With a forecast of 20-30kn NE winds, 12 hardy seabirders travelled out on
the 'Pauletta' from Eaglehawk Neck at 0630 on Monday 27 January. Seas were
3 to 5m, choppy and generally unpleasant. Conditions were patchy, with
overcast skies and occasional sunshine.
We travelled past the Hippolytes to off the shelf, then travelled north
along the shelf before returning in the afternoon.
Birds observed:
>Gould's petrel at least 5
>Wilson's storm petrel 2
>Shy albatross at least 40
>Buller's albatross 3
>Great-winged petrel 8 or 9
>Arctic Jaeger at least 5
>White-chinned petrel at least 3
>Short-tailed shearwater several 100s
>Fluttering shearwater at least 5
>Mottled petrel 3
>White-faced storm-petrel 200 to 300
>Grey-backed storm-petrel 50 - 60
>Common diving-petrel 15
>Black-bellied storm-petrel (White-bellied form) 4 or 5
>Australasian gannet 70 - 80
>Little penguin 2
>Black-faced cormorant 250 - 300
>Fairy prion 4 or 5
>White-headed petrel 1
>Crested tern 150
>White-fronted tern 1
>Kelp Gull 5
>Pacific Gull 2
>
>Australian Fur Seals on the Hippolytes
>
Next trip is planned for early Feb, then in early March. Our thanks to John
and Adam for a memorable trip!
Denis Abbott & Bill Wakefield, recorders on behalf of all on board.
|