ASHMORE REEF PELAGIC TRIP REPORT
October 1996
This report details the results of a six day pelagic to Ashmore Reef NW
Australia from October 10th to October 15th 1996. I have detailed the
events of each day in summary format to consolidate the sightings. Precise
locations / Grid references and hourly counts are available for anyone that
needs them. Because some of the birds seen involve major rarities for
Australia, submissions to the RAOU rarities committee are necessary and we
therefore ask that this material not be used in any publication without
consultation at this point in time.
Those on board: Mike Carter, Barbara Harvey, Neil Macumber, Peter Milburn,
Frank O'Connor, Tony Palliser, John Reidy, Louise Teirney, Alex Watson and
Bill Watson,
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Day 1
Departed Broome aboard the 'Jodi Anne II' at 9.00am and headed in a North
Westerly Direction towards the Lacepede Islands en route to the deep waters
between Scott and Ashmore Reef. Conditions on the first day were fine and
hot with a sea breeze from the SW up to about 20 Knots, seas slight.
Highlights included our first major rarity "Leach's Storm Petrel" and
unbelievable views of Hump-backed Whale and distant views of Spinner
Dolphin. Of particular note was that the Wilson's Storm Petrels were
located in fairly shallow water, depths between 25 and 50M.
Wilson's Storm Petrel (10+)
Leach's Storm Petrel (1) *** location 17.10 / 121.48
Brown Booby (200+)
Eastern Reef Egret (2 birds on the Jetty as we were leaving)
Silver Gull (100+ close in shore)
Lesser Crested Tern (5)
Crested Tern (7)
Common Tern (140-150+)
Little Tern (5)
Bridled Tern (10+)
Whiskered Tern (3)
White-winged Black Tern (4)
Noddy Sp (1 bird close in shore)
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Day 2
After sailing all night we awoke well out to sea, the position at 0700hrs
being 15.15 / 121.35. We continued sailing all day towards Scott Reef
arriving at approximately 1500hrs. We were rather surprised to see so
many Indonesian fishing vessels in the area. Throughout the day conditions
were reasonably calm and pleasant. Very few birds could be seen on the
reef itself, however the surrounding seas had lots of surprises in store,
including our first sightings of Bulwer's Petrel, Matsudaira's Storm
Petrel and a possible Jouanin's Petrel. The night was spent safely
anchored in the sheltered waters of the reef.
Tahiti Petrel (4 - 5)
Pterodroma petrels, (2) all dark possibly heraldica
Bulwer's Petrel (3) and possibly 4 more birds ***
Jouanin's Petrel ( 1 bird thought to be this species ??? ) ***
Matsudaira's Storm Petrel (1) and possibly more ***
Brown Booby (10+)
Lesser Frigatebird (1 adult male)
Long-tailed Skua (2)
Lesser Crested Tern (5)
Crested Tern (7)
Roseate Tern (5)
Common Tern (140-150+)
Little Tern (5)
Bridled Tern (4)
Sooty Tern (10-20)
White-winged Black Tern (8)
Common Noddy (1) and possibly more birds
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Day 3
Awoke at the reef, time for breakfast and a quick swim before once again
heading out to sea. Today the seas were very calm with the wind
continuing to drop throughout the day. Sailing this time through very
deep waters towards Ashmore Reef, the highlights were many, with much
better views obtained of Matsudaira's Storm Petrel and Bulwer's Petrel,
in fact the commonest bird of the day was Bulwer's Petrel with an
amazing 50-70 birds counted. And yet another sighting of a bird thought
to be a Jouanin's Petrel. Also our first sightings of Red-tailed
Tropicbird.
Tahiti Petrel (8)
Bulwer's Petrel (50-70) ***
Jouanin's Petrel ( 2 birds, thought to be this species ??? ) ***
Matsudaira's Storm Petrel (8) and possibly more ***
Red-tailed Tropicbird (3)
Brown Booby (20+)
Long-tailed Jaeger (2) Heading South
Silver Gull (1)
Brown Noddy (100+)
Sooty Tern (5)
Roseate Tern (10)
Common Tern ( 4 possible? ) Distant views
Black-naped Tern ( 3 possible? ) Distant views
Sooty Tern (5)
Reef Egret (1)
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Day 4
Arrived in the vicinity of Ashmore Reef at first light. As our yacht
was regarded as a charter vessel permission to land on Scott Reef was
not granted, landing is permitted for the general public but not for
charter vessels. Charter vessels are required to pre pay a $2000.00
fee for a permit. (clearly a good subject for another mail note) Much
of the morning was spent in the vicinity of Ashmore Reef where we managed
to see a single adult Red-footed Booby before heading towards Cartier
Island a tiny atoll to the SE of Ashmore. Not much in the way of birds
though, but excellent for snorkeling. Worth noting though were sightings
of approximately 40 Rough-toothed Dolphin and 20+ Bottle-nosed Dolphin
and 2 Melon-headed Whale as well as mating pair of Flatback Tutles.
