Hi Del,
Nice! here are some storm-petrel records for the Coral Sea:
I did a trip in May 1997 from Townsville to the Mouth of the Fly and then east
round the coast of PNG to the mouth of the Sepik, aboard the RV Franklin. Left
Tsvl on the 8th, headed north inside the reef and saw 3 Brown Boobies between
12:20 and 18:00!
On the 9th we crossed from the GBR to the Qld Trough at dawn, about the
latitude of Cape Tribulation: 1 Fluttering Shearwater, 1 WFSP, 1 WISP and 2
BBSP (+ Tahiti Petrel, Streaked and Wedege-tailed Sheawaters, terns, boobies,
frigates).
On 10th, in NE Coral Sea 1 adult Long-tailed Jaeger, no storm-petrels.
14-15 june 1997, Cairns to Herald Cays, aboard a small charter boat. On 15th: 1
WISP, 1 WFSP and 1 BBSP .
28-29 June, Herald Cays to Cairns, aboard a small charter boat. From dawn to
midday on the 29th over the Coral sea plateau (relatively shallow) and from
midday to 15:00 over the Qld Trench (deep), and then into the GBR. In the
morning 10 WBSP, 1 BBSP and 1 WISP. over the Trench 8 BBSP. On the reef, no
storm-petrels. Somewhere outside the reef (notes not clear) there was an
all-dark storm-petrel the size of a Fregatta but wings possibly more
angular like an Oceanodroma (brief views in poor light).
13-17 Sept 1998, Cairns to Herald and Coringa Cays, and return aboard a Navy
Patrol Boat: no storm-petrels or jaegers of any kind.
Stokes & Corben (1985: Corella 9: 25-9) reported on an 11 day survey of the
coral sea and GBR in May in 1981. They recorded WISP, WFSP, WBSP and BBSP
over vast areas, but in the n. GBR only storm-petrel was 1 WISP and no
jaegers.
I haven't heard of very many records of all dark WBSP in mainland waters. I'd
be interested to know why you eliminate Swinhoes especially and other all
dark Oceanodroma spp?
Cheers
From: Del Richards <>
To: ; Sean Dooley <>
Sent: Saturday, 7 May 2011 11:04 AM
Subject: White-bellied Storm-Petrel off Port Douglas.
On Tuesday 3rd May I was on a reef fishing charter out of Port Douglas when
I observed an all dark storm-petrel for a time within forty metres of the
vessel that I was on.
I am familiar with Wilson's Storm-Petrel which I have seen here on three
occassions on such charters, however this bird lacked any white or pale
features at all. On checking field guides I identified it as a dark morph of
the White-bellied Storm-Petrel. The location was at Batt Reef (16o 26' E 145o
47' S) about eleven nautical miles east of Port Douglas.
That day followed about a week of sustained south-easterly onshore winds
reaching almost thirty knots. At the time winds were from that direction at
about twelve knots.
I had Martin Cachard who has wide experience with pelagics check with my
identification.
In my view there is something of a void in knowledge with Barrier Reef
waters as few birders get to spend time in the region for sustained periods.
Admittedly some records are within the confines of university student reports
which (sadly) don't seem to reach the notice of the birding fraternity.
Some years ago I observed a Pomarine Jaeger off Snapper Island which lies
adjacent to the mouth of the Daintree River. To me that also was most
unexpected. Given the lack of competent observers afloat in the area there is
probably more pelagic seabird movement than is realised.
Del. Richards, Fine Feather Tours, Mossman, NQ.
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