11th JULY 1998 SYDNEY, NSW PELAGIC TRIP REPORT
Departed at 7.10 am and returned at 3.00 pm.
3.0M swell decreasing later, Winds predominantly SE to SW
afternoon. Reaching 24 Nautical Miles E of Sydney Heads.
Water temperature 16.8 Degrees C over the shelf.
Those on Board,
TBA
After strong Southerly cold winds for the previous few days we were
expecting a lot more. The large number of Albatross particularly Yellow
-nosed and Black browed and a few Giant Petrels still made the trip
worth while. Prion numbers have dropped significantly from previous
weeks even off Maroubra. We missed the large concentrations of
Fluttering Shearwater but still managed to see quite a few close to
shore. Frustratingly brief views of small cetaceans were seen but
remain unidentified.
THE BIRDS
(Note: numbers in brackets = highest count at any one time)
Little Penguin 4 (2)
Wandering Albatross (gibsoni? stage 4) 4 (2)
Wandering Albatross (exulans? stage 5) 1
Yellow-nosed Albatross (bassian) 50+ (22)
Black-browed Albatross (melanophris) 15-20 (10) ad
Black-browed Albatross (impavida) 5-10 (2)
Shy Albatross (cauta) 4 (2)
Southern Giant Petrel 2 (2)
Cape Petrel 3
Providence (Solander's) Petrel 4 (1)
Great-winged Petrel (macroptera) 1
White-faced Storm Petrel 1
Fairy Prion 20-30 (6)
Fluttering Shearwater 50+ (c20)
Australasian Gannet 10+ Ad & Juv
Silver Gull 20+ inshore
Crested Tern 10+ mostly inshore
White-fronted Tern 2 (1)
Australasian Pelican 8 in the harbour
Pied Cormorant 1 in the harbour
Reef Egret 1 in the harbour
16 species of seabird - away from the heads.
MAMMALS
Possible Pygmy Killer Whales (3)
Fur Seal (2)
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
|
