Some interesting birds seen during a few hours at Long Reef (Saturday) &
Maroubra (Sunday) were as follows:
LONG REEF (10TH JULY) - approx. 10 km north of Sydney
(with Michael Ronan)
Though definitely no match to the recent pelagics off Sydney and Wollongong,
some seabirds seen included Wandering Albatross (3-4 adults), Shy
Albatross (1-2), Black-browed (50 plus) and Yellow-nosed (30
plus) Albatrosses, Giant Petrels (atleast 6, with 2 identified as
Southern), Fluttering Shearwaters (50 plus), Antarctic Skua
(3 flying in a line) and a White-fronted Tern.
No sign of the "Southern Fulmar" seen on 4-5
occasions off here over the past week and possible Blue
Petrels a day before, during strong southerly breezes. There was
only a very weak sea-breeze on this day, but all 4 species of Albatrosses were
seen within a km off shore feeding on dead cuttlefish or flying quite high over
the water catching the breeze (as I enjoy seeing).
MAGIC PT, MAROUBRA (11TH JULY) - approx. 10km south-east of
Sydney (with Rod Gardner and David Koffel)
Fairly quite on seabirds (due to very calm conditions inshore) with a few
Black-browed and Yellow-nosed Albatross seen, 3 Giant
Petrels, 200 plus Fluttering Shearwaters and Kelp Gulls.
However 3 separate groups of Humpback Whales (atleast 6 in total) were seen,
including one seen some distance away, tail and fin slapping. A few large fish
were also jumping about. A White-fronted Tern and Eastern Reef
Egret was observed on the rocks.
Some land birds of note around the Rifle Range there included 3 Lewins
Rails and 1 Buff-banded Rail, Spotless Crakes, Brown
Falcon, Horsfield’s Bronze-cuckoo and 3 Southern Emuwrens
heard.
Edwin Vella
