Sydney Pelagic Trip Report - Saturday 9 July 2011
The preceding week saw a big southerly swell and gale-force south-westerly to
westerly winds bringing cold condition to NSW. These winds were not expected to
bring seabirds to the NSW coast but they helped to dampen the swell. During the
day the swell was a manageable 1-2 m S, the seas were 1-3 m W and there was a
strong southward current. The sea state was 4-5 all day. Sea temperatures over
the shelf-break were 18-19 degrees C. Skies were clear. The day was a little
rough, windy and cool, with quite a bit of spray. The boat was full.
Some of us feared the westerly winds may have pushed seabirds away from the NSW
coast, but it was not the case. The first Australasian Gannets, Black-browed
Albatrosses and Fluttering Shearwater of the day were encountered just outside
Sydney Heads. We stopped off the Heads for some Black-broweds feeding on a
cuttlefish and began berleying. Numbers of albatross quickly grew behind the
boat and we began dragging them out to the shelf with us. We stopped a few
kilometres offshore for Humpback Whales and then continued to the shelf break,
berleying the whole way. Roughly 100 albatrosses followed us from inshore to
the shelf-break, and firstly prions then Pterodromas started gathering. We
stopped about 40 km out and south of Brown’s Mountain, at the bottom of the
shelf break. Here we set a berley slick that set the prions in a frenzy. As the
prions came closer a Slender-billed Prion was discovered and eventually gave
repeated close views. Photos revealed
there were actually two Slender-billeds. A tiny Grey-backed Storm-petrel
appeared out the back of the prions and was eventually lured in close by the
slick. On the way back we stopped inshore again for some breaching Humpbacks.
BIRDS
Wandering Albatross (gibsoni) 3 (1)
Black-browed Albatross (melanophris) 100 (50)
Black-browed Albatross (impavida) 3 (1)
Buller’s Albatross 6 (3)
Shy Albatross (cauta) 10 (5)
Yellow-nosed Albatross (bassi) 20 (10)
Southern Giant Petrel 1
Northern Giant Petrel 1
Fairy Prion 60 (40)
Slender-billed Prion 2
Great-winged Petrel (macroptera) 10 (5)
Great-winged Petrel (goulidi) 1
Providence Petrel 8 (4)
Short-tailed Shearwater 1
Wedge-tailed Shearwater 1
Fluttering Shearwater 50 (10)
Grey-backed Storm-Petrel 1
Australasian Gannet 50 (10)
Brown Skua 3 (2)
Silver Gull 40 (3)
Crested Tern 10 (5)
MAMMALS
Humpback Whale 10 (6)
Photos of the days birds have been posted at:
Raja Stephenson:
http://www.adarman.com/Pelagics/2011-July-09-Sydney-Pelagic/17956676_W84tLC#1375196828_w3xFQWw
Murray Lord: http://www.pbase.com/mklord/ausbirds&page=1
The next Sydney pelagic trip will be on Saturday 13 August 2011 departing
Mosman Ferry Wharf at 6.45am and Rose Bay Ferry Wharf at 7.00am.
To book call Hal at 0411 311 236 or visit http://www.halicat.com.au/
Happy seabirding
David James,
Sydney
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