Three trips: 20th August, 2004 21st August, 2004 28th August, 2004
20th August, 2004 SOSSA PELAGIC TRIP, WOLLONGONG, NSW, AUSTRALIA.
Report prepared by: P.J. Milburn.
Departed: 07:40 returned at approx. 16:30.
Sea conditions: Calm at first later SW to 1m.
Swell: 1.0m SE offshore.
Weather: Warm winter sunshine.
Temperature range: 9.0 to 21.5°C.
Barometric pressure: 1017 HPa steady.
Wind: NE to 5 knots at first backing to SW 7 to 10 knots later in the morning and becoming light and variable in the afternoon.
Sea surface temperature: 16.1 to 20.6°C. Primary chumming locations: S 34° 35’ – E 151° 17’ and S 34° 35’ – E 151° 22’.
Summary: An anticyclone located over southern New South Wales generated pleasant conditions for a pelagic excursion. The arrival of this stable air mass was preceded by a period of strong cold southerly airflow leading to an expectation that we should encounter some sub-Antarctic species. As a counterpoint, at the end of August we expect the summer-breeding species to return to NSW waters. As we passed the breakwater we knew that it would be at least a pleasant day but nobody could have predicted what we were to be treated to during the day.
Our first encounter was with a male Australian Fur-Seal just outside the harbour. Post-spawning Giant Cuttlefish (Sepia aparma) were still in evidence at the surface and a number of Black-browed Albatross were conspicuously cruising the area. A White-capped Albatross and Southern Giant-Petrel were also foraging over the inshore reefs. The first returning Wedge-tailed Shearwaters of the coming breeding season were present and both Fluttering and Hutton’s shearwaters passed us heading to the north. White-fronted Terns appeared early and seemed to be around all through the day.
As we cruised due east we encountered the first few Wedge-tailed Shearwaters of the summer. At the 70-fathom line a prominent current line indicated a water front and the surface temperature jumping by a full one degree. A large group of Short-beaked Common Dolphin was foraging in the area and amongst the albatross was a second-year GREY-HEADED ALBATROSS. Indic Yellow-nosed and Campbell Albatross were also foraging in this warmer water.
At the edge of the Continental Shelf were several Solander’s Petrels and a pristine male Gibson’s Albatross. At the 300-fathom line we were joined by a male WANDERING ALBATROSS that ultimately was captured and banded by the SOSSA team. As we headed further east we found another productive area, with an adult BULLER’S ALBATROSS, a second year SHY ALBATROSS and another second year GREY-HEADED ALBATROSS present. We continued east toward our intended location for a drift-and-berley session but most of the birds disappeared, including the Silver Gulls that had troubled us all morning. Our drift was disappointing, although we did attract a good number of Solander’s Petrels.
The cruise back to port was equally productive and, in addition, brought some major surprises. A lucky few of us saw a GREEN TURTLE briefly along the port side as we passed it. A female Gibson’s Albatross flew up the wake and came to the boat as we reached the edge of the Continental Shelf. Several stunning adult Campbell Albatross were present also along with another adult BULLER’S ALBATROSS. The sea was glassy smooth by this stage and it was wonderful to see these magnificent birds at such close range, mirrored in the blue ocean. Amazingly, the fun was not over yet because as we reached the 70-fathom line a first year BROWN BOOBY appeared from the east, which flew across our stern at full tilt and disappeared rapidly northward. Soon after, the first Brown Skua of the day appeared and made repeated passes overhead.
Close to the harbour two Humpbacked Whales and a Southern Giant-Petrel were the finishing touches to a very enjoyable day at sea.
Highlights:
An excellent day for viewing seabirds with nine species of albatross being recorded, including GREY-HEADED ALBATROSS, SHY ALBATROSS, BULLER’S ALBATROSS and WANDERING ALBATROSS. Bizarre winter occurrences of BROWN BOOBY and GREEN TURTLE made the day almost surreal!
