29th July, 2007 SOSSA PELAGIC TRIP, WOLLONGONG, NSW, AUSTRALIA.
Report prepared by: P.J. Milburn.
Departed: 07:20 returned at 16:24.
Sea conditions: calm at first to 1.0 to 1.5m SSW by late morning.
Swell: slight inshore to SSW 1.0 to 2.0m offshore.
Weather: Perfect winter sunshine all day but with
some high patchy cloud in the afternoon.
Temperature range: 11.9 to 16.6°C.
Barometric pressure: 1019 HPa rising.
Wind: SSW 3 to 5 knots at first increasing to SSW 10 to 15 knots later.
Sea surface temperature: 16.9 to 18.8°C.
Primary chumming location: S 34° 34' - E 151° 12'.
Summary:
A weak high-pressure ridge over southeastern
Australia and a low-pressure system in the Tasman
Sea combined to generate a south-southwesterly
air stream and clear skies. After several days
of offshore winds we hoped that the southerly
shift in the wind would bring an influx of winter
seabirds with it.
Outside the breakwall, several species of
albatross were searching for the floating remains
of post-spawning Giant Cuttlefish (Sepia aparma)
in spite of the fact that the ocean was glassy
calm. The most gentle of southwesterly breezes
brought a distinct chill with it. We were caught
completely by surprise when a first year
GREY-HEADED ALBATROSS slid under our bow and down
the port side, mirrored beautifully by the water,
less than 30 metres away. Unfortunately, it held
its course and that was the last we saw of it.
Full credit is due to those who managed to obtain
a photograph. We dared wonder if perhaps this
was an indication that we would have another
great day of albatross watching. The first Brown
Skua of the day appeared before we had even
cleared Wollongong Reef; Australasian Gannets and
Fluttering Shearwaters were patrolling these
waters also and among the Crested Terns was a
White-fronted Tern.
In typical fashion Black-browed outnumbered Indic
Yellow-nosed Albatross over the inshore reefs but
as we headed eastward we soon encountered larger
numbers of the latter, along with several SHY
ALBATROSS and additional Brown Skuas. At the
65-fathom line, we encountered the first small
groups of Fairy Prions and also several
Short-beaked Common Dolphins.
Our arrival at the edge of the continental shelf
was heralded in spectacular style when an adult
BULLER'S ALBATROSS homed in on us. We stopped to
enjoy close up views of this bird, stunning in
the winter sunshine, where upon albatross
appeared from all directions. Several Diomedea
albatross joined the throng and it was easy to
pick the large WANDERING from the smaller
Gibson's Albatross. A NORTHERN ROYAL ALBATROSS
flew across our stern but could not be relocated
and, shortly afterwards, an adult male ANTIPODEAN
ALBATROSS threw itself into the mix to add to the
confusion. We continued the drift-and-berley
session and our sharp-eyed skipper soon picked
out the NORTHERN ROYAL ALBATROSS as it rejoined
the albatross flock foraging at our stern.
White-capped and SHY ALBATROSS were present in
unusually high numbers and a quick census
revealed that we had no fewer than 10 species of
albatross feeding under our stern!
All good things must come to an end and did as we
headed further east in search of the first
petrels for the day. As we reached the edge of
the warm current we encountered both NORTHERN and
SOUTHERN GIANT-PETREL and several Solander's
Petrels. However, the opposition of the, by now,
stiff southerly breeze and the brisk northerly
current made conditions very uncomfortable so, in
a discretionary move, we headed back toward
calmer water. Obligingly, the birds came with us
and on the return trip we added Great-winged
Petrel to the species list.
Highlights:
This was a gem of a day, providing views of no
fewer than 11 species of albatross, including
stunning adult BULLER'S and NORTHERN ROYAL
ALBATROSS, a first year GREY-HEADED ALBATROSS
just outside the harbour, the first adult male
ANTIPODEAN ALBATROSS for many years and an
unusually high number of SHY ALBATROSS. In
total, 17 species of procellariiformes were
identified during the day.
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)
929 SOUTHERN GIANT-PETREL Macronectes giganteus 5 (2)
937 NORTHERN GIANT-PETREL M. halli 2 (1)
075 Great-winged Petrel Pterodroma (m.) macroptera 1
971 Solander's Petrel P. solandri 5 (2)
083 Fairy Prion Pachyptila turtur 60+ (35+)
068 Fluttering Shearwater Puffinus gavia 85+ (35+)
086 WANDERING ALBATROSS Diomedea exulans 5 (3)
846 ANTIPODEAN ALBATROSS D. antipodensis 1 adult male
847 Gibson's Albatross D. gibsoni 8 (5)
973 NORTHERN ROYAL ALBATROSS D. sanfordi 1
088 Black-browed Albatross Thalassarche melanophrys 31 (15)
859 Campbell Albatross T. impavida 5 (2)
931 BULLER'S ALBATROSS T. bulleri 1 adult
861 SHY ALBATROSS T. cauta 8 (4)
861 White-capped Albatross T. steadi 5 (3)
864 Indic Yellow-nosed Albatross T. carteri 87 (35)
090 Grey-headed Albatross T. chrysostoma 1 first year
104 Australasian Gannet Morus serrator 12 (3)
099 Pied Cormorant 1 Phalacrocorax varius 1
106 Australian Pelican Pelicanus conspicillatus 1
981 Kelp Gull Larus dominicanus 3 (2)
125 Silver Gull L. novaehollandiae 750+ (550+)
114 White-fronted Tern Sterna striata 7 (5)
115 Crested Tern S. bergii 16 (6)
In the harbour:
097 Little Black Cormorant Phalacrocorax sulcirostris 1
099 Pied Cormorant P. varius 1
100 Little Pied Cormorant P. melanoleucos 2 (2)
101 Australian Darter Anhinga melanogaster 1
106 Australian Pelican Pelicanus conspicillatus 9 (9)
115 Crested Tern Sterna bergii 1
A total of 24 species of seabird were identified outside the breakwater.
Other birds observed at sea
193 Striated Heron Ardeola striatus macrorhynchus 1
Mammals
Short-beaked Common Dolphin Delphinus delphis 6 (4)
Reptiles
None
Fish
None
For previous trip reports and selected images from this trip visit
http://www.sossa-international.org/
Future Trips
SOSSA Wollongong Pelagic Trips depart on the 4th
Saturday of each month and are operated at no
profit to the organizers. If you would like to
join one of these trips please contact us as
detailed below:
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)
Note: SOSSA = Southern Oceans Seabird Study Association
--
Dr P.J. Milburn
Technical Specialist
ANU ACRF Biomolecular Resource Facility
John Curtin School of Medical Research
Australian National University
GPO Box 334
Canberra ACT 0200
'Phone +61 2 6125 4326
FAX +61 2 6125 9533
==============================www.birding-aus.org
birding-aus.blogspot.com
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