Updated 27/4/10

Live reports from the ship, from tour leader Chris Collins. A full report will be available in due course. The 2011 voyage is currently waitlist only. We expect to have an allocation of cabins for 2012 shortly, please contact us if wish to receive the dates, prices and the full details tours@wildwings.co.uk

On the first days of the trip, one thing which was very obvious is that everything seemed to be further north than usual. We saw both species of Giant Petrel, plus Northern Royal Albatross just north of the Hauraki Gulf which are all species we have not encountered before. Gould’s Petrel and Wedge-tailed Shearwaters also “kicked in” a couple of days late and we had Cook’s Petrels for a couple of days longer than is typical. I assume this is EL Nino related…….

So here are the daily highlights:

30th March – late pm out from Tauranga, North Island, New Zealand

White-capped Albatross 1

Grey-faced Petrel 7

Flesh-footed Shearwater 6

Buller’s Shearwater A

Fluttering Shearwater high A

31st March – Hauraki Gulf, New Zealand

Gibson’s Albatross A

Campbell Albatross 5

White-capped Albatross 2

Northern Royal Albatross 1

Grey-faced Petrel a low “A”

White-necked Petrel 3

Cook’s Petrel 2

Northern GP 3

Southern GP 2

Black-winged Petrel 1

Fairy Prion low “A”

Black Petrel high “A”

Flesh-footed Shearwater low “A”

New Zealand Storm-Petrel 5 – we had the first individual on the first chum slick we laid within 3 minutes!

White-faced Storm-Petrel 2

Common Diving Petrel 4

Australasian Gannet B

Grey Ternlet A

1st April – at sea towards Norfolk Island

Gibson’s Albatross 4

Campbell Albatross 1

Grey-faced Petrel “B”

Kermadec Petrel 3

White-necked Petrel low “A”

Black-winged Petrel “A”

Fairy Prion 1

Black Petrel 3

Red-tailed Tropicbird 1

Grey Ternlet 3

False Killer Whale a low “A”

2nd April at sea towards Norfolk Island

Tahiti Petrel 6

Grey-faced Petrel low “B”

Kermadec Petrel 6

White-necked Petrel “A”

Cook’s Petrel 5

Black-winged Petrel “A”

Black Petrel 4

Wedge-tailed Shearwater “A”

Little Shearwater 6

Red-tailed Tropicbird low “A”

Masked Booby low “A”

Long-tailed Skua 1

Sooty tern 1

Black Noddy 8

Grey Ternlet 5

White Tern low “A”

Short-finned Pilot Whale 3

3rd April Norfolk Island and then sailing north in late afternoon

Grey-faced Petrel 5

White-necked Petrel 1

Black-winged Petrel low “A”

Wedge-tailed Shearwater “A”

Little Shearwater 3

White-bellied Storm-Petrel 1 – seen relatively close to Norfolk Island and seemed to be flying purposefully in that direction not too long before dusk. As far as I am aware, this species is not known to breed there.

Red-tailed Tropicbird “A”

Masked Booby “A”

Great Frigatebird 2

Sooty Tern 4

Black Noddy B

Brown Noddy 3

Grey Ternlet 6

White Tern low “B”

On the island, we saw the 3 endemics (ie the parakeet, gerygone and white-eye) plus a range of other species including Pacific Robin.

4th April – at sea towards New Caledonia

Tahiti Petrel A

Kermadec Petrel 3

White-necked Petrel 3

Gould’s Petrel A

Collared Petrel 1 dark phase - this was seen a few miles north of the seamount we visit in the morning after leaving Norfolk Island at 26 21S 167 13E. We believe this will probably be the first confirmed dark phase Collared Petrel for Australian waters (north of Norfolk Island) and it was photographed. We will submit this record to the Birds Australia Rarities Committee in due course.

Black-winged Petrel “A”

Wedge-tailed Shearwater A

Wilson’s Storm-Petrel – 1 Two “white-bellied” SPs were also seen around the chum slick we laid off the seamount but they disappeared very quickly and were not photographed.

