Two reports: 24th June & 25th June

24th June 2000 WOLLONGONG PELAGIC TRIP REPORT, NSW, AUSTRALIA

Report prepared by: P.J. Milburn

Conditions:

Departed at 7.15 am and returned at approx. 6.30 pm.
Sea Conditions: Sea slight, to 1 metre. Swell to 1.5 metre, SE
Weather: Glorious sunshine all day. Max. 18°C
Wind: Light around 10 South South West
Water temperature 16.8 to 18.7 degrees C.
Primary chumming location 34'31 - 151'22.

Summary:

A wonderful late June day at sea, glorious weather and comfortable conditions. Not much joy for rarity hunters but our newcomers and overseas visitors were treated to excellent views of many of our typical winter birds. A total of 12 albatross were banded and released.

Highlight:

A flock of 500+ prions the majority of which were ANTARCTIC PRION.

Birds recorded according to latest Environment Australia Reporting Schedule:Species code: Species name: Numbers:(Note: numbers in parenthesis = highest count at any one time)

937 Northern Giant Petrel Macronectes halli 1
080 Cape Petrel Daption capense australe 2 (2)
971 Solander's Petrel Pterodroma solandri 8 (3)
083 Fairy Prion Pachyptila turtur 120+ (50+)
084 ANTARCTIC PRION P. desolata 600+ (500+)
942 SLENDER-BILLED PRION P. belcheri 1
068 Fluttering Shearwater Puffinus gavia 5 (1)
070 Sooty Shearwater P. griseus 1
071 Slender-billed Shearwater P. tenuirostris 1
846 ANTIPODEAN ALBATROSS Diomedea antipodensis 1
847 Gibson's Albatross D. gibsoni 15 (7)
088 Black-browed Albatross Thalassarche melanophrys 40 (12)
859 Campbell Albatross T. impavida 11 (5)
091 Shy Albatross T. cauta 3 (1)
864 Indic Yellow-nosed Albatross T. carteri 100+ (50+)
063 Wilson's Storm Petrel Oceanites oceanicus 2 (2)
104 Australasian Gannet Morus serrator 11 (3)
980 Brown Skua Catharacta lonnbergi 4 (3)
981 Kelp Gull Larus dominicanus 3 (3)
125 Silver Gull L. novaehollandiae 220+ (45)
115 Crested Tern Sterna bergii 30+ (5)

In the harbour:

106 Australian Pelican Pelicanus conspicillatus 321 species of seabird identified outside the breakwater.

Mammals:

Common Dolphin 50+
Sperm Whale 3

25th June 2000 SOSSA Research Trip Report, Wollongong NSW AUSTRALIA

Report prepared by: P.J. Milburn

Vessel: MV SANDRA KConditions:
Departed at 06:00 am and returned at approx. 7.30 pm.
Sea Conditions: Sea slight, 0.5 metre to calm later. Swell to 1.5 metre falling to <0.5 metre, SE.
Weather: Glorious sunshine all day. Max. 18°C
Wind: Light around 10 South South West dropping to nill
Water temperature 16.8 to 20.1 degrees C.
Primary chumming location 34'30 - 151'20.

Summary:

Another wonderful late June day at sea, glorious weather and comfortable conditions! Flat calm conditions allowed us to observe numerous Littte Penguin, including 3 birds in unusually deep water at 120FM. The ideal conditions also provided a very good view of a COMMON DIVING-PETREL 8 NM outside the harbour on the way out. Brief views of an adult BULLER'S ALBATROSS heralded our arrival at the continental shelf break.

Highlights:

A second year Gibson's Albatross which had been banded the previous day viewing us with great suspicion for 3 hours as it eat the berley at a safe distance.Birds recorded according to 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 9 (4)
085 COMMON DIVING-PETREL Pelecanoides urinatrix 1
080 Cape Petrel Daption capense australe 1
971 Solander's Petrel Pterodroma solandri 15 (6)
083 Fairy Prion Pachyptila turtur 270+ (150+)
084 ANTARCTIC PRION P. desolata 265+ (250+)
068 Fluttering Shearwater Puffinus gavia 1
847 Gibson's Albatross Diomedea gibsoni 2 (1)
088 Black-browed Albatross Thalassarche melanophrys 19 (5)
859 Campbell Albatross T. impavida 1
091 Shy Albatross T. cauta 1
864 Indic Yellow-nosed Albatross T. carteri 150+ (60+)
931 BULLER'S ALBATROSS T. bulleri 1
104 Australasian Gannet Morus serrator 2 (1)
980 Brown Skua Catharacta lonnbergi 1
981 Kelp Gull Larus dominicanus 3 (2)
125 Silver Gull L. novaehollandiae 400+ (150+)
115 Crested Tern Sterna bergii 71 (65)

In the harbour:

Embarked and disembarked in darkness.18 species of seabird identified outside the breakwater.

Mammals:

New Zealand Fur Seal 1