This morning and around noon., myself and David Koffel enjoyed another
above average sea watch from Magic Point at Maroubra (approx. 10 km south of
Sydney CBD), but in much less desirable weather conditions (mainly moderate
westerly winds tending at times south-west) than the previous weekend. Hence no
Pterdroma?s (Gadfly) Petrels were seen on this occasion. However we did observe
a good number of Albatrosses, 2 Giant Petrels and several Prions (mainly Fairy
Prions with 2 Antarctic Prions also seen) quite close to shore. More Prions and
Fluttering Shearwaters were noticed today than last Saturday despite the calmer
weather. We were later briefly joined by David Mitford, the legendary Rod
Gardner and family as well as John Clifton Everest.
Today?s main highlights included good views of a Northern Giant Petrel
and 2 Antarctic Prions. One Shy/White-capped Albatross was taking its time to
feed on its fish catch for what seemed to be over an hour with many Silver Gulls
and a few Prions going around it. The Yellow-nosed Albatrosses appeared only
after around noon (reinforcing our
theory that they tend to appear later in the day than the other Albatrosses).
Likewise, Australian Gannets were only noticed around this time with numbers
building up to a couple of hundred or so in the early afternoon. There were a
number of Black-browed Albatross and atleast one Campbell Albatross also feeding
on dead cuttlefish close to shore. One interesting mammal sighting was watching
an Australian Fur Seal feeding on a large fish with several Silver Gulls and a
Prion or two circling around the seal. This event lasted for about half an hour.
There were also atleast 3-5 Humpback Whales heading north in the early morning,
but way out and close to the horizon.
Disappointingly, none of the larger Albatrosses were seen ? Wandering,
Gibson?s, Antipodean etc.
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Birds recorded:
Fairy Penguin (2)
Black-browed Albatross (atleast 36)
Campbell
Albatross (1)
Yellow-nosed Albatross (5, all race bassi)
Shy/White-capped Albatross (6) (either cauta or steadi)
NORTHERN GIANT PETREL (1)
Giant Petrel unidentified (1)
Fairy Prion (atleast 7 plus)
ANTARCTIC PRION (2)
Prions unidentified (70 plus) (what I personally counted but highly
likely many others were missed)
Fluttering Shearwater (atleast 200 plus)
Australasian Gannet (200 plus)
Great Cormorant (1)
Kelp Gull (1 juv. bird)
Silver Gull (numbers not counted)
Crested Tern (20 plus)
White-fronted Tern (atleast 2)
Australian Kestrel (pair, often passing very close by along the cliff and
landing nearby)
Mammals recorded:
Humpback Whale (3-5)
Australian Fur Seal (1)
Edwin Vella
SEABIRDS RULE!
