Two May trips: 27th May and 28th May
27th May, 2006 SOSSA PELAGIC TRIP, WOLLONGONG, NSW, AUSTRALIA.
Report prepared by: P.J. Milburn.
Departed: 07:20 returned at approx. 14:45.
Sea conditions: choppy SW at first rising to 1.5 to 2.5m SSW by late morning.
Swell: SE 1.5 to 2.5 m in the morning falling away to 1.0 to 2.0 m later the day.
Weather: Cloudy with patchy rain in the morning, clearing to bright sunshine later.
Temperature range: 12.1 to 17.6°C.
Barometric pressure: 1014 HPa steady.
Wind: SW 8 to 10 knots at first increasing to SSW 15 to 20 knots later.
Sea surface temperature: 18.9 to 20.8°C.
Primary chumming location: S 34° 27’ – E 150° 57’.
Summary:
A slow-moving anticyclone located over central Australia and a low-pressure system moving east into the Tasman Sea had generated southerly winds for most of the preceding week. The nip in the breeze as we boarded warned us that there would be more of the same today. A cold and uncomfortable start, turned into an outright slog as we headed into a sea that stood up against the strong current from the north. Luck was with us as we headed south and we cleared the worst of the current making the going easier. The skies cleared and, as the day unfolded, we were treated to a succession of spectacular Southern Ocean seabirds.
It already felt like winter as we slipped out of the harbour. Those on board were rugged up to their eyeballs and it came as no surprise to see several adult Black-browed Albatross soaring above the huddle of beanie hats! A couple of Campbell Albatross were also foraging close to shore. Australasian Gannets and Fluttering Shearwaters were searching for fish over the inshore reefs as were a pod of Short-beaked Common Dolphins. A White-capped Albatross flew in from the south to investigate our vessel and was followed soon, first by a juvenile SHY ALBATROSS and then by an adult Indic Yellow-nosed Albatross. I could not remember seeing so many albatrosses close to shore in May and hoped that this was a good omen for the day.
As we laboured southeast into the sea we began to see FAIRY PRIONS, a species that has been more or less absent from Wollongong waters since 2002. With light rain falling and plenty of spray dousing us we reached 50 fathoms. The current was strong here and at least the sea felt warm as it splashed us. Indeed, the sea surface temperature was higher even than that inside the cabin! I was soaking wet and having trouble writing in my notebook due to the sea conditions but filled with a sense that we would have a good day once we could run with the sea. A Brown Skua appeared and harried a Black-browed Albatross. A NORTHERN-GIANT PETREL circled the boat and then joined the following albatross flock. A dark pterodroma petrel was shadowing us and proved quite cryptic among the small group of Short-tailed Shearwaters. Eventually, we were able to identify it as being nominate race Great-winged Petrel. A second year bird joined the juvenile SHY ALBATROSS and the NORTHERN-GIANT PETREL appeared to have duplicated itself as well. As we neared the edge of the continental shelf a male Gibson’s Albatross crossed our wake but the sea conditions made it tough to use the binoculars.
At the 100-fathom line a NORTHERN ROYAL ALBATROSS flew right up to the stern, almost into our faces, so we cut our speed and held position into the sea. This was a new bird for most on board and everybody was delighted to have such fantastic views of this magnificent animal. It clearly displayed mostly dark outer retrices and some dark spots in the centre of the tail along with black vermiculation on the lower back; consistent with it being a young bird. The crown lacked dark feathers and the leading edge of the wing was white suggesting that it was not a juvenile. The primary moult status indicated that the bird was at least 5 years old demonstrating that the plumage ontogeny of this species is yet fully understood.
As we turned for home, running with the sea behind us, the skies cleared and we felt the warmth of the sun for the first time. Incredibly, not one but several WANDERING ALBATROSS joined the NORTHERN ROYAL ALBATROSS and we soon had a small flock of Diomedea albatross following the boat. Among them were Gibson’s and a male ANTIPODEAN ALBATROSS. Campbell Albatross seemed to be flying in from all points of the compass and Fairy Prion were all around us. The conditions were much more pleasant now and the cameras were running hot as we were treated to fantastic views of 9 species of albatross following us back to port in glorious winter sunshine. While scarce on the trip out to sea, Indic Yellow-nosed Albatross numbers increased continuously on the return leg of our journey.
Highlights:
This was a classic Wollongong Pelagic trip; starting out in cold, tough conditions under a leaden sky and ending in bright sunshine with everyone happy. We had excellent views of an incredible total of 9 species of albatross all in view behind the boat as we ran home with sea. Petrel numbers were low but it was good to see the return of Fairy Prion in significant numbers.