Birds recorded according to the latest Environment Australia Reporting Schedule: Species code: Species name: Numbers: (Note: numbers in parenthesis = highest count at any one time)
929Southern Giant-Petrel Macronectes giganteus 2 (1)
971 Solander’s Petrel Pterodroma solandri 38 (35)
068 Fluttering Shearwater Puffinus gavia 9 (3)
917 Hutton’s Shearwater P. huttoni 29 (20)
069 Wedge-tailed Shearwater P. pacificus 8 (4)
086 WANDERING ALBATROSS Diomedea exulans 1adult male
847 Gibson’s Albatross D. gibsoni 2 (1)
088 Black-browed Albatross Thalassarche melanophrys 20 (5)
859 Campbell Albatross T. impavida 9 (3)
931 BULLER’S ALBATROSS T. bulleri (2) 1
091 SHY ALBATROSS T. cauta 1 second year
861 White-capped Albatross T. steadi 5 (1)
864Indic Yellow-nosed Albatross T.carteri 12 (6)
090 GREY-HEADED ALBATROSS T. chrysostoma 2 (1)
104 Australasian Gannet Morus serrator 10 (6)
102 BROWN BOOBY Sula leucogaster 1 first year
097 Little Black Cormorant, Phalacrocorax sulcirostris 1
106 Australian Pelican Pelicanus conspicillatus 2 (1)
980 Brown Skua Catharacta lonnbergi 3 (1)
981 Kelp Gull Larus dominicanus 6 (6)
125 Silver Gull L. novaehollandiae 180+ (115+)
114 White-fronted tern Sterna striata 15 (5)
115 Crested Tern S. bergii 51 (31)
In the harbour:
101 Australian Darter Anhinga melanogaster 1 male
106 Australian Pelican Pelicanus conspicillatus 5
115 Crested Tern Sterna bergii 2 23 species of seabird identified outside the breakwater.
Other birds:
None
Mammals:
Australian Fur-Seal Arctocephalus pusillus 1
Humpback Whale Megaptera novaeangliae 2 (2)
Short-beaked Common Dolphin Delphinus delphis 135+ (135+)
Reptiles:
GREEN TURTLE Chelonia mydas japonica 1
21st August, 2004 SOSSA PELAGIC TRIP, WOLLONGONG, NSW, AUSTRALIA.
Report prepared by: P.J. Milburn.
Departed: 07:50 returned at approx. 17:50.
Sea conditions: Calm at first later W to 1.5m by mid morning decreasing later in the day.
Swell: 1.0 to 1.5m SE offshore.
Weather: Warm winter sunshine with patchy cloud, increasing later.
Temperature range: 13.2 to 20.2°C.
Barometric pressure: 1018 HPa rising.
Wind: W to 10 knots at first rising to 15 knots later in the morning but easing in the afternoon.
Sea surface temperature: 16.0 to 20.4°C. Primary chumming locations: None due to the uncomfortable choppy sea conditions.
Summary:
An anticyclone located over southern New South Wales continued to generate pleasant conditions for a pelagic excursion. An overnight westerly airflow dampened expectations of a repeat performance of the previous day’s excursion. However clement weather and calm conditions suggested that we would have a pleasant day at sea.
Post-spawning Giant Cuttlefish (Sepia aparma) and schools of Blue Mackerel (Scomber australasicus) were evident on the surface outside the harbour. Black-browed Albatross were conspicuously cruising the area, while an Indic Yellow-nosed and female Gibson’s Albatross were also observed. Apart from an occasional shearwater few other birds were observed. In stark contrast to the lack of avian activity, a Thintail Thresher Shark put on a spectacular display as it attacked a fish shoal at the surface, clearing the water at least five times.
During the cruise out to the Continental Slope we recorded a White-capped Albatross and a Southern Giant-Petrel along with a number of Indic Yellow-nosed Albatross. White-fronted Terns were also around in good numbers.
At the edge of the Continental Shelf were several Solander’s Petrels and a small number of Campbell Albatross but little else was recorded. During the cruise back to port we encountered a Minke Whale at the shelf break, several Brown Skuas and a Northern Giant Petrel. Close to the harbour we enjoyed views of a pod of Short-beaked Common Dolphins.
