Hi all,
Here's the trip report for the Eaglehawk Neck pelagic (Tasmania) that sailed
on the weekend. Chris Lester is organising another trip from Eaglehawk neck
on the 25th of November. At this time of year there is potential for species
such as Black-bellied Storm Petrel, Mottled Petrel and Gould's Petrel.
Contact Chris directly on if you would like to
join this trip.
Regards
Rohan
Eaglehawk Neck (Tasmania) Pelagic 30 September 2001
HIGHLIGHTS: The trip was pretty quite on the way out apart from large
numbers of Short-tailed Shearwaters in offshore waters. Surprisingly when we
started to dispense with the berley they fed ravenously at the back of the
boat, (STSs normally only show passing interest in boats and berley) and we
were subsequently accompanied by between 200 and 1500 Short-tailed
Shearwaters for the rest of the day (including out to 5 nM beyond the
shelf). The highlight however was a Soft-plumaged Petrel that made many
close passes around and over the boat near the shelf as we headed in. This
species has been reported several times this year of Tasmania and has now
(apparently) been confirmed as breeding on Maatsuyker Island. A Grey Backed
Storm-Petrel and Prions also provided interest.
ACTIVITY and CONDITIONS: Group charter aboard the 'Pauletta' skippered by
John Males. Departed Pirates Bay 0710 on a North-westerly heading (towards
Maria Is, because of forecasts for strong northerly winds in the pm)
reaching the shelf break at ~1000. Berleyed at 42 59.42 S, 148 16.04 E
before heading 5 nm beyond the shelf in the vicinity of 42 53.63 S, 148
23.07 E. Heading back to the shelf at ~1340 and motoring along this for an
hour or so before surfing into Pirates Bay. Docked at 1545. Seas: 0.5-1 m
swell at shelf with 1 m chop in am increasing to 2-2.5 m swell with similar
chop in pm. Wind: 10 knot north-westerly in am increasing to 30 knots with
front(?) at 1400 on return leg. Cloudy all day with very poor light in
morning improving somewhat in the afternoon.
THOSE ON BOARD: Chris Lester (co-organiser), Rosemary Lester, Bill Wakefield
(co-organiser) Mitch, Jim (sorry no surnames). Rohan Clarke
BIRDS (outside Pirates Bay):
Black-browed Albatross 6 (3) (all nominate race)
Yellow-nosed Albatross 12 (4)
Shy Albatross 25 (6)
Buller's Albatross 1
Wandering Albatross 6 (5)
Cape Petrel 25 (10)
SOFT-PLUMAGED PETREL 1
Great-winged Petrel 20 (5) (1 gouldii)
Providence Petrel 3 (2) (1 with very pale-grey belly)
Northern Giant Petrel 1 imm
Common Diving Petrel 10 (2)
GREY-BACKED STORM-PETREL 1
Fairy Prion 25 (10)
SLENDER-BILLED PRION 2 (1)
ANTARCTIC PRION 3 (2)
Sooty Shearwater 3 (1)
['Flutton's Shearwater 1-2 distant]
Short-tailed Shearwater ~10,000 (1500)
Australian Gannet 20 (4)
Black-faced Cormorant 2 (2) plus 5 in harbour
Arctic Jaeger 1
Pacific Gull 2 (2) in Pirates Bay
Kelp Gull 4 (2) plus 6 in Pirates Bay
Silver Gull 5 (5) plus 30 in Pirates Bay
Crested Tern 6 (3)
MAMMALS
Aust Fur Seal 2 at sea over shelf.
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