Two reports: 13th and the 26th July.
13th July, 2003 SOSSA PELAGIC TRIP, WOLLONGONG, NSW, AUSTRALIA.
Report prepared by: P.J. Milburn.
Departed: 07:15 returned at approx. 16:00.
Sea conditions: to 1.5m NW.
Swell: SE to 0.5m.
Weather: Bright sunshine all day.
Temperature range: 18.1 to 18.6°C.
Barometric pressure: 1030 HPa.
Wind: NW 5kts at first, to WNW 10kts later in the afternoon.
Sea surface temperature: 17.1 to 18.1°C.
Primary chumming location: S 34° 29’ – E 151° 19’.
Summary:
This trip was the replacement for the scheduled June pelagic, which had been cancelled as a result of a monstrous 5 to 7m NE ground swell closing Wollongong Harbour.
Given the anticyclonic conditions and westerly winds we expected a pleasant cruise but little more. The day was strongly reminiscent of an outing on a park lake in more ways than one. Apart from the tranquil conditions, there were few indications of water mixing and the water had the greenish tones resulting from low oxygenation.
Bird numbers were exceptionally low all day and fortunately, at least, a reasonable number of mammals provided substitute entertainment. The seabird species total for the day was the lowest that I have experienced.
Highlights:
Appropriately for the conditions, pelagic sightings of Pacific Black Duck were of greatest interest to regular attendees!
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)
005 Little Penguin Eudyptula minor 3 (3)
971 Solander’s Petrel Pterodroma solandri 3 (2)
068 Fluttering Shearwater Puffinus gavia 14 (4)
088 Black-browed Albatross Thalassarche melanophrys 2 (1)
864 Indic Yellow-nosed Albatross T. carteri 11 (6)
104 Australasian Gannet Morus serrator 31 (16)
106 Australian Pelican Pelicanus conspicillatus 1
980 Brown Skua Catharacta lonnbergi 1
981 Kelp Gull Larus dominicanus 4 (4)
125 Silver Gull L. novaehollandiae 400+ (95+)
115 Crested Tern Sterna bergii 11 (3)
In the harbour:
096 Great Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo 1
106 Australian Pelican Pelicanus conspicillatus 6
11 species of seabird identified outside the breakwater.
Other birds:
208 Pacific Black Duck Anas superciliosa 3 (3)
Mammals:
Australian Fur-Seal Arctocephalus pusillus 2 (2)
Humpback Whale Megaptera novaeangliae 2 (2)
Short-beaked Common Dolphin Delphinus delphis 150+ (150+)
26th July, 2003 SOSSA PELAGIC TRIP, WOLLONGONG, NSW, AUSTRALIA.
Report prepared by: P.J. Milburn.
Departed: 07:20 returned at approx. 15:30.
Sea conditions: to 2.0 to 3.0m W to WSW later.
Swell: S to 0.5m.
Weather: Bright sunshine all day.
Temperature range: 10.2 to 16.6°C.
Barometric pressure: 1024 HPa rising.
Wind: W 10kts at first, increasing to W 30kts by midday, easing to WSW 20kts later in the afternoon.
Sea surface temperature: 16.5 to 18.6°C.
Primary chumming location: none due to sea conditions
Summary:
The poor ocean conditions experienced earlier in the month persisted and, in combination with unfavourabale offshore winds, generated another uneventful day of pelagic seabirding. The Silver Gulls could hardly be bothered to follow the boat and perhaps the Australian Pelicans took advantage of this.
A large high-pressure system situated SW of Tasmania generated strong westerly winds for several days prior to this trip, seemingly inviting seabirds to drift out into the Tasman Sea. The sub-antarctic seabird species expected in July were conspicuous by their absence and no marine mammals were recorded. Even Wollongong Harbour was underpopulated by birds!
Bird numbers were low all day and so was the seabird species total. Unusually, a couple of Australian Pelicans followed us right out to the edge of the continental shelf, which left us wondering how they would cope with returning to shore into the teeth of the strong westerly wind.
Highlights:
An unusual winter record of an adult dark morph LONG-TAILED JAEGER.
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)
971 Solander’s Petrel Pterodroma solandri 14 (7)
068 Fluttering Shearwater Puffinus gavia 7 (2)
088 Black-browed Albatross Thalassarche melanophrys 45 (9)
864 Indic Yellow-nosed Albatross T. carteri 11 (3)
104 Australasian Gannet Morus serrator 15 (5)
106 Australian Pelican Pelicanus conspicillatus 5 (3)
980 Brown Skua Catharacta lonnbergi 2 (2)
933 LONG-TAILED JAEGER Stercorarius longicauda 1 dark morph adult
981 Kelp Gull Larus dominicanus 1
125 Silver Gull L. novaehollandiae 84 (49)
114 White-fronted Tern Sterna striata 2 (2)
115 Crested Tern S. bergii 23 (8)
In the harbour:
106 Australian Pelican Pelicanus conspicillatus 11
12 species of seabird identified outside the breakwater.
Other birds:
None
Mammals:
None
