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Hi Birding-aussers, here is the Trip report for
saturday February 15th from Southport Qld.
Vessel: Flying Fish II. Pax: nearly full complement
of 19, 4 new (only 2 seasick).
Weather: A high over the Tasman brought SE winds
15-20 knots early, changing to easterly by mid-morning with the wind dying down
on reaching the drift point. Visibility good. Maximum temp. 29C.
Sea: Seas to 1.5 metres on up to 2 metre swell
early, easing off on reaching widest drift point, making for quite stable
viewing conditions. Sea surface temperature, 26C inshore to 27.5C out wide in
the current.
A so so sort of day, as February can be. A few
small fishing parties of shearwaters on the way out across the Shelf, the most
interesting one with a couple of Black Noddies showing good views. As usual the
first Tahiti Petrel put in an appearence just after entering Slope waters, mid
morning.
At the widest drift point approx. 55 kilometres out
pretty quiet but as usual the Tahiti Petrels put on quite a show with plenty of
photo opportunities. In fact I've already seen one excellent shot from Chris
Barnes which will be sent to the SOSSA website, others will be sent to Tom
Tarrant's site. The best bird out wide was a Long-tailed Jaeger sitting with
Wedge-tailed Shearwaters on the water. As I've said, quiet but several people
onboard had new bird(s).
Trip List:
Tahiti Petrel - 7
Wedge-tailed Shearwater - 255
Flesh-footed Shearwater - 2
Hutton's Shearwater - 13
Fluttering/Hutton's Shearwater - 1
Pied Cormorant - 12
Little Black Cormorant - 3
Pomarine Jaeger - 4
Long-tailed Jaeger - 1
Silver Gull - 67
Crested Tern - 12
Common Tern - 58
Sooty Tern - 5
Black Noddy - 2
Next trip 15th March, remember last March (2002)
was the day of the Pterodroma (6 species + Tahiti), so here's hoping! There are
still 4 vacancies for this trip, on the big, spacious Skybird III, (Big Bird).
Cheers - Paul.
Contact: Paul Walbridge; Ph (H) 61 7 3391 8839 (W)
61 7 3350 8258.
E-mail:
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