SYDNEY, NSW PELAGIC TRIP REPORT 14th June 1997
Trip Summary:
Another memorable pelagic with conditons fairly cold and windy. A plentiful
supply of cetaceans but a bit slow ornithologically. Highlights for many were
the close views of Sperm Whales. Two birds were seen that were thought to be
Kerguelen Petrel, unfortunately views were not the best even though one bird
flew almost directly over the boat. Its always difficult when the best views
are when a bird is flying away from you. The habit of flying continuously so
high up without coming down to the water was noted to be very different from
the more familiar Pterodroma and made this sighting so very frustrating.
Conditions:
Fine and cold
Water temperature 19.0C once beyond the shelf.
Departed at 7.15 am and returned at 4.30 pm.
South / South-West winds variable to 20 Knots
Reached 28.2 Nautical Miles E of Sydney Heads. 34.02S 151.47E
Those on Board:
Marleen Acton, Steve Annyon-Smith, Alex Appleman, Tony Clark, Penny
Drake-Brockman, Nick Hodges, Glen Ingram, Woody Kean, Alan McBride, Roger
McGovern, Bill McLean, Pete Milburn, Ted Nickson, Tony Palliser, John Rogers,
Cilla Rose, Tab Shimba, David Siems, Andrew Stafford, Bob Way and Jo Wieneke.
BIRD LIST
Numbers in brackets = Highest Count at any one time.
Black-browed Albatross 2(1) Adult
Yellow-nosed Albatross 75+(21)
Great-winged Petrel 4(2)
Providence Petrel 20-30(8)
Giant Petrel Sp 1 (Probably Southern?)
Fairy Prion 1
Short-tailed Shearwater 1
Fluttering Shearwater 6(2)
Hutton's Shearwater 1
Wilson's Storm Petrel 3(2)
Fregetta Storm Petrel Sp (1) (Probably Black-bellied?)
Australasian Gannet 8(4)
Great Skua 1
Silver Gull 30+ Most In the harbour
Crested Tern 40+
Little-pied Cormorant 2 In the harbour
Great Cormorant 1 In the harbour
MAMMAL LIST
Sperm Whale 5
Hump-backed Whale 3
Common Bottle-nosed Dolphin 10+
Long-finned Pilot Whale 15+
The next trips planned are from Wollongong on Sunday 22nd June 1997
and from Sydney on Saturday 12th July 1997. Places are still available.
To make a booking or find out more contact or
or take a look at the web site.
Trips are always on the 2nd Saturday of each month from Sydney and
always the 4th Sunday of each month from Wollongong.
Regards
Tony Palliser (.....Sydney, Australia)
Phone.....+61 2 9900 1678 or Home +61 2 9427 7563
Fax.......+61 2 9900 1669
http......www.zip.com.au/~palliser
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