28 Nov 2019

Black Robin and Forbes Parakeet on Mangere Island

We arrived at Mangere Island with high hopes for the birding given the success we have so far enjoyed including nine species of penguin and 14 species of albatross so far and several rare bird sightings.

As we boarded our Zodiacs for the last outing the sun came out once again continuing our great run of weather at the Chathams. Some early sightings of Chatham Island Shags meant we could change focus to the Forbes Parakeet. Our good fortune continued with more than 10 of these rare New Zealand Parakeets sighted by the end of the cruise with everyone getting excellent views (and photos).

But it was the Black Robin that proved to be the highlight of the day. Displaying briefly out of the understory of bush this extremely rare bird brought back from the brink of extinction had passengers high-fiving it the Zodiac that was in the right place at the right time.

After our Zodiac cruise we headed south to where the ocean floor drops away to more than 1-kilometre deep, passing four Sperm Whales (including a mother and calf!) and cruised along the contour to the west where we were rewarded with five different species of albatross and Grey-faced and White-chinned Petrels as we headed away from the Chatham Islands and set our course for Dunedin.

Image from file © D.Brown, Heritage Expeditions