birding-aus

Southport Pelagic Feb. 21st 2004.

To: "Birding-aus" <>
Subject: Southport Pelagic Feb. 21st 2004.
From: "Paul Walbridge" <>
Date: Sun, 22 Feb 2004 11:36:39 +1000
Hi Birding-aussers, well it finally happened, a day when our commonest 'summer gadlfy' outnumbered any other species. The full report below;
 
Vessel: 53 ft monohull Flying Fish II.
 
Crew: 2.
 
Pax: 18.
 
Weather Conditions:
A trough over inland Southern Queensland deepening to a 'Low' brought moderate to gusting warm north westerlies to the region creating uncomfortable near record heat conditions. Out on the ocean however the 20-25 knot NW wind produced a more cooling effect with temperatures out wide more likely in the low 30s. Visibility generally good with a slight haze on the horizon, with little cloud cover. Barometric pressure 1008 hPa.
 
Sea Conditions:
Moderate seas on 1 metre swell early on, rising to about 2 metre seas on 1.5 -1.8 metre swell in more exposed position out wide. Current out wide, 3.5 + knots.
 
Left the Seaway at 0715 hrs and with several trawlers arriving anticipated usual large rafts of Wedge-tailed Shearwaters outside the Seaway. A no show, with just a few Cormorants, Silver Gulls & Crested Terns present.
 
Headed slightly north of east out over the Shelf with just a few Wedge-tailed & Hutton's Shearwaters and a lone Pomarine Jaeger sighted (what's happened to this species this summer, that's the only one since last October)!
 
Shortly after crossing the Shelf-break at 0925 hrs the first Tahiti Petrel arrived astern followed a few minutes later by three more, which loosely followed the vessel until we reached the pre-determined drift point approx. 57 kilometres east of Southport just after 1000 hrs. The skipper and the deckie then set up an improvised sea anchor to cut down on the rate of drift in the strong current. This proved most beneficial as the birds kept much closer to the vessel.
 
The numbers of Tahiti Petrels were starting to build up quickly, outstripping the rate of Wedge-taileds coming in with a lone Flesh-footed Shearwater plus an adult Sooty Tern with a juvenile providing the only diversity. That is until a Streaked Shearwater appeared, providing stunning views down to 5 metres for at least 20 minutes. The numbers of Tahiti Petrels were extraordinary with as many as 40 present around the vessel at any one time, landing behind the vessel to within 2 metres. It appears the larger chunks of berley seemed to bring them in the closest.
 
Just after 1200 hrs it was time to head home as it was going to be a bit of a slog back into a 25 knot nor'wester and the vessel being needed for a night charter. The diversity of species wasn't great anyway, although I think most on board were happy enough with the amazingly close views of Tahitis & Streaked Shearwater. Little on the way back but good views of a Black Noddy and a couple of Tahiti Petrels which followed back & forth across the vessels' wake for at least an hour. Arrived back at the Seaway at 1500 hrs.
 
Species:
 
Tahiti Petrel - 129
Streaked Shearwater - 1
Wedge-tailed Shearwater - 105
Flesh-footed Shearwater -1
Hutton's Shearwater - 3
Pied Cormorant - 2
Little Black Cormorant - 2
Great Cormorant - 2
Pomarine Jaeger - 1
Silver Gull - 62
Crested Tern - 40
Sooty Tern - 2
Black Noddy - 1
 
Cetaceans:
 
A pod of about 30 Offshore Bottle-nosed Dolphins out wide just after turning back.
 
Fish:
 
A large (about 10kg) Mahi Mahi hooked but broke free. Large numbers of Flying Fish present.
 
The next Southport pelagic is on March 20th, March being our best autumn month generally. All welcome. Cheers - Paul W.
 
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