Kaikoura is one of the most famous spot of seabirding. We joined the pelagic trip by Albatross Encounter.
As soon as we left the port, we saw the Albatrosses, Petrels and Gulls that followed the fishing boat. We started first chuming session near the fishing boat. The main species were Wondering Albatross, Salvin’s Albatross, Northern Giant Petrel, Cape Petrel and Westland Petrel. And there were several White-capped Albatrosses. After that, our boat stands out to sea, Royal Albatross could be seen. Many of them were Southern Royal Albatross, and fortunatrly, we could see a few Northern Royal Albatrosses. On the way of back to the harbor, we played with Dusky Dolphins and we encountered with Spotted shags. Further, the large flock of Hutton’s Shearwaters was a fine sight. We could meet a lot of seabirds, it was a moving trip! thanks!
DAY 1 :We departed Aomori (Hachinohe port) at 8:45 am and arrived at Hokkaido (Tomakomai port) at 16:00 pm. Weather : rainy later cloudy Temperature : around 15℃ Wind speed : around 3-8 m/s
DAY 2 :We departed Hokkaido (Tomakomai port) at 9:30 am and arrived at Aomori (Hachinohe port) at 18:00 pm. Weather : cloudy Temperature : around 15℃ Wind speed : around 5-8 m/s Typhoon No.21 had formed in the south of Japan.
There was a little strong swell, and a east-north wind. Continuing from last month, There were more Providence Petrels than we had expected. We wanted to see Buller’s Shearwater and Red-legged Kittiwake.Buller’s Shearwater is known that common migration visitor around off Hokkaido and Northern Honshu in fall.Hiroyuki and his group had discovered that Red-legged Kittiwake can be seen at this ferry in fall.In this trip, we were able to see both species by good fortune !We were blessed with good birding friends, it was very fun trip 🙂
Bird List
Greater Scaup
Harlequin Duck
Black Scoter
Pacific Loon (5)
Black-footed Albatross (23)
Laysan Albatross (164)
Northern Fulmar +
Providence Petrel (225)
Streaked Shearwater +
Buller’s Shearwater (4)
Sooty Shearwater +
Flesh-footed Shearwater
Fork-tailed Storm-petrel (23)
Japanese Cormorant
Red Phalarope
Phalarope sp.
Red-legged Kittiwake (1)
Black-legged Kittiwake
Black-headed Gull
Black-tailed Gull
Herring Gull
Slaty-backed Gull
South Polar Skua (1)
Pomarine Skua (50)
Arctic Skua (2+)
Rhinoceros Auklet (17)
Black Kite
Japanese Sparrowhawk ? (1: attacked by Peregrine Falcon)
DAY 1 :We departed Aomori (Hachinohe port) at 8:45 am and arrived at Hokkaido (Tomakomai port) at 16:00 pm. Weather : cloudy, sunny and sometimes rainy Temperature : around 15℃ Wind speed : around 3 m/s
DAY 2 :We departed Hokkaido (Tomakomai port) at 9:30 am and arrived at Aomori (Hachinohe port) at 18:00 pm. Weather : cloudy Temperature : around 17℃ Wind speed : around 7 m/s Typhoon No.18 had formed in the southwest of Japan.
There was a strong swell, and a southeasterly strong wind.There were more Providence Petrels than we had expected.And fortunately, we were able to observe several Storm-petrels (many of them were Leach’s Storm-petrel).These good fortune seems to be the result of good weather condition (strong swell and strong wind) and timing (migration of Providence Petrels and fledging of Leach’s Storm-petrels)
Day 1 : Tokyo – Off Hachijo-jima (Izu Islands) We departed Tokyo (Takeshiba Terminal) at 11:00 am and arrived at off Hachijo-jima at 8:50 am Weather : cloudy, sunny and sometimes rainy Temperature : around 15℃ Wind speed : around 3 m/s
Day 2 : At sea – Chichi-jima(Ogasawara Islands) When we waked up, we were at off Muko-jima, Bonin Islands (800km from Tokyo). Weather : Sunny, hot and humid ! Temperature : 25-29 ℃ Wind speed : around 2m/s
Day 3 : At sea – Volcano Islands – Chichi-jima When we waked up, we were at off Minami-ioto (Volcano Islands). Weather : Sunny! Temperature : 27-30℃ Wind speed : around 1m/s
Day 4 : Chichi-jima ~ Haha-jima (an Optional) We departed Chichi-jima (Port Futami) at 7:30am and arrived at Haha-jima (Port Oki) at 9:40am Weather : Sunny! Temperature : around 30℃ Wind speed : 2-6m/s
Day 5 : Haha-jima – Chichi-jima – Off Muko-jima We departed Haha-jima (Port Oki) at 10:30am and arrived at Chichi-jima (Port Futami) at 12:40am. And we departed Chichi-jima at 15:30pm Weather : Sunny Temperature : around 29℃ Wind speed : 1-3m/s
Day 6 : At sea (off Aoga-shima) – Tokyo When we waked up, we were at off Hachijo-jima (Izu Islands). We arrived at Tokyo at 15:30pm. Weather : Cloudy and sometimes rainy Temperature : around 27℃ Wind speed : 3-4m/s
It was a wonderful voyage!! We encountered a lot of wonderful seabirds. The endemic species (Bonin Petrel, Bannerman’s Shearwater) and several rare species could be observed. We could observed Tropicbirds, White tern and Black Noddy that can be seen only around Iwo-to Islands. At Iwo-to, we looked the tragedy of war, and I prayed for the future in deepest sympathy.
