Two trips: 23rd July, 2005,
24th July, 2005
23rd July, 2005 SOSSA PELAGIC TRIP, WOLLONGONG, NSW , AUSTRALIA .
Report prepared by: P.J. Milburn.
Photos: Bullers albatross (P. Milburn); Antipodean albatross (P. Milburn); Tristan albatross (P. Milburn); Common dolphin
(short-beaked; P. Milburn).
Departed: 07:15 returned at approx. 16:30
Sea conditions: calm to 0.5m NNW later.
Swell: SE less than 0.5m.
Weather: Warm winter sunshine without a cloud in the sky.
Temperature range: 9.1 to 17.8 °C.
Barometric pressure: 1021 HPa steady.
Wind: calm to NW 5 knots in the morning rising to NNW 7 to 10 knots later.
Sea surface temperature: 16.7 to 19.8°C.
Primary chumming location: S 34° 31’ – E 151° 20’.
Summary:
An anticyclone was moving into the Tasman Sea with another moving east over the West Australian coast. A series of low-pressure systems were located to the south of the continent. This typical mid-winter pattern had been generating predominantly westerly airflows that had flattened the swell. The light winds and winter sunshine combined to produce a beautiful day on the ocean that was matched with a succession of spectacular seabirds.
The Giant Cuttlefish (Sepia aparma) were dying after spawning and rising to the surface so we elected to run north over the inshore reefs to look for the Giant-Petrels and Albatross that were sure to be feeding on them. Almost immediately outside the harbour, we encountered a juvenile Southern Giant-Petrel feasting on a Cuttlefish. It had a small entourage of Silver Gulls around it, watching, as if in admiration of the two giants. A little beyond here was a Little Penguin fishing, easy to see in the glassy calm water. There must have been a few fish around because there were also Australasian Gannets, Fluttering Shearwaters and Crested Terns in the vicinity. Black-browed Albatross were the most prominent species, 27 adults being counted as we cruised north several nautical miles offshore. Three more Southern Giant-Petrels were found on the water before we spotted our prize, a magnificent male WANDERING ALBATROSS. After watching this bird for several minutes we began our cruise seawards.
We soon encountered the first Indic Yellow-nosed and Campbell Albatross of the day, both adults, and a second white male WANDERING ALBATROSS.
The numbers of Indic Yellow-nosed Albatross increased steadily as we cruised into deeper water and the occasional Brown Skua appeared as if from nowhere to investigate us. We sighted a mixed feeding flock in the distance at the 75-fathom line. Australasian Gannets and Indic Yellow-nosed Albatross were closely following the activity of a group of Short-beaked Common Dolphins.
Wide of the continental shelf we encountered a marked water front so we hove to and berleyed in the current line. Five minutes later, two Gibson’s Albatross appeared from the south and, as birds flew in from all directions, an adult BULLER’ ABLATROSS appeared alongside and alighted at the stern. Almost immediately, an ANTIPODEAN ALBATROSS was feeding alongside the BULLER’S ALBATROSS or, more correctly, it was the other way around. Amazingly, there were six species of albatross behind our vessel during this drift-and-berley session and we recorded our only Solander’s Petrels, FAIRY PRION and White-fronted Tern for the day. One of the two Gibson’s Albatross, a female, carried a red Darvic band on the right leg and the number was recorded. Some cetacean activity in the distance caused us to proceed northwards to investigate. We found a group of Common Dolphins of the small type that we occasionally see in the winter months, which are quite distinct from those normally encountered at Wollongong.
Setting our course back to Wollongong Harbour we felt that we had enjoyed a good day at sea already but we were yet to enjoy good views of SHY and White-capped Albatross and a NORTHERN GIANT-PETREL.
The modest influx of Prions and Cape Petrels appears to have abated already and Pterodroma numbers continue to be very low this winter.
Highlights:
Among sightings of an amazing total of 9 species of albatross in calm conditions on a glorious mid winter day it is difficult to pick a highlight! It was a matter of personal preference.
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 1
929Southern Giant-Petrel Macronectes giganteus 4 (2)
937NORTHERN GIANT-PETREL M. halli 1
971 Solander’s Petrel Pterodroma solandri 2 (1)
083 FAIRY PRION Pachyptila turtur 1
068 Fluttering Shearwater Puffinus gavia 46 (25)
086 WANDERING ALBATROSS Diomedea exulans 2 (1) adult males
846 ANTIPODEAN ALBATROSS D. antipodensis 1 male
847 Gibson’s Albatross D. gibsoni 2 (2)
088 Black-browed Albatross Thalassarche melanophrys 37 (12)
859 Campbell Albatross T. impavida 2 (1)
931 BULLER’S ALBATROSS T. bulleri 1 adult
861 SHY ALBATROSS T. cauta 1 first year
861 White-capped Albatross T. steadi 1 adult
864Indic Yellow-nosed Albatross T.carteri 112 (45)
104 Australasian Gannet Morus serrator 84+ (75+)
106 Australian Pelican Pelicanus conspicillatus 4 (2)
980 Brown Skua Catharacta lonnbergi 6 (4)
981 Kelp Gull Larus dominicanus 13 (11)
125 Silver Gull L. novaehollandiae 520+ (350+)
114 White-fronted tern Sterna striata 1
115 Crested Tern S. bergii 55 (29)
In the harbour:
193 Striated Heron Ardeola striatus macrorhynchus 1
100 Little Pied Cormorant Phalacrocorax melanoleucos 2 (20)
097 Little Black Cormorant P. sulcirostris 3 (2)
106 Australian Pelican Pelicanus conspicillatus 8 (5)
22 species of seabird identified outside the breakwater.
