26th October, 2002 SOSSA PELAGIC TRIP, WOLLONGONG, NSW, AUSTRALIA.
Report prepared by: P.J. Milburn.
Departed: 07:20 returned at approx. 11:00.
Sea conditions: S 2.5 to 3.5m offshore.
Swell: S 2.0 to 3.0m offshore.
Weather: Overcast throughout.
Temperature range: 12.2 to 17.3°C.
Barometric pressure: 1008 HPa rising.
Wind: S 25 to 30kts.
Sea surface temperature: 16.8 to 17.6°C.
Primary chumming location: sea to rough to stop!
Summary:
Another trip compromised by bad weather! A low-pressure system in the
Tasman Sea and a high-pressure system in the Great Australian Bight
generated strong southerly winds overnight. The hardy contingent of
international visitors dispelled any notion of canceling this trip. It was
a case of donning the waterproof gear and hanging on tightly?.. AGAIN!
The heavy seas enforced a southerly course that saw us edging out towards
the continental slope. Large numbers of shearwaters were present inshore
and good views were obtained of all the species present.
After more than 2 hours or punching into the sea we reached the 50-fathom
mark and the cohort of seabirds following the boat included a first year
Campbell Albatross. A female Gibson's Albatross joined the throng feeding
very close to the boat. Interestingly, an Australian Pelican dominated the
Gibson's Albatross in the competition for food scraps.
With a number of people very seasick we elected to run back to harbour.
Chumming heavily we attracted a White-capped Albatross and a Black-browed
Albatross on our return trip.
Highlights:
A female Gibson's Albatross foraging very close to the boat and large
numbers of shearwaters close inshore.
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)
068 Fluttering Shearwater Puffinus gavia 500+ (300+)
913 Hutton's Shearwater P. huttoni 200+ (100)
069 Wedge-tailed Shearwater P. pacificus 45 (35)
071 Short-tailed Shearwater P. tenuirostris 1000+ (400+)
847 Gibson's Albatross, Diomedea gibsoni 1
088 Black-browed Albatross Thalassarche melanophrys 1
859 Campbell Albatross T. impavida 1
861 White-capped Albatross T. steadi 1
104 Australasian Gannet Morus serrator 8 (2)
106 Australian Pelican Pelicanus conspicillatus 1
128 Arctic Jaeger Stercorarius parasiticus 3 (1)
981 Kelp Gull Larus dominicanus 12 (5)
125 Silver Gull L. novaehollandiae 60+ (40+)
114 White-fronted Tern Sterna striata 1
115 Crested Tern S. bergii 15+ (5)
953 Common Tern S. hirundo 1
In the harbour:
096 Great Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo 1
097 Little Black Cormorant P. sulcirostris 6
099 Pied Cormorant P. varius 2
100 Little Pied Cormorant P. melanoleucos 1
106 Australian Pelican Pelicanus conspicillatus 6
115 Crested Tern Sterna bergii 1
16 species of seabird identified outside the breakwater.
Mammals:
Short-beaked Common Dolphin Delphinus delphis 6
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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