Red-tailed Tropicbird 2

White-tailed Tropicbird 3

Masked Booby 4

Sooty Tern 5

Brown Noddy 2

White Tern 2

Sperm Whale 7

Cuvier’s Beaked Whale 1

5th April: morning at sea, afternoon at Mount Koghi, New Caledonia

Tahiti Petrel 4
White-necked Petrel 1
Gould’s Petrel B
Black-winged Petrel 1
Wedge-tailed Shearwater B
Short-tailed Shearwater low A
Wilson’s Storm-Petrel 3
“New Caledonia Storm-Petrel” 1
This strange-looking storm-petrel was also seen in 2008 off southern New
Caledonia. It closely resembles a New Zealand storm-petrel (eg white belly
with streaks), however, the bird appears too large for this species. This
could be clearly seen in the field as the bird was observed flying in close
proximity to a Wilson’s Storm-Petrel and the size comparison was documented
in photos. Both the onboard guides and a number of the passengers are very familiar
with fregattas and all were unanimous that the bird was neither a
Black-bellied or White-bellied Storm-Petrel, ie the same view as published
in the ‘Birding World’ article in May 2008 by Steve Howell and Chris
Collins.
Silver Gull A
Great-crested Tern 4
Fairy Tern 1
Metallic Pigeon low A
Cloven-feathered Dove 2
Horned Parakeet 3
Melanesian Cuckoo-shrike 1
Streaked Fantail 2
Southern Shrikebill 2
New Caledonian Flycatcher 1
Yellow-bellied Robin 1
New Caledonian Whistler 2
Fan-tailed Gerygone 5
Green-backed White-eye low A
Dark-brown Honeyeater A (with 1 on the ship !!)
New Caledonian Myzomela 6
New Caledonian Friarbird 3
Barred Honeyeater 6
Striated Starling 9
Red-throated Parrotfinch 8
Cuvier’s Beaked Whale 2
Longman’s Beaked Whale 8
Dwarf Sperm Whale 1

6th April: Morning and early PM Riviere Bleue, New Caledonia, late PM: At sea
Tahiti Petrel 5
Gould’s Petrel low B
Wedge-tailed Shearwater high B
Short-tailed Shearwater low B
New Caledonian Goshawk 1
Kagu 5
Silver Gull low A
Great-crested Tern 4
Black Noddy B
Emerald Dove 1
Cloven-feathered Dove 2
Rainbow Lorikeet low A
Horned Parakeet 3
New Caledonian Parakeet 4
Melanesian Cuckoo-shrike 2
New Caledonian Cuckoo-shrike 3
Long-tailed Triller 3
Streaked Fantail low A
Southern Shrikebill 2
New Caledonian Flycatcher 2
Yellow-bellied Robin 6
New Caledonian Whistler low A
Rufous Whistler 2
Fan-tailed Gerygone low A
Green-backed White-eye low A
Dark-brown Honeyeater 4
New Caledonian Myzomela 4
New Caledonian Friarbird low A
Crow Honeyeater 3
Barred Honeyeater low A
New Caledonian Crow 2
Red-throated Parrotfinch 4

7th April: At sea towards Rennell
Tahiti Petrel A
Gould’s Petrel 2
Collared Petrel 5 included a couple of intermediate birds with dusky
breasts.
Wedge-tailed Shearwater high B
Short-tailed Shearwater 9
Wilson’s Storm-Petrel 8
Masked Booby 2
Red-footed Booby 4
Brown Booby 9
Great Frigatebird 2
Pomarine Skua 1
Great-crested Tern 7
Sooty Tern 2

8th April: At sea towards Rennell
Tahiti Petrel 3
Wedge-tailed Shearwater B
Short-tailed Shearwater low A
Tropical (or “Atoll”) Shearwater 9 - A good day count and a lot further
south than usual.
Wilson’s Storm-Petrel 1
Polynesian Storm-Petrel 1 only seen by a small percentage of the group.
White-tailed Tropicbird 8
Masked Booby 2
Red-footed Booby 2
Brown Booby 2
Pomarine Skua 1
Great-crested Tern 3
Bridled Tern 2
Sooty Tern high A
Black Noddy low A
Brown Noddy 6

