Offshore Sydney 18 Jan 2005

["Roger McGovern" <>]

I had a day offshore Sydney on the Halicat on a non-birding private trip on Jan 18, 2005. We went 22 NM ESE of Sydney Heads to the offshore sea-mount known as Brown's Mountain in 15knot south-easterlies and 2 metre seas on a 1 metre swell which diminished during the day. Water temperatures were consistently in the range of 21-22degC. There were plenty of birds around at the shelf break but, unfortunately, no interesting summer vagrants. Two pods of Short-finned Pilot Whales provided the only cetacean sightings.

 

Species seen:

 

Great-winged Petrel                 400

Buller's Shearwater                     1

Wedge-tailed Shearwater           70

Sooty Shearwater                       1

Short-tailed Shearwater             15

Flesh-footed Shearwater            30

Shy/White-capped Albatross       1

Wilson's Storm-Petrel                 1

Arctic Jaeger                             1     (pelagic)

Pomarine Jaeger                        1     (inshore)

Silver Gull                                50

Crested Tern                              2

Common Tern                            6

 

The next regular Sydney trip will be on Saturday 12 February and there are plenty of spots available. Call Hal at 0411 311 236 to book.

 

Cheers

Roger McGovern