This year, the eight-day Broome-Ashmore Reef-Lacepedes-Broome expedition ran
from 23 to 30 October. Logistics and permits were organised by George &
Lindsey Swann of Kimberley Birdwatching. Personnel were Richard Baxter, John
Brooke, Greig & Annemarie Foletta, Alan Ford, Laurie Knight, Gil Langfield,
David Mules, Frank O’Connor, Tony Palliser, Enid Pascoe, Stuart Pell, Tony
Russell, George Swann and Mike Carter (leader).
Our route up took us NW from Broome but on reaching the shelf break veered
NNE to cruise along the continental slope around the 500 m bathymetric.
Later we passed over deeper water west of Scott Reef. We continued
travelling throughout the first two nights and entered the lagoon at Ashmore
Reef at 11.30 on the 25, our third day. Our berth for the next three nights
was at the inner mooring just off West Island. We went ashore there six
times, each afternoon and early morning of our stay. Once again, each visit
produced another exciting find. At the invitation of, and escorted by, the
DEH wardens on the Customs Vessel stationed at Ashmore, for the first time
on these trips, we went ashore on both Middle and East Islands. Thus we
walked the perimeter of these islands for about 1.3 hours enjoying close
communion with the thousands of breeding seabirds. However, these visits did
not coincide with full high tide so we encountered fewer roosting waders
than on previous visits. We cleared our mooring at Ashmore at 09.20 on the
28 and headed SSW until dark. Thereafter we headed south to the Lacepedes
where we anchored offshore of West Island at 19.10 on 29. Next morning we
spent 3 hours ashore among the abundant terns, shorebirds and breeding
seabirds. We disembarked at Broome at 17.30 that day.
Thus the equivalent of five full days were spent at sea aboard the 21 m,
air-conditioned charter vessel ‘Flying Fish V’. Sea conditions were good to
excellent with mainly flat seas on a low swell but it was a little choppy in
the afternoons of the first and last days due to the land induced sea
breeze. Contrary to last year, cloudless skies, a relentless sun, low wind,
high heat and humidity produced uncomfortable conditions when ashore.
At least 75 species of bird were recorded, including 34 seabirds, several
rarities and others of great significance.
Landbird highlights on West Island (UNO), Ashmore, included the following.
All were photographed.
[Wallacean Cuckoo-shrike] 2 each day. Investigations to prove the true
identity of these birds are proceeding. If proved, this will be a new bird
for Australia.
Middendorff’s Grasshopper Warbler, 1 on 27 & 28.
Asian Brown Flycatcher, 1 each day.
(This is only the second report of both the above species in
Australia and both were at this site last year!)
Oriental Reed Warbler, 1 on 26 on Middle Island & 1 on 28 on West Island.
Oriental Cuckoo, 5-8 daily.
Little Bronze-Cuckoo, 1-2 most days.
Gould’s Bronze-Cuckoo, 1, a controversial claim still under review as this
‘species’ or form is not considered to occur in WA.
Collared Kingfisher, 1 from 26 to 28. Currently thought of the nominate race
and therefore of Indonesian origin but investigations are continuing.
Dollarbird, 1 on 28.
Yellow Wagtail, daily, maximum of 8.
Tree Martin, 1 accompanied our boat for a while on the 24, ~280 km NW of
Cape Leveque!
Notable absentees were Arctic Warbler and Barn Swallow.
The usual local tropical Seabirds, Masked, Red-footed & Brown (15,000)
Boobies, Great & Lesser (5,000) Frigatebirds, Common (30,000) & Black
Noddies, Bridled (4,300), Sooty (20,100), Crested, Lesser Crested, Roseate
(20,000) and Little Terns were present on one or both reefs. All, other than
those in italics, were breeding. Although Red-tailed & White-tailed
Tropicbirds were seen on West Island, Ashmore, there were fewer than on
previous trips and White-tailed was not found breeding. We were concerned
that this was the result of disturbance or even predation by illegal
immigrants or fisherman that landed on the island earlier this year when
surveillance at Ashmore was temporarily suspended. Broken trees and the
remains of fires were evidence of damage on West Island.
Migrant Seabirds of note included:
8 Tahiti Petrels, 63 Bulwer’s Petrels, 1 Jouanin’s Petrel, 11 Streaked
Shearwaters, 19 Wilson’s Storm-Petrels, 60 Matsudaira’s Storm-Petrels, 12
Swinhoe’s Storm-Petrels (more on previous reports of these to come!), 2
Arctic & 3 Long-tailed Jaegers.
Cetaceans were unusually obvious, abundant and photogenic. Three species of
Whale, Short-finned Pilot, Melon-headed & False Killer were seen well and
five species of Dolphin, Rough-toothed, Bottle-nosed, Pan-Tropical Spotted,
Long-snouted Spinner (old taxonomy) & Fraser’s.
Reptiles included Green, Hawksbill & Flatback Turtles and several
sea-snakes.
A fuller report produced from my manual records will be available from
George Swann of Kimberley Birdwatching or myself. Hopefully these, and a
detailed report produced by Frank O’Connor from the computer log, and a
selection of photographs will be available at some future date on the web at
www.kimberleybirdwatching.com.au. Some photographs have already been placed
on ABID and a selection of Tony Palliser’s pictures is available at
http://users.bigpond.net.au/palliser/pelagic/Ashmore/index.htm
The 2007 cruise is again scheduled from 23-30 October (to be confirmed). As
this years cruise was fully subscribed, persons should register their
interest ASAP with Kimberley Birdwatching or myself.
Mike Carter
30 Canadian Bay Road
Mt Eliza VIC 3930
Ph: (03) 9787 7136
Email:
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