PORTLAND BOAT TRIP - 11 OCTOBER 1998
Group: Mike Carter, Rohan Clarke, Neil Macumber, Peter Crabtree, Ted
Shimba, Chris Lester, Steve and Cindy Gaulin (US), Jim and Angie
Morgan (UK), Roly Lloyd and Bob Sothman (SA)
Vessel: Michael J IV (Owner: Gary Roberts)
Weather: Mainly fine, caught edge of one shower to our south c. 08.30.
3/8 cloud at first. Mostly clear and sunny in pm. Light NW
breeze died to calm in pm.
Sea: Slight at first dropped to glassy in pm. 2-3 m swells beyond
Bay.
Activity: Sailed 06.28 (nearly half an hour late). Docked 16.00. Headed
out east of Lawrence Rocks (LR) then SW at 13 knots to shelf
break which we crossed at 08.50. Lack of birds before shelf
meant uninterrupted journey to shelf. Stopped at 09.10 to berley
with couta and chopped meat doused in tuna oil (no shark liver).
Birds slowly gathered. 10.10 moved to follow trawler. (22.9 Nm
off LR at (1) 38o 44S 121o22E.) Chased trawler making numerous
stops when good birds seen. Joined trawler as it trawled 23.2 Nm
off LR at (2) 38 o 47S 141 o 27E (198 o SSW). Headed in at
13.20. I rode in bow due to flat sea birding all the way. LR
15.30 to 15.40.
Animals: Only Aust, fur seals. 6 at (2). c 3 inshore, with 3 at LR.
Birds: Fair variety, 22 species, but most beyond shelf break and mostly
small numbers with trawler
Little Penguin 7 (2). 6 inshore to 10 Nm off LR; 1 on LR.
Wandering Albatross 7. 1st (1), 1 (2), 2 (3), 2 (4), 1 (6). All
pelagic on trawler track.
Royal Albatross 5. 3 Southern incl 1 juv; 2 Northern incl 1 juv, 1 ad.
All pelagic at trawler. Photos.
Black-browed Albatross 40 (30). 2 impavida, sub-ads. 2 inshore; 1
offshore; 37 pelagic; 10 juvs; 25 imm; 5 ads.
Associated with trawlers nearly exclusively.
Shy Albatross 150 (100). Nil inshore; 2 offshore; 148 pelagic. 10
juvs, 40 imm; 100 ads.
Salvins Albatross 1. 1 sub ad; possibly same bird as in July.
Yellow-nosed Albatross 6 (3). 4 pelagic; 2 offshore. 4 juvs/subads. 2
ads.
Southern Giant-Petrel 2. Juvs pelagic
Northern Giant-Petrel 1. Juv pelagic
Cape Petrel 7 (5). All pelagic associated with trawler.
Great-winged Petrel 7 (4). All pelagic. 1 gouldi clearly larger, browner,
whiter faced.
Fairy Prion 7 (4). All pelagic.
White-chinned Petrel 1. Pelagic with trawler.
Short-tailed Shearwater 2,300. am 50 inshore; 40 offshore. pm 2000
rafting off, 10 inshore. pel ? c200 (100) attending
trawler & taking our berley; very tame. Photos.
Fluttering Shearwater 2. 1 inshore am; 1 pm feeding; tame. Photos.
Wilson?s Storm-Petrel 1. Pelagic
Australasian Gannet c 8000. On LR & Pt Danger; 10 inshore; 5 off; 2 pel.
Black-faced Cormorant 75. On LR (2 bay) in pm.
Crested Tern 12 (6). 3 Bay; 1 inshore; 2 offshore; 6 pelagic.
White-fronted Tern 1. Juv pelagic
Silver Gull 1. Only on LR
Pacific Gull 2. On LR.
Notes by Mike Carter.
Please note: The November boat trip from Portland was cancelled.
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