26th August, 2007 SOSSA PELAGIC TRIP, WOLLONGONG, NSW, AUSTRALIA.
Report prepared by: P.J. Milburn.
Departed: 07:15 returned at 16:10.
Sea conditions: calm all day.
Swell: E 1.0 to 2.0m offshore.
Weather: late winter sunshine all day.
Temperature range: 14.9 to 24.8°C.
Barometric pressure: 1019 HPa.
Wind: light and variable.
Sea surface temperature: 17.9 to 20.7°C.
Primary chumming location: S 34° 27' - E 151° 20'.
Summary:
A large high-pressure ridge was established
southeastern Australia continuing calm conditions
and clear skies.
Calmer even than the previous day, the ocean was
reminiscent of a giant fishpond. Albatrosses,
Little Penguins and assorted shearwaters were
foraging busily over the inshore reefs. The
first of many Short-beaked Common Dolphins (warm
water form) and an Australian Fur-Seal were also
in evidence. A Masked Lapwing 14 nautical miles
out to sea was a first for the Wollongong Pelagic
Trips but after circling us for a while the bird
continued eastwards!
As soon as we reached the edge of the continental
shelf we were rewarded with views of Solander's
and Great-winged Petrels. We set up a
drift-and-berley session well over the
continental slope and were thrilled by the brief
appearance of an adult BULLER'S ALBATROSS. We
also lured a Cape Petrel, a WHITE-FACED
STORM-PETREL and a Brown Skua from the wide blue
yonder.
Our trip back to the harbour was dominated by
cetacean sightings comprising Humpback and
Antarctic Minke Whales and hundreds of
Short-beaked Common Dolphins.
Highlights:
A glorious day at sea dominated by frequent
sightings of mammals and fish. A delightful
drift-and-berley session produced an adult
BULLER'S ALBATROSS and a WHITE-FACED
STORM-PETREL.
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)
005 Little Penguin Eudyptula minor 7 (1)
080 Cape Petrel Daption capense australe 1
075 Great-winged Petrel Pterodroma (m.) macroptera 1
971 Solander's Petrel Pterodroma solandri 9 (4)
068 Fluttering Shearwater Puffinus gavia 35 (17)
913 Hutton's Shearwater P. huttoni 60 (30)
069 Wedge-tailed Shearwater P. pacificus 18 (7)
847 Gibson's Albatross Diomedea gibsoni 19 (13)
088 Black-browed Albatross Thalassarche melanophrys 11 (2)
859 Campbell Albatross T. impavida 3 (2)
931 BULLER'S ALBATROSS T. bulleri 1 adult
861 SHY ALBATROSS T. cauta 1
861 White-capped Albatross T. steadi 3 (1)
864 Indic Yellow-nosed Albatross T. carteri 18 (5)
065 WHITE-FACED STORM-PETREL Pelagodroma marina dulciae 1
104 Australasian Gannet Morus serrator 4 (1)
096 Great Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo 1
106 Australian Pelican Pelicanus conspicillatus 1
981 Kelp Gull Larus dominicanus 4 (3)
125 Silver Gull L. novaehollandiae 135+ (75+)
114 White-fronted Tern Sterna striata 3 (2)
115 Crested Tern S. bergii 9 (4)
In the harbour:
096 Great Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo 2 (2)
099 Pied Cormorant P. varius 1
100 Little Pied Cormorant P. melanoleucos 2 (2)
106 Australian Pelican Pelicanus conspicillatus 9 (9)
A total of 22 species of seabird were identified outside the breakwater.
Other birds observed at sea
133 Masked Lapwing Vanellus miles novaehollandiae 1
Mammals
Australian Fur Seal Arctocephalus pusillus doriferus 1
Humpback Whale Megaptera novaeangliae 5 (3)
Antarctic Minke Whale Balaenoptera bonaerensis 1
Short-beaked Common Dolphin Delphinus delphis 381 (250)
Reptiles
None
Fish
Frigate Mackerel Auxis thazard numerous
Skipjack Tuna Katsuwonis pelamis numerous
Short-tailed Sunfish Mola ramseyi 1
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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