EAGLEHAWK NECK BOAT TRIP - 25 November 2001
GROUP: Michael Dempsey, Jeff Gore, Chris and Rosemary Lester, John
Rogers, Jann and Ross Mulholland, Julia Petll, Sue Reid, Jean
Smith, Edgar Whitbourn, Bill Wakefield.
VESSEL: Pauletta.
SKIPPER: John Males (with Michael Males).
WEATHER: Cloudy early. Then clearing with sunny breaks. Showers and
thunderstorms over the Tasman Peninsula, but remaining fine at
sea. Light shower on return leg. Light to moderate wind NW of
10 knots early then freshening to 15 knots later.
SEA: Slight to choppy sea with 1 m swell and 1-1.5 m wind chop.
ACTIVITY: Sailed 07.00. Headed essentially east from Pirates Bay to the
first stop between 09.00
? 09.30 at 43 o 06.8'S 141 o 15'E, 1 nm
past the shelf in 320 fathoms with water temperature at 14 oC.
This was where the Westland Petrel and first White-chinned Petrel
were observed. Continued east and stopped at 2.5 nm past the
shelf in 330 fathoms (14.1 oC) at 43o 04'S 148o 19'E at 10.15.
This stop was quiet in terms of bird numbers as was the next stop
at 11.45 at 43o 00.5'S 148o 18'E in 320 fathoms (14.1 oC), 0.75
nm past the shelf. This third stop produced the 4 White-chinned
Petrels and the first two Wandering Albatrosses. The last major
stop was further inshore at 13.00 at 42o 56.5'S 148o 16.5'E in 72
fathoms (14.2 oC). The wind freshened here, but we saw more
White-chinned Petrels, another two Wandering Albatrosses and two
Royal Albatrosses. Travelled in slowly, stopping occasionally
and docked at approx 16.00.
ANIMALS: None.
BIRDS: Good numbers of Short-tailed Shearwaters and Shy Albatrosses, as
you would expect. Relatively low numbers of other species. The
highlights were the Westland Petrel, which appeared to be a
juvenile by the bill pattern (very black along the top of the
bill with a solid black nail), and the ability to compare it to
the White-chinned Petrels.
Giant petrel sp. 1 flew by at a distance.
White-chinned Petrel 10 (4). After initial one, numbers built up with 4
appearing to follow the boat til the last stop.
WESTLAND PETREL 1 - a juvenile(?).
Sooty Shearwater 5 (1).
Short-tailed Shearwater 2,000 (150). Good numbers, not particularly hungry.
Small numbers behind boat.
Fluttering Shearwater 1.
Huttons Shearwater 1.
Fluttering/Huttons Shearwater 2.
Wandering Albatross 4 (2) All juvenile.
Royal Albatross 2 (2) Both juvenile.
Black browed Albatross 3 (1). 1 adult, 2 juvenile, all nominate race.
Shy Albatross 150 (20). 1 salvini.
Yellow-nosed Albatross 1 juvenile.
Wilsons Storm-Petrel 5 (1).
Australasian Gannet 40 (8).
Black-faced Cormorant 3 (1).
Arctic Jaegar 1.
Kelp Gull 13 (12)
Silver Gull 3 (2).
Crested Tern 4 (2).
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