Hi All,
We had two pelagic trips off Eaglehawk Neck, SE Tasmania on the
weekend. The highlight on both days was the great diversity of cold
water specialists. Below is the report for Saturday.
Cheers,
Rohan Clarke
BIRDLIFE PELAGIC TRIP OFF EAGLEHAWK NECK, TASMANIA
Saturday 14th September 2013
OBSERVERS: Tim Bawden, Geof Bromfield, Dave Bullock, Steve Edwards,
Dougald Frederick, John Lillywhite, Marlene Lyle, Glen Pacey, Jim
Sneddon, Jenny Spry, John Weigel & Rohan Clarke (organiser and report
compiler).
WEATHER: 80% cloud cover through much of the day, clearing
occasionally for short breaks of sunlight. Cool but not particularly
cold. Initial calm conditions built to a 10 knot northerly around 0800
where it stayed for the rest of the day.
SEA: Almost glassy on a moderate swell as we headed out. This built to
a 1-1.5 m swell with a 0.5 m sea at the Hippolytes and beyond. A very
comfortable ride with no spray or slop. No one noticeably seasick.
ACTIVITY: Departed Pirates Bay Wharf at 0715. Headed to the shelf
break via the Hippolytes (a prominent rock stack). Except for Common
Diving-Petrels there were few birds on the way out. Before we reached
the shelf the first White-headed Petrel flew past ? an indicator of
what lay ahead. Crossed the shelf (100 fathoms) at 0900 before making
our first stop at 43º12.55?S 148º11.89?E over 180 fathoms of water.
With berley the number of birds gradually increased. Although we had
soon logged Grey Petrel, Soft-plumaged Petrel we stayed here for only
half an hour before moving further out to much deeper water. This
second stop was made at 43º15.57?S 148º15.28?E over 500-700 fathoms
and then a final stop was made back on the shelf break very near to
our first berley stop. Headed back in at 1335. Docked at 15:15.
MAMMALS
Australian Fur Seals: 15 on the Hippolytes.
NZ Fur Seal: 1 on the Hippolytes.
BIRDS: 29 seabird species (+1 possible) beyond the point at Pirates
Bay is above average for a Tasmanian pelagic. Highlights were the
suite of sought-after cold water specialties including Light-mantled
Sooty and Grey-headed Albatross, Grey and Blue Petrels. Numbers of
petrels, especially White-headed Petrels, were exceptional. Almost all
of the petrels and most of the albatross passed the vessel on a
southerly course with only a cursory visit to the vessel meaning
double counting was unlikely.
SOUTHERN ROYAL ALBATROSS: 3 (2). At least 3 different individuals on
plumage. All pelagic.
NORTHERN ROYAL ALBATROSS: 1. An immature at the 2nd berley point
landed behind the boat and approached closely.
WANDERING ALBATROSS: 5 (4). At least 5 different individuals ? all
huge with rather clean white plumage. At least 2 additional birds that
were either Wandering or Antipodean Albatross.
Antipodean Albatross: 9 (4). At least 9 different individuals on
plumage. A good number together at the back of the boat. One brown
bird with a very dark brown cap was a potential antipodensis (cf
gibsoni). All pelagic, but 2 followed us back into offshore waters.
Black-browed Albatross: 3 (2). 2 adults and 1 immature beyond the shelf.
Campbell Albatross: 2 (1). 1 adult and 1 immature beyond the shelf.
Shy Albatross: 70 (20). 5 inshore, 6 offshore, remainder pelagic. All
adult. The dominant albatross of the day. All cauta-like except for
single white-headed adult with no yellow towards the bill base which
may have been steadi.
GREY-HEADED ALBATROSS: 2 (1). Both pelagic. A worn adult at the second
berley point and a distant juvenile near the third berley point.
LIGHT-MANTLED SOOTY ALBATROSS: 2 (1). Both pelagic, both adult.
Different individuals on plumage. Rather distant.
SALVINS PRION: 2 (2). Both pelagic.
[Slender-billed Prion: 1 pelagic flyby was probably this species.]
Short-tailed Shearwater: 20 (15). 2 inshore, 18 offshore.
Sooty Shearwater: 2 (1). 1 offshore, 1 pelagic.
Northern Giant Petrel: 6 (3). 2 immatures offshore, 3 immatures, 1
juvenile pelagic.
Southern Giant Petrel: 5 (2). 1 juvenile, 2 immatures offshore, 2
juveniles pelagic.
Common Diving Petrel: 130 (20). 16 inshore, 20 pelagic, remainder offshore.
Great-winged Petrel: 76 (5). All NZ gouldi. 5 in offshore waters in
the PM remainder pelagic.
WHITE-HEADED PETREL: 110 (5). 2 offshore in the AM (90 fathoms),
remainder pelagic as a steady stream heading south - a remarkable
count for a one-day pelagic.
SOFT-PLUMAGED PETREL: 4 (1). 1 offshore in the AM (90 fathoms),
remainder pelagic.
BLUE PETREL: 32 (4). All pelagic.
GREY PETREL: 7 (2). All pelagic. Some approached and stayed for a
while, at least one landed on the sea surface.
White-chinned Petrel: 3 (1). All pelagic.
Cape Petrel: 5 (5). All pelagic. All of the nominate ssp.
Little Penguin: 13 (10). 3 offshore in the AM, 10 pelagic as a single
tight group.
Australasian Gannet: 4 (2). 2 inshore, 2 offshore plus 10 sitting on
the Hipploytes
Black-faced Cormorant: 15 (6) All inshore. Also 31 perched on the Hippolytes.
Crested Tern: 5 (2). 1 offshore, 4 pelagic.
Pacific Gull: 7 (2). All inshore in the AM. 6 adults, 1 second year bird.
Kelp Gull: 17 (12). All inshore in the AM. About 80 on the Hippolytes.
Almost entirely adult but at least 1 second-year bird.
Silver Gull: 22 (14). All inshore.
A Skylark that flew around the boat over pelagic waters (500+ fathoms)
was a surprise. Single Swamp Harrier, Peregrine Falcon and Forest
Raven at the Hippolytes rounded out the list.
--
Rohan Clarke
www.wildlifeimages.com.au
===============================
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
===============================
|
