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Well my first Pelagic Trip and one very excited
little birdo all ready equipped with camera, film and guide - what I didn't
count on was the sea sickness! It's not mentioned in any of the
"recommendations" or "hints & tips" I read! We travelled for 2 hours off the
coast of WA, from "The Cut" in Mandurah far out to where I long ago lost of
land. On the way out we were joined by a small flock of Silver Gull and one
Great Skua. Further out we slowly attracted more and more White-chinned Petrel
(a tick for the book) which glided low over the 2-3m swell occasionally
coming to land near the boat before taking off again to avoid a wave. The trip
was cancelled (to my overwhelming relief) and we headed back in, taking the
Petrel with us. While sitting with my head between my hands I glanced up just in
time to see an albatross sitting on the water, all white with black-dark
grey mantle and wings (either Yellow-nosed or Black-browed), my first-ever
sighting of an Albatross and I don't even know which species!
Once back on land I saw Crested Tern, Caspian Tern,
Fairy Tern, Great Cormorant, Little Pied Cormorant, Pied Cormorant, Australian
Pelican, Silver Gull, White-faced Heron, Rufous Night-Heron, Pacific Black Duck,
Australian Wood Duck, Grey Fantail, Grey Butcherbird, Grey Currawong, Australian
Magpie, Mudlark, Brown Honeyeater, Silvereye, Pardalote Sp., Australian
Ringneck, White-tailed Black-cockatoo and lucky last and a newie for me ...
Inland Thornbill.
I think I might stay an ornithologist who leaves
Pelagic seabirds off my "To See" list!!!
Claire Stevenson
01/04/02 - Mandurah, WA (Port Bouvard
& "The Cut" )
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