Hi all
This trip report for three days of Pelagic birding from St Helens,
Tasmania 15 to 17 May 2008 is dedicated to Jack Hunt. Jack was a keen
participant of Tasmanian pelagic trips; he was a studious and skilled
observer and was looking forward to our July trips. Tragically Jack was
killed in a car accident on 23rd May near Oatlands, Tasmania.. He was
a good bloke and his kind friendship will missed by many of us.
The Weather
The weather for all three days was good, not withstanding forecasts for
the period that were less than desirable. With a blocking high hovering
over Tasmania, wind was variable at about 5 - 15 knots, the temperature
was mild, and typically St Helens weather at this time of year. Sea
state was excellent for birding and photography although a ground swell
of about 1.5 metres developed overnight on Friday causing a confused sea
state early on Saturday that fortunately abated during the day.<>
<>MSLP Analysis weather charts and itinerary description for the period
follows: Day 1 (Thursday 15 May 2008)
<>
http://www.bom.gov.au/cgi-bin/charts/charts.view.pl?idcode=IDX0102&file=IDX0102.200805150000.gif
<http://www.bom.gov.au/cgi-bin/charts/charts.view.pl?idcode=IDX0102&file=IDX0102.200805150000.gif><>
<>Participants: Paul Wainwright, Dave Stickney, Willem Renema, Grant
Penrhyn, Brian Willey, Geoff Jones, Marlene (Stickney), Mary Anne
(Jones), Jane (from Kangaroo Island SA), George Appleby, Ian May
(organiser) Geoff Goodluck (Crew), Troy Rainbird (Skipper)<>.
<><>Using the vessel Nifty II, departed St Helens wharf at 06.30 am
clearing George Bay Barway at 07.00 am. Tracking east south east we
crossed the continental shelf at 0800. Not long after, came upon a
working long liner at 41.16 S, 148.40 E, where we remained in the area
for about 1 hour observing many pelagics that were attracted by their
fishing activity. We travelled east again into the Tasman Sea headed
to "The Hill (Seamount)" 41.13 S, 148.45 E where we arrived at 10.00 am
and released a light trail of shark liver berley. Within about 20
minutes several hundred birds, mostly Albatross surrounded us, although
I felt that numbers would have been greater but for the competing
attraction of the longliner.. The crew of Nifty II deployed a drogue
(sea anchor) holding the bow of the vessel into the breeze, immediately
eliminating roll with the instant effect of providing a most stable
photographic platform and a most comfortable ride. Departing "the
Hill" about 12.45 we headed inshore stopping to berley at Merricks reef
where we attracted good numbers of Buller's Albatross before returning
to St Helens at about 15.30 pm.
<>A trip highlight , two Storm Petrels were spotted independently by
both Willem and yours truly at the Hill. We derived the following
description by comparing our observations. The birds were flying
rapidly and directly, their feet did not appear to protrude much beyond
a broad dark tail. Dark head, dark neck and upper breast sharply
demarcated from striking white breast and belly. The birds had
contrasting white under wing and belly with uniform dark upper parts and
upper wings with a white rump and no apparent wing stripe or tail
fork. No visible black on belly. Unfortunately these birds flew
rapidly away, into the reflection of the sun and did not return.
<>Initially Willem and I were inclined to call them as White-bellied
Storm Petrel however after consulting with Bill Wakefield on Saturday,
he advised us that The White-bellied SP had not been recorded in
Tasmania. and that the length of feet protruding beyond tail needs to be
determined to separate from the white bellied form of the Black-bellied
Storm Petrel. As we were unable to photograph or obtain a confirming
view, we have decided to let them pass as possible/probable and not
claim the sighting.<>
Day 2 (Friday 16/05/2008)
http://www.bom.gov.au/cgi-bin/charts/charts.view.pl?idcode=IDX0102&file=IDX0102.200805160000.gif
<http://www.bom.gov.au/cgi-bin/charts/charts.view.pl?idcode=IDX0102&file=IDX0102.200805160000.gif>
Participants: Paul Wainwright, Dave Stickney, Willem Renema, Grant
Penrhyn, Brian Willey, Geoff Jones, Hazel Britton, Peter Britton, Brook
Whylie, Ian May (organiser) Geoff Goodluck (Crew), Troy Rainbird (Skipper).
<>Departing George Bay Barway at 07.00 today we headed NNE offshore from
Eddystone Point where recent reports indicated large concentrations of
birds feeding around migrating Tuna schools. We tracked across a calm
sea to 41.02 S, 148.35 E arriving at about 08.30 am where we released a
light berley trail. Observing large numbers of Albatross, Prions and a
few Petrels we moved on to another sea mount beyond the continental
shelf where we observed birds until about 12.30 pm. We then followed
the shelf break south for about 12 nautical mile then tracked to St
Helens arriving at the wharf at about 15.30 pm.
