23rd February, 2002 SOSSA PELAGIC TRIP, WOLLONGONG, NSW, AUSTRALIA.
Report prepared by: P.J. Milburn.
Departed: 07:15 returned at approx. 17:15.
Sea conditions: NE to 0.5m at first and to 1.0m NE during the day.
Swell: SE 1.5 to 2m.
Weather: Mostly overcast in the morning but clearing to a sunny afternoon.
Temperature range: 23.5 to 24.3°C.
Barometric pressure: 1020 HPa rising.
Wind: E 5kts at first, rising to NE 10 kts at times during the day.
Sea surface temperature: 23.5 to 26.1°C.
Primary chumming locations: S 34° 27' - E 151° 16', 34° 31' - 151° 24'.
Summary:
It was a perfect day for a late-summer pelagic trip with a high cloud cover
and pleasant sunshine in the afternoon. With light northeasterly breezes
and warm water, expectations of visitors (birds and cetaceans) from the
tropics were running high.
The calm seas provided early views of Little Penguin just outside the
breakwater. Seabirds were present in reasonable numbers immediately and it
remained this way all day. Wollongong Pelagic regulars were thrilled to
see 2 CASPIAN TERNS because, although the species breeds in the area at
Lake Illawarra, there has been only one prior record at sea. In addition
to the excitement of the CASPIAN TERNS, an interesting assortment of
shearwater species was present with six species being identified within the
first hour.
The trend for very low numbers of Arctic Jaegers this season continued with
just a couple early in the trip and another two on the way home. By
contrast, Pomarine Jaegers were more abundant than on recent trips, being
present in good numbers over the Continental Shelf. A juvenile LONG-TAILED
JAEGER followed the boat for a while near the 50-fathom line. This species
of Jaeger has been scarce this season also and, additionally, this
encounter was unusually close to land. A group of Short-beaked Common
Dolphins were unusually elusive and ignored the opportunity to ride our bow
wave.
Just over the 100-fathom line we encountered a group of Pygmy Killer Whales
but no real change in the birds present around the boat. Stopping to chum
at the 200-fathom line brought promising numbers of Wedge-tailed and
Flesh-footed Shearwaters to the boat but no Petrels. Consequently, after
an hour we elected to head further east into deeper water. During this leg
of the cruise an adult RED-TAILED TROPICBIRD approached the boat from the
stern and flew overhead at low altitude giving all on board fantastic
views. At about the same time the first Great-winged Petrel of the day was
sighted. At the 400-fathom line a TAHITI PETREL was sighted, which flew a
circle around the boat at a radius of about 50m giving good views in the
calm conditions. Another chumming session at this location brought in a
second adult RED-TAILED TROPIBIRD.
Petrel numbers remained very low so we decided to head into even deeper
water in search of them. Stopping in over 800 fathoms of water we berleyed
once again and succeeded in attracting a BLACK PETREL to the boat and
another TAHITI PETREL which passed close by but was seen by only a few.
Despite being captured, photographed and banded the BLACK PETREL appeared
several more times behind the boat on the return leg, being in view for
nearly an hour close behind the boat. Also on the return leg of the voyage
we encountered a group of Risso's Dolphins at the 100-fathom line.
In addition to the BLACK PETREL, the SOSSA banding team captured and
released 2 Pomarine Jaegers and over 130 Wedge-tailed Shearwaters,
including a bird that had been banded previously on Big Island (Port
Kembla) in 1991.
Highlights:
Two CASPIAN TERNS a new Wollongong Pelagic species for almost all on
board!??. and of course two TAHITI PETRELS, a BLACK PETREL and two
RED-TAILED TROPICBIRDS. Several marlin and a variety of Cetaceans provided
additional interest.
Birds recorded according to the 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 2 (1)
073 Great-winged Petrel Pterodroma macroptera gouldi 2 (1)
920 TAHITI PETREL Pseudobulweria rostrata 2 (1)
917 BLACK PETREL Procellaria parkinsoni1
068 Fluttering Shearwater Puffinus gavia 5 (1)
913 Hutton's Shearwater P. huttoni 3 (1)
069 Wedge-tailed Shearwater P. pacificus 400+ (200+)
070 Sooty Shearwater P. griseus 3 (1)
071 Short-tailed Shearwater P. tenuirostris 12 (5)
072 Flesh-footed Shearwater P. carneipes 100+ (40+)
107 RED-TAILED TROPICBIRD, Phaethon rubricauda 2 (1)
104 Australasian Gannet, Morus serrator 2 (1)
106 Australian Pelican Pelicanus conspicillatus 2 (1)
128 Arctic Jaeger Stercorarius parasiticus 4(2)
945 Pomarine Jaeger S. pomarinus 125+ (50+)
933 LONG-TAILED JAEGER, S. longicauda 1
981 Kelp Gull Larus dominicanus 3 (2)
125 Silver Gull L. novaehollandiae 45 (30)
111 CASPIAN TERN Sterna caspia 2 (2)
115 Crested Tern S. bergii 10 (5)
In the harbour:
No seabirds observed.
20 species of seabird identified outside the breakwater.
Mammals
Pygmy Killer Whale Feresa attenuataca 15+
Sort-beaked Common Dolphin Delphinus delphis 20+
Risso's Dolphin Grampus griseus 15+
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 Pelagic Trips that depart on the
4th Saturday of each month contact:
SOSSA: Phone 02 4271 6004.
Email:
Carl Loves Phone: 0427 423 500
Pete Milburn: Mobile 0428 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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