26 Nov 2019

Brilliant Birding and Sunshine at Pyramid Rock

The day started with an early win spotting Magenta Petrel/Chatham Island Taiko to the south of Pyramid Rock (the remnants of a larger volcano) and the birds kept coming. Mid-morning we ship cruised the Pyramid, location of the only breeding population of the Chatham Island Albatross. Rafts of albatross took to the air as we passed by and the sky was filled with them as we circumnavigated the rock several times under bright sunshine.

Conditions were 'tropical' as we pulled up at South East Island and hit the big blue in our Zodiacs quickly spotting Pitt Island Shags, Little Penguins and New Zealand Shore Plovers.

As we buzzed back to Spirit of Enderby, Chatham Island, Northern Buller's and Salvin's Albatross were sitting off the stern giving all of us amazingly close views of these majestic birds. From there we headed to the south west coast of Chatham Island to search for more Magenta Petrels and as the sun fell low in the sky one flew by giving everyone a fantastic view of this super rare petrel.

Image from file © L.Gwynn, Heritage Expeditions