Other birds:
226 White-bellied Sea-Eagle Haliaeetus leucocaster 1 adult
Mammals:
Short-beaked Common Dolphin Delphinus delphis 30+ (30+)
Common Dolphin (Small Winter) Delphinus delphis 75+ (75+)
Reptiles:
None
Fish:
None
24th July, 2005 SOSSA PELAGIC TRIP, WOLLONGONG, NSW, AUSTRALIA.
Report prepared by: P.J. Milburn.
Photos: Indian yellow-nosed albatross (P. Milburn); White-fronted tern (P. Milburn).
Departed: 07:20 returned at approx. 16:10
Sea conditions: calm to 0.5m west in the morning, NW to 1m on the return leg.
Swell: SE less than 0.5m.
Weather: Warm winter sunshine with only patchy cloud in the afternoon.
Temperature range: 8.9 to 17.1°C.
Barometric pressure: 1012 HPa falling.
Wind: 12 to 15 knots westerly in the morning rising to NNW 7 to 10 knots later.
Sea surface temperature: 16.7 to 19.6°C.
Primary chumming location: S 34° 28’ – E 151° 20’.
Summary:
An anticyclone was located in the Tasman Sea generating predominantly offshore winds that had flattened the ocean. Bright light and comfortable conditions provided a great opportunity to enjoy the local mid winter seabirds.
Post-spawning Giant Cuttlefish (Sepia aparma) were evident on the surface outside the harbour and a Southern Giant-Petrel was breaking fast on one of them. Black-browed Albatross were conspicuously cruising the area so we elected to run north over the inshore reefs to look for the Giant-Petrels and Albatross. Almost immediately, we encountered another juvenile Southern Giant-Petrel bearing a white Darvic band of Argentinean origin, the 
second of the season. We stopped in the hope of obtaining views good enough to read the band number. In a strange turn of events an adult White-bellied Sea-Eagle turned up and put our following seabird entourage into a nervous mood. Several more Giant-Petrels of both species were observed but no Diomedea albatross were sighted over the reefs.
Changing our course to the east, we soon were among Indic Yellow-nosed Albatross Fluttering Shearwaters and Crested Terns with a few Brown Skuas and Giant-Petrels interspersed. Our arrival at the edge of the continental shelf was apparent from the presence of Solander’s Petrels in numbers that were the highest recorded in Wollongong waters for their 2005 breeding season.
Wide of the continental shelf we encountered relatively few seabirds so we continued east until we reached a water depth of 400 fathoms. Shortly after beginning a drift-and–berley session, two female Gibson’s Albatross appeared from the south. It remained fairly quiet however, a small group of Fairy Prion foraged near to our vessel briefly and a distant WHITE-HEADED PETREL was observed from the upper deck. Unusually, we attracted more White-fronted than Crested Terns during this drift.
The cruise back to Wollongong Harbour continued in a similar quiet vein. Australian Gannets had moved into the area since our outward leg and several Brown Skuas trailed along behind us. As we reached the outer reefs a banded Brown Skua appeared and followed us closely. With a little time in hand, we elected to stop and attempt to capture this bird. Several Black-browed Albatross homed in on us, as did hundreds of Silver Gulls when as if out of nowhere two black-and-white Diomedea albatross entered the fray. Both of these birds had the distinct appearance of female Wandering Albatross but were no bigger than Gibson’s Albatross. Despite the hordes of gulls, we were able to capture both of these birds and have confirmed their identity as being male TRISTAN ALBATROSS subsequently.
We rounded the day off with a selection of coastal species, including inshore Bottle-nosed Dolphins.
Highlights:
On a quiet day overall, it was good to see higher numbers of pterodroma petrels than of late but, without any doubt, the outstanding feature of the day being the two TRISTAN ALBATROSS.
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 6 (2)
937NORTHERN GIANT-PETREL M. halli 1
077 WHITE-HEADED PETREL Pterodroma lessoni 1
971 Solander’s Petrel P. solandri 30 (15)
083 FAIRY PRION Pachyptila turtur 6 (6)
068 Fluttering Shearwater Puffinus gavia 8 (6)
845 TRISTAN ALBATROSS Diomedea dabeneena 2 (2) adult males
847 Gibson’s Albatross Diomedea gibsoni 2 (2) adult females
088 Black-browed Albatross Thalassarche melanophrys 31 (10)
859 Campbell Albatross T. impavida 2 (1)
864 Indic Yellow-nosed Albatross T.carteri 46 (11)
104 Australasian Gannet Morus serrator 7 (4)
096 Great Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo 2 (2)
106 Australian Pelican Pelicanus conspicillatus 3 (3)
980 Brown Skua Catharacta lonnbergi 7 (3)
981 Kelp Gull Larus dominicanus 4 (3)
125 Silver Gull L. novaehollandiae 585+ (200+)
114 White-fronted tern Sterna striata 8 (6)
115 Crested Tern S. bergii 32 (13)
In the harbour:
100 Little Black Cormorant Phalacrocorax sulcirostris 5 (3)
106 Australian Pelican Pelicanus conspicillatus 8 (5)
19 species of seabird identified outside the breakwater.
Other birds:
226 White-bellied Sea-Eagle Haliaeetus leucocaster 1 adult
Mammals:
Inshore Bottle-nosed Dolphin Tursiops aduncus 6+ (6+)
Reptiles:
None
Fish:
None
