Mauritius: Pelagic Day Trips

Mauritius: Pelagic Day Trips

Pelagic birdwatching in Mauritius provides the opportunity for birders to head out into the Indian Ocean and experience a wide variety of tropical seabirds.  The departure point depends on whether the pelagic departs from the north or west of the island.

Barau’s Petrel is typically seen on most of our Mauritius pelagic trips.

Off Mauritius, these excursions often reveal a range of regular seasonal species such as Brown and Lesser Noddies, Sooty Tern, Wedge-tailed and Tropical Shearwaters, Red-tailed and White-tailed Tropicbirds, Masked Booby, and Barau’s Petrel.

Dainty tropicbirds, such as this White-tailed Tropicbird, may be seen off Mauritius.

Rarer species that are possible include Wilson’s and White-faced Storm Petrels, Flesh-footed Shearwater, Pomarine and Parasitic Jaegers, Red-footed and Brown Boobies, Bridled, Blue-billed White, and Lesser Crested Terns, and Brown Skua. Both Greater and Lesser Frigatebirds have been seen in Mauritius, especially after cyclonic systems pass through. Bulweria and Pseudobulweria petrels have also been recorded off Mauritius. Jouanin’s Petrel, Bulwer’s Petrel, and Mascarene Petrel are possible but very unlikely.

To the north of the island, there is a population of Pterodroma petrels that breed on Round Island. This population is notable as one of the few known cases of three-way hybridization in seabirds, involving Herald, Trindade, and Kermadec Petrels. Unfortunately, this makes the birds unidentifiable for listing purposes, however, it is still fascinating to observe them at sea.

Trips are conducted by boat with experienced guides who help locate feeding flocks and identify species at sea. Early morning departures are common, though late afternoon trips can also be productive.

These trips may also provide a good opportunity to see cetacean species.