Hello all seabird lovers,
If you thought it was about time the seabirds off Sydney were about due to
stop being so exciting, they haven't.
Here are a few of the highlights from seawatches off Maroubra, south east
Sydney, over the last three days (seen by Dave Mitford, Dave Koffel and
myself):
14.7, 15.7 and 16.7: a SOUTHERN FULMAR on each day, with Dave Mitford
seeing two birds on 14th, i.e. a total of four sightings, the closest about
120 meters offshore.
14.7 and 15.7: a WHITE-HEADED PETREL on each day, both close in, giving
excellent views.
CAPE PETRELS in their hundreds, with 140-180 on 15th.
Prions in their hundreds, over 400 on 14th, with many close in, and ca. 50
FAIRY PRIONS, 14 SLENDER-BILLED PRIONS and 2 ANTARCTIC PRIONS (or perhaps
SALVIN'S) identified. Also two prions washed up on Maroubra Beach: a
SLENDER-BILLED and an ANTARCTIC PRION (this one was an Antarctic by
measurements and bill). Both are on their way to the Australian Museum.
GIANT PETRELS in numbers I've never experienced before, with 15th being the
best day, with 18 NORTHERN GIANT PETRELS, 24 SOUTHERN GIANT PETRELS,
including four white morph, and another 37 unidentified, some of which
could have been identified if I hadn't got bored with looking at giant
petrel bills. On 14th two white morph SOUTHERN GIANT PETRELS flew by the
point together! Most of giant petrels were passing withing 50 meters of the
headland.
Hundreds of BLACK-BROWED ALBATROSSES, mostly melanophris, but a few
impavida. Much lower numbers of WANDERING ALBATROSS (probably gibsoni), SHY
ALBATROSS (probably cauti) and INDIAN YELLOW-NOSED ALBATROSS.
Another extraordinary record on 15th was of an immature, all dark ARCTIC
JAEGER that forgot to go north, as well as two SOUTHERN SKUAS.
That's most of the goodies, but there were also about 130 GREAT-WINGED
PETRELS on 14th, and lower numbers on 15th, but amazingly not a single
confirmed PROVIDENCE PETREL.
Altogether 22 seabird species, with only one cormorant, namely GREAT, in
that total.
I'd like to give Tony one of those fulmars.
Rod Gardner
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