We have travelled 120 km from the Antipodes. The Bounty Islands are a wind swept group of 22 slippery granite rocks 700 km east-south-east of New Zealand. From the Heritage Expeditions book...
"The Bounty Islands were discovered and named by Captain Bligh of the Bounty in 1788. Although he described them as “bare and desolate, with the inability to afford any vegetable production” they are still a unique destination for those on a ship tour in the Southern Pacific ocean. There might not be any vegetation on the Bounty Islands, but during the spring and summer the islands are breeding grounds for thousands of sea birds including Salvin's Albatross and the endemic Erect Crested Penguin."
We were not able to get a zodiac cruise, it was too rough. These photos from our guide Daniel. The penguin and shag photos are from the DOC and Tear sites.
"Flora: The Bounty Islands’ only species of higher vegetation are a few plants of Cook’s scurvy grass which were recently discovered on two of the islands.
Fauna: One of the world’s only two colonies of Erect-crested Penguin is found here, as well as the world’s principal colony of Salvin’s albatross. One of the rarest cormorants, the Bounty Shag, is easily observed but entirely restricted to this barren group. Petrel’s and Fulmar Prions are also common nesters, while the Subantarctic Skua, Kelp and Red-billed Gulls and Antarctic Tern also breed here.
Bounty Island Shag: In 2008, the Bounty Island Shag, Phalacrocorax ranfurlyi, was recorded on the IUCN Red List Category as vulnerable. This is because it has a very small population and breeding range, rendering it susceptible to genetic effects and human impacts. If population fluctuations are shown to be extreme, or if there is any population decline, it may warrant upgrading the listing to critically endangered. The shag averages 71 centimetres (28 inch) in height and is a large, black-and-white cormorant. It has a black head, hind neck, lower back, rump, and upper tail coverts, all with a metallic blue sheen. White underparts can be seen above its pink feet. White patches on the wings appear as a bar when wings are folded."
This photo from Tracy or Robert.
The shag breeds mostly on narrow cliff-side ledges, with nests often as little as one metre (3.3 feet) apart, and feeds on fish, snails, squid, isopods and crabs.
This photo I could have taken if we had got on a zodiac.
A closer look at an Erect crested penguin.
"The Salvin's Albatross was named by Lord Lionel Walter Rothschild for the distinguished ornithologist, Osbert Salvin. It has a grey head, mantle and back with a white rump and underside. It's bill is pale grey with a yellow ridge and tip. It can be distinguished from the Chatham Albatross by its larger size and grey bill and from the Shy Albatross by the greyer head. Such differences can be difficult to pick out at sea."
We moved on from the islands and did some more chumming. Spot Bill.
I got more practice at capturing birds with my camera. This must be a Salvin's!
Haven't quite got enough light. A Salvin's and a Royal albatross together. I like this as there is a size difference and with the ocean in the background this pic shows the vastness of the sea and how at home these birds are.
Not sure I know what all these are yet? I think these are all Salvin's?
This is definitely a Salvin's because of the black tip on the yellow mandible.
Bounty Islands speak..
Unlike the Aucklands, Campbell and Antipodes, which are primarily volcanic in origin, I am made of igneous rock, pushed up from the floor of the ocean.
I am divided roughly into three groups: Main, Centre and East. My total land mass is only 135ha, with Depot Island being the largest in the group at 800m in length and 88m at its highest point. I have no soil or vegetation as I am frequently washed clean by rain and spray from the often huge waves which crash into me. Despite the hostile conditions I live up to my name by hosting thousands of seabirds, including the world’s rarest cormorant, the Bounty Island shag, of which there are only 500-600 individuals. The Bounty Island shag is one of the few birds who stays with me throughout the year.
I am a primary breeding area for erect-crested penguins (whose only other breeding site is the Antipodes group) and Salvin's mollymawks (75,000 pairs estimated to be breeding here with several hundred pairs breeding on the Snares). Antarctic terns, fulmar prions, Snares cape pigeons and Southern black-backed gulls also nest here in lesser numbers.
After being hunted to near extinction seals have started to make a comeback in recent years. I am one of the main bases for the New Zealand fur seal in the Subantarctic. In 1992 the population was estimated at 20,000. I have a diverse community of terrestrial invertebrates. Their existence depends on the debris generated by the seabirds and seals.
In the early 19th century hunters decimated 50,000 seals. By the early 1830's just a handful were left. I boast a unique collection of plants and animals, many of which are endemic, meaning they are not found anywhere else in the world. I have taken 100 million years to evolve. Please come and visit me and look after me.
At bird list that night I am getting better though there is still a lot to learn. Maybe if I had written half the blog before I left I would have learnt quicker.
We head to the Chathams, via Pyramid Rock. It is 280km away.