10 March 2018 Report
OVERVIEW
The morning began with some cloud cover delivering patchy rain which
gradually cleared as the day progressed. Sea water temperatures were
still high at 24degC. We motored out to Brown's Mountain (approx. 22.5NM
ESE off the Heads) arriving there around mid-morning. Good numbers of
Shearwater, with the odd Jaeger, trailed the boat while underway with a
mix of Petrel and Albatross adding to the excitement. A terrific day on
the water.
TRIP SUMMARY
With a full list of passengers on board the boat motored through the
Heads into a gentle ocean swell around 7:40am. We started the berley
trail soon after. A few disinterested Silver Gull and Crested Tern were
seen flying some distance from the boat. Soon after we came upon the odd
Wedge-tailed Shearwater tracking in a southerly direction. As we passed
a fishing boat a trail of hungry Shearwater began forming behind our
boat. They were to remain a constant throughout the day.
The first of the Pomarine Jaegers were now starting to show some
interest as well slowly working their way into the wake well behind the
boat. We added Hutton's Shearwater along with Short-tailed Shearwater on
the journey out. As we journeyed to Brown's Flesh-footed Shearwater were
beginning to join the feeding birds along with more Short-tailed
Shearwater. A few on board were fortunate to see Flying fish skimming
above the surface as we motored along. They were to make an appearance
periodically during the trip. Oceanic Bottlenose Dolphin came in briefly
to ride the bow wave but soon left given the speed we were traveling.
Risso's Dolphin were also seen with one specimen showing a distinctively
notched dorsal fin.
Just on Brown's Steve spotted a distant WHITE-NECKED PETREL which was
heading toward the boat. Fortunately it continued close enough on its
fly-by for all on board to get a good view and a chance to photograph
the bird before it arced up revealing its underside. It didn't hang
around as it circled further behind the boat before disappearing. A
Sooty Shearwater was seen by two on board but couldn't be located again.
Fifteen minutes later we were over Brown's with the first slick working
its magic. It seemed every fishing boat present had a number of
Shearwater buzzing around each of them. A banded (right, metal band)
Black Petrel joined the throng of hungry Shearwater on the water well
behind our boat. The bird eventually came to the boat looking for choice
bits of berley. A GOULD'S PETREL soon appeared giving exceptional views
with repeated close fly-bys as it circled the boat. This was to be the
first of seven seen during the trip. A Shy Albatross found the boat soon
after. The first of three for the day. A Wilson's Storm Petrel put in a
brief appearance too. By now the expected Gray-faced Petrel were
wheeling around as well as landing close to the back of the boat.
We continued a slow motor further out taking our flock of hungry birds
with us. A lone Wilson's Storm Petrel skipped past. We stopped once
again where we added to the count rather than diversity. That soon
changed when a Wandering Albatross came in low from the side of the boat
for a look and decided to stay with us for the entire return journey. A
lovely sight.
Australasian Gannet was added to the list. All immature birds. Nearing
the Heads the boat almost ran over a large cetacean which turned out to
be a False Killer Whale. The boat entered the Heads after 3:30pm.
BIRD LIST
(Note that the numbers in parentheses represent the approximate maximum
number of that species in view at one time)
Shy Albatross 3 (2)
Wandering Albatross (Gibson's) 1 (1)
Grey-faced Petrel 20 (15)
WHITE-NECKED PETREL 1 (1)
GOULD'S PETREL 7 (2)
Black Petrel 1 (1)
Flesh-footed Shearwater 40 (20)
Wedge-tailed Shearwater 200 (150)
Hutton's Shearwater 4 (2)
Short-tailed Shearwater 8 (2)
Sooty Shearwater 1 (1)
Wilson's Storm Petrel 2 (1)
Australasian Gannet 4 (3)
Pomarine Jeager 8 (4)
Silver Gull 50 (40)
Greater Crested Tern 3 (2)
OTHER
Oceanic Bottlenose Dolphin 10
False Killer Whale 1
Risso's Dolphin 12
Flyingfish 30
The next Sydney pelagic trip is scheduled for Saturday 14th April 2018
departing from Mosman at 6.45am and Rose Bay at 7.00am.
All information on our trips including dates and contact details can be
found on the website at sydneypelagics.info
Book at
You can also find us on Facebook and post photos at
https://www.facebook.com/sydneypelagics
Cheers,
Greg McLachlan
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