Day 3 (Saturday 17/05/2008)<>
http://www.bom.gov.au/cgi-bin/charts/charts.view.pl?idcode=IDX0102&file=IDX0102.200805160000.gif
<http://www.bom.gov.au/cgi-bin/charts/charts.view.pl?idcode=IDX0102&file=IDX0102.200805160000.gif><>
<>Participants: Paul Wainwright, Dave Stickney, Willem Renema, Grant
Penrhyn, Brian Willey, Geoff Jones, Brook Whylie, Darryell Binns (from
Darwin), Bill Wakefield, Brian Johnston, Ian May (organiser), Geoff
Goodluck (Crew), Troy Rainbird (Skipper).<>
<>Again departing George Bay at 07.00 today sea conditions had
deteriorated with about 15 knots of NE wind and a two metre NE ground
swell breaking heavily across the barway. The experienced crew of
Nifty II negotiated the breakers with great skill and so, with a
priority wind warning just announced, we tracked cautiously to sea
heading south east for about 12 nM towards an area of up welling
currents known as "the Plateau". Birds were more mobile today, the
Albatross concentrations had dispersed with the prevailing wind.
Carefully watching for the forecast deteriorating weather we presented
berley at two locations. Contrary to the forecast, the weather abated
during the morning and the seastate was settling as we returned inshore
at about 12.30 pm, stopping at Paddy's Island, also at "the Gulch" at St
Helens Island and at Merricks reef again before heading into St Helens
via Humbug Point where a White-breasted Sea Eagle put on a photographic
opportunity as it swooped on a fish carcass. We returned to St Helens
wharf at about 1500 hrs.
<><>Birds
Diversity was good with 51 species recorded over the three days however
gadfly petrels and other small procelleraformes were scarce compared to
December and July observations. Of interest were the large number of
Albatross, many hundreds of individuals recorded on all trips. At all
berley sites we attracted all the Albatross species we could expect
including Wandering Albatross with up to 20 individuals including 3
Snowy together at one location on Day 2. Buller's Albatross were nearly
always in view. Royal Albatross were least plentiful. Black-browed
Albatross comprised 70% New Zealand race "impavida" Campbells Island form.
Pelagic Observation > 1Nm off shore 32 Species
15 May
16 May 17 May
Min Max
Min Max Min Max
Albatross Black-browed 6 12 12
20 15 24
Albatross Bullers 24 50
20 60 15 25
Albatross Northern Royal 2 2 3
3 0 0
Albatross Shy 160 450 200
600 90 200
Albatross Wandering 12 24 20
43 15 25
Albatross Yellow-nosed 5 12 12
25 20 30
Cormorant Black-faced 3 3
4 4 6 10
Cormorant Little Pied 2 2
2 2 0 0
Gannet Australian 20 36
10 20 150 250
Gull Kelp 4
4 4 4 3 3
Gull Pacific 8
6 8 8 10 10
Gull Silver 30
60 6 10 7 18
Pelican Australian 4 4
6 6 0 0
Penguin Fairy 1 1
0 0 5 5
Petrel Cape 1
1 0 0 2 2
Petrel Diving 2
6 4 6 10 10
Petrel Great-winged 0 0
1 1 0 0
Petrel Nothern Giant 3 5
2 2 0 0
Petrel Providence 2 2
1 1 1 1
Petrel Southern Giant 1 1
0 0 0 0
Petrel White-chinned 0 0
2 2 0 0
Prion Fairy 35
60 20 50 200 450
Prion Spp 2 2
0 0 0 0
Shearwater Fluttering 1 1
0 0 2 2
Shearwater Short-tailed 0 0
4 4 3 7
Shearwater Sooty 1 1
0 0 0 0
Skua Brown 2
2 2 2 1 1
Storm Petrel Grey-backed 5 5
0 0 2 2
Storm Petrel White/Black-bellied)? 2 2 0
0 0 0
Storm Petrel White-faced 1 1 0
0 0 0
Tern Crested 3
3 3 3 8 12
Tern White-fronted 6 6
1 1 3 3
George Bay, Islands and Adjacent coast 25 species
Species 25 15 May 16
May 17 May
Min Max
Min Max Min Max
Cormorant Black-faced 4 4
0 0 220 400
Cormorant Great Black 5 5
5 5 3 3
Cormorant Little Pied 5 5
4 4 3 3
Cormorant Little Black 2 2
14 14 12 12
Falcon Peregrine 0 0 0
0 1 1
Gull Kelp 2
2 3 3 3 3
Gull Pacific 10 10
9 12 10 10
Gull Silver 300 600
200 500 300 600
Heron White-faced 6 6
4 4 3 3
Oystercatcher Pied 150 200 100
150 180 200
Oystercatcher Sooty 20 20
4 4 10 10
Pelican Australian 5 5
11 11 20 20
Plover Double-banded 8 8 0
0 15 15
Plover Hooded 5 5
3 3 0 0
Plover Masked 6 6
3 3 5 5
Plover Red-capped 5 5
0 0 0 0
Raven Forest 1 1
0 0 2 2
Sea Eagle White-breasted 2 2
2 2 2 2
Starling Eurpean 0 0
0 0 5 5
Stint Red-necked 12 12
0 0 0 0
Swallow Welcome 0 0
0 0 3 3
Swan Black 20 30
20 30 35 50
Teal Chestnut 3 3
10 10 50 50
Tern Caspian 1 1
0 0 0 0
Tern Crested 8
8 6 6 6 6
Mammals
Pilot Whale 1
Killer Whale 1
Fur Seal 20 +
Common Dolphin 50+
Regards
Ian May
PO Box 110
St Helens, Tasmania 7216
Phone: Mob: 0428 337956
currently at Price SA (08)88376212
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