06 Dec 2015

Birding on Enderby Island

The first of our two ‘Galapagos of the Southern Ocean’ expeditions for the season got underway under blue skies from Dunedin on Friday and we were escorted out of picturesque Otago Harbour by a pod of around 20 Dusky Dolphins. Everyone was on deck either birding or enjoying the landscape as we cleared the southern tip of the South Island. It was then that we experienced the full blast of a strong westerly airflow (and the accompanying seas) so instead of traveling via the Snares we set a course direct to the Auckland Islands.

We arrived in the sheltered waters of Port Ross early this morning and went ashore to spend the day on delightful Enderby Island. This island never disappoints and among the many highlights we had great views of Snipe, numerous Flightless Teal, New Zealand Falcon, Tomtits, Bellbirds, Auckland Island Dotterel, Pipits and Antarctic Terns. The first male New Zealand Sea Lions have arrived to await the females for their breeding season, so the beaches played host to some boisterous batchelor gatherings. Tonight we remain at anchor in the sheltered waters of Port Ross.