Birding Downunder

New Zealand’s southernmost city, it is a city rich in Scottish history. This evening an informal get-together at the hotel for dinner provides an excellent opportunity to meet fellow adventurers on your voyage and some of our expedition team.

Enjoy a visit to the Southland Museum to view the special Subantarctic display before transferring to the Port of Bluff, board the Spirit of Enderby and then join the expedition team and Captain on the Bridge as our adventure begins.

The largest island in this small island group is North East Island. Cruise by Zodiac if weather and sea conditions are suitable along the sheltered eastern side. Cruising in sheltered bays, we should see the endemic Snares Crested Penguin and in the flowering Olearia forests which drape the hillsides, Snares Island Tomtit and Fernbirds may be seen. Cape Pigeons, Antarctic Terns, White-fronted Terns and Red-billed Gulls also abound. There are an estimated six million Sooty Shearwaters nesting here. Buller’s Albatross breed here from early January onwards, we may be lucky enough to encounter them offshore.

Enderby Island is a great place to view birds and wildlife. Named for the same distinguished shipping family as our own vessel and one of the most beautiful islands in the group, if not the world. Sandy Bay is the main breeding ground for the rare New Zealand (Hooker’s) Sea Lion, just one of three breeding grounds on the Auckland Islands. There are chances to observe the Southern Royal Albatross, Northern Giant Petrel, Auckland Island Shag, Auckland Island Flightless Teal, Auckland Island Banded Dotterel, Auckland Island Tomtit, Bellbird, Pipit, Red-crowned Parakeet, Yellow-eyed Penguin and Light-mantled Sooty Albatross. We will also keep a lookout for the rare Subantarctic Snipe. On Derry Castle Reef there is a good chance of seeing the Bar-tailed Godwit, Turnstone and perhaps other migratory waders.

These islands have witnessed many a shipwreck in days gone by and loaded in human history, they harbour tales of castaways and coastwatchers. There will be an opportunity for the more energetic expeditioners to climb to the South West Cape Shy Albatross colony. Gibson’s Wandering Albatross nest above the colony amongst the tussocks, and we should obtain good views of these birds as they will be nesting at this time

The Subantarctic Convergence Zone is traditionally very close to the area we sail through, so we can expect the pelagic birdlife to be prolific as we approach Macquarie Island viewing species such as the Royal Albatross, Black-browed Albatross, White-chinned Petrel, Diving-Petrel and many more.

The only place in the world where the beautiful Royal Penguin breeds, this remote outpost supports a breathtaking concentration of wildlife. You will never forget your first experience of a noisy ‘penguin city’, where the dapper inhabitants show no fear of their strange visitors and where you will be witness to a thousand chattering, feeding chicks; territorial disputes; petty pilfering and courtship displays. King Penguins are also found in large numbers, as are Gentoo and Rockhopper. We meet with Park Rangers and seek out the thousands of Elephant Seals lolling on the beaches and along the coast, Redpolls and Imperial Shag can often be spotted.

There will be many opportunities to spot wildlife and we will be keeping a keen lookout for cetaceans, albatross and petrels; relax in the ship’s bar or catch up on your reading in the library.

We drop anchor in Perseverance Harbour, an occasional refuge for calving Southern Right Whales. Walk to the nesting site of the Southern Royal Albatross or to North West Bay and experience the strange and beautiful megaherbs growing on the hills. These huge wild flowers that have adapted to the harsh conditions have unusual colourings. During the day ashore we should see the Campbell Island Shag, Southern Skua, Antarctic Tern, Dunnock and New Zealand Pipit, and hopefully the elusive Campbell Island Snipe.

Join us on the bridge, where we keep a keen lookout for species commonly seen in this area: Black-browed Albatross, Campbell Island Albatross, Light-mantled Sooty Albatross, Salvin’s Albatross, Sooty Shearwater and Little Shearwater. There should be plenty of petrels and sometimes the Fairy Prion, Fulmar Prion and Antarctic Prion show up together.

One of the most isolated, least known and rugged of the Subantarctic Islands; landings are not permitted, so we cruise along the coast looking for the endemic Antipodes Island and Reischek’s Parakeet. We may also see the Antipodes subspecies of the New Zealand Pipit, and with half the world population of Erect-crested Penguins here, we should encounter one or two! As well as Antarctic Terns and Kelp Gulls.

Incongruously-named, these are inhospitable granite islets lashed by the Southern Ocean. Discovered by Captain Bligh just months before the infamous mutiny, they are home to thousands of Salvin’s Albatross, Erect-crested Penguins, Fulmar Prions and the endemic Bounty Island Shag, the world’s rarest. At sea we should spot Wandering Albatross species, Northern Royal Albatross, Mottled Petrel, Soft-plumaged Petrel, Broad-billed Prion, White-chinned Petrel and Black-bellied Storm-Petrels as well as Wilson’s Storm-Petrel.

With further excellent pelagic birding we look out for the Chatham Island Petrel and also the very rare Chatham Island Taiko or Magenta Petrel. Arriving at the spectacular Pyramid Rock we find the only breeding place of the Chatham Island Albatross.

One of the world’s greatest nature reserves and home to the endangered Shore Plover and Chatham Island Oystercatcher. Keeping our eyes peeled for the Pitt Island Shag and ears open for the unusual song of the Tui, we also visit the Mangere Islands where the endemic Black Robin was rescued from a decimated population of only six birds.

Dropping anchor at Waitangi we might see the endemic Chatham Island Shag on the rocks as we land. Personally escorted by local guides to the Tuku Reserve, we enjoy a bush walk in the hope of seeing the Chatham Island Warbler and Chatham Island Pigeon.

En route to Dunedin we will cross the Chatham Rise, a shallow underwater extension of New Zealand’s South Island that once (millions of years ago) formed dry land all the way to the Chatham Islands. Nutrient-rich waters from the south mix with warm northern waters and there is an overlap between northern pelagic species and birds from southern latitudes. This is a good time to be out on deck. We can expect Royal Albatross, Wandering Albatross, Westland Black Petrel, Cook’s Petrel and much more.

Our adventure ends with safe harbour at the historic Port of Otago. We bid farewell to our fellow voyagers, to enjoy a transfer to the city or airport and take memories that will last long beyond flights home.

To allow time for disembarkation procedures we do not recommend booking flights from Dunedin before midday.

During our voyage, circumstances may make it necessary or desirable to deviate from the proposed itinerary. This can include poor weather and opportunities for making unplanned excursions. Your Expedition Leader will keep you fully informed. Landings at the Subantarctic Islands of New Zealand are by permit only as administered by the Government of New Zealand. No landings are permitted at The Snares.