Hi All, below is the full report for Saturday's rather exciting
Southport Pelagic.
Location: Southport, Queensland
Date: 18/6/2011
Vessel: 37 ft Steber monohull, MV Grinner.
Crew: Craig Newton
Pax: Paul Walbridge (leader & organizer),Rob Morris, Brian Russell,
Rebecca Ryan, Peter Ryan, Jon Norling, Glen Pacey, Ged Tranter, Jenny
Matheson, Nick Matheson, Brian Coates, Chris Wiley, Richard Fuller,
Steve Willis.
Weather conditions: A low pressure system off the NSW coast combined
with a ridge over central Australia maintained fresh SW to S winds onto
the south Queensland coast. Light SW wind on leaving the Seaway
freshening to 18-20 knots from the south around midday, decreasing to a
light breeze on approaching the coast late afternoon. Clear blue skies
all day with excellent visibility. Maximum air temp. 19* C, barometric
pressure 1016 hPa.
Sea conditions: Moderate seas on a low swell on leaving the Seaway,
gradually rising across the Shelf until the wind shifting around to the
south brought seas to 1.7 metres on swell sets to 2.5 metres. Sea
surface temps. 19.6* C at the Seaway, 21.8* C at the Shelf-break and
rising to a max. of 23.1* C at the widest drift point.
Summary:
Left the Southport Seaway at 0705 hrs reaching the Shelf-break at 0915
hrs and arriving at the drift point at Jim*s Mountain approx. 32 nm
ENE at 1005 hrs. Drifted slowly to the SE until 1325 hrs then headed for
home, reaching the Southport Seaway at 1615 hrs. Total duration of trip,
9 hrs 10 mins.
Not much activity on leaving the Seaway, with no returning trawlers and
just a few recreational fishermen meant just a few foraging Australasian
Gannets and just the odd Crested Tern about, so it was full steam to
Jim*s Mountain 32 nm ENE of Southport. Little of note heading across
the Shelf with just a few more Gannets, the first Wilson*s
Storm-Petrel of the day and surprisingly 3 Little Pied Cormorants
heading SE about 12 nm offshore. The berley bag was lowered and by the
time we had reached the Shelf-break more Wilson*s Storm *Petrels
started to appear in the wake along with Providence Petrels and one or
two foraging Common Noddies were also sighted.
On reaching the drift point at Jim*s Mountain the first bird of note
to appear was a lone Antarctic Prion which hung around in the slick and
made several close passes over the next half an hour or so, not a
species we see every year. By now the numbers of Providence Petrel had
really grown with more Wilson*s Storm-Petrels also appearing in the
slick when what was initially thought to be the first *Fregetta*
storm-petrel of the day came into the stern of the vessel from the NE.
Adding to the confusion a Black-bellied Storm-Petrel appeared right
behind it just seconds later. Rob Morris had the foresight to shoot a
few rushed frames off of the first bird and on quickly checking out his
rear screen LCD called me over. This was no *Fregetta* and the image
showed lines of heavy streaking on the underparts * Southport*s and
Queensland*s probable first New Zealand Storm- Petrel.
Fortunately the bird stayed around the vessel for the next 1 hr 45
minutes, making several close passes around the rear of the vessel, so
lot*s of passable, if not brilliant photos were obtained. What struck
everyone onboard was the *jizz* of the bird and the flight being
quite different from the ever present Wilson*s and Black-bellied Storm
Petrels, the punters on board eventually being able to pick the bird up
with the naked eye when approaching the vessel. More and more Providence
Petrels were appearing along with Wilson*s and Black-bellied
Storm-Petrels along with the first of three Great-winged Petrels, an
unusual sighting for winter up here. Even more unusual was the fact that
one of them was a 'macroptera*, as far as I*m aware a Queensland
first.
Although more birds were turning up by the minute, no new species had
been noted and at 1325 hrs it was time to head for home. We lowered
another berley bag over the stern and the Providence Petrels and
Wilson*s Storm- Petrels followed us back way onto the Shelf, into
at least the 50 fathom mark, probably closer. On approaching the Seaway,
more Australasian Gannets were noted, mainly birds resting on the
water.
Species
Wilson*s Storm-Petrel * 27 (5)
New Zealand Storm-Petrel * 1
Black-bellied Storm-Petrel * 9 (3)
Antarctic Prion * 1
Great-winged Petrel * 3 ( 2 gouldi, 1 macroptera)
Providence Petrel * 222 (50)
Australasian Gannet * 28 (15)
Little Pied Cormorant * 3
Silver Gull * 1
Common Noddy * 3 (1)
Crested Tern * 6 (2)
The next scheduled trip is 16th of July, however I have spoken to the
skipper and he's happy to run another trip next Saturday the 25th if I
can get a minimum of 12 pax. just on the off chance we could fluke the
NZ Stormy again.
Contact Paul Walbridge on (PH) (W) 07 3139 4584 (H) 07 3256 4124
E-mail:
Cheers - Paul W.
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