PORTLAND PELAGIC 18-5-97
This was the second seabird trip on the 'Michael J IV'
A "Good to Very Good trip" (M. Carter)
Highlights:
# ARCTIC TERN - single bird 10 nm off Cape Nelson
# BULLER'S ALBATROSS - single bird 22 nm SW Cape Nelson
# WHITE-CHINNED PETREL - single bird 22 nm SW Cape Nelson
# Cape Petrel - 3 early arrivals
# Grey-backed Storm-Petrel (1)
# White-fronted Tern - 15 early arrivals
# "Salvin's Albatross" (D. c. salvini) - 2 adults and one possible
juvenile
# KILLER WHALES - at least 6 individuals, in two (or even three) pods,
surfacing close to boat. One very large bull was impressive in terms of
fin size and overall length! A first (and lifelong wish) for many on
the boat - a truly memorable experience. We hope Rory O'Brien's video
was successful.
All birds gave good views and most presented many photo opportunities.
At one point, it was possible to capture 5 albatross species in one
frame!
Weather: Early drizzle and cloud, clearing to sunny conditions at sea,
but remaining overcast onshore. Temp about 16. Light breeze, increasing
towards the shelf 5 - 10 Knots, up to 12 Kn.
Slight swell, choppy in places.
Observers: Mike Carter, George Appleby, Peter Crabtree, Sean Dooley,
Murray Grant, Colin Judkins, Peter Lansley, Rory O'Brien, Ted Shimba,
Rod Simpson, Russell Woodford.
Notes: Maximum distance from shore 22 nm SW of Cape Nelson (28 nm from
Lawrence Rocks) - depth of 300 fath.
This is further SW than recent trips, and due to this and a little whale
observation on the way home, we did NOT stop at Lawrence Rocks - hence
the lack of Little Penguin, and the small number of Black-faced
Cormormant.
No trawlers were encountered.
SPECIES SEEN
First number = minimum number of individual birds counted
(Number in brackets) = greatest number seen at once
Wandering Albatross 2 (2)
Black-browed Albatross 80 (60)
incl 2 or more of race impavida
BULLER'S ALBATROSS 1
Yellow-nosed Albatross 25 (20)
Shy Albatross 80 (55)
...race salvini (Salvin's Albatross) 2 or 3 (1)
Southern Giant-Petrel 1
Cape Petrel 3 (2)
Great-winged Petrel 25 (20)
Fairy Prion 60 (50)
(1 possible Antarctic Prion)
WHITE-CHINNED PETREL 1
Sooty Shearwater 3 (2)
Fluttering Shearwater 3 (3)
Hutton's Shearwater 1
Wilson's Storm-Petrel 2 (2)
Grey-backed Storm Petrel 1
White-faced Storm Petrel 1
Australasian Gannet 5+ pelagic birds, and less activity
than normal
near
Lawrence Rocks
Black-faced Cormorant 3 leaving port
Silber Gull Several followed far out to sea
- 1 bird remained until
80 fathom mark
ARCTIC TERN 1
White-fonted Tern 15 (5)
Crested Tern c. 6
MAMMALS
Australian Fur Seal several
Australian Sea-lion (possible)
Killer Whale 6
TRIPS ARE NOW PLANNED FOR EVERY MONTH:
THE NEXT ON JUNE 8TH IS FULLY BOOKED
JULY 6TH HAS 1 OR 2 PLACES
AUGUST 3RD HAS A FEW PLACES
Call Mike Carter 0n (03) 9787 7136 if you want to book or go on the
waiting list for either the June or July trips, as there are sometimes
cancellations (lucky for me this time!).
Russell Woodford
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