9th April at sea towards Rennell

Tahiti Petrel 3

Wedge-tailed Shearwater A

Short-tailed Shearwater 2

Tropical (or “Atoll”) Shearwater 6

Wilson’s Storm-Petrel 1

White-tailed Tropicbird 3

Red-footed Booby 1

Great Frigatebird 1

Lesser Frigatebird 1

Pomarine Skua 5

Sooty Tern B

Brown Noddy 2

10th April Rennell Island, Solomons and afternoon at sea

Tahiti Petrel 1

Wedge-tailed Shearwater 3

Masked Booby 3

Red-footed Booby A

Brown Booby A

Great Frigatebird A

Lesser Frigatebird A

Black-naped Tern 5

Sooty Tern A

Brown Noddy 2

Mackinlay’s Cuckoo-dove 6

Silver-capped Fruit-dove A – only found on Rennell and a few nearby islets.

Pacific Imperial-pigeon A

Yellow-bibbed Lory 1 – Solomon endemic

Finsch’s Pygmy-parrot A

Singing Parrot 4

Moustached Tree-swift 2

Collared Kingfisher 3

Sacred Kingfisher 2

Yellow-eyed Cuckoo-shrike A

Island Thrush 2

Rennell Fantail a very low “A” – endemic to Rennell Island

Rennell Shrikebill a very low “A” – endemic to Rennell Island

Melanesian Flycatcher 1

Rennell (Fan-tailed) Gerygone A – although not officially split, these birds

have a very different plumage from those on New Caledonia, the eyes are a

different colour (pale vs dark) and the birds on Rennell do not respond to

recordings of birds from New Caledonia.

Rennell White-eye A

Bare-eyed White-eye A – both of Rennell’s endemic white-eyes were seen well.

Cardinal Myzomela 8

Rennell Starling – the last of the Rennell endemics and again seen well.

11th April Makira Island, Solomons and afternoon at sea

Wedge-tailed Shearwater 4

Short-tailed Shearwater 1

Tropical (or “Atoll”) Shearwater 1

Brown Booby 2

Solomon Islands Sea Eagle 1 – endemic to the Solomons

Pied Goshawk 2 – endemic to the Solomons

Great-crested Tern 1

Sooty Tern A

Black Noddy A

Brown Noddy 4

Red-knobbed Imperial-pigeon 2

Chestnut-bellied Imperial-pigeon (a rare bird which is now regarded as

pretty much being confined to Makira. These sightings are sufficiently

significant that they will be reported to Birdlife International at the

conclusion of the voyage)

Rainbow Lorikeet A

Eclectus Parrot 2

Collared Kingfisher 2

Beach Kingfisher 1

Dollarbird 2

Yellow-eyed Cuckoo-shrike 3

Long-tailed Triller 1

Willie-wagtail 6

Rufous Fantail 3

Chestnut-bellied Monarch 8 – endemic to the Solomons

Ochre-headed (Makira) Flycatcher 4 – only found on Makira.

Golden Whistler 2

Mottled Flowerpecker 1 – only found on Makira.

Cardinal Myzomela 2

Sooty Myzomela A – a Makira endemic

San Cristobal Melidectes 5 – another Makira endemic.

San Cristobal Starling 3 - another Makira endemic.

After dark, a powerful undersea earthquake occurred within 100 miles, described as a ‘sonic boom’ through the hull of the ship.

