Port
Stephens Pelagic Trip Report – Sun 14th October 2012
Boat:
M.V.Argonaut, skippered by Ray Horsefield
OBSERVERS
June
Harris, Kathy and Peter Wilk, Michael Kearns, Tiffany Mason, Alan Morris, Ann
Lindsey, Alan Stuart, Peter Crane, Steve Edwards, Dick Jenkin, Dave Stuart,
Steve
Roderick and Mick Roderick (organiser).
CONDITIONS
The
influence of the low pressure system that moved up the east coast of south-east
Australia on Friday was barely noticed, with only slight swells and light
winds. An exception was a brief period just before reaching the shelf break
where a briefly-spaced moderate swell with white caps from a 15 knot southerly
blow made for a rather sloppy run into deeper water. Once at the shelf the
swell and winds dropped off considerably and it was a comfortable tea-bag out
there for the entire duration.
HIGHLIGHTS
The
clear highlight for the day was a most unexpected bird for an October pelagic
trip off the NSW mid-north coast; a Common Diving Petrel. It was amongst friends
though, as the general species list and ‘vibe’ of the day was certainly that of
winter birds.
SUMMARY
Departed
Nelson Bay Public Wharf at 0710, returning at 1635.
For
the second time running, we had 5 ‘first-timers’ on board the Argonaut. It was
a pretty slow start with scarcely a bird seen for the first few miles until a
few Wedge-tailed Shearwaters started to appear. Numbers slowly grew, punctuated
by the occasional Short-tailed. Not once during the day did we see signs of
migrating flocks and the biggest concentration of Short-taileds was probably
amongst
the feeding Wedgies behind the boat on the return leg. A very early Wilson’s
Storm-petrel
was seen about 6 miles from the heads.
A
distinct change in the birds came about 5 miles short of the shelf, when
albatross
after albatross appeared from nearly every compass point. Soon we had nearly
double-figures of Shy Albatross alone, as well as a few Black-broweds (with at
least 3 Campbell Albies seen). Once at the shelf a drift was started at 32
55.001
/ 152 35.366. There was barely a shearwater to be seen and it was all albatross
showing interest in the boat. A rapid fire Great-winged and Solander’s Petrels
appeared within a minute of each other while the number of Wilson’s Stormie
slowly grew in the slick. A lone Brown Skua appeared as well and spent some
time scavenging at the stern, as a few Gannets came and went.
As
two juvenile Yellow-nosed Albatross arrived, it was certainly appearing that
the day really did have a winter feel to it. A lone Flesh-footed Shearwater
(only
seen by two observers) was the only one seen all day. But soon the biggest
surprise was to appear to really drive home this wintery feel. Steve and I
glanced to the rear of the stern and we both noticed a small bird sitting on
the water, but it was too small even for a Fluttering-type Shearwater. We were
both a bit shocked when it dawned on us that we were looking at a Common Diving
Petrel! The bird took “flight” (as well as those birds do) and plopped back
onto the water about 50m down the slick. Eventually it drifted out of sight,
disappearing as clandestine as it had arrived. A new bird for the Hunter Region
list and not one that any of us were expecting to see today.
Not
long after this an unusual Great-winged Petrel came in, showing large
“white-flashes”
on the upperwing. This turned out to be due to virtually every part of every
secondary feather worn to the point that only the shaft remained.
Singles
of Cape Petrel and White-faced Storm-petrel and a handful of Sooty Shearwaters
were added to the days list before leaving our drift at 32 53.949 / 152 33.944.
No species were added on the way back to port but reasonable views were had of
Fluttering Shearwaters amongst the inshore throng of Wedgies and Short-taileds.
Alas a distant Jaeger at the rear of this feeding throng was way too far away to
call.
Cheers,
Mick
Roderick
BIRDS
Species:
Total (maximum number visible from the boat at one time)
Wilson’s
Storm-petrel: 20 (12)
White-faced
Storm-petrel: 1
Fluttering
Shearwater: 8 (2)
Wedge-tailed
Shearwater: 600 (200)
Short-tailed
Shearwater: 250 (50)
Sooty
Shearwater: 4 (2)
Flesh-footed
Shearwater: 1
Yellow-nosed
Albatross: 3 (2)
Black-browed
Albatross: 15 (4) [at least 3x Campbell]
Shy
Albatross: 18 (7)
Solander’s
Petrel: 6 (3)
Great-winged
Petrel: 3(2)
Cape
Petrel: 1
COMMON
DIVING PETREL: 1
Australasian
Gannet: 12 (4)
Crested
Tern: 3 (2)
Brown
Skua: 2 (1)
Jaeger
sp.: 1
Silver
Gull: 14 (6)
MAMMALS
Humpback
Whale: 3
Short-beaked
Common Dolphin: 8
Oceanic
Bottlenose Dolphin: 20+
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