Bird List
Red-tailed Tropicbird (Day3: A few birds were seen around the Minami Iwo-to.)
White-tailed Tropicbird (Day3: A few birds were seen around the Kita Iwo-to.)
Japanese Wood Pigeon Columba janthina nitens(Day4: A total of 3 birds were seen at Haha-jima. This species is endemic and endangered subspecies in Ogasawara Islands and Volcano Islands.)
Laysan Albatross (Day1: 1 bird at off Izu Islands)
White-necked Petrel (Day2: Only 1 bird was seen at off Muko-jima.)
Providence Petrel (Day6: 1 bird at off Hagijo-jima)
Kermadec Petrel (Day2: 1 dark morph bird at off Muko-jima, Day6: 1 light morph bird at off Hachijo-jima)
Bonin Petrel (Day3: about 10 bird were seen throughout a day)
Streaked Shearwater (Day 1 and Day 6 : many birds were seen)
Wedge-tailed Shearwater (Day 2 – 5 : many birds were seen, Day 6 :1 bird were seen)
Bannerman’s Shearwater (Day 2 : 1 bird were seen, Day 5 : 1 bird were seen ; about a individual of Day2, the face was looked whitish (suggestive of Bryan’s Shearwater) but the wings were long and body was solid. So it seemed to be Bannerman’s Shearwater.)
Bulwer’s Petrel (Day 1- 6: many birds were seen)
Red-footed Booby (Day 3: from at off Minami-iwo-to to Iwo-to several dozens birds were seen. It was the largest number around Minami-iwo-to.)
Brown Booby (Day 2-5: many birds were seen. At Haha-jima a Brown Booby was hunting in the port.)
Great Cormorant (Day 1: at Tokyo Bay)
Great Egret (Day 1: at Tokyo Bay)
Pacific Golden Plover (Day 2: about 10 birds were seen at Chichi-jima. They are regular member at Chichi-jima)
Whimbrel ? (Day 3: bird flying over the sea was seen. We can’t see.)
Ruddy Turnstone (Day 2: about 10 birds were seen at Chichi-jima. They are regular member at Chichi-jima)
Red-necked Stint (Day 4: 1 bird was seen on the beach of Hahajima)
Long-toed Stint (Day 4: 1 bird was seen on the grass ground of Haha-jima.)
Ruff (Day 4: 1 bird was seen on the grass ground of Haha-jima.)
The outward journey:Aug. 2-3 We departed Tokyo (Takeshiba Terminal) at 22:30 pm and arrived at Hachijo-jima at 8:50 am (Next day).
The homeward journey:Aug. 3 We departed Hachijo-jima at 9:20 am (Early departure because of bad sea condition) and arrived at Tokyo (Takeshiba Terminal) at 19:40 pm. Weather : cloudy Temperature : around 25 ℃ Wind speed : around 5-6 m/s
Typhoon No.5 had appeared in the south of Japan. We expected that coming rare seabirds by the typhoon. However, the course of the typhoon was not ideal…we couldn’t see rare birds. The significant result was that Bryan’s Shearwater was observed at off Hachijo-jima ! And we felt happy that there was a flock of Storm-petrels !
We on boarded the Tachibana-Maru (Tokai Kisen Co.). The outward journey:Apr. 15-16 We departed Tokyo (Takeshiba Terminal) at 22:30 pm and arrived at Hachijo-jima at 8:50 am (Next day).
