Port Stephens Pelagic Trip Report - Sun 12th December 2010
Boat: M.V.Argonaut, skippered by Ray Horsefield
OBSERVERS
Michael Kearns, Nick Livanos, Liz Livanos, Greg Little, Judy Little, Dick
Jenkin, Marj Kibby, Neil Fraser, Dick Holroyde, Allan Richardson, Mike Newman,
Alan Stuart, Steve Roderick and Mick Roderick (leader and organiser).
CONDITIONS
Too good! A gentle westerly was in our backs as we crossed the sea that had an
approximate 0.5m swell. Not far from the shelf the influence of the offshore
breeze dropped off completely such that the sea surface was very smooth once in
the deep water. This was to be the trend for the day until a welcome nor-easter
hit us when we were about 4 miles from the heads (and which appeared to spring
the birds into action). Water temperature at the shelf not noted but the
presence of species such as Dolphinfish and Pan-tropical Bottlenose Dolphins a
good sign that it was at least in the low 20’s.
Interestingly, a recent unrelenting bout of nor-easters had potentially caused
(via Coriolis effects and Ekman transport phenomenon) the warm water currents
that had been pushing down the NSW coast to remain eastwards of the shelf
break,
with cold (reportedly as low as 15 degrees) water persisting near the coast
south of about Port Macquarie (much to the ire of my surfer mates). I mused
that
such an effect could work favourably in terms of sea-surface food (i.e. cold
water meeting warm water and resulting in upwelling of nutrients) and according
to the MHL maps these waters met right at the shelf. The large number of sea
creatures at the shelf could have been a result of this? If anyone has a theory
or input into this I’d be very interested to hear it.
HIGHLIGHTS
The fish and mammals. There were no clear avian highlights on this trip, apart
perhaps from the good numbers of Pomarine Jaegers at the back of the boat once
the Shearwaters decided to start feeding close to port.
SUMMARY
DepartedNelson Bay Public Wharfat 0710, returning at 1745.
After some initial interest shown by a couple of Arctic and Pomarine Jaegers,
it
was a very lonely trip out for the Argonaut and the punters. In fact, it stayed
that way for virtually the whole day. Two Wandering Albatross were seen
distantly sitting on the water about half-way out, and aside from the
occasional
Wedge-tailed or Short-tailed Shearwater flying past, these were the only birds
seen en-route to close to the drop-off.
Just short of the shelf break a few White-faced Storm-petrels were seen feeding
along a current line, but we decided to push on into deeper water. A drift was
set-up at 32 56 49 / 152 33 47 and almost at the instant that we did a Sooty
Shearwater zoomed past. But for the next 90 minutes or so not a single bird
came
in to the back of the boat. There was barely any activity in the slick, apart
from some incidental Wedge-tailed Shearwaters and White-faced Stormies. A large
pod of Risso’s Dolphins cruised past not long after our arrival and at one
point
a medium-sized shark (probable Whaler, possibly Black) cruised up to boat to
check us out. But for birds it was one of those days when set the slick and
berley trail up and you wait for birds to come to you. It never happened. The
conditions were decidedly calm and we all willed on the nor-easter forecast to
hit during the afternoon.
After reaching 33 01 48 / 152 31 47 we decided to head back to the current line
where the Stormies had been bouncing around and although there was more
activity
at this spot, it was still a big zero for birds behind the boat. We did add
Wilson’s Storm-petrel (2) and Flesh-footed Shearwater (1) to the day’s list
here. Finally, the only Pterodroma for the day, in the form of a Great-winged
(Grey-faced) Petrel came and went. The highlight however, was an extensive,
loose pod of Pan-tropical Spotted Dolphins that moved through and stretched
across quite a section of ocean to the east. A single Dolphinfish showed
interest in the boat and along with the dolphins was an indication of warm
water
in the vicinity.
Feeling a little deflated at the almost absolute lack of birds, we headed back
for port. In a great twist, about 4 miles from the heads (and almost at the
exact moment the nor-easter got up) we were suddenly descended upon by a couple
of hundred Wedge-tailed Shearwaters and a dozen or so Fleshy-foots. Good
numbers
of Pomarine Jaegers then came in, along with an immature Black-browed
Albatross,
a Hutton’s Shearwater, a couple more Sooty Shearwaters and a handful of Crested
Terns – there was now a complete frenzy behind the stern! We enjoyed this
spectacle until we rounded Point Stephens (especially one passenger who was on
their maiden pelagic).
Cheers,
Mick Roderick
BIRDS
Species: Approximate total (maximum number around the boat at one time)
White-faced Storm-petrel: 15 (4)
Wilson’s Storm-petrel: 2 (2)
Black-browed Albatross: 1
Wandering Albatross: 2 (1)
Hutton’s Shearwater: 1
Wedge-tailed Shearwater: 250 (200)
Flesh-footed Shearwater: 11 (10)
Short-tailed Shearwater: 5 (1)
Sooty Shearwater: 3 (1)
Great-winged (Grey-faced) Petrel: 1
Australasian Gannet: 10 (8)
Crested Tern: 7 (4)
Pomarine Jaeger: 14 (7)
Arctic Jaeger: 5 (2)
MAMMALS
Inshore Bottlenose Dolphin: 12
Indo-Pacific Bottlenose Dolphin: 20
Risso’s Dolphin: 40
Pan-tropical Spotted Dolphin: 200+
FISH
Hammerhead Shark: 1
(Black?) Whaler Shark: 1
Dolphinfish: 1
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