24th February 2000 WOLLONGONG PELAGIC TRIP REPORT, NSW, AUSTRALIA
Report prepared by: Rod Gardner
Departed at 7.30 am and returned at approx. 3.30 pm.
Sea Conditions: Seas slight, 1 metre swell,
Weather: Sunny and very warm, with little cloud.
Wind: light north-easterly.
Water temperature ca 25° C.
Summary:
Very pleasant conditions meant no sea-sickness on board, but without the
pain, there was no gain: the birds were not as exciting as they often are
at this time of the year, when tropical species usually put in a good show.
The near-miss highlight was a probable Herald Petrel, which put in a brief
appearance at about 300 metres before disappearing. It was hooded, and had
a pale belly, reminiscent a Tahiti (but the flight and jizz were quite
wrong for that species), and gave glimpses of white underwing patches and
no white upperwing flashes. The latter would have suggested Kermadec. But
it was all over too quickly to make sure. Beyond this bird, there was a
marked lack of tropical species in what were pretty tropical conditions.
The very light winds were no doubt a factor.
No confirmed rarities, but nevertheless quite a lot to interest seabird
enthusiasts. All three jaegers put in appearances, giving excellent and
some prolonged views and plenty of practice in checking out their variable
plumage. There was a particularly high count of Pomarine Jaegers at 30,
with three obliging Long-tailed Jaegers and (only) three Arctics. Also a
selection of the six common shearwaters gave some of the less regular
trippers something to puzzle over. Two mammal species were logged, with
Captain Carl manoeuvering us to some cool close-up views of these rather
shy animals. Apart from the probable Herald Petrel, the only other
pterodromas/petrels were six Great-winged Petrels.
005 Little Penguin Eudyptula minor 2
075 Great-winged Petrel Pterodroma macroptera 6 (2)
068 Fluttering Shearwater Puffinus gavia 1 (1)
913 Hutton's Shearwater P. huttoni 1 (1)
069 Wedge-tailed Shearwater P. pacificus 400 (150)
070 Sooty Shearwtater P. griseus 3 (1)
071 Short-tailed Shearwater P. tenuirostris 4 (1)
072 Flesh-footed Shearwater P. carneipes 60 (25)
104 Australasian Gannet Morus serrator 1 (1)
099 Little Black Cormorant Phalacrocorax sulcirostris 4 (4)
128 Arctic Jaeger Stercorarius parasiticus 3 (1)
945 Pomarine Jaeger S. pomarinus 30 (6)
933 Long-tailed Jaeger S. longicauda 3 (1)
981 Kelp Gull Larus dominicanus 3 (3)
125 Silver Gull L. novaehollandiae 70 (70)
115 Crested Tern Sterna bergii 4 (2)
In the harbour
981 Kelp Gull Larus dominicanus 1
115 Crested Tern Sterna bergii 2
099 Little Black Cormorant Phalacrocorax sulcirostris 2 (2)
100 Great Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo 2
106 Australian Pelican Pelicanus conspicillatus 1
16 species of seabird identified outside the breakwater.
Mammals,
Common Dolphin ca 3
Risso's Dolphine ca 6
Future Trips,
All Pelagic Trips from NSW are operated at no profit to the organisers
being operated as group boat charters for the benefit of all who wish
to join us. If you would like to join one of these trips please contact:
Either SOSSA or Carl Loves to make a booking on the SOSSA Wollongong
Pelagics which depart on the 4th Saturday of each month.
SOSSA: Phone 02 4271 6004.
Carl Loves Phone: 0427 423 500
Either Tony Palliser or Pete Milburn to make a booking for Sydney Pelagics,
which depart on the 2nd Saturday of each month..
Tony Palliser Ph; 02-99001678 (w), 02-94115272 (h)
http://users.bigpond.net.au/palliser
Pete Milburn: Mobile 0416-249 506, 02-6255 1313 (AH) or 02-62494326 (BH)
Barbara Jones to make a booking for Eden Pelagics which are run on the 5th
Sunday of each month it occurs.
Barbara Jones or Ph (02) 6495 7390
<>
Note: SOSSA = Southern Oceans Seabird Study Association
Birding-Aus is on the Web at
www.shc.melb.catholic.edu.au/home/birding/index.html
To unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message
"unsubscribe birding-aus" (no quotes, no Subject line)
to
|
