Hi again,
Below is the text of the trip report for the Sunday Albany Pelagic. A version
with accompanying photos can be seen at
http://wabirdingblog.blogspot.com.au/2013/05/albany-pelagic-trip-report-5-may-2013.html
A second excellent trip, highlighted by two Sooty Albatross, a Black-bellied
Storm-Petrel, and a 4th South Polar Skua for the weekend Cheers,John
Participants: Alan Collins (Organiser), John Graff (Organiser), Sue Abbotts,
Xenia Dennett, Stewart Ford, Alison Gye, William Gye, Jane Hogben, Ross Hogben,
John Lillywhite, Dan Mantle, Michael Morcombe, Simon Nevill, Glen Pacey, Ray
Turnbull, John Weigel Conditions: Seas were forecast to be around 1m, with
swell to 2-3m, and light NE’ly winds. Conditions were generally as forecast,
but the wind was light-moderate from the SE throughout the day. Overall,
conditions were fairly typical for an Albany trip Report
Following on from a successful Saturday trip, this was another excellent trip
with at least 13 tubenose species recorded, highlighted by a pair of Sooty
Albatross and at least one Black-bellied Storm-Petrel, along with another South
Polar Skua. We left Emu Point shortly after 0700, picking up a Nankeen
Night-Heron in the harbour as we left. Once again, there were Flesh-footed
Shearwaters well inside King George Sound, along with the customary
Australasian Gannets and Brown Skua. As we cleared the heads, the first Indian
Yellow-nosed Albatross was seen, followed shortly afterwards by a Black-browed
Albatross. Up to three Black-browed Albatross were seen at one time, and one
bird was seen well enough by several people to be identified as a Campbell
Albatross. After an initial albatross burst, a long period of inactivity
followed, punctuated by the first White-faced Storm-Petrel and two possible
Little Shearwaters. Shortly before we reached the shelf, the first Shy
Albatross made an appearance in the wake, and the first Wilson’s Storm-Petrel
was also seen. We stopped the boat at 1000m depth in a similar area to the
Saturday trip. Before we had even deployed the chum, the first Soft-plumaged
Petrel made an appearance, and an immature Black-browed Albatross landed at the
back of the boat with the Flesh-footed Shearwaters. We deployed the chum, and
several Indian Yellow-nosed Albatrosses arrived, along with Wilson’s &
White-faced Storm-Petrel and the first Great-winged Petrel. A young Shy
Albatross also arrived. The first major excitement came when a Wandering
Albatross suddenly appeared in the wake, but unfortunately did not stay long. A
Northern Giant-Petrel then arrived from the port side and made a pass, but
again did not stay long. A second individual appeared shortly afterwards and
hung around for longer. Then the skipper spotted a young Wandering Albatross
crossing the bow, which hung around for a while, at one point landing in the
slick well away from the boat. However, the major excitement was still to come,
when the call went out for a Sooty Albatross which made a pass on the port side
and continued on to the west. Before it was out of sight, the call went out for
a second Sooty Albatross, this one also coming from behind the boat but passing
along the starboard side before following the first bird off to the west. The
excitement was only just dying down when a Black-bellied Storm-Petrel appeared
amongst a group of Wilson’s Storm-Petrels just off the stern. It only made a
brief pass, but a short while later it (or another) reappeared off the stern
and gave slightly longer views as it flew across the stern then back up the
slick. The number of Wilson’s Storm-Petrels in the slick had also grown to at
least 53 We had again drifted a reasonable distance, so we travelled back up to
the start of our slick and stopped again. Most of the species already seen were
present. The first excitement came from a South Polar Skua, paler than any of
the three seen on the Saturday trip, which hung around at the back of the boat
for some time harassing the shearwaters. Another two Wandering Albatross made
passes, along with another Shy Albatross, and a Campbell Albatross made a pass
and settled on the water in front of the boat. A Blue Shark also made an
appearance at the back of the boat. We started the return journey just before
1400, with a brief stop for the crew to try to catch themselves dinner, without
success! The trip back did not add any new species, but several Black-browed
Albatross were again encountered close to the heads, along with a single
Campbell Albatross. A flock of 20 Australasian Gannet were seen on the water
inside King George Sound, and a few Flesh-footed Shearwaters followed us across
the sound almost to the harbour, where we docked at approximately 1630. As
always, many thanks to all the participants, and to Tony and Fred from Spinners
Charters. Species List [Total Count (Maximum no. seen at one time)]
Wandering Albatross [sp] 4 (1)
Indian Yellow-nosed Albatross 18 (6)
Black-browed Albatross 10 (3)
Campbell Albatross 3 (1)
Shy Albatross 4 (2)
SOOTY ALBATROSS 2 (2)
Northern Giant-Petrel 2 (1)
Great-winged Petrel 12 (6)
Soft-plumaged Petrel 8 (2)
Flesh-footed Shearwater 250 (45)
Wilson's Storm-Petrel 250 (53)
White-faced Storm-Petrel 15 (4)
Black-bellied Storm-Petrel 1-2 (1)
Brown Skua 4 (1)
SOUTH POLAR SKUA 1 (1)
Australasian Gannet 32 (20) Blue Shark 1 (1)
===============================
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
===============================
|
