Hi All,
Here's the trip report for second of two pelagic trips that ran off
Eaglehawk Neck last weekend.
Cheers,
Rohan
Birdlife Australia Pelagic Trip off Eaglehawk Neck, Tas, Sunday 28th
July 2013
OBSERVERS: Scott Baker, Tim Bawden, Paul Dodd, Dougald Frederick, Mona
Loofs-Samorzewski, Rowan Mott, Glen Pacey, Mark Stanley, Els Wakefield,
John Weigel, Ruth Woodrow and Rohan Clarke (organiser/report compiler).
WEATHER: A 5-10 kt northerly inshore, increasing to a 10-15 kt northerly
offshore and in pelagic waters - much the same for the remainder of the
day, except for a 20 kt squall as we returned to Pirates Bay. 50% low
cloud + high hazy cloud. Good to excellent visibility but a bit dull for
photography at times. Cool to mild.
SEA: 1 m swell in inshore waters increasing to 1.5-2 m swell with a
0.5-1 m sea in offshore and pelagic waters. A bit of a roll when moving
side on to the swell but otherwise a comfortable ride through the day.
Some spray whilst underway. A sea surface temperature of 14.2 C was
noted at the shelf (atypically warm for late July).
ACTIVITY: Departed at 0715 EST. Headed NNE across Pirates Bay and then
directly out to the shelf (missing the Hippolytes rock stack to avoid
punching into the forecast rough sea later in the day). Crossed the
shelf at 0855. Our first stop was at 42º57.37’S 148º20.20’E over 500
fathoms were we berleyed with fish discards, chicken skin and shark
liver. Moved further out to 43º01.58’S 148º21.13’E over 600 fathoms for
a second berley stop. The last stop of the day was back on the shelf
edge (43º00.52’S 148º15.05’E ~100 fathoms). Headed back in at 1330,
docking at around 1505.
MAMMALS:
Aust. Fur Seal: 1 inshore in the AM, 1 offshore in the PM.
BIRDS: 19 species beyond Pirates Bay indicates low diversity (we didn’t
even record a Silver Gull!). Highlights were excellent views of Southern
Royal Albatross, White-fronted Tern, both Giant-Petrels and the more
common species of albatross. This list follows current IOC taxonomy.
Southern Royal Albatross: 1 adult visited us at both the 1st and 2nd
berley points.
Black-browed Albatross: 2 (1). Both adults, both pelagic. Certainly two
different birds as 1 was sporting a red colour band the details of which
have been reported to the Australian Bird and Bat Banding Scheme.
Shy Albatross cauta/steadi: 100 (65). 3 inshore, 12 offshore, remainder
pelagic. 10 immatures (1 inshore, 9 pelagic), remainder adult.
Indian Yellow-nosed Albatross: 10 (6). All adult. 1 inshore, 2 offshore,
remainder pelagic. 1 grey-hooded individual was of interest; the sharply
pointed yellow streak at the base of the culminicorn confirmed it was
Indian and not Atlantic Yellow-nosed Albatross.
http://www.pbase.com/wildlifeimages/bullers_albatross
Buller’s Albatross: 40 (30). All adult. 3 inshore remainder pelagic.
http://www.pbase.com/wildlifeimages/bullers_albatross
Fairy Prion: 40 (10). All pelagic.
Northern Giant-Petrel: 1 immature at the 2nd berley point.
Southern Giant-Petrel: 1 juvenile at the 1st and 2nd berley point.
Great-winged Petrel: 35 (20). All pelagic. All ssp. gouldi.
Sooty Shearwater: 10 (2). 8 pelagic, 2 offshore in the PM.
Fluttering Shearwater: 1 pelagic.
Grey-backed Storm-Petrel: 2 (1). Both pelagic.
Common Diving Petrel: 44 (10). 27 inshore, 14 offshore, 3 pelagic.
Australasian Gannet: 7 (3). All adults. 2 inshore, 5 pelagic.
Black-faced Cormorant: 1 inshore in the AM.
Pacific Gull: 3 adults inshore in the PM.
Kelp Gull: 6 (3). All adult, all inshore.
Crested Tern: 38 (10). 3 inshore, 15 offshore, 20 pelagic.
White-fronted Tern: 7 (3). All pelagic. 4 adults, 3 juvenile.
An adult Peregrine Falcon at sea flying north-west towards the coast 3
miles off ‘The Sisters’ was the only ‘landbird’ for the day.
--
Rohan Clarke
www.wildlifeimages.com.au
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