9th MAY 1998 SYDNEY PELAGIC TRIP REPORT
Departed at 7.15 am and returned at 3.00 pm.
1.5M swell decreasing to 0.5 M later, Winds predominantly SSW
Reached 21 Nautical Miles E of Sydney Heads
Water temperature NA
Those on Board,
Steve Anyon-Smith, Brian Donohoe, Guy Dutson, Rob Gibbons, Dion Hobcroft,
Nick Hodges, Alan McBride, Michael Maitland, Craig Markin, Tony Palliser,
Andrew Patrick, Karen Pearson, Jill Scott, David Siems, Ingrid Van-Loon,
Wanda Wynne
A quiet time of year. Bird numbers were, as expected, much lower than other
times of the year, particularly now that the majority of shearwaters have
moved north. The strong southerly winds during the week brought the first
cold spell to the region and along with it the seasons first few albatross
and prion species. Heading South East once beyond the heads and then back
to Browns Mountain (An underwater Sea Mount) and chumming at the following
locations: 34.05'- 151.37', 34.00' - 151.48' before returning. Highlights
for the trip were without doubt an adult Buller's Albatross and one
Antarctic/Salvins type prion. The bill of the prion appearing quite broad
at close range potentially suggesting P. salvini, unfortunately the two
species are not reliably separable at sea. Also noteworthy was a vocal
Little Penguin which was briefly sighted on the shelf as was a tired
Welcome Swallow. A small party of passerines (possibly silvereyes) were
seen heading North about 5 miles from shore.
THE BIRDS
(Note: numbers in brackets = highest count at any one time)
Little Penguin 3 (1) (1 over the shelf)
Wandering Albatross(stage 4 plumage)(gibsoni) 2 (1)
Indian Ocean (Bassian) Yellow-nosed Albatross 12-15 Mostly ad
Black-browed Albatross (melanophris) 4-5 (2) ad
Black-browed Albatross (impavida) 1 ad
BULLER'S ALBATROSS (bulleri) 1 ad
Providence (Solander's) Petrel 15-20 (4)
Fairy Prion 5-6 (2)
SALVIN'S/ANTARCTIC Type PRION (1)
Fluttering Shearwater 15+ (9)
Sooty Shearwater 2 (1)
Short-tailed Shearwater 6-10 (2)
Fregetta Storm Petrel Sp 1
Wilson's Storm-Petrel 3-4 (1)
Australasian Gannet 20+ Ad & Juv
Silver Gull 20+ inshore
Crested Tern 5
SILVEREYE? small group observed approx 5NM from shore flying N!
WELCOME SWALLOW 1 (21 NM from shore) flying S!
Australasian Pelican 2 in the Harbour
Great Cormorant 1 in the Harbour
18 species of SEABIRDS +2 species of ordinary bird.
MAMMALS
Common Dolphin : One group (15+)
Sydney Pelagics depart on the 2nd Saturday of each month, Wollongong
Pelagics depart on the 4th Sunday of each month and Eden Pelagics the 5th
Sunday of each quarter. If you would like to join one of these trips please
contact either Tony Palliser or Pete Milburn to make a booking.
Tony Palliser Ph; 02-99001678 (w), 02-4277563 (h)
http://www.zip.com.au/~palliser
Pete Milburn Ph; 0416-249501 or Wk 02-62494326
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