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Hi Birding-aussers, here is the report for the
November 15th pelagic from Southport, Queensland.
Vessel: 53ft monohull 'Flying Fish
II.
Crew: 2
Pax: 16 (including 9 from the
UK).
Weather conditions:
A High to the east of NSW produced E-NE winds onto
the south Queensland coast, to 10 knots early increasing to 15 knots later.
Little cloud with visibility excellent, max. temperature 27C, Barometric
pressure 1020 hPa.
Sea conditions:
Light seas early, on up to 1.5 metre swell with
seas increasing to 1 metre later on. Sea surface temperature not taken ( forgot
to bring the little glass/spirit thingy along).
Left the Seaway at approx. 0720 hrs and made good
time over the Shelf as very little to see apart from a few Wedge-tailed,
Flesh-footed and Short-tailed Shearwaters. On crossing the Shelf Break at 0930
hrs things started to hot-up with the first 'cookilaria' a Black-winged Petrel
crossing astern. Just moments later a Mottled Petrel passed close in front of
the bows, with the first Gould's Petrel circling the vessel about 20 minutes
later.
We reached the 'drift point' at 1020 hrs approx. 55
kilometres ESE of Southport & proceeded to 'chum' with a variety of
species arriving immediately, mostly Flesh-footed Shearwaters but interspersed
with Tahiti Petrels, Black-bellied & Wilson's Stormies and Wedge-tailed
Shearwaters. I'd just mentioned to Chris Barnes, that with all these
Flesh-footed Shearwaters present and being November, conditions looked ideal for
a certain species to turn up and it did. A larger, heavier, darker bird in
the form of a Black Petrel. This bird stayed around for the remainder of
the drift and excellent photos were obtained, both in flight and on the
water.
We continued to drift for another couple of hours
with more Gould's Petrels, Tahiti Petrels & Black-bellied Storm Petrels
turning up before heading for home at 1245 hrs. Arrived back at the Seaway at
1530 hrs with small parties of Short- tailed Shearwaters heading south the only
sightings of note on the journey back in.
Not great numbers present but an interesting 'mix'
and all up a very pleasant day out in the 'Blue Paddock' and no-one
disappointed. The Poms in particular were happy - that should be somewhat dulled
tonight, hopefully - go you WALLABIES!! The full list below;
Tahiti Petrel - 10
Mottled Petrel - 1
Black-winged Petrel - 1
Gould's Petrel - 4
Black Petrel - 1
Wedge-tailed Shearwater - 61
Flesh-footed Shearwater - 70
Short-tailed Shearwater - 67
Wilson's Storm Petrel - 6
Black-bellied Storm Petrel - 3
Crested Tern - 5
Sooty Tern - 6
Our last trip of the year is on December 20th with
several spaces still avilable for those interested. Cheers - Paul
W.
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