I was on a trawler in Bass Strait for a week recently, with some CSIRO
types doing a survey of the seabed. We sailed in almost a direct line from
Seaspray, Victoria to Bell Bay, Tasmania, stopping every 10 km or so to
photograph the seabed and take samples of bottom sediments. We also
stopped and sheltered behind islands during days of gale-force winds. We
did not get anywhere near the edge of the shelf (max. water depth about 75
metres) and so the seabirds were not that interesting.
Only 3 species of albatross were seen, Black-browed, Shy and Yellow-nosed
with overall numbers in the same order. I have seen Wandering from the
platforms in Bass Strait and was surprised not to see any this time, only a
little further south. There were also Northern Giant Petrels near Deal
Island and a few Cape Petrels in the area west of Flinders
Island. Gannets, Pacific Gulls and Crested Terns were seen closer to land
and the islands. White-bellied Sea Eagles were seen at Erith and Prime
Seal Island.
New birds for me were Common Diving Petrel and Grey-backed Storm Petrel,
the former in largish numbers between Pyramid Rock and Prime Seal Island,
and only one of the latter in the same area. Both a Diving Petrel and a
Fairy Prion crashed on board the vessel and I was able to look at them in
the hand before release.
My records will be sent to the Atlas.
Regards,
Gil Langfield
Melbourne, Australia
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