BIRDLIFE AUSTRALIA PELAGIC TRIP off EAGLEHAWK NECK, Tas, Sunday 16^th
September 2012
OBSERVERS: Sue Taylor, Jen Spry, Els Wakefield, Murray Lord, Paul Dodd,
Ruth Woodrow, John Weigel, Mark Stanley, Geoff Jones, Scott Baker, Tim
Collins and Rohan Clarke (organiser/report compiler)
WEATHER: A 15 knot NW in the AM increasing slightly as we crossed the
shelf before moderating to 5 knots and variable by 1100 where it
remained for the remainder of the day. 95% cloud all day with occasional
patches of brighter light. Good visibility. Cool to mild.
SEA: Reasonably flat through inshore waters with first real swell at the
Hipploytes. In offshore and pelagic waters a 0.5m sea on a 2 m
south-easterly swell with occasional larger sets to 3 m. A comfortable
ride throughout the day. Other than some wind-whipped spray around the
Hippolytes in the AM we remained dry with almost no other spray or
splash. The swell made at 1300 with a change in tide but by this time
the sea had moderated to almost glassy conditions. Another pleasant day
at sea.
ACTIVITY: Sailed at 0705 EST. Headed out past the Hipployte rock stack
before proceeding to the shelf which we crossed at 0855. Few birds out
to the Hippolytes and generally low numbers all the way to the shelf –
indeed there were clearly fewer birds than the previous day. Our first
stop at 43º13.20’S 148º15.37’E started over 250 fathoms were we berleyed
with fish discards and chicken skin. Because it took a long time to
build a core of birds, rather than shift after an hour we elected to
stay at the one site for nearly 3 hours. In that time we drifted 2.5
miles to finish over 600+ fathoms of water. From here we moved towards
Tasman Island to make a second and final berley stop at 43º13.16’S
148º11.17’E over 250 fathoms of water. Headed back in at 1315, docking
at around 1505.
MAMMALS:
Australian Fur Seal: 22 on Hippolyte Rock.
BIRDS: ~23 species beyond Pirates Bay (+ a few additional
albatross/petrel taxa) indicates good diversity. Highlights were good
but brief views of a Grey Petrel, huge numbers of Common Diving Petrels
and excellent views of both Royal Albatross.
Great-winged Petrel: 20 (10). All pelagic. Mostly ssp. gouldii, 2
nominate. All pelagic.
White-headed Petrel: 1 very distant bird providing ‘rubbish views’ at
the second berley point.
Soft-plumaged Petrel: 2 (1). Both very distant bird providing ‘rubbish
views’ at the first berley point.
Cape Petrel: 8 (5). All pelagic. 4 definite nominate and 1 definite
australe.
GREY PETREL: 1 brief flyby at second berley point provided reasonable
views for all on board.
Common Diving Petrel: 600 (100). 3 inshore in AM, 105 offshore in AM, 2
pelagic at the second berley point but then large numbers (500+) in the
PM from 2 miles north of the Hippolytes back to within 4 miles of
Pirates Bay.
Fairy Prion: 8 (4) All pelagic.
Northern Giant-Petrel: 12 (8). Mostly immatures, 2 sub-adults. One
offshore, remainder pelagic.
Southern Giant-Petrel: 1 juvenile at the second berley point.
SOUTHERN ROYAL ALBATROSS: 3 (2). 1 juvenile, 2 immature/sub-adults all
pelagic.
NORTHERN ROYAL ALBATROSS: 2 immatures at the first berley point.
Black-browed Albatross: A single immature at the first berley point.
Shy Albatross all /cauta/steadi/: 70 (35). 5 adults inshore, 15 adults
offshore, remainder pelagic. 1 immature (pelagic), remainder adult.
Salvins Albatross: 1. A single cracking adult at the second berley point.
Yellow-nosed Albatross: 1. A single adult at the first berley point.
Buller’s Albatross: 2 (1). 1 adult near the Hippolytes in the AM, 1
adult (with mottled nape) at both berley points.
Hutton’s Shearwater: 1 pelagic at the first berley point.
Short-tailed Shearwater: 4 (3). 1 offshore in the AM, 3 together at the
second berley point, feeding and diving for scraps.
Sooty Shearwater: 4 (1) all pelagic.
Black-faced Cormorant: 4 inshore in the AM and 110 on and around
Hippolyte Rock.
Australasian Gannet: 3 (2). 1 inshore and 2 pelagic at the first berley
point. Also 10 on the Hippolytes.
Crested Tern: 62 (40). 41 inshore, 1 offshore and 20 pelagic. Also 260
on the Hippolytes.
Kelp Gull: 39 (35). Mostly adult. 2 offshore, remainder inshore. Also 20
on the Hippolytes.
Pacific Gull: 5 adults inshore in AM, 4 adults on the Hippolytes.
Silver Gull: 4 inshore, 1 offshore, plus 30 on and around the Hippolytes.
A White-faced Heron and a White-bellied Sea-Eagle at the Hippolytes
(probably the same two birds as Saturday) rounded out the list.
Regards,
Rohan Clarke
--
Rohan Clarke
www.wildlifeimages.com.au
Latest updates
http://www.pbase.com/wildlifeimages/root&view=recent
--
Rohan Clarke
www.wildlifeimages.com.au
Latest updates
http://www.pbase.com/wildlifeimages/root&view=recent
===============================
To unsubscribe from this mailing list,
send the message:
unsubscribe
(in the body of the message, with no Subject line)
to:
http://birding-aus.org
===============================
|