Tahiti Petrel (1)
Bulwer's Petrel (8) ***
Brown Booby (150+)
Red-footed Booby (1)
Lesser Frigatebird (7)
Lesser-crested Tern (10-20)
Crested Tern (250-300) + approx 400 birds counted on Cartier Island
Roseate Tern (1)
Bridled Tern (10+)
Sooty Tern (350+) + 15-20 birds on Cartier Island
Common Noddy (750+)
Black Noddy (5+)
Barn Swallow (2)
Other birds recorded on Cartier Island include: Turnstone (10), Greenshank
(2), and Sacred Kingfisher (1)
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Day 5
After sailing through the night we once again awoke to fine and very calm
almost glassy conditions. A great day for storm petrels, our position at
0600hrs being 14.00 / 122.58. Interestingly there was almost a total lack
of Bulwer's Petrels and yet a considerable increase in the number of
Matsudaira's Storm Petrel no doubt due to the decrease in depth for most of
the day we were travelling in depths between 100 and 300M. Other highlights
included sightings of our first Streaked Shearwater and Masked Booby,
further sightings of Leach's Storm Petrel and a sighting of a bird thought
to be a Swinhoe's Storm Petrel, 2 Bryde's Whales, several Spinner,
Bottle-nosed Dolphin's and numerous Rough-toothed Dolphin.
Tahiti Petrel (9)
Streaked Shearwater (3)
Hutton's Shearwater (1)
Bulwer's Petrel (2) ***
Wilson's Storm Petrel (2)
Leach's Storm Petrel (2) (4 sightings of 2-3 birds) ***
Swinhoe's Storm Petrel (1 bird thought to be this species) ***
Matsudaira's Storm Petrel (40-60) and possibly more ***
Masked Booby (1)
Brown Booby (100+)
Long-tailed Jaeger (1) again heading South
Lesser Frigatebird (4)
Common Tern (1)
Sooty Tern (40-50)
Common Noddy (20-25)
Whimbrel (10) Migrating low over the water towards the mainland
Fork-tailed Swift (5)
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Day 6
Awoke once again after sailing through the night, this time in shallow
waters (35M) close to the Lacepede Islands with our position at 0600hrs
16.33 / 121.53. The coastal waters produced vast numbers of terns and once
again Wilson's Storm Petrel and yet another 3 Hump-backed Whale. The wind
also increased once more to 20 knots again from the SW. Generally the birds
were somewhat less spectacular, although the large feeding flocks of terns
and Hutton's Shearwater were worthy of note. Our journey ending on schedule
in Broome at 1830 hrs.
Streaked Shearwater (1)
Hutton's Shearwater (70-80+)
Wilson's Storm Petrel (15-20)
Brown Booby (500+)
Lesser Frigatebird (4)
Crested Tern (20+)
Lesser Crested Tern (10-20)
Common Tern (50-100)
Roseate Tern (2000+)
Little Tern (25-30)
Sooty Tern (20-30)
Bridled Tern (10-20)
Common Noddy (200+)
Black-naped Tern (3) at the Baleine Bank
Bar-tailed Godwit (27) heading for Crab Creek
Special thanks go to all those who took part and to the captain and crew of
the 'Jodi Anne' who made this amazing trip so pleasurable. Highlights were
many, the food was just great, as was the weather and the company of
everyone on board. In closing it is worth pointing out that is clear that
much is still to be learn't about the seas in this part of Australia.
Anyone planning a similar trip should consider other possible additions to
the Austrailan list such as Mascarene Petrel and Maderian Storm Petrel.
Regards
Tony Palliser (Sydney, Australia)
Phone +61 2 9900 1678 or +61 2 94277563
Fax +61 2 9900 1669
Email or
http://www.zip.com.au/~palliser
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