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BA-VIC Victorian
Pelagics
OBSERVERS: Chris
Lester (organiser), George Appleby, Rob Berry, Peter Crabtree, Gail D’Alton,
Brian Johnson, Rosemary Lester, Frank Pierce, Don Saunders, Ray Schultz,
Christine Simons, David Stickney, & Mike Carter (leader).
WEATHER: An
anticyclone of 1021 hp was centred over the Bight off S.A., whilst a cold front
was approaching from the west. Thus initially we had light (5 Kt) SW winds
inshore. Wind speed increased rapidly as we travelled offshore. The wind veered
to the W and reached 20 Kts by the late afternoon. It was cold but fine, with
partially cloudy skies and a few distant showers, although generally bright with
sunny periods and excellent visibility.
SEA: Slight, (<
0.5 m waves) on a low (0.5 m) swell inshore at first but as we moved offshore it
became rougher, the sea quickly rising through choppy on a building roll until
in pelagic waters we had a moderate sea (1.5 m waves) on a 4.0 m swell. The
swell eased as we came in and had dropped to 1.5 m from LJPI into PF but the sea
remained moderate at 1.5 m. So the rather benign beginning became somewhat
uncomfortable. We were tossed around a bit as we drifted while berleying beyond
the shelf and more violently as we came in. We were drenched with spray but in
spite of these conditions, no one was sick.
ACTIVITY: Sailed
from Port Fairy (38º23’18”S 142º14’30”E) at 07.05. We went out on our
usual course of 203º at 12.7 Kts. Inshore we encountered a scattering of
albatrosses but little other bird activity. About 9 Nm out we had brief views of
a Sperm Whale. At 09.30, just inside the shelf break at the 80-fathom
mark, we encountered a huge concentration of feeding Short-tailed
Shearwaters, a few Fairy Prions and a scattering of other species. Four
hours later whilst coming in, at the same depth but over 6 Nm (11 km) further
west (38º43’S 141º50.1’E), we again crossed this band of feeding shearwaters and
prions. They were massed as far as the eye could see. Shearwater numbers may
have approached 1,000,000! Between 10.00 and 13.30 beyond the shelf-break,
we stopped at each of three locations (38º49.5’S 141º53.5’E @ 255 fathoms,
38º52.0’S 141º50.2’E @ 348 fathoms & 38º50.1’S 141º45.8’E @ 374 fathoms) to
berley for between 30 and 45 minutes. We came in at 13 Kts via Lady Julia Percy
Island (LJPI) where we cruised slowly off the W & N shores from 15.10 to
15.30. Docked at 16.35.
MAMMALS:
One SPERM WHALE at 07.50
at 38º30.64’S 142º09.7’E in 27 fathoms, shallow for these beasts. It issued a
low (2-3 m), bushy, angled blow twice in quick succession and the rounded snout
was raised briefly. No dorsal fin. We moved some 300 m to investigate and found
the large smooth patch of sea where it had surfaced. We stayed in the vicinity
for 15 minutes but saw no more sign of it. Common Dolphins: >150 in two pods. The first 100 were at
09.00 at 38º40.47’S 142º01.23’E and the remainder about 15 minutes later some 3
Nm to the SW. Australian Fur Seals: >3,000 at LJPI and 2 or 3 at sea
elsewhere.
BIRDS: 21 species
(23 taxa) of seabird observed beyond the river mouth indicated about average
diversity. Highlights are indicated. Unless noted otherwise, those listed below
were near or beyond the shelf break (i.e. pelagic). Notable absences included
Little Penguin, Flesh-footed & Fluttering Shearwater.
Common
Diving-Petrel: 1 offshore.
S. Giant Petrel:
1 inshore.
Giant Petrel
spp.: 1 inshore.
Cape Petrel: 2 (2)
(followed us in to LJPI).
Great-winged
Petrel: c. 60 (40) nominate race, (one possible gouldi). Although
all initially pelagic, some followed us in
to LJPI attracted by our slopping berley.
Fairy Prion: 130
(20). c.130 offshore & 4 pelagic.
Sooty Shearwater: 3
(1).
Short-tailed
Shearwater: > 100,000. Only 1 inshore & 3 pelagic.
HUTTON’S
SHEARWATER: 1 offshore.
Wandering Albatross
exulans: 5. 3 stage 4 (2 very vermiculated) & 2 juvs.
ROYAL
ALBATROSS SOUTHERN:
2 (1) adults, excellent close views.
ROYAL
ALBATROSS NORTHERN:
1 distant.
Black-browed
Albatross melanophrys: 60 (20). 12 inshore, 8 off & 40
pelagic (some followed us in to LJPI), 5 ads, 40 sub-ads, 15 juv.
Black-browed
Albatross impavida: 1 sub-ad.
Shy Albatross
cauta: 130 (40). 30 inshore, 30 off & 70 pelagic (some followed us
in to LJPI). 110 adults, 18 sub-adults, 2
juvs.
Yellow-nosed
Albatross: 17 (4). 3 inshore, 7 offshore, 7 pelagic; 4
ads, 10 sub-ads, 3 juvs.
Wilson’s
Storm-Petrel: 20 (10).
GREY-BACKED
STORM-PETREL: 10 (4).
White-faced
Storm-Petrel: 9 (6).
Australasian
Gannet: c.45 (30). 10 inshore & 35 offshore.
Black-faced
Cormorant: 1 juv. on LJPI.
Kelp Gull: 7 adults
on LJPI.
Silver Gull: 1 on
LJPI.
Crested Tern: 2
(1), inshore.
Mike Carter
30 Canadian Bay Road
Mt
Eliza VIC 3930
Ph: (03) 9787
7136
Email:
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