Captain Carl Loves wrote:
FOR THOSE THAT MAY BE INTERESTED, WE MANAGED TO GET OUT TO
SEA TODAY ON A PRIVATE CHARTER,
SOME HIGHLIGHTS OF THE DAY WERE:
SOOTY ALBATROSS (1) BULLER'S ALBATROSS (2)
ADULTS GREY-BACKED STORM-PETREL (5) BLACK-BELLIED STORM-PETREL (1)
NORTHERN GIANT PETREL (2) ANTARCTIC PRION (3).
I think a Sooty Albatross should tempt many to go
looking for one. I rate this bird as one of the most graceful birds I have ever
seen and definately amongst my top ten favourites. I strongly urge for any
interested birdo along the NSW coast to take advantage of these conditions. It
doesn't come too often. Another bumper season is highly likely to happen judging
by several interesting reports so far. The recent Tassie pelagic was very
impressive aswell.
Yesterday morning, myself, Lorne Johnson and David Koffel had
our first winter seawatch from Magic Pt, Maroubra. Winds were initially from the
west but tended south-westerly by mid-morning (mainly light-breezes but a bit
moderate at times and as a result did not expect to see many seabirds. Some of
the birds seen included Black-browed (20 plus) and
Yellow-nosed (1-2), Fairy Prions (hundreds,
mainly a few km offshore), Fluttering and Huttons
Shearwaters (hundreds of the former and atleast one or two of the
later) and Kelp Gulls (atleast 3 adults and a sub-adult bird).
We had good views of all these species as they were spotted within a km offshore
(which was good considering the wind conditions). We all enjoyed watching a few
Fairy Prions feeding by sifting the surface and hydroplaning (fairly distinctive
prion behaviour) for about 2 hours, only a few metres from the rocks below us
giving excellent viewing. Fairy Penguins (as just about every
visit) were heard calling on a few occasions from below our cliff and we saw an
Eastern Reef Egret fly past.
There is a concrete shelter at Magic Pt, which we often use to
shield from the nasty (but good seabird weather) and the amount of graffiti on
it seams to be increasing. I wonder who had wrote on the walls "S P Skua and
Southern Fulmar Please"?. Who is responsible? We were quite amused with
this.
Definately not the best seawatch we had, but a not a bad start for
the winter seabird season.
Just listened to the last BOC bird call tape, vol. 12 (don't know
how long it has been out for). As usual, great recordings. Certainly, alot of
effort has been put into these valuable recordings. Beside completing the
series, the last tape includes a section of supplimentary calls which inludes
several calls that were missed or in error in proceeding tapes (eg) Topknot
Pigeon, Plains Wanderer, Abbotts Booby and the Weka from NZ!!!!!! . I don't know
why the later was included in the series. Does anybody know why?. A few calls
were missed still (eg) Grey Wagtail, Red-necked Phalarope, Lorde Howe Island
Pied Currawong call, Night Parrot, Paradise Parrot (though one of these
they probably have no hope in recording). However, ofcourse it will be
impossible to document every call. I have heard many other calls which were not
included. Overall it has been a very good production giving a variety of bird
calls for the majority of birds that have been recorded in Australia and its
territories. Ofcourse, nothing can be absolutely perfect.
I have also recently purchased all the 3 Roger Whitaker videos on
raptors "Hunters of the Skies" form the BOC. The total 3 tapes produces 3
hours of viewing of all Australias diurnal birds of prey and includes rare
footage of Grey Falcons, Red Goshawk and Letter-winged Kite. I hope
this is not the only time I'll get the chance to see them as these 3 raptors are
the ones I have yet to see. Differences in the shape and structure of the
Letter-winged Kite were clearly highlighted against a Black-shouldered Kite. I
think I would be able to identify one without seeing the "M" mark, but ofcourse
I still would want to see it, to be 100 percent satisfied I had seen one. I have
only managed to watch one of these videos but it was great to see great
footage of raptors on the nest and in pursuit of prey. I strongly
recommend these videos to all raptor enthusiasts.
Edwin
