Western Pacific Odyssey Itinerary:

Day 1:
Embark “Spirit of Enderby” in Auckland.

Day 2:
During our transit of the Hauraki Gulf we will watch for species common and uncommon within this area including grey ternlets and New Zealand storm petrel.

Day 3 & 4:
Enroute to Norfolk Island birds watching for petrels and albatross of the region.

Day 5:
On landing at Norfolk Island we visit an area of lush rainforest for the  endemics Norfolk Island parakeet and Norfolk gerygone.

Day 6:
North of Norfolk we cross a large underwater sea mount, a productive area for Tahiti, Kermadec and grey-faced petrels and hopefully our first Polynesian storm petrels. 

Day 7:
Arrive at New Caledonia with time to explore the Noumea.

Day 8:
Our early morning start today takes us in search of Kagu and Crow honey eater. Other birds we will seek include crested parakeet, cloven feathered dove, yellow-bellied robin, New Caledonian (Goliath) imperial pigeon, southern strikebill and horned parakeet.

Day 9 - 11:
Leisurely days at sea with a daylight pelagic watch for both birds and cetaceans.

Day 12:
Arrive at Rennell Island and ashore look for the Rennell starling, Rennell shrikebill, bare-eyed white-eye, Rennell fantail and Rennell white-eye. Other species include the Imperial pigeon, silver-capped fruit dove, singing parrots, Melanesian flycatcher, cardinal myzomela, Finches pygmy parrot and island thrush.

Day 13:
At Makira Island we will seek the endemic sooty myzomela, San Cristobal melidectes, white-collared monarch, mottled flowerpeckers, White headed fruit dove and rufous fantail. Other species could include rainbow lorikeets, red-knobbed and Imperial pigeon, San Cristobal singing and metallic starling, Brahminy kite, pied goshawk, Pacifc baza, cardinal myzomela.  We enjoy the hospitality of the people in nearby Anuta Village before departing for Honiara.

Day 14:
Our early morning excursion to nearby Mount Austin will give us a opportunities for yellow-eyed, white-bellied and Solomons cuckoo strike, cicadabird, brown-winged and singing starling, yellow-faced myna, chestnut bellied and black and white monarch, steely blue fly catcher, mottled flowerpiercer, olive-backed sunbird and the black faced myzomela.

Day 15:
A day at sea through the Solomon Islands, species that could be observed include Heinroth’s shearwater, wedge-tailed shearwater, sooty terns, black and brown noddies, great and lesser frigatebirds.

Day 16:
A day at Kolombangara where we hope to see white-capped monarch, Solomon white-eye, yellow-vented myzomela and hopefully the Roviana rail. Other species could include Blyth’s hornbill, superb fruit dove, red-knobbed imperial pigeon, steely blue fly catcher, Melanesian and yellow-eyed cuckoo strike, metallic and singing starling and the Solomon sea eagle.

Day 17:
We will spend as much time as possible over a deep water canyon on the southwest side of Bougainville – from experience it is a very productive area. We hope to see Heinroth’s shearwater and Beck’s petrel in this area.

Day 18:
We spend the day off the coast of New Ireland, our target today is Beck’s petrel. 

Day 19- 21:
At sea and during this time we will cross the equator. Our daylight pelagic watch for birds and mammals will continue. Species to watch for include Bulwer’s petrels, wedge-tailed shearwaters and white tailed tropic bird, white and sooty terns and frigate birds.

Day 22:  
Arrive at Chuuk (‘Truk’), Caroline Islands mid morning, after clearing Customs the remainder of the day is yours to enjoy the island, the islanders and their hospitality.  You can enjoy some birding this evening, it is also a great place for snorkelling and diving.

Day 23:
We will start early this morning to visit areas of Weno Island. Species include myzomelas, reed warbler, swiftlet and ground dove. We depart Chuuk late morning for the Bonin Islands.  

Day 24 - 28:
We have over 1200 nautical miles to run to the Bonin Islands. The time will be spent “pelagic watching” and/or simply relaxing and enjoying the tropics. Birds that we could see include Matsudaira’s storm petrels, Bonin and Bulwers petrels, wedge-tailed and Bannerman’s shearwaters. 

Day 29:
We call briefly at Bonin Islands to complete arrival formalities for Japan. A walk in the vicinity of the harbour introduces us to Japan and its birdlife.

Day 30:
Arrive at Torishima Island, landings are not allowed so we plan to cruise close inshore for one of the seabird highlights of the trip, the short-tailed  or Steller’s albatross. 

Day 31:
We continue cruising north towards Japan. If weather and sea conditions permit we will zodiac cruise around the rocky stacks of Ko Jima Island for Japanese murrelets.

Day 32:
Today we visit Miyake–Jima where forest walks give chances to see a number of species including the endemic Izu thrush, Ijima’s leaf warbler, Japanese wood pigeon, Japanese robin and pygmy woodpecker.

Day 33:
Arrive at Yokohama with disembarkation.

Landings at the Islands are by permit only as administered by the relevant Governments.
Heritage Expeditions is committed to providing the highest quality natural history expeditions and specialise in remote regions and difficult to see species. As part of our expeditions we have for many years used the practice of chumming and/or oiling to give people the opportunity to see species that they are unlikely to see otherwise or appreciate aspects of seabird ecology such as impacts from interactions with fishing vessels. Heritage Expeditions believes that chumming has an important part to play in a successful seabird watching expedition but it is a tool which is used with moderation and always for a specific purpose.
Circumstances may be encountered during our voyage which will make it necessary or desirable to deviate from the proposed itinerary. These circumstances include poor weather and opportunities for making unplanned excursions. Your Expedition Leader will keep you fully informed during the voyage.