Highlights:
Although a quiet day with regard to seabirds, a Minke Whale and a Thintail Thresher Shark were memorable.
Birds recorded according to the latest Environment Australia Reporting Schedule: Species code: Species name: Numbers:
(Note: numbers in parenthesis = highest count at any one time)
929Southern Giant-Petrel Macronectes giganteus 1
937Northern Giant-Petrel M. halli 1
971 Solander’s Petrel Pterodroma solandri 5 (2)
068 Fluttering Shearwater Puffinus gavia 6 (6)
917 Hutton’s Shearwater P. huttoni 4 (1)
069 Wedge-tailed Shearwater P. pacificus 4 (1)
847 Gibson’s Albatross Diomedea. gibsoni 1
088 Black-browed Albatross Thalassarche melanophrys 12 (3)
859 Campbell Albatross T. impavida 1 (1)
861 White-capped Albatross T. steadi 5 (2)
864Indic Yellow-nosed Albatross T.carteri 18 (7)
104 Australasian Gannet Morus serrator 9 (2)
980 Brown Skua Catharacta lonnbergi 3 (2)
981 Kelp Gull Larus dominicanus 10 (10)
125 Silver Gull L. novaehollandiae 350+ (250+)
114 White-fronted tern Sterna striata 19 (12)
115 Crested Tern S. bergii 62 (27) In the harbour:
115 Crested Tern Sterna bergii 1 22 species of seabird identified outside the breakwater.
Other birds:
None
Mammals:
Minke Whale Balaenoptera acutorostra 1
Short-beaked Common Dolphin Delphinus delphis 55+ (55+)
Fish:
Thintail Thresher Shark Alopias vulpinus 1
28th August, 2004 SOSSA PELAGIC TRIP, WOLLONGONG, NSW, AUSTRALIA
Report prepared by: P.J. Milburn.
Departed: 07:20 returned at 15:00 EST
Sea conditions: Calm at first but SW to 1m soon after we left port building to S 1.5 to 2m later.
Swell: 1.5m ESE offshore.
Weather: Warm winter sunshine with some patchy cloud developing later in the day. Temperature range: 13.0 to 20.5°C.
Barometric pressure: 1016 HPa steady in the morning rising to 1018 HPa in the afternoon.
Wind: SW 10 knots at first veering to SSW 15 knots by mid morning, then veering E 5 to 10 knots but settling finally to S 10 to 15 knots by lunchtime.
Sea surface temperature: 16.1 to 20.6°C. Primary chumming locations: S 34° 22’ – E 151° 21’.
Summary:
A weak anticyclone was located offshore in the Tasman Sea and had been 
predicted to generate weak onshore SE to NE airflow. Overnight however a cold air mass moving north into southern New South Wales had built into a weak ridge of high pressure that generated unstable conditions along the coast. We left the harbour in pleasant conditions and immediately were seeing small numbers of shearwaters. A Southern Giant-Petrel and several adult Black-browed Albatross were feeding on Giant Cuttlefish (Sepia aparma) over Wollongong Reef. Soon we were among hundreds of Fluttering Shearwaters with groups of Hutton’s Shearwaters among them. Only three miles offshore in 18 fathoms of I drew attention to a manx-type shearwater as loudly as I could. Of course it was among both Hutton’s and Fluttering Shearwaters and I’m not sure how many people saw it as it passed our stern heading north at less than 40m. From a ventral view the bird was identical to a Manx Shearwater but from the rear the bird showed striking white lateral rump patches characteristic of NEWELL’S SHEARWATER.
We cruised east in uncomfortable conditions as the warm currents from the north pushed into the southerly sea. Albatross numbers were well down on the previous week and we were pleased to see our first Indic Yellow-nosed Albatross at a strong current line in 65 fathoms of water. Several Solander’s Petrels and a New Zealand Cape Petrel were also present and we dared to take the early appearance of these petrels as a sign of good things to come. Those facing the bow observed a Humpback Whale breach ahead of us.
