ML643860902

Observation details

There was a high overcast, with parts of the horizon somewhat clear to the west. Passing showers were moving through from the north-west and there was a gentle westerly breeze at ground level, with occasional calm periods. Some areas of reduced visibility due to sea mist. Sunset was at 19:40 local time. Over the past three years we have visited the rookery on three previous occasions and following is a comparison between those previous visits and this one: October 15, 2022 - Refer to eBird checklist S120749463 November 4, 2023 - Refer to eBird checklist S154263902 October 13, 2024 - Refer to eBird checklist S198836362 First birds were seen gathering offshore: October 15, 2022 - Thirty minutes prior to sunset November 4, 2023 - Ten minutes prior to sunset October 13, 2024 - Thirty-five minutes prior to sunset. By sunset there was still no raft of significant size, as compared to the previous two visits, but rather more sparsely distributed birds. Indeed, it took until twenty minutes after sunset for a raft of birds of significant size to develop about five-hundred metres offshore. October 19, 2025 - Sixty minutes prior to sunset. At thirty minutes prior to sunset there were eight large rafts, ranging between two-hundred and two-thousand birds each, up to one kilometre offshore. A similar number of birds were in flight the same distance offshore. At twenty minutes prior to sunset, there were a dozen rafts, with numbers continuing to build. By sunset, rafts had tended to meld together into four. A single raft of about three-hundred birds remained up until thirty-five minutes after sunset, at which time it was too dark to further monitor their movements. First birds crossed the cliffs and circled the rookery: October 15, 2022 - Ten minutes after sunset November 4, 2023 - Twenty-five minutes after sunset October 13, 2024 - Thirty-five minutes after sunset October 19, 2025 - Five minutes before sunset Majority of the birds in their burrows: October 15, 2022 - Thirty-five minutes after sunset November 4, 2023 - Forty minutes after sunset October 13, 2024 - Fifty-five minutes after sunset October 19, 2025 - Twenty-five minutes after sunset. The first birds in burrows at ten minutes after sunset. Compared with all previous visits, on this occasion the birds crossed the cliffs and entered burrows significantly earlier. Bird numbers: October 15, 2022 - Estimated at 30,000 November 4, 2023 - Estimated at 24,000 (20% less than the previous visit) It is possible that as egg laying approaches around November 20, some birds were electing to stay out at sea rather than return to the rookery each evening. October 13, 2024 - Estimated at 5,000 (80% less than the previous visit) Estimation was adversely impacted as the birds arrived at the rookery in much lower light than in previous years. Also noted that more birds appeared to have not headed out to sea this day, based on the amount of calling heard before the first birds returned. October 19, 2025 - Estimated at 25,000 (400% more than the previous visit) Compared with last year, there was no calling heard in the rookery ahead of the birds returning for the evening. Burrow maintenance: October 15, 2022 - Much burrow maintenance still in progress November 4, 2023 - Very little burrow maintenance still in progress as egg-laying draws nearer October 13, 2024 - Minimal burrow maintenance performed upon return October 19, 2025 - Minimal burrow maintenance performed upon return Calling: October 15, 2022 - Generally minimal calling from burrows, however occasional harsh and aggressive calling heard. November 4, 2023 - Frequent loud calling from burrows. Possibly these are prospectors, or young birds present in the rookery that may or may not form a pair bond and breed. Audio recorded. October 13, 2024 - Generally minimal calling from burrows, however occasional harsh and aggressive calling heard. October 19, 2025 - Frequent loud calling from burrows, including harsh and aggressive calling heard. Possibly some prospectors. Audio recorded.