PERTH WESTERN AUSTRALIA PELAGIC TRIP REPORT Sunday 18th June 2000
Participants (18) :
Frank O'Connor (organiser), Des Agnew, Pam Agnew, Erica Anderton, John
Brooke, Marjory Clegg, Kevin Coate, Christine Cooper, Dave Crossley, Jan
Crossley, Joan Gye, William Gye, Dusty Millar, Warwick Pickwell, Pieter
Poot, Shane Raidal, David Secomb, Robert Wilton
Conditions :
Departed Hillarys Boat Harbour at 7.25am - returned at 3.35pm. The forecast
was for a 2 metre sea on a 2 metre swell as a front was expected in the
afternoon with winds swinging from 12-15 knots NE in the morning to 15-23
knots after midday from the NW. However, the day was flat, calm and warm.
Description :
A disappointing trip for seabirds but outstanding for cetaceans with two
groups of Long-finned Pilot Whales being the highlight for the day. There
were only 5 pelagic species plus Great Skua and Australasian Gannet. It was
a slow start as expected until past Rottnest Island, and the return to
Hillarys was very quiet except for some close Humpback Whales.
As we got to 115 metres depth there were good numbers of Yellow-nosed
Albatross and Australasian Gannets plus a few Wilson's Storm-Petrels. The
first Long-finned Pilot Whales were seen here. We started burleying with
fish scraps, meat scraps, pilchards, bread and fish oil.
The next stop was when the first Black-browed Albatross and Soft-plumaged
Petrel were seen but they failed to approach the boat. We continued deeper
until we found a flock of birds on the water which proved to be nearly all
Soft-plumaged Petrels with a few Great-winged Petrels. There were almost no
albatross in the deeper waters.
We headed north finding nothing different until we got back to about 120
metres depth where a Striped Dolphin jumped beside the boat and another pod
of Long-finned Pilot Whales were seen with good numbers of Yellow-nosed
Albatross and at least four Black-browed Albatross. There were also
Bottle-nosed Dolphins.
We began to head back to Hillarys when we found a group of three Humpback
Whales that gave very good views.
We made a quick stop at Little Island near Hillarys to see the Australian
Sea-lions.
Thanks to the skipper Derek and the deck hand Dave.
Time/Latitude/Longitude/Depth/Distance/Bearing of most stoppages:
07:25 S31° 49' 34", E115° 44' 16", 6m, 0.0km, 0° (Hillarys Wharf)
08:30 S32° 01' 02", E115° 25' 59", 33m, 35.7km, 236° off West End Rottnest
Island
09:20 S32° 05' 49", E115° 18' 55", 115m, 49.9km, 236° (stopped until 09:55)
YNA, LFP Whales
10:10 S32° 07' 50", E115° 10' 38", 195m, 62.7km, 240° (stopped until 10:20)
BBA, SP Petrel
10:35 S32° 05' 37", E115° 06' 31", 370m, 66.3km, 246° (stopped until 11:05)
SP Petrels
11:30 S32° 02' 22", E115° 11' 14", 255m, 57.0km, 248° (stopped until 11:50)
12:15 S31° 57' 37", E115° 13' 16", 240m, 51.0km, 256° (stopped until 12:35)
Lunch
13:00 S31° 56' 23", E115° 17' 38", 200m, 43.7km, 256° (stopped until 13:55)
Striped Dolphin, LFPW, BN Dolphin
14:05 S31° 54' 23", E115° 21' 13", 200m, 37.3km, 259° (stopped until 14:20)
Humpback Whales
Bird List (Christidis & Boles order) Total Number (Maximum at Same Time) :
Great-winged Petrel 6 (3)
Soft-plumaged Petrel 45 (35)
Black-browed Albatross 9 (4)
Yellow-nosed Albatross (race bassi) 100+ (30)
Wilson's Storm-Petrel 15+ (4)
Australasian Gannet 55+ (15)
Great Skua 17 (3)
Silver Gull 20 (8) most at or just after Rottnest Island
Crested Tern 30+ (10) most near Rottnest Island
Darter (1) harbour
Pied Cormorant (~100) mostly Little Island
Silver Gull (20+) harbour & Little Island
Crested Tern (5) Little Island
Mammal List :
Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) 6 (3)
Long-finned Pilot Whale (Globicephala melas) 20 (12)
Bottle-nose Dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) (10)
Striped Dolphin (Stenella coeruleoalba) (4+)
Australian Sea-lion (7) Little Island
Fish List (caught by Dave) :
Green-eyed Dogshark (2)
Gummy Shark (1)
Spiny Mackerel (1)
Next Trip :
The future trips will possibly be late August or early September. For
details contact Frank O'Connor on 08 9386 5694 or email
________________________________________________________________
Frank O'Connor Birding WA http://www.iinet.net.au/~foconnor
8C Hardy Road Email :
Nedlands WA 6009 ICQ : 14655047
Phone : +61 8 9386 5694
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