12th April Mt Austin, Guadalcanal, Solomons and afternoon at sea

Bulwer’s Petrel 1

Wedge-tailed Shearwater 1

Short-tailed Shearwater 1

White-tailed Tropicbird 1

Red-footed Booby 1

Brown Booby 2

Little Pied Cormorant 1 (one on the river at Mt Austin. This species is

seemingly a vagrant to the Central Solomons)

Lesser Frigatebird 3

Pacific Baza 3

Solomon Islands Sea Eagle 3

Great-crested Tern 9

Bridled Tern 2

Sooty Tern 6

Brown Noddy 6

Mackinlay’s Cuckoo-dove

Stephan’s Dove 1 - a new bird for the WPO

Bronze Ground-dove 1 - a rare bird and only the second time recorded on the

WPO.

Superb Fruit-dove 2

Claret-breasted Fruit-dove 7

Red-knobbed Imperial-pigeon 2

Ducorp’s Cockatoo a very low “A” – endemic to the Solomons

Cardinal Lory 3

Yellow-bibbed Lory A

Finsch’s Pygmy-parrot 3

Singing Parrot 2

Eclectus Parrot 4

Buff-headed Coucal 3 – endemic to a few islands in the Solomons

Moustached Tree-swift 2

Ultramarine Kingfisher 2 - this endemic can be tricky and is not

seen on an annual basis but on this occasion the entire group got great

looks at two birds.

Collared Kingfisher 1

Dollarbird 3

Blyth’s Hornbill 6

Yellow-eyed Cuckoo-shrike 2

White-bellied Cuckoo-shrike 6

Cicadabird 2

Solomon Islands Cuckoo-shrike 3 - endemic

White-winged Fantail 3 – endemic to the Solomons and Bougainville

Chestnut-bellied Monarch 2

Steel-blue Flycatcher 3 – endemic to the Solomons and Bougainville

Midget Flowerpecker A – endemic to the Solomons and Bougainville

Black-headed Myzomela 2 – endemic to a few islands in the Central Solomons

White-billed Crow 3 – this Central Solomons endemic can be tricky at Mt

Austin but was seen well by the entire group.

Metallic Starling 5

Brown-winged Starling A – endemic to the Solomons and Bougainville

Yellow-faced Myna A

Sperm Whale 1

Short-finned Pilot-whale A

False Killer Whale 4

Spinner Dolphin A

13th April: Morning at sea, afternoon on Kolombangara

Heinroth’s Shearwater

At least ten individuals were seen well within a few miles of the northern

coast of Kolombangara. This was the first time we have seen this species in

this area on a WPO expedition although others have reported it in these

waters before. Somewhat surprisingly none were seen at our “regular

stakeouts” for this species off Bougainville and New Ireland.

Great Frigatebird 3

Lesser Frigatebird 5

Pacific Baza 6

Solomon Islands Sea-Eagle 2

Variable Goshawk 1

Roviana Rail 1 Unfortunately this species was only seen by a small

percentage of the group on this visit.

Pomarine Skua 3

Great-crested Tern 6

Black-naped Tern 3

Grey-backed Tern 5

Bridled Tern low A

Sooty Tern A

Black Noddy B

Brown Noddy 2

Superb Fruit-dove 1

Claret-breasted Fruit-dove 2

Red-knobbed Imperial-pigeon low A

Ducorps’ Cockatoo 1

Cardinal Lory A

Rainbow Lorikeet A

Duchess Lorikeet 2

Finsch’s Pygmy Parrot 2

Singing Parrot 1

Eclectus Parrot low A

Buff-headed Coucal 6

Glossy Swiftlet A

White-rumped Swiftlet A

Uniform Swiftlet 2

Moustached Tree-swift 4

Collared Kingfisher 3

Blyth’s Hornbill 2

Melanesian Cuckoo-shrike 1

Yellow-eyed Cuckoo-shrike A

White-bellied Cuckoo-shrike 8

Willie-wagtail 2

White-capped Monarch 4

Steel-blue Flycatcher 4

Olive-backed Sunbird 6

Solomon Islands White-eye 1

Yellow-vented Myzomela 4

Metallic Starling A

Singing Starling A

Yellow-faced Myna 4

14th April: cruising off Bougainville

Tahiti Petrel 2

Wilson’s Storm-petrel 1

Red-footed Booby 3

Brown Booby 1

Pomarine Skua 1

Great-crested Tern 2

Grey-backed Tern 3

Sooty Tern A

Black Noddy 5

Brown Noddy 1

Sperm Whale 12+

False Killer Whale 6

Pygmy Sperm Whale 1 well seen and photographed. The first record on the

WPO for several years.

