Hi All,
The Birdlife Australia pelagic got out off Eaglehawk Neck on the
weekend. An excellent day with ‘swarms’ of birds, a few seals, and one
big Mako Shark, but the hoped for rarities didn’t materialise.
Cheers,
Rohan Clarke
BIRDLIFE Australia PELAGIC TRIP OFF EAGLEHAWK NECK, TASMANIA
Sunday 19th Feb 2012
OBSERVERS: Nick Burford-Baynes, Tristan Burford-Baynes, Dougald
Frederick, Chris Lester, Rosemary Lester, Dan Mantle, Mike Honeyman,
Fatih Sam, David Stowe, Els Wakefield, Alby Wright, Eleanor Wright, &
Rohan Clarke (organiser and report compiler).
WEATHER: 100 % cloud cover throughout the day – the light was especially
poor in the AM as we headed out but conditions brightened somewhat from
about 11 am. It rained (lightly) in the AM for about 15 mins just after
we departed the Hippolytes. Initially a ~10 knot north-westerly. This
moderated slightly through the middle of the day but picked up again as
a sea breeze in the PM. Very occasional white caps but not enough wind
to drive much spray.
SEA: A fairly low sea (0.5 m) on a 1- 1.5 m swell from the
north-northwest that remained much the same throughout the day. The
swell direction meant the ride out wasn’t as comfortable as usual but
once out beyond the shelf the sea settled down a little and it was a
reasonably comfortable day. 1-2 seasick.
ACTIVITY: Departed Pirates Bay Wharf at 0715 EST. Headed down to the
Hippolytes, which we circumnavigated before taking a northerly route to
the shelf. Good numbers of birds on the way out with Buller’s Albatross
in sight almost continuously from just outside Pirates Bay all the way
to the shelf. Crossed the shelf break (100 fathoms) at 0910 before
making our first stop 2 miles beyond the shelf over ~200 fathoms of
water were we berleyed with chicken skin, tuna frames and fish oil for
1.5 hrs. Drifted to 43 07.90 S 148 14.05 E before moving further out to
43 07.21 S, 148 16.62 E over 400 fathoms for another hour-long session.
Headed back to the shelf for a third berley stop before heading for
Pirates Bay at 1330. The run back in was uneventful and we docked just
after 1500.
MAMMALS: Australian Fur Seals ~ 120 on the Hippolytes. Also 40 inshore
in the AM.
Dolphin spp. A single small animal at the first berley point surfaced a
couple of time near the vessel before disappearing. Possibly a Common
Dolphin but not seen well.
BIRDS: 23 species beyond the point at Pirates Bay is an average count
for a Tasmanian pelagic. Highlights were the constant presence of large
numbers of seabirds and reasonable views of Gould’s Petrel.
Wandering Albatross: 8 different birds on plumage, max of 4 together.
All pelagic. All appeared to be gibsoni. No juveniles but plumages
ranged from all-dark winged female-types to very white old male/stage 6
types. The later wasn’t that large and was finely vermiculated so still
most likely a gibsoni.
Black-browed Albatross: 1 sub-adult of the nominate form at the third
berley point.
Shy Albatross: 80 (30). cauta: 3 inshore, 15 offshore, remainder pelagic
including good numbers moving between berley points. Mostly adult but at
least 5 immature birds in pelagic waters and 1 offshore. salvini: 1
adult near the first berley point but alas it didn’t come in.
Buller’s Albatross: 150 (30). The dominant albatross in inshore and
offshore waters (just pipped in abundance by Shy Albatross in pelagic
waters). 18 inshore, 60 offshore and remainder pelagic. All adults (as
is typical off Tasmania).
Southern Giant Petrel: An unseasonal immature at the first berley point.
Wilsons Storm-Petrel: 8 (4). All pelagic.
Grey-backed Storm-Petrel: 30 (20). All pelagic. Many individuals in
heavy primary moult.
White-faced Storm-Petrel: 20 (10). All pelagic.
Fairy Prion: 6 (3). 2 offshore, remainder pelagic. A couple were quite
scruffy with heavy tail moult.
Short-tailed Shearwater: ~25,000 (2000). Mostly offshore but also 2000
inshore in the AM and good numbers (1000+) attending and passing through
each berley point. Once a berley trail was established there was always
500+ Short-tailed Shearwaters wheeling about which made it challenging
to search for other species!
Sooty Shearwater: 2 (1). Singles at the first two berley points. There
were also a few ‘possibles’ in offshore waters and it is likely we
missed a few.
Fluttering Shearwater: 1 pelagic at the first berley point.
Hutton’s Shearwater: 1 pelagic at the first berley point.
White-chinned Petrel: 60 (30). Mostly pelagic but at least 10 followed
us back into offshore waters and 1 followed us well into inshore waters.
Great-winged Petrel: 5 (3). Most appeared to be gouldi but there was one
that was a bit darker faced and more finely built – possibly a bird of
the nominate form but not definitely so.
GOULD’S PETREL: 3 (2). Two brief flybys at the second berley stop. A
third bird hung around for a few minutes but mostly remained distant.
Common Diving-Petrel: 2 in offshore waters in the AM provided very good
views. At least 1 more noted in offshore waters on the return leg.
Australasian Gannet: 60 (40), 1 pelagic, 5 offshore, remainder inshore.
Also 150+ on and around the Hippolytes.
Black-faced Cormorant: 40 inshore in the AM and ~380 on and around the
Hippolytes.
Crested Tern: 20 (8). 4 inshore, 1 offshore and 15 pelagic. Also 20 on
the Hippolytes in the AM
Pacific Gull: 2 inshore in the AM.
Kelp Gull: 75 inshore in the AM. Also about 50 on and around the Hippolytes
Silver Gull: 4 inshore and about 10 around the Hippolytes.
To round out the list a large Mako Shark (estimated to be 8+ feet and
~300 kg by the crew) entertained us at the first berley point. It made
numerous close approaches, tried (unsuccessfully) to eat a White-chinned
Petrel, devoured a couple of tuna frames and at one stage stuck its head
out and chewed on the transom.
Cheers,
Rohan Clarke
--
Rohan Clarke
www.wildlifeimages.com.au
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