Sydney Pelagic Trip Report 11th DECEMBER 1998
Conditions
Departed at 7.15 am and returned at 3.00 pm.
2-3m swell, Winds strong NE to 25 knots
Reaching 32 Nautical Miles E of Sydney Heads.
Water temperature 23.3 Degrees
Primary chumming location 34.02'S 151.45'E
Those on Board
Steve Anyon-Smith, Andrew Atkin, A. Bachman, Antony Bavarstock, Pierre
Charbonneau, Detlef Davies, Andy Deighton, Mike Doyle, Trevor Ford, Rod
Gardner, Paul Keogh, Ed Hagan, Nick Hodges, Bill McLean, Pete Milburn, John
O'Rouke, Tony Palliser, Robert Payne, David Siems, Tab Shimba, Andrew
Stafford, Johannes Wagner, Morton Wagner,
Summary
A somewhat uncomfortable trip due to the strong northeasterly winds.
And as a result a reduced number of species. The albatross and cooler
climate species having been replaced by warm water tropical species.
The strong northerly winds clearly being a factor, with the occurrence of
two tropical rarities. Although not of national interest the Brown Booby
and particularly the Black Noddy are unusual as far South as Sydney. In
fact I understand this is the first time that this species has been
recorded from a pelagic either from Sydney or Wollongong. Also noteworthy
were the Sooty Terns and the complete lack of Hutton's and Fluttering
Shearwaters. Unfortunately the 'cookalaria' petrels could not be clenched
as views were too brief and at the wrong angle (flying away) to allow
positive identification.
Birds
(numbers in brackets = highest count at any one time)
(numbers before the name assist in the recording process)
005-Little Penguin 2(2)
075-Great-winged Petrel 140+(100+)
078-Gould's Petrel (Possible sighting only) 1
955-Black-winged Petrel (Possible sighting only) 1
069-Wedge-tailed Shearwater 230+(180+)
072-Flesh-footed Shearwater 8+(4)
070-Sooty Shearwater 6(2)
071-Short-tailed Shearwater 2+(2) being very low numbers
102-BROWN BOOBY (1)
106-Australasian Pelican 3 in the harbour
945-Pomarine Jaeger 5(2)
128-Arctic Jaeger 4(3)
125-Silver Gull 10+ inshore
115-Crested Tern 3-4
953-Common Tern 40+ (30+)
120-SOOTY TERN 10-14 (10+)
124-BLACK NODDY 1
14+ species of beyond the heads
Mammals
None Seen
Sydney Pelagics depart on the 2nd Saturday of each month, Wollongong
Pelagics depart on the 4th Sunday of each month and Eden Pelagics on
the 3rd Sunday of each month thru 1999. If you would like to join one
of these trips please contact either Tony Palliser or Pete Milburn to
make a booking.
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