SEABIRD SIGHTINGS ON A PELAGIC FISHING TRIP ON THE SANDRA "K" WOLLONGONG
TO THE SHELF.
Tuesday, 24th June 1997
Trip Summary:
Captain Carl Loves invited me to join a private game fishing charter to
the shelf break.
It was an oportunity to continue our albatross banding studies. Once on
the shelf, we
burlied for Tuna and birds. The fisherman had no objection to us
catching Albatrosses
and indeed were very interested in our studies.
A typical quiet June trip, with very pleasant calm conditions throughout
the
day.
Conditions:
Fine and cool.
Water temperature 17.9C once beyond the shelf.
Departed at 6.30 am and returned at 4.30 pm.
1.0 metre swell.
Winds very slight, southerly to 10 knots
Observers:Linday Smith and Capt.Carl Loves
BIRD LIST
(Note hc = Highest Count at any one time)
CAUGHT & BANDE
1 yellow-nosed Albatross
1 Black-browed Albatross Juvenile Possibly D.m. impavida
2 Great Skua's
(inculuding measurements)
SIGHTINGS
**BULLER'S ALBATROSS** (1) Adult
**SALVIN'S ALBATROSS** (1) Adult
Wandering Albatross (1) hc=1 Juvenile D.e. gibsoni
Black-browed Albatross (20-25) hc=13 mostly adult with approx 30%
Juvinile + Imm
Yellow-nosed Albatross (70-80) hc=76
Providence Petrel (15-20) hc=6
Short-tailed Shearwater (1)
Sooty Shearwater (2)
Australasian Gannet (4)
Great Skua (2)
Silver Gull (100+) Many followed to shelf
Kelp Gull (2) one first winter bird on shelf break
Crested Tern (6+)
White-fronted Tern (1)
Australasian Pelicans in harbour 2 at approx 2 mile off shore feeding
with Silver Gulls
and a Kelp Gull.
While on the shelf break we were indeed fortunate to have very good views
of both the
Salvin's Albatross (Adult), and the Buller's Albatross, also an adult.
Unfortunately we
were unable to entice either bird in close enough to capture them. Even
the Yellow-nosed
and black browed Albatrosses were very elusive, hence the very few
caught.
The sighting of the Salvin's Albatross is of particular interest as it
was an adult. All
my previous sightings or captures of this species off Wollongong have
been of Juveniles
or Immatures.
MAMMAL LIST
Common Dolphin small group of 4 at approx 5 mile off shore.
Blue Shark (1)
--
SOSSA
Southern Oceans Seabird Study Association Inc
P.O. Box 142, Unanderra NSW Australia 2526
Phone +61 042 716 004
Fax +61 042 724 626
Mobile 018 603 007
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