Hi Folks, below is last saturdays Southport Pelagic report.
Weather Conditions: A High over southern Australia combined with a weak ridge
along the Queensland coastline produced mainly moderate NW-N winds over
southeast Queensland. Generally clear skies, with good visibility. Air temp.to
28C, barometric pressure 1016 hPa. Sea conditions: Fairly light seas on a
moderate swell on leaving the seaway, with conditions deteriorating as the
morning wore on. At the widest drift winds had swung to due north at 25 knots
and this combined with a southerly swell and north to south current really
bumped up the waves leading to uncomfortable & at times wet conditions. Sea
surface temps. 20.4 C at the Seaway, 21.8 C at the Shelf-break with a warmer
current of 22.8 at the widest drift. Vessel: M.V. GrinnerSkipper: Craig
NewtonDeckie: Gail Leader: Paul WalbridgePatrons: Dave Stewart, Brian Russell,
Chris Barnes, Rod Gardner, Denis Gosper, Xenia Dennit, Steve Murray, Steve
Mcbride, John Norling, Eric Tull & Brooke, Willem Renema, Antii Kause. This was
to be a day that three of Southport’s specialty birds really turned up to be
counted! Left the Seaway at 0630 hrs and arrived back at 1600 hrs * duration
of trip 9 hrs 30 mins.The initial approach was to head for a local seamount
known as Jim’s Mountain some 26 nms ENE of the Seaway but by the time we
reached the shelf-break it was decided to take a more comfortable option of
heading to a spot a few nms south west of there but still in ‘slope’ waters.
Just after leaving the seaway, Craig the skipper tied a rope around a fairly
large tuna and after a few knife slashes tossed it over the stern and we towed
it out over the Shelf. The theory is bits and pieces gradually break of in the
wake and a slick forms * it really works and before long we had up to 14
Wedge-tailed Shearwaters following the vessel without having to chum. Cool,
seabird photographers will know that the best shots of seabirds in flight are
achieved when the vessel is in motion and the birds are following close behind.
For many onboard it was either their first pelagic or first Oz pelagic so it
was a welcome photo opportunity, A lone Hutton’s Shearwater was the only thing
of note crossing the ‘abyssmal plain’ and just after crossing the Shelf-break
someone shouted albatross, so we stopped as a Wandering type, too distant to
specify which, passed astern of the vessel. We chucked a bit of sharks liver
over but it kept going its merry way southward, however soon after, the first
Tahiti Petrel of the spring honed in on the slick followed quickly by several
Wedge-tailed Shearwaters. We decided to move on for another couple kilometres
south,to another known ridge before stopping for a drift. It wasn’t long before
the first Kermadec Petrel (an all dark morph) showed up, followed quickly by
Wilson’s & Black-bellied Storm Petrels plus Providence and Tahiti Petrels. Over
the next hour or so waves of birds, of various species passed through, moving
down the slick, when suddenly the bird of the day appeared alongside the
vessel, a very early Black Petrel, which appeared on and off over the next half
an hour or so. By now, even more Kermadec Petrels of various morphs plus
increasing numbers of Black-bellied Storm Petrels & Tahiti Petrels were turning
up. Also small numbers of Wilson’s Storm Petrels, Providence Petrels, Sooty
Terns & Common Noddies. This would have to be the first trip I’ve ever been on
where Kermadec Petrels outnumbered Providence by two to one! At 1245 hrs it was
time to call it a day as the conditions meant it would be a fairly slow trip
back. Little to report on the way back save for a lone Little Tern and one or
two very shy Humpback Whales and some more Australasian Gannets. All in all a
very satisfying day with everyone pretty pleased with the outcome despite the
rigorous conditions (only 2 people sick though). SPECIES: Tahiti Petrel * 25
(6)Providence Petrel * 4 (2)Kermadec Petrel * 8 (2)Black Petrel * 1Wedge-tailed
Shearwater - 125 (30)Flesh-footed Shearwater -2Hutton’s Shearwater * 1Wandering
Albatross -1Wilson’s Storm Petrel * 4 (2)Black-bellied Storm Petrel * 31
(5)Australasian Gannet * 6Silver Gull * 1Crested Tern * 2Little Tern * 1Sooty
Tern * 9 (5)Common Noddy * 2 Cetaceans : Humpback Whale * 4Pantropical Spotted
Dolphins * 20-30 Next trip is October 13th, hope you can join us. Cheers *
Paul W.
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