor Khromov for making it all possible again.