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SIGHTINGS REPORT WOLLONGONG

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Subject: SIGHTINGS REPORT WOLLONGONG
From: SOSSA-Smith&Jenkin-Smith <>
Date: Fri, 10 Oct 1997 00:14:34 -0700
Subject:
       Research Trip off Wollongong on the Sandra "K" Monday 06/10/97

The Boys from Camden were down to try their luck at Game Fishing, hoping to 
catch a
"FIN" Yellow fin Tuna.  We started  out into a southerly change rain showers 
and strong 
winds 15-20 roughing up the sea to 3 meteres.  Went south east and only out 
about 20 
N/miles on the shelf, conditions eased to 1.5 metres and s.e. winds to 10-15 
knots
Water temp 16.1 - 16.4C.  This was a combined gamefishing / Banding trip.

Bird List with estimated numbers with notes..

Silver Gull                     100+. This species is presently breeding on the 
Five
                                Island Nature Reserve (see Albatross newsletter)

Kelp Gull                       4 two adults and two juveniles inshore.

Wedge-tailed Shearwater         200+ mostly inshore 45 fathoms

Crested tern                    40+ feeding over a very large area/several came 
to the
                                boat.

Australian Gannet               5 mostly adults, 2 sub adults.

Short-tailed Shearwater         flocks of 10 to 50 going south for most of the 
day

Fluttering Shearwater           100+ foraging with wedge-tailed shearwaters 
inshore, 45
                                fathoms.

Black-browed Albatross          Several birds mostly juvenile Campbell Island
                                albatrosses D.e.impavida. Though at least 2 
juviniles
                                of D.melanophris. One juvinile impavida caught 
and
                                banded by Captain Carl Loves and 
L.E.Smith.(SOSSA).

Sooty Shearwater                 Several birds flying independently and in 
small groups
                                 3-5 birds, thought to be this species on 
underwing     
                                 heavier JIZZ and upturned wing tips when
gliding
                                 between wing beats as the birds moved South 
not 
                                 stopping to feed at the boat.

Shy Albatross                   10  mostly birds of the year with a few 
sub-adults.

Grey-headed Albatross           1 Sub-adult three year old? based on plumage, 
released
                                on shelf.  This bird thought to be from 
Campbell Is.
                                race. A bird of the year came within 3 metres 
of the    
                                boat to feed on chum. The bird appeared small, 
when     
                                comared to D.m.impavida. It showed typical 
plumage of a 
                                bird of the year underwing resembled D. m. 
impavida.    
                                Head and neck dark grey forming distinct hood 
with black 
                                bill and extensive white cheeks. 
                                
Great-winged Petrel             10 - one white faced adults? and fresh plumage? 
darker
                                faced birds showning little white on faces.

Wandering Albatross             15 - D.e gibsoni mainly, One  D.e exulans 
Juvenile.
                                Brown plumage not fresh, possibly a 2nd year 
bird.      
                                L.E.Smith.Captured and banded by Capt.Carl 
Loves,with
                                the assistance of Brian who came Game Fishing. 
Two      
                                others a Gibson's Albatross and a Wanderer of 
unknown
                                origin were also caught and  banded.

Southern Royal Albatross      **  a juvenile (bird of the year) attended the 
boat during
                                cubing it was very agressive chasing all but 
the        
                                biggest male wanderer away from the stern of 
the boat.

Cape Petrel                     3-5 In recent weeks both subspecies have been 
sighted,
                                only capense observed today.
                                
Solander's petrel               Interesting to note lack of birds only two 
possible
                                birds.

Southern Giant Petrel           2 birds circled the boat a couple of times & 
moved  off.
          
Northern Giant Petrel           3 birds attended boat whilst we were chumming 
for Tuna.
                                All  birds were Juviniles 1 possibly in it's 
2nd year
                                Brown rather than blackish plumage. Bill tip on 
this
                                bird reddish, and appearing browish in the 
other two
                                birds. 

Wilson's Storm petrel           Several birds foraged in oil slick (Tuna oil) 
with
                                White-faced Stormpetrels.
     
Great skua                      2 one observed attemting to take a Wegde-tailed
                                Shearwater out of the air after pursuing it for 
a couple
                                of hundred metres.

Arctic Jaeger                   A dark phased bird was observed whilst we were 
chumming,
                                It was in breeding plumage and although worn, 
still
                                retained extended central tail feathers and 
looked very
                                "smart"

Long-tailed Jaeger              3 somewhat mottley birds attended the boat 
briefly in
                                company of the above  Artic Jaeger.
Mammals

Hump-backed whale               One animal observed breifly beyond shelf break.

Comment: An interesting day with a very good bird list including some very 
interesting
rarities including Southern Royal and Grey-headed albatrosses. Water temp at 
16.1-16.4C 
is unusually cold for this time of year. Fishing was poor with only one hook up 
of a 
possible large Yellow-fin Tuna, which was lost after a 35 minute fight. Unlucky 
lads
better luck next time. The fishermen were very interested in our research into 
the
occurrence of seabirds off Wollongong. It made for an interesting day, but they 
would
have prefered to get amongst the FIN!.

Till next time!
-- 
SOSSA  "Wildlife Research"
Southern Oceans Seabird Study Association Inc

Lindsay E. Smith & Janice G. Jenkin-Smith
P.O. Box 142, Unanderra NSW Australia 2526

Phone +61 (02) 4271 6004
Fax   +61 (02) 4272 4626
Mobile 0418 603 007


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