A nautical mile or so inside the edge of the Continental Shelf several WHITE-HEADED PETRELS passed in succession, heading north. Then at the 100-fathom line, the nominal interface between the Shelf and Slope of the Continent, things became very exciting as has happened so many times before. Petrels began appearing all around the vessel, including several more White-headed Petrels and additional Cape and Great-winged Petrels. Amid the incoming Solander’s Petrels was an intermediate morph KERMADEC PETREL, whose presence elicited ribald cheering from the top deck! The bird circled us several times and, in a most unusual turn of events, alighted on the water. It allowed us to approach to about 40m before it took flight again and several photographs were obtained. It was then harried by a WHITE-HEADED PETREL and departed.
We elected to drift and berley at this point and recovering slightly from the excitement identified Gibson’s, White-capped and Campbell Albatros
s. Petrels were all around us and sharp eyes on the upper deck found another rarity that was identified as a WESTLAND BLACK PETREL, which had somehow sneaked right upon us unobserved but was unmistakable at less than 10m from our stern! Almost unnoticed, a large pod of Short-beaked Common Dolphins came to investigate us. The cruise back to port was quiet by comparison even though many of the species we had observed already were recorded. A Northern Giant-Petrel and a White-fronted Tern were the only additions to the species list for the day. The numbers of Fluttering and Hutton’s Shearwaters had increased during the day and very large numbers were present offshore almost into the harbour. Despite frenetic searching no other shearwater species were observed among them.
Highlights:
The day began with excitement in the form of a NEWELL’S SHEARWATER (the second recorded on a Wollongong Pelagic trip) that was among the coastal shearwater hordes. After a conspicuous absence during most of the winter a stunning mixture of petrels was recorded; eight species to be exact including WHITE-HEADED, KERMADEC and WESTLAND BLACK PETREL (the first record since 1998).
Birds recorded according to the latest Environment Australia Reporting Schedule: Species code: Species name: Numbers: (Note: numbers in parenthesis = highest count at any one time)
929Southern Giant-Petrel Macronectes giganteus 4 (1)
937Northern Giant-Petrel M. halli 1
080 Cape Petrel Daption capense australe 3 (3)
073 Great-winged Petrel Pterodroma m. macroptera 12 (5)
073 Great-winged Petrel P. macroptera gouldi 3 (1)
077 WHITE-HEADED PETREL P. lessoni 9 (1)
971 Solander’s Petrel P. solandri 20 (10)
922 KERMADEC PETREL P. neglecta 1 intermediate morph
916 WESTLAND BLACK PETREL Procellaria westlandica 1
068 Fluttering Shearwater Puffinus gavia 3 000+
917 Hutton’s Shearwater P. huttoni 150+
069 Wedge-tailed Shearwater P. pacificus 221 (75)
000 NEWELL’S SHEARWATER P. newelli 1
847 Gibson’s Albatross Diomedea gibsoni 3 (2)
088 Black-browed Albatross Thalassarche melanophrys 6 (3)
859 Campbell Albatross T. impavida 6 (3)
861 White-capped Albatross T. steadi 3 (2)
864Indic Yellow-nosed Albatross T.carteri 14 (3)
104 Australasian Gannet Morus serrator 11 (4)
106 Australian Pelican Pelicanus conspicillatus 4 (3)
980 Brown Skua Catharacta lonnbergi 3 (1)
981 Kelp Gull Larus dominicanus 7 (5)
125 Silver Gull L. novaehollandiae 150+ (70+)
114 White-fronted tern Sterna striata 1
115 Crested Tern S. bergii 16 (7)
In the harbour:
100Little Pied Cormorant Phalacrocorax melanoleucos 1
097 Little Black Cormorant P. sulcirostris 1
106 Australian Pelican Pelicanus conspicillatus 3
115 Crested Tern Sterna bergii 2
24 species of seabird identified outside the breakwater.
Other birds:
None
Mammals:
Humpback Whale Megaptera novaeangliae 3 (1)
Short-beaked Common Dolphin Delphinus delphis 80+ (75+)
