Port Fairy, VIC, Pelagic Trip Report, 11 February
2001
Observers: Rohan Clarke, Chris Lester,
Peter Lansley, Richard Loyn, Euan Fothergill, Geoff Walker, Rob & Gail
Berry, Bob Hughes, Murray Grant, Mike Sturmfels, Harry Zawacki and Mike
Carter.
Weather: Fine: mostly cloudy but bright in a.m.,
cloudless in p.m.: mild.
Wind: calm at first inshore; light S. breeze on shelf-break.
15-20 Kt. sea breeze inshore in late p.m.
Sea: Slight, on 4 m swell until late p.m.
inshore when moderate.
This was a rare occasion where in of spite of a light wind regime, the
ride was uncomfortable due to the large, short-pitched, southerly swell. Coming
in, surfing accelerated the boat from 14 to 18 knots! This created a curtain of
spray wetting most aboard! Those who now find the N.S.W. pelagics tame and
boring and are looking for a new challenge should join us for a really exciting
marine experience. Unless, as some do, you stand up all day in the one place,
you should wear wet weather gear. Leave your slippers and picnic basket
behind.
Activity: Sailed @ 07.00. Headed out SSW @ 14Kts. Crossed
shelf break (100 fathoms = 180 m) @ 09.35. Beyond shelf, berleyed with shark
liver. Greatest depth >400 f. Greatest distance reached was 80 km from Port
Fairy (60 km offshore). Headed in @ 13.05. Cruised W & S shores of Lady
Julia Percy Island (LJPI) from 15.15 to 15.45. Docked @ 17.00.
Mammals: Common Dolphins, c.20 near the shelf break.
Australian Fur Seals, only one at sea but 1,000’s at the colony on LJPI.
Birds: 19 species of seabird beyond the river mouth
was a little disappointing for February. The highlight was the White-headed
Petrels which provided sustained good views. Most listed below were beyond
the shelf unless noted otherwise.
Little Penguin; 7 on LJPI & one inshore.
Great-winged Petrel; 50 (40), (20 gouldi, 30
macroptera). Hungry and tame.
White-headed Petrel; 5 (3).
Flesh-footed Shearwater; 80 (60). One inshore with the flock
of Fluttering.
Sooty Shearwater; 1.
Short-tailed Shearwater; 300 (100), mostly inshore.
Hutton’s Shearwater; 3 (1).
Fluttering Shearwater; 210 (200). Dense feeding flock between
LJPI & Pt. Fairy.
Wandering Albatross; 2. One stage 5 perhaps gibsoni.
One stage 3. Both tame.
Black-browed Albatross; 16 (8) all melanophris.
Shy Albatross; 12 (8).
Yellow-nosed Albatross; 10 (8).
Australasian Gannet; 160 (100), only 1 beyond the shelf.
White-faced Storm-Petrel; 16 (12).
Black-faced Cormorant; 2 on LJPI.
Pomarine Jaeger; 2 (1).
{Pacific Gull; 1 in Port Fairy}.
Kelp Gull; c.8 on LJPI. It is interesting to note that the
only two Kelp Gull colonies in Victoria are at Seal colonies.
Silver Gull; c.120 on LJPI & 1 elsewhere inshore.
Crested Tern; 15 (5), only 3 pelagic.