15th April: cruising off New Ireland

Tahiti Petrel 2

Beck’s Petrel 6 One was seen at our “regular stakeout” off New Ireland

after about an hour of chumming and as we cruised north another 5+ were seen

during the rest of the day. Birds were seen close to both Tahiti Petrel and

Wedge-tailed Shearwater so the size comparison was very obvious. This

species also has a distinctive jizz, flight pattern etc.

Red-footed Booby low A

Brown Booby 2

Great Frigatebird 1

Lesser Frigatebird 1

Pomarine Skua 4

Bridled Tern 2

Sooty Tern A

Black Noddy 5

Sperm Whale 1

Short-finned Pilot-whale 3

False Killer Whale 4

Dwarf Sperm Whale 3 again well seen and photographed.

Spinner Dolphin A

16th April: At sea to Chuuk

Bulwer’s Petrel 1

Wedge-tailed Shearwater A

Wilson’s Storm-Petrel 2

White-tailed Tropicbird 1

Red-footed Booby 3

Lesser Frigatebird 1

17th April: At sea to Chuuk

Bulwer’s Petrel 4

Wedge-tailed Shearwater A

Wilson’s Storm-Petrel 1

Leach’s Storm-Petrel 1

White-tailed Tropicbird 3

18th April: morning at sea to Chuuk, pm in Chuuk lagoon (but didn’t disembark

before dark)

Bulwer’s Petrel 1

Wedge-tailed Shearwater 1

“Atoll” (or Tropical) Shearwater 6 We had good looks at these birds as we

approached the Chuuk Lagoon and after several years of brief views, we

finally managed to see them well and get some reasonable photos. We have

only ever seen these birds close to the lagoon at Chuuk. These birds do

seem to show a number of plumage features which are different to some of the

Atoll/Tropical Shearwaters we saw further south and did not, for example,

seem to be moulting unlike some of the birds further south. As we left the

area the following evening, at least a dozen birds were seen within the

lagoon suggesting they may have been waiting for dark before going to their

burrows. Based on the experience gained from five trips, I certainly

believe that these small shearwaters need further study.

White-tailed Tropicbird 3

Pacific Reef-egret 1

Whimbrel 3

Bristle-thighed Curlew 1 one of the best at sea “landbird” records from all

the WPO voyages. We were approximately 50nm south of Chuuk in the early

morning and the bird appeared from the south in a stiff NE wind. It made

several passes of the ship and gave the impression of wanting to land.

After several minutes it continued on its way. The bird was seen very well

and photographed. All the key features were seen including the warm buffy

rump and underparts. Unfortunately it was only seen by those who were out

on deck.

19th April: Tol South (with some staying on Weno)

“Atoll” (or Tropical) Shearwater A (19+ birds seen)

