26th June 2010, SOSSA PELAGIC TRIP, WOLLONGONG, NSW, AUSTRALIA.
Report prepared by: P.J. Milburn.
Departed: 07:15 returned at 16:00.
Sea conditions: NW to 0.5m at first rising to SE 2.0m in the afternoon.
Swell: NE 1.0 to 1.5m prior to the southerly change.
Weather: Cloudy at first but clearing around midday.
Temperature range: 14.9 to 18.4°C.
Barometric pressure: 1016 HPa rising.
Wind: northwesterly to 10 knots at first backing
to the south and rising to 20 knots at midday.
Sea surface temperature: 17.8 to 19.6°C.
Primary chumming location: 34° 41'S : 151° 10'E.
Summary:
A slow moving high-pressure system was located in
the northern Tasman Sea and a fast-moving cold
front passed through the region late in the
morning ahead of a weak trough. These features
combined to produce cloudy conditions with
offshore winds during the morning and clear skies
following a southerly change at midday. Large
numbers of seabirds were inshore, many of which
followed us out to the edge of the continental
slope. The cold front brought further species
and greater numbers that gave us an entertaining
trip back to port.
Giant Petrels, Fairy Prions and Black-browed
Albatross were foraging close inshore. Large
numbers of seabirds were feeding outside
Wollongong Reef including several Gibson's
Albatross. A single Hutton's was spotted amongst
hundreds of Fluttering Shearwater.
The large flock of seabirds that followed us out
to sea attracted several Brown Skuas. As we
approached the edge of the continental shelf we
recruited more albatross in ever increasing
numbers. A stunning adult SALVIN'S ALBATROSS
circled us so we hove to and set up a
drift-and-berley session. We attracted a modest
flock of Fairy Prions, a solitary SOLANDER'S
PETREL and, of course, lots more albatross!
The southerly change arrived as we started the
motor for the trip back to the harbour. Among
the arrivals in its wake were a New Zealand Cape
Petrel, several adult BULLER'S and 2 juvenile
SALVIN'S ALBATROSS.
Highlights:
A pleasant winter day that was dominated by
numerous albatross; 10 species were recorded in
all that included WANDERING, ANTIPODEAN,
BULLER'S, and SALVIN'S ALBATROSS.
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 1
929 SOUTHERN GIANT-PETREL Macronectes giganteus 2 (1)
937 NORTHERN GIANT-PETREL M. halli 5 (2)
080 New Zealand Cape Petrel Daption capense australe 1
971 SOLANDER'S PETREL Pterodroma solandri 1
083 Fairy Prion Pachyptila turtur 280+ (50+)
068 Fluttering Shearwater Puffinus gavia 2000+ (1500+)
913 Hutton's Shearwater P. huttoni (2) 1
086 WANDERING ALBATROSS Diomedea exulans 5 (3)
846 ANTIPODEAN ALBATROSS D. antipodensis 1
847 Gibson's Albatross D. gibsoni 14 (8)
088 Black-browed Albatross Thalassarche melanophrys 57 (42)
859 Campbell Albatross T. impavida 14 (8)
931 BULLER'S ALBATROSS T. bulleri 3 (1)
091 Shy Albatross T. cauta 24 (15)
861 White-capped Albatross T. steadi 5 (3)
862 SALVIN'S ALBATROSS T. salvini 3 (2)
089 Indic Yellow-nosed Albatross T. carteri 41 (25)
104 Australasian Gannet Morus serrator 14 (5)
106 Australian Pelican Pelicanus conspicillatus 1
980 Brown Skua Catharacta lonnbergi 10 (5)
981 Kelp Gull Larus dominicanus 4 (4)
125 Silver Gull L. novaehollandiae 67 (36)
115 Crested Tern Sterna bergii 13 (7)
In the harbour:
100 Little Pied Cormorant Phalacrocorax melanoleucos 1
106 Australian Pelican Pelicanus conspicillatus 2 (2)
981 Kelp Gull Larus dominicanus 1 adult
115 Crested Tern Sterna bergii 1
17 species of procellariiformes in a total of 24
species of seabird identified outside the
breakwater.
Other birds
None
Mammals
New Zealand Fur Seal Arctocephalus forsteri 1
Reptiles
None
Fish
None
For previous trip reports and selected images from this trip visit
http://www.sossa-international.org/
Future Trips
All Pelagic Trips from NSW are operated at no
profit to the organizers, being operated as group
boat charters for the benefit of all who wish to
join us. If you would like to join one of these
trips please contact us as detailed below:
To make a booking on the SOSSA Wollongong Pelagic
Trips that departs on the 4th Saturday of each
month contact:
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
Technology Specialist
Australian Cancer Research Foundation 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
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