The homeward journey:Apr. 16 We departed Hachijo-jima at 9:40 am and arrived at Tokyo (Takeshiba Terminal) at 19:40 pm. Weather : fine Temperature : around 19 ℃ Wind speed : around 4-5 m/s
Between Octorber and June is breeding season of Short-tailed Albatross. In this season, the number of adults increases. As expected, we were happy that we were able to observe some adults of Short-tailed Albatross 🙂 We was also happy to unexpected encounter with Caspian Tern at Hachijo-jima !
We on boarded the Silver Ferry (Kawasaki Kinkai Kisen Kaisya,LTD.). DAY 1 :We departed Aomori (Hachinohe port) at 8:45 am and arrived at Hokkaido (Tomakomai port) at 16:00 pm. Weather : cloudy and sometimes sunny Temperature : around 3℃ Wind speed : around 5 m/s
DAY 2 :We departed Hokkaido (Tomakomai port) at 9:30 am and arrived at Aomori (Hachinohe port) at 18:00 pm. Weather : fine Temperature : around 3 ℃ Wind speed : around 3 m/s
Although it was not colder than February, the wind was cold on the sea.Warm clothes were still necessary for us. The number of Auklets was small….That was a bit unfortunate. Because we expected to be able to observe large flocks of Auklets.However, it was fortunate that we could observe migratory birds (For example, Goose and Skylark) going north.
DAY 1 : We departed Aomori (Hachinohe port) at 8:45 am and arrived at Hokkaido (Tomakomai port) at 16:00 pm. Weather : cloudy with occasional snow Temperature : around -1 ℃ Wind speed : around 6 m/s
DAY 2 : We departed Hokkaido (Tomakomai port) at 9:30 am and arrived at Aomori (Hachinohe port) at 18:00 pm. Weather : fine with occasional snow Temperature : around 3 ℃ Wind speed : around 8 m/s
It was very cold, I needed down jackets, woolen hats and gloves……… We mainly observed Gulls, Murrelets and Auklets.
The Wether and sea condition were very good on the day. We departed from Sandspit around 8:00 am. We joined the pelagic trip that is planed by The Northern New Zealand Seabird Trust.
After departure we met Fluttering Shearwaters(I think), a Arctic Jaeger and Australasian Gannets for a while. Our boat was stopped near the school of fish. Fairy Prions, Cook’s Petrels, Buller’s Shearwaters and Fluttering Shearwaters were attracted to the school of fish! After a while, White-faced Storm-petrels came around the school of fish. And to our joy, New Zealand Storm-petrel came too !! New Zealand Storm-petrel was flying beautiful, quickly and tricky! When the chumming session,Fairy Prion, Cook’s Petrel and Black Petrel came near our boat. After lunch, we encountered a herd of dolphins (False Killer Whale and Common Bottlenose Dolphin). There were many birds with dolphins. Fairy Prions, Cook’s Petrel, Black Petrel, Flesh-footed Shearwater, Buller’s Shearwater, White-faced Storm-petrel and New Zealand Storm-petrel was seen. We could see Blue Penguin on the way to the port 🙂
We planed to join the pelagic trip at Sep. 10th at first, but it was delayed until 11th because of bad sea condition. The weather and sea condition were very good on that day. We departed from Rose Bay around 7:00 am.
In the shore, Fluttering and Hutton’s Shearwater fluttered !! But their ID were difficult for me …. As soon as we were on the open water, we could see a large number of Wedge-tailed shearwaters. Moreover, they were all dark phase !! ( In Japan, dark phase is rare except around Okinawa. ) After that, our boat was stopped and the chumming session was started. Black-browed Albatross, Indian Yellow-nosed Albatross and Buller’s Albatross were coming near the boat. They had vivid and beautiful colorful colors ! Wandering Albatross ( gibson ) came from the distance and landed close to the boat. We were moved !! The Albatross was large, long, heavy-built, cool and cute 🙂 White-faced Storm-Petrel and Willson’s Storm-Petrel were coming near the boat too. Storm-Petrels were dancing on the surface of water around the boat ! ( Willson’s Storm-petrels are observed in the pacific side of Japan.) We encountered a Giant Petrel and a Brown Skua on our way back to Rose Bay. It was a wonderful bonus. I love Giant Petrel very much and I felt very happy 🙂 !!
