12th August 2001 WOLLONGONG SOSSA PELAGIC RESEARCH TRIP REPORT, NSW, AUSTRALIA
Report prepared by: P.J. Milburn
Conditions:
Departed at 7.45 am and returned at approx.4.30 pm.
Sea Conditions: calm at first, increasing later to slight. Swell to 1
metre, SE.
Weather: Glorious sunshine all day. Max. 21°C
Barometeric pressure: 1025 HPa
Wind: Calm to 10 kts NW later.
Water temperature 18.1 to 21.1 degrees C.
Primary chumming location S 34° 31' - E 151° 23'.
Summary:
Yet another summer day in winter!! The calm weather continued leading to
the expectation of another quiet day at sea. Another disappointing day for
the number of species with even fewer individuals than the previous day.
We saw a several Little Pengiun and a small number of shearwaters close to
the coast. About 10 miles out we ran into a bit more bird life seeing what
turned out to be the only group of albatross for the day and a suprising
number of Brown Skuas sitting on the water.
Our friend the Kelp Gull followed us out into deep water again with only a
small number of other birds in company. Once again we sighted Pygmy Killer
Whales with Solander's Petrels in attendance. Closing in on 2 trawlers, we
were horrified to observe that not a single albatross was in attendance.
Not suprisingly, we did not see a single albatross wide of the continental
shelf all day. This was truly the quietest of days.
The NW breeze came up on the return trip and the highlight of the day for
those who were still awake was a passage of terns, including an ARCTIC TERN
and the first common terns of the spring. It seems as though this is the
year to see ARCTIC TERN in NSW!
Highlights:
An interesting coastal passage of terns in the afternoon, which included an
adult ARCTIC TERN.
Birds recorded according to latest Environment Australia Reporting Schedule:
Species code: Species name: Numbers:
(Note: numbers in parenthesis = highest count at any one time)
005 Little Penguin Eudyptula minor 3 (1)
971 Solander's Petrel P. solandri 16 (6)
083 Fairy Prion Pachyptila turtur 5 (1)
068 Fluttering Shearwater Puffinus gavia 14 (3)
070 Hutton's Shearwater P. huttoni 2 (1)
088 Black-browed Albatross Thalassarche melanophrys 3 (1)
864 Indic Yellow-nosed Albatross T. carteri 3 (1)
065 White-faced Storm-Petrel Pelagodroma marina 1
980 Brown Skua Catharacta lonnbergi 4 (2)
104 Australasian Gannet Morus serrator 11 (5)
106 Australian Pelican Pelicanus conspicillatus 2 (1)
981 Kelp Gull Larus dominicanus 8 (7)
125 Silver Gull L. novaehollandiae 100+ (35+)
114 White-fronted Tern Sterna striata 2 (1) 1 adult
115 Crested Tern S. bergii 30+ (25+)
953 Common Tern S. hirundo 2 (1) 1 adult in breeding plumage
952 ARCTIC TERN S. paradisaea 1 (1) adult in breeding plumage
100 Little Pied Cormorant Phalacrocorax melanoleucos 2 (2)
In the harbour
115 Crested Tern Sterna bergii 2
100 Little Pied Cormorant Phalacrocorax melanoleucos1
106 Australian Pelican Pelicanus conspicillatus 4
981 Kelp Gull Larus dominicanus 1
125 Silver Gull L. novaehollandiae 15
18 species of seabird identified outside the breakwater.
Mammals,
Pygmy Killer Whale 18 (10)
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 us
as below:
To make a booking on the SOSSA Wollongong
Pelagics which depart on the 4th Saturday of each month contact
SOSSA: Phone 02 4271 6004.
Email:
Carl Loves Phone: 0427 423 500
Pete Milburn: Mobile 0416 249 506, 02 6255 1313 (AH) or 02 6125 4173 (BH)
To make a booking for Sydney Pelagics,
which depart on the 2nd Saturday of each month contact
Tony Palliser Ph; 02-99001678 (w), 02-94115272 (h)
http://www.zip.com.au/~palliser
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
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Note: SOSSA = Southern Oceans Seabird Study Association
Dr P.J. Milburn
Biomolecular Resource Facility
Australian National University
GPO Box 334
Canberra
ACT 0200
+61 2 6125 4173 'Phone
+61 2 6125 4326 FAX
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