Hong Kong again

30 April - a final highlight on my trip - a repeat visit to Mai Po, and a fantastic array of large flocks of waders on migration (9), the highlight being a flock of approx 80 Asiatic Dowitchers (12) in summer plumage. Also present - Broad-billed and Terek Sandpipers (11), Red-necked and Long-toed Stints, Curlew Sandpipers (10) and a Sharp-tailed Sandpiper. 2 Nordmann's Greenshanks were seen but I couldn't find a Spoon-billed Sandpiper......home tomorrow after many miles and amazing sights.....

Back connected......

28 Mar - I am now in Japan, after 4 weeks and over 4000 miles at sea and incommunicado - a lot to report. Generally quite rough seas, lots of wildlife, remote islands - from New Caledonia to the remote Solomon Islands - friendly people after the welcoming war dance (see photo from Rennell Island). Whales - some v close to the boat - many seabirds including 12 species of Albatross, many Petrels including Beck`s Petrel, the unique Kagu in New Caledonia, and numerous other endemic island species. King Neptune welcomed us across the equator where it was extremely hot and humid - now cool and wet here in Japan. The overall impression is of the vastness of the Pacific and the remote and scattered nature of the islands we visited - Captain Cook and the other explorers really were heading into the unknown in those days.
Photos - 1. "Spirit of Enderby". 2-4. Norfolk Island. 5. White Tern. 6. Black Noddy. 7. Red-tailed Tropicbird. 8-9. New Caledonia. 10. Kagu. 11. White-tailed Tropicbird. 12. Tahiti Petrel. 13. Gould's Petrel. 14-16. Rennell Island, Solomons. 17-19. Makira Island, Solomons. 20. Beach Kingfisher. 21 Mount Austin, Solomons. 22. Blyth's Hornbill. 23. Sperm Whale. 24. Black-naped Tern. 25-26. Crossing the Equator..... 27. At dinner on the ship. 28 Sunset.....

Maketu Beach

30 Mar - A morning visit to Maketu, a beautiful unspoilt coast near Tauranga. Wildlife highlights included Wrybill (above) and New Zealand Dotterel.
. Later today we sail for Norfolk Island and New Caledonia, and blog updates may be less frequent due to lack of internet access in the islands, maybe next in New Caledonia....

First 3 days

29 Mar - We are now at Tauranga after 3 days cruising up from Kaikoura in south island, highlights have included 100s of Albatrosses in the rough weather we experienced yesterday, along with Petrels and Shearwaters, and 2 Sperm Whales seen. Tomorrow we pick up the rest of the passengers for the main trip and start heading north.
Photos of Albatrosses at Kaikoura and off North Island - 1.Wandering, 2.Royal, 3.Campbell, 4.Shy, 5.Buller's Albatrosses.

Cairns to New Zealand....

24 Mar - Arrived New Zealand after an overnight at Cairns, Australia - windy and cloudy there after a cyclone passed through 2 days earlier. I still managed (I hope) to get some good shots of the waders along the esplanade - Great Knots (upper), Grey-tailed Tattlers, Bar-tailed Godwits - Siberian race (middle) - Australian Curlews and Red-necked Stints (lower) amongst others. I'm now 13hrs ahead of the UK.