Wollongong Pelagic Trip Report(Delayed) August 30 1997
Trip Summary:
The Wollongong Pelagic Trip scheduled for August 24, 1997 was cancelled due
to strong westerly winds so the rescheduled trip ran on August 30. Another
memorable pelagic excursion with conditions very unusual for late winter.
A north easterly air flow brought warm humid conditions and combined with a
2°C drop in sea tmeperature at the continental slope in only 7 days led to
a misty day typical of spring. The international birders were hoping to
see Little Penguin, any of the Wandering Albatross complex, White-headed
Petrel, Cape Petrel and Prions. They were not disapointed and the fun was
only just begining!! While the birds were seen in low numbers due to the
calm conditions (except for exceptional numbers of Little Penguin!) we
observed a very exciting range of species. For me, however, the highlight
was on the return trip with Southern Humpback Whales breaching and visible
on the surface in every direction around the boat. Every where one looked
there were whales!! We have observed Sperm Whales in these numbers on many
occasions but I have never seen Humpbacks like this. Bird Highlights were
a pale morph Kermadec Petrel, a juvenile Northern Giant Petrel within 3
metres of the boat and a second year Buller's Albatross which came close
enough to age accurately based on primary moult but continued on in the
general direction of New Zealand. The Northern Giant Petrel made a
nuisance of itself by trying to eat the Solander's Petrels and shearwaters
which were also coming to the slick. Eventually it was the only bird near
to the boat (even the albatross tired of its aggression) so we tried to
shake it off by moving to another place and making a new slick. This
didn't work however as it followed us!!
The Wandering Albatross were adult gibsoni, of the 'cauta' albatross most
were juvenile Shy (steadi) while one adult appeared to be White-capped
based on size and primary colouration.
Weather conditions:
Warm, sunny and humid, with visibility about 8 nautical miles. Max temp
about 22°C. (T-shirt & shorts day!!)
Water temperature 16.8°C inshore and 17.5°C once beyond the shelf.
Departed at 06:00 am and returned at 18:00 pm.
Calm at first reaching 10 to 15 knots NE in the afternoon.
Reached 24.2 Nautical Miles SE of Sydney Heads.
Sea conditions:
0.5m swell from the SE with calm sea rising to 1m later in the day.
BIRD LIST (Numbers in brackets = Highest Count at any one time).
Little Penguin 30+ (8)
Wandering Albatross (gibsoni) 5 (5) (See notes above)
Black-browed Albatross 7 (7) (2 second year, 5 first year)
Campbell Island Albatross (impavida) 1 (second year)
Indian Ocean Yellow-nosed Albatross (bassi) 7 (7) (2)
Buller's Albatross 1 (a second year)
Shy Albatross (steadi) 2 (2) (2 first year)
White-capped Albatross (cauta) 1 (1) (1 adult thought to be this sp)
Cauta/steadi albatross 1 (1 second year bird)
Solander's Petrel 30+ (12)
White-headed Petrel 1
Kermadec Petrel 1 (pale morph)
Fairy Prion 2 (1)
Cape Petrel 6+ (4)
Wedge-tailed Shearwater 200+ (65)
Fluttering Shearwater 200+ (55)
Hutton's Shearwater 7+ (3)
White-faced Storm Petrel 0
Australasian Gannet 26 (7)
Brown Skua (lonnbergi) 1
Silver Gull 160+ (65)
Kelp Gull 3 (2) (all adult)
Crested Tern 30+
White-fronted Tern 2 (1) (immatures)
Australian Pelican 12 mostly in harbour
MAMMAL LIST
Southern Humpback Whale 30+
Beaked Whale sp (probably Arnoux's) 1 the usual very brief view!
The next trips planned are from Sydney on Saturday 13th September 1997 and
from Wollongong on Sunday 28th September 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.
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