I had the good fortune this week to spend 3 days working on one of Esso's
Bass Strait platforms off the coast of Victoria. Kingfish B platform is at
38 35 48 S, 148 10 49 E, about 78 km from the coast of 90-mile Beach and is
in 78 m of water. Birds seen were:
Wandering Albatross: Up to 3 at one time, HANZAB Stage 1, 2, 4 and 5
plumage. Most were following a trawler which had come from deeper waters
to the south.
Shy Albatross: Again up to 3 at one time but about 8 following the trawler.
Yellow-nosed Albatross: only 1 seen
Southern Giant-Petrel: Singles seen on occasions, and 2 followed the
trawler. A little later a white morph appeared and hung around the
platform for most of the day. Even though I had very good views of these
birds, I was unable to pick red or green tips to the bills.
Southern Fulmar: 1 only, which was exactly as pictured in the books except
for a small black smudge on the top of the tail.
Cape Petrel: I had only seen one of these in my other trips offshore but
this time there were up to 55 wheeling and squabbling around the platform.
Prion Species: lots of these at times but always too far away to see well.
Shearwater Species: a flock far away which could have been Huttons,
Fluttering or Little.
Australasian Gannet: singles generally plus one flock of 4
Silver Gull: Flocks of up to 25 birds.
Crested Tern: Singles seen regularly.
Great Skua: 1 around the platform for a half day.
Regards,
Gil Langfield
Melbourne, Australia
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