OBSERVERS: Chris Lester (organiser), Rob Berry,
Peter Crabtree, Gail D’Alton, Tim Dolby, Maarten Hulzebosch, Rosemary Lester,
Grant Penrhyn, Frank Pierce, Jenny Spry, Andrew Wells, Glenn White & Mike
Carter (leader).
WEATHER: A ridge of
high pressure was centred over western Bass Strait. Thin cloud provided 8/8
cover until 14.30, then sunny. We avoided a few light showers. For most of the
time, the light and visibility was good. Cool. The NNW wind of around 5 knots
was less than forecast.
SEA: Slight, (0.5
to 1 m) seas on a low (1-2 m) SW swell throughout, made for a pleasant trip.
ACTIVITY: Sailed at
07.05. Headed out on a COG of 203º at 13 Kts. There were a few birds over
inshore waters (first 20 km), the highlight being an adult Pomarine
Jaeger. Offshore there was much Shearwater activity in the usual area
between the 40 & 90 fathom contours, but this time no Prions or
Storm-Petrels. Gannets were patrolling the area and a few albatrosses were
stooging around. We crossed the shelf-break at 09.30 having paused only briefly
and continued out into pelagic waters. An oil-drilling rig had been installed on
the continental slope near the usual centre of our pelagic activity and there
were three tender vessels in attendance.
In this
pelagic zone, we had made three berley stops within a 10 km circular area
centred on 38º49.6’S 141º52.3E. At each stop, we attracted good numbers of
Great-winged Petrels, Flesh-footed Shearwaters and Shy Albatrosses and smaller
numbers of other species. The 5 Royal Albatrosses is perhaps the highest
ever count in one day.
We departed the deeper waters at 12.45 & came in
@ 14 Kts, the only excitement being an apparently satiated Southern Giant
Petrel so soundly asleep that we almost ran over it.
When
inshore, we cruised the western and northern shores of Lady Julia Percy Island
(LJPI) from 14.35 to 15.00. Docked at 16.05.
MAMMALS:
Australian Fur Seals: 1,000’s
at LJPI and perhaps 20 remote at sea, most in the offshore zone but none
pelagic. Common Dolphins: pod
of 50+ in 80 fathoms near 38º44’S 142º00’E.
BIRDS: 25 species
of seabird beyond the river mouth indicated excellent diversity with some
surprises for the time of year. Some were abundant. Astonishing, was the total
absence of Fairy Prions (1,000 last month) and near total absence of
Storm-Petrels. Highlights are in capitals. Unless noted otherwise, those listed
below were near or beyond the shelf break (i.e. pelagic).
Little
Penguin: 3 on
LJPI.
Common
Diving-Petrel: 1 brief view inshore in a.m.
SOUTHERN GIANT
PETREL: 1 sub-ad sound asleep on the water near LJPI.
Northern Giant
Petrel: 1 juv & 2 sub-ads.
Great-winged
Petrel: 70 (50). 50 nominate race, 20 gouldi.
WHITE-HEADED
PETREL: 1.
WHITE-CHINNED
PETREL: 10 (6).
Flesh-footed
Shearwater: 80 (40). 30 offshore & 50 pelagic.
Sooty shearwater: 3
(1).
Short-tailed
Shearwater: 1,100 (200). 1,000 offshore, 100 inshore & 5
pelagic.
Fluttering
Shearwater: 5 inshore in a.m.
Wandering
Albatross: 3. 1 each exulans, (stage 5), gibsoni (4/5)
antipodensis (4).
ROYAL ALBATROSS: 5.
3 Southern & 2 Northern, all adults.
Black-browed
Albatross: nom. race, 11 (4). 6 pelagic, 2 off & 3
inshore. 1 ad, 8 sub-ads
& 2 juvs.
impavida, 1 sub-ad.
Shy Albatross
cauta: 90 (50). 76 pelagic, 7 off & 7 inshore. 50
adults, 38 sub-adults, 2 juv.
Yellow-nosed
Albatross: 8 (3). 5 pelagic & 3 offshore. All juvs.
Buller’s Albatross:
1 distant.
Wilson’s
Storm-Petrel: 1.
Australasian
Gannet: c.87. 15 inshore, 70 offshore, 2 pelagic.
Black-faced
Cormorant: 7. 6 ads on LJPI & 1
inshore.
Great Skua: 1
distant, dark bird.
POMARINE JAEGER: 1
ad inshore in a.m.
Kelp Gull: 5. 4
adults & 1 sub-ad on LJPI.
Silver Gull: 20 on
LJPI & 9 inshore in p.m.
Crested Tern: 9. 3
offshore & 6 inshore.
