Western Pacific Odyssey 2013 Part 3 - More Seabirds

Tahiti Petrel 

Pseudobulweria rostrata

Here below are some more of the seabirds we saw during the first few days of the voyage.  I put Tahiti Petrel as the "headline" bird here because it was one of our favourite birds of the trip, not least because it was slow moving and easy to identify.  We saw most of them around New Caledonia.

Tasman Booby

Sula dactylatra tasmani

Tasman Booby

Sula dactylatra tasmani

Red-footed Booby

Sula sula

Red-footed Booby

Sula sula

Brown Booby

Sula leucogaster

Little Shearwater

Puffinus assimilis

Sooty Shearwater 

Puffinus griseus

Sooty Shearwater 

Puffinus griseus

Sooty Shearwater 

Puffinus griseus

From Norfolk Island through to the Solomons, we found Wedge-tailed Shearwaters very common.  Even if there was not much else around, a "Wedgie" was never far from view.

Wedge-tailed Shearwater

Puffinus pacificus

Wedge-tailed Shearwater

Puffinus pacificus

Wedge-tailed Shearwater

Puffinus pacificus

Wedge-tailed Shearwater

Puffinus pacificus

Wedge-tailed Shearwater

Puffinus pacificus

Wedge-tailed Shearwater

Puffinus pacificus

Wedge-tailed Shearwater

Puffinus pacificus

Wedge-tailed Shearwater

Puffinus pacificus

Kermadec Petrel

Pterodroma neglecta

Kermadec Petrel

Pterodroma neglecta

Kermadec Petrel

Pterodroma neglecta

Tahiti Petrel 

Pseudobulweria rostrata

Tahiti Petrel 

Pseudobulweria rostrata

Tahiti Petrel 

Pseudobulweria rostrata

Tahiti Petrel 

Pseudobulweria rostrata

Tahiti Petrel 

Pseudobulweria rostrata

The "cookilaria" petrels are difficult to identify but we've numbered the photos here to aid any discussion about identity.  Even with the photo on screen and the book open we still struggle to tell them apart.

Black-winged Petrel 

Pterodroma nigripennis

Black-winged Petrel 

Pterodroma nigripennis

Black-winged Petrel 

Pterodroma nigripennis

Black-winged Petrel 

Pterodroma nigripennis

Black-winged Petrel 

Pterodroma nigripennis

Black-winged Petrel 

Pterodroma nigripennis

Black-winged Petrel 

Pterodroma nigripennis

Black-winged Petrel 

Pterodroma nigripennis

Black-winged Petrel 

Pterodroma nigripennis

Black-winged Petrel 

Pterodroma nigripennis

Black-winged Petrel 

Pterodroma nigripennis

Black-winged Petrel 

Pterodroma nigripennis

Black-winged Petrel 

Pterodroma nigripennis

Gould's Petrel

Pterodroma leucoptera

Gould's Petrel

Pterodroma leucoptera

Gould's Petrel

Pterodroma leucoptera

White-necked Petrel

Pterodroma cervicalis

White-necked Petrel

Pterodroma cervicalis

White-necked Petrel

Pterodroma cervicalis

Wilson's Storm-petrel

Oceanites oceanicus

With breakfast coinciding with some of the best time for wildlife viewing, it was easy sometimes to feel "torn" between dedication and food. The smell of bacon usually proved an irresistible lure for me.   On 31st March, when most of the people had gone down for breakfast,   Jemi stayed on the top with Kate, Liz & Mike searching for cetaceans and seabirds.  They were glad they did;  rewarded with a sperm whale  most of us missed ! ….

Sperm Whale  

Physter macrocephalus

Sperm Whale  

Physter macrocephalus

Sperm Whale  

Physter macrocephalus