23 AUGUST 1998 WOLLONGONG, NSW PELAGIC TRIP REPORT
Departed at 7.15 am and returned at 4.00 pm.
1.0M swell, Winds predominantly W to SW 10-15 Knots
Reaching 19 Nautical Miles E of WOLLONGONG.
Water Temp 14.4 Deg C inshore
Water Temp 18.8 Deg C offshore (over the shelf)
Primary Chumming Location 34.32' - 151.16'
Recent heavy rains in the area were clearly a big factor on this trip.
The heavily silted waters reducing the number of inshore species
significantly. Albatross and Pterodroma Species were almost totally
restricted to the blue oceanic waters beyond the shelf. As a result
the variety of species was dissappointing. However we still managed
to see small numbers of the common four albatross & a few storm petrels.
This trip also saw the early arrival of a few summer species namely
Wedge-tailed Shearwater and Arctic Jaeger. Highlight for me was the
huge numbers of Fluttering and Hutton's Shearwater allowing brilliant
photographic opportunities. I am crossing my fingers for some great
shots.
THE BIRDS
(Note: numbers in brackets = highest count at any one time)
Little Penguin 1 (heard only)
Wandering Albatross (gibsoni? stage 4) 3 (2)
Yellow-nosed Albatross (bassian) 1
Black-browed Albatross (both races?) 4 (2)
Shy Albatross (cauta) 2 (2)
Giant Petrel Sp 1 (very distant)
Providence (Solander's) Petrel 15-20 (c.8)
White-faced Storm Petrel 10+
Fairy Prion 6 (4)
Fluttering Shearwater 20,000+ (15-20,000)
Hutton's Shearwater 1000+ (800+)
Wedge-tailed Shearwater 20+ (12+)
Australasian Gannet 10+
Silver Gull 50+ Most inshore
Kelp Gull 4 (3) inshore
Great Skua 2 (1)
Arctic Skua 1
Crested Tern 70+
White-fronted Tern 10+ (4)
Australasian Pelican 7 inshore
Pied Cormorant 3 inshore
Little Pied Cormorant 1 in harbour
Little Black Cormorant 1 in harbour
White-breasted Sea Eagle 1
Galah c20 flying North East?
19 species of seabird - away from the heads.
MAMMALS
None
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.
A reminder that I will be on leave for the month of September to make
a pelagic booking during this period please contact Pete Milburn.
Tony Palliser Ph; 02-99001678 (w), 02-94277563 (h) 0416-095875 (m)
http://www.zip.com.au/~palliser
Pete Milburn Ph; 0416-249501 or Wk 02-62494326
Best Regards
Tony
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