This is Pyramid Rock.
Here is where the Pyramid is located (below Pitt Island).
And a close up.
Pyramid Rock speaks... It has taken 4 million years for me to get here. I am a basalt rock, south of Pitt Island in the Chathams group. My many small ledges are ideal nesting places for about 4,500 Chatham albatrosses, which breed nowhere else. They are endemic.
The Chatham Island Mollymawk is a rare, endemic albatross with a restricted range, which mainly spends it's time at sea and comes to my rock to breed. It is striking in appearance, with a dark grey head and bright yellow bill. Adults have a dark-grey head and neck, with white behind the eye and a thick black line in front of the eye extending towards the bill. The upperwings and back are blackish-brown, and the tail dark grey. The underparts and rump are white, and the underwings are white with a thin black edge (slightly thicker on leading edge) and a small black patch where the leading edge of the wing meets the body, and dark grey to black primaries. The bill is deep yellow with a black lower mandible tip. The legs and feet are light grey-flesh coloured.
I am worried about climate change for these albatross - more storms, and a warmer ocean. I love the albatrosses coming and going and nesting all over me. It makes me feel useful, and special with the endemic Mollymawk.
We are all looking to take the best photos.
Another video around the Pyramid.
This is the endemic Chatham albatross.
"With only one breeding population (on Pyramid Rock), the Chatham Island mollymawk is vulnerable to severe storm events during the breeding season, which can affect breeding success and adult survival. Outside the breeding season such events can remove vegetation and the small amount of soil used for nest construction."
After making a few spins around the Pyramid, we head to Rangatira Island for a zodiac cruise and a chance to see other endemic Chatham species. The ship takes about an hour to get to South East / Rangatira Island.
We got out on the boats in beautiful weather and cruised over crystal clear blue water with fur seals all around.
Shag.
Sand plover.
Kelp.
Kororā (little blue penguin).
On the zodiac.
Jane.
Afterwards, we set a course for Chatham Island and spent time off the southern coast chumming and looking for the very rare Magenta Petrel (also called the Taiko). Back and forth we went, with many Royal albatross following. Then near dusk, a single Magenta Petrel was spotted. I didn't see it and I heard the call, and it could be seen for about a minute. Then it was gone. This was a highlight for serious birders (which I am warming to), and no wonder the excitement, there are perhaps as few as 150-200 birds left in the world. This photo from l.gwynn from another Birding Down Under trip - this must have been closer to the ship and/or a powerful camera, and of course an experienced photographer to get this in flight!
Buller’s mollymawks (this from NZ Birds 'Online') are one of the more abundant small albatrosses occurring around coastal areas of New Zealand, particularly from Cook Strait south. Their striking black-and-golden-yellow bill and smart black-and-white plumage make them readily identifiable as they scavenge close to fishing vessels.
The southern subspecies is unusual among albatrosses in breeding under tall, dense woody vegetation which sometimes requires it to walk up to 100 m inland to reach its nest after landing in open tussock at the forest edge.
The Buller’s mollymawk is one of the smallest of the albatrosses. It is black across the upperwings, with a white lower back and rump and black tip to the tail. The underparts are white with a clear-cut broad black leading edge and narrow black trailing edge under the wing. The light-grey neck and throat contrast with the silvery-grey crown. The bill is black with golden-yellow top and bottom plates.
Chatham Island and Bullers together. Back one is Chatham Islands, front one is Bullers.
Someone took a photo of me - maybe Tracy or Carol? I am in the front of the boat, not looking at the albatross they were looking at. That is a Bullers.