White-tailed Tropicbird 4

Pacific Reef-egret 1

Pacific Golden-plover 1

Common Sandpiper 1

20th April: At sea to Bonin Islands

Wedge-tailed Shearwater 7

“Atoll” (or Tropical) Shearwater

Red-tailed Tropicbird 1

White-tailed Tropicbird 2

Red-footed Booby 1

21st April: At sea to Bonin Islands

Short-tailed Shearwater 5

Matsudairas’s Storm-petrel 1

White-tailed Tropicbird 2

Red-footed Booby 1

22nd April: At sea to Bonin Islands

Short-tailed Shearwater A

Sooty Shearwater 2

Wilson’s Storm-petrel 1

Leach’s Storm-petrel 3

Matsudairas’s Storm-petrel 2

Red-footed Booby 2

23rd April: At sea to Bonin Islands

Bonin Petrel 4

Bulwer’s Petrel 1

Wedge-tailed Shearwater A

Short-tailed Shearwater 7

Wilson’s Storm-petrel 1

Leach’s Storm-petrel 1

Matsudairas’s Storm-petrel 6

White-tailed Tropicbird 1

Masked Booby 1

Red-footed Booby 5

Brown Booby 2

Pomarine Skua 1

Arctic Skua 1

Sooty Tern B

Black Noddy A

Brown Noddy A

White Tern A

24th April: At sea to Bonin Islands

Bonin Petrel 6

Bulwer’s Petrel 1

Wedge-tailed Shearwater B

Atoll (Tropical) Shearwater A we assume these are birds coming from the

North Mariana islands.

Wilson’s Storm-petrel 1

Leach’s Storm-petrel 2

Tristram’s Storm-petrel 1

Matsudairas’s Storm-petrel A (with max at any one time being 27)

South Polar Skua 1

Pomarine Skua 1

Sooty Tern 6

White Tern 1

Sperm Whale 3

26th April: At sea with morning passing east side of Torishima

Short-tailed Albatross 5 – excellent views of one adult bird which we

did a ‘handbrake turn’ with the ship for! 4 other individuals seen during the rest of the day.

Black-footed Albatross A

Northern Fulmar – first record on four WPO voyages

Bonin Petrel 2

Streaked Shearwater A

Flesh-footed Shearwater 1

Short-tailed Shearwater C

Band-rumped Storm-petrel 1 a new WPO species

Leach’s Storm-Petrel 3

Tristram’s Storm-Petrel 3

Whimbrel 1 at sea sighting

Red-necked Phalarope A

Grey Phalarope 2

South Polar Skua 1

Pomarine Skua 2

Long-tailed Skua 3

Sperm Whale 1

Risso’s Dolphin 8+

Hubb’s Beaked Whale 6+ - I haven’t had a chance to look at the pics again

but Adam and I are pretty happy with the ID. The images aren’t great but

one can make out white on the top of the head and on the beak. The head

shape etc is right for this species and there seems to be nothing else they

can be.

Striped Dolphin A

Spinner Dolphin A

27th April: early morning off Miyake-jima and then into Yokohama by early

afternoon

Short-tailed Albatross 4 – something of a surprise with four individuals

seen a little north of Miyake-jima. Mainly juvenile and sub-adult birds

Laysan Albatross – three seen to complement the 2 a couple of days before.

Something of a surprise to see a total of five after missing this species

last year. At one stage we had all three species of North Pacific albatross

viewable through bins at the same time !!!

Black-footed Albatross – 6

Streaked shearwater B

Flesh-footed shearwater 2

Short-tailed shearwater D (yes D!!)

Sooty Shearwater 4

Tristram’s Storm-petrel C incredible numbers north of Miyake-jima for a

period of an hour or so.

Japanese Cormorant 9

Black-eared Kite 3

Spot-billed Duck 2

Grey Phalarope 3

South Polar Skua 1

Pomarine Skua 2

Arctic Skua 1

Long-tailed Skua 2

Black-tailed Gull 5

Slaty-backed Gull 3

Vega Gull A

Common Tern 1

Japanese Murrelet 75+ We were off a known breeding site near Miyake-jima

for dawn and 75+ were seen over the next couple of hours.

Rhinoceros Auklet 24+ - only seen once inside the massive natural harbour

Yokohama is situated on.

Ancient Murrelet 20+ - again only seen once inside the massive natural

harbour Yokohama is situated on.

Japanese Wagtail 1

Brown-eared Bulbul 3

Dusky Thrush 2

Japanese White-eye 2

Large-billed Crow 6

Oriental Greenfinch 1

The ship has arrived in Yokohama a day early due to the very poor weather forecast for the last day at sea. the group will do some land birding instead.

2012 – The final departure! Booking soon……contact tours@wildwings.co.uk for details when available.