Kaikoura

Trip Report New Zealand 2004

Simon Plat, Maaike Poppinga
Dates: 24-02-2003 till 13-03-2003
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Kaikoura

Location: Kaikoura is a relatively small but thriving town about 2 hours (180 km) north of Christchurch.

Costs: We paid NZ $ 120,- for two persons on the Albatross excursion (a minimum of two), but prices have changed since. You best check Kaikoura Albatross Encounter for recent prices. Trips take about 2,5 hours. The Whalewatch excursions are significant more expensive: NZ $ 240,- for two persons.

Date(s): 04-12-2004 and 15-12-2004

Notes: It is highly advised to do at least two different albatross trips, preferably on different times of day. I did both trips at the same time of day (9:00) but got different birds anyway. It was surprising to see that the whalewatch excursion (afternoon) had some birds that I didn't see during the albatross excursions, probably because the whalewatchers go a bit further out at sea.

Highlights: Antipodean Albatross (4 and 5), Wandering (Gibsons) Albatross (3 and 2), Northern Royal Albatross (2 and 1), Black-browed Albatross (1 only on the second trip), New Zealand White-headed Albatross (at least 2), Salvin's Albatross (XX), Southern Giant Petrel (1 only on the second trip), Northern Giant Petrel (V), White-chinned Petrel (1 only on the second trip), Westland Petrel (X), Hutton's Shearwater (XX)

Pics:

	An obvious mark of Kaikoura town: a beautiful wall painting of Sperm Whales.
By far the most common of albatrosses during the trips is also one of the nicest: Salvin's Albatross. They are quite noicy when fighting for a bit of food.
	During the feeding it is crowded behind the boat, including lot of squirmish between individuals. In general the biggest wins, in this case the majestic Wandering Albatross. The smaller albatrosses are Salvin's.
Westland Petrel are among the smallest of birds that are attracted by the food. They know how to withstand the bullying of the larger birds and get their pick.
	One of the most charming birds of all: Cape Petrel, very small among the albatrosses but not at all afraid.
Here's a good example of the size difference, in this case between the Kelp Gull in front and the New Zealand White-headed Albatross in the back.
	When flying these albatrosses are most impressive. This Northern Royal Albatross must have a wingspan over 2,5 meter!
Two Salvin's Albatrosses following the boat to the next chumming spot. On the background the Kaikoura range with the unseasonal snow still present.
	On the second trip I was able to make good pics of this very dark Wandering Albatross, most probably an Antipodean.
Here's the same dark Wandering Albatross (left) with a much lighter bird in front (probably Gibsons).

The afternoon whalewatch excursion produced three different Sperm Whales showing very well. Unfortunately we missed the 3 Killer Whales that were seen that very morning.

Bird List:

Column 1: E= endemic species; Eb=endemic breeding species
Column 2: E=Endangered; Nt=Near-threatened; V=Vulnerable

	V	Diomedea antipodensis	Antipoden Albatross	Antipoden Albatross	4+5
	V	Diomedea exulans gibsoni	Wandering (Gibson's) Albatross	Grote Albatross	3+2
Eb	E	Diomedea sanfordi	Northern Royal Albatross	Noordelijke Koningsalbatross	2+1
	Nt	Thalassarche melanophris	Black-browed Albatross	Wenkbrouwalbatross	0+1
	Nt	Thalassarche cauta	NZ White-headed Albatross	Witkapalbatros	1+1
	V	Thalassarche salvini	Salvin's Allbatross	Salvinsalbatross	XX
		Daption capense	Cape Petrel	Kaapse Stormvogel	XX
	V	Macronectes giganteus	Southern Giant-Petrel	Zuidelijke Reuzenstormvogel	0+1
	Nt	Macronectes halli	Northern Giant-Petrel	Noordelijke Reuzenstormvogel	V+6
		Pachyptila turtur	Fairy Prion	Duifprion	V
	V	Procellaria aequinoctialis	White-chinned Petrel	Witkinstormvogel	0+1
Eb	V	Procellaria westlandica	Westland Petrel	Westlandstormvogel	X+X
		Pterodroma macroptera	Great-winged/Grey-faced Petrel	Langvleugelstormvogel	2+0
		Puffinus griseus	Sooty Shearwater	Grauwe Pijlstormvogel	1+V
Eb	E	Puffinus huttoni	Hutton's Shearwater	Huttons Pijlstormvogel	XX
		Pelecanoides urinatrix	Common Diving-Petrel	Alkstormvogeltje	1
		Morus serrator	Australian Gannet	Pacifische Jan-van-gent	V
		Phalacrocorax carbo	Great Cormorant	Aalscholver	V
		Phalacrocorax melanoleucos	Little Pied Cormorant	Kleine Bonte Aalscholver	V
E		Phalacrocorax punctatus	Spotted Shag	Gevlekte Aalscholver	XX
		Phalacrocorax sulcirostris	Little Black Cormorant	Zwarte Aalscholver	V
		Phalacrocorax varius	Pied Cormorant	Bonte Aalscholver	V
		Egretta novaehollandiae	White-faced Heron	Witwangreiger	V
		Circus approximans	Swamp Harrier	Moeraskiekendief	V
		Porphyrio porphyrio	Purple Swamphen	Purperkoet	X
E		Haematopus finschi	South Island Oystercatcher	Nieuwzeelandse Bonte Scholekster	V
E		Haematopus unicolor	Variable Oystercatcher	Nieuwzeelandse Zwarte Scholekster	V
		Vanellus miles	Masked Lapwing	Maskerkievit	V
		Stercorarius parasiticus	Parasitic Jaeger	Kleine Jager	1
E	V	Larus bulleri	Black-billed Gull	Zwartsnavelmeeuw	V
		Larus dominicanus	Kelp Gull	Kelpmeeuw	XX
E		Larus scopulinus	Red-billed Gull	Roodsnavelmeeuw	XX
		Sterna striata	White-fronted Tern	Tara-stern	XX
		Hirundo neoxena	Welcome Swallow	Welkomzwaluw	X

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