birding-aus

Southport Pelagic 15th Feb.

To: "Birding-aus" <>
Subject: Southport Pelagic 15th Feb.
From: "Paul Walbridge" <>
Date: Sun, 23 Feb 2003 12:17:22 +1000
Hi Birding-aussers, here is the Trip report for saturday February 15th from Southport Qld.
 
Vessel: Flying Fish II. Pax: nearly full complement of 19, 4 new (only 2 seasick).
 
Weather: A high over the Tasman brought SE winds 15-20 knots early, changing to easterly by mid-morning with the wind dying down on reaching the drift point. Visibility good. Maximum temp. 29C.
 
Sea: Seas to 1.5 metres on up to 2 metre swell early, easing off on reaching widest drift point, making for quite stable viewing conditions. Sea surface temperature, 26C inshore to 27.5C out wide in the current.
 
A so so sort of day, as February can be. A few small fishing parties of shearwaters on the way out across the Shelf, the most interesting one with a couple of Black Noddies showing good views. As usual the first Tahiti Petrel put in an appearence just after entering Slope waters, mid morning.
 
At the widest drift point approx. 55 kilometres out pretty quiet but as usual the Tahiti Petrels put on quite a show with plenty of photo opportunities. In fact I've already seen one excellent shot from Chris Barnes which will be sent to the SOSSA website, others will be sent to Tom Tarrant's site. The best bird out wide was a Long-tailed Jaeger sitting with Wedge-tailed Shearwaters on the water. As I've said, quiet but several people onboard had new bird(s).
 
Trip List:
Tahiti Petrel - 7
Wedge-tailed Shearwater - 255
Flesh-footed Shearwater - 2
Hutton's Shearwater - 13
Fluttering/Hutton's Shearwater - 1
Pied Cormorant - 12
Little Black Cormorant - 3
Pomarine Jaeger - 4
Long-tailed Jaeger - 1
Silver Gull - 67
Crested Tern - 12
Common Tern - 58
Sooty Tern - 5
Black Noddy - 2
 
Next trip 15th March, remember last March (2002) was the day of the Pterodroma (6 species + Tahiti), so here's hoping! There are still 4 vacancies for this trip, on the big, spacious Skybird III, (Big Bird). Cheers - Paul.
 
Contact: Paul Walbridge; Ph (H) 61 7 3391 8839 (W) 61 7 3350 8258.
E-mail:
 
 
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