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)
937NORTHERN GIANT-PETREL Macronectes halli 3 (3)
075 Great-winged Petrel Pterodroma m. macroptera 7 (2)
971 Solander’s Petrel P. solandri 3 (1)
083 FAIRY PRION Pachyptila turtur 300+ (150+)
068 Fluttering Shearwater Puffinus gavia 200+ (30+)
913 Hutton’s Shearwater P. huttoni 3 (1)
071 Short-tailed Shearwater P. tenuirostris 11 (6)
086 WANDERING ALBATROSS Diomedea exulans 4 (3)
846 ANTIPODEAN ALBATROSS D. antipodensis 1
847 Gibson’s Albatross D. gibsoni 3 (2)
973 NORTHERN ROYAL ALBATROSS D. sanfordi 1
088 Black-browed Albatross Thalassarche melanophrys 25 (6)
859 Campbell Albatross T. impavida 50+ (20+)
861 SHY ALBATROSS T. cauta 3 (2)
861 White-capped Albatross T. steadi 4 (2)
864Indic Yellow-nosed Albatross T.carteri 24 (14)
104 Australasian Gannet Morus serrator 16 (10)
106 Australian Pelican Pelicanus conspicillatus 2 (2)
980 Brown Skua Catharacta lonnbergi 7 (4)
981 Kelp Gull Larus dominicanus 5 (5)
125 Silver Gull L. novaehollandiae 85+ (50+)
115 Crested Tern Sterna bergii 10 (5)
In the harbour:
106 Australian Pelican Pelicanus conspicillatus 6 (6)
115 Crested Tern Sterna bergii 1
22 species of seabird identified outside the breakwater.
Other birds:
None
Mammals:
Short-beaked Common Dolphin Delphinus delphis 14 (14)
Reptiles:
None
Fish:
None
28th May, 2006 SOSSA PELAGIC TRIP, WOLLONGONG, NSW, AUSTRALIA.
Report prepared by: P.J. Milburn.
Departed: 07:10 returned at approx. 15:30 .
Sea conditions: choppy SW at first rising to 1.5 to 2.0m SSW by late morning but abating in the afternoon.
Swell: SE 1.0 to 1.5 m.
Weather: Bright winter sunshine all day.
Temperature range: 12.5 to 19.1°C.
Barometric pressure: 1014 HPa steady.
Wind: WSW 8 to 10 knots at first increasing to SW 10 to 15 by mid-morning and easing later.
Sea surface temperature: 18.5 to 21.2°C.
Primary chumming location: S 34° 38’ – E 151° 09’.
Summary:
A slow-moving anticyclone located over central Australia and a low-pressure system moving east into the Tasman Sea arrival had generated southerly winds for most of the preceding week. The weather forecast was almost a carbon copy of the Saturday trip and the southwesterly breeze was chilly but had nothing of the bitterness of the preceding morning. Bright sunshine and high expectation were with us following the success of yesterday’s trip.
We had barely cleared the breakwater when 2 adult CASPIAN TERNS flew southwest directly over the boat. Although a local resident, this was only the fourth occasion that this species has been recorded on a Wollongong Pelagic Trip. Several White-fronted Terns were present inshore, a species not recorded the day before. Black-browed and Campbell Albatross were foraging close to shore and a Brown Skua took the opportunity to harass the Silver Gulls following the boat. Australasian Gannets and Fluttering Shearwaters were searching for fish over the inshore reefs and 2 Southern Humpback Whales were seen heading north. Four White-capped Albatross flew in from the south to investigate our vessel but a Giant Petrel passing north in the distance showed no interest. We also picked up small group of Short-tailed Shearwaters that followed for most of the day.
As we reached deeper water we began to see Fairy Prions and, as on the previous day, the occasional nominate race Great-winged Petrel. A NORTHERN-GIANT PETREL tagged along with us for a while but departed before we reached the edge of the continental shelf.
At the 100-fathom line an adult BULLER’S ALBATROSS flew across our stern so we stooped to berley and it obligingly joined in with the crowd right at the back of the boat. In all six species of albatross were present, including 2 WANDERING ALBATROSS, as we drifted in pleasant conditions. It was definitely a day for photography, with hundreds of Fairy Prions around us. A few Wilson’ Storm-Petrels were among the prions and after an hour or so sharp eyes from the upper deck spotted a lone GREY-BACKED STORM-PETREL.
We had to wait for the return leg of our journey for our only sighting of Gibson’s Albatross, a female and an unusual winter sighting of a pod of Risso’s Dolphin. The final rarity of the day, a first year PACIFIC GULL, appeared a few miles from home.
For those of us who had been aboard for both days this weekend, we had enjoyed great views of 10 different species of Albatross before the calendar winter!
Highlights:
This interesting trip provided a great variety of rare seabirds for the Wollongong Pelagic trip under pleasant conditions. For most on board the highlights were the BULLER’S ALBATROSS and GREY-BACKED STORM-PETREL.
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)
937NORTHERN GIANT-PETREL Macronectes halli 1
075 Great-winged Petrel Pterodroma m. macroptera 5 (3)
971 Solander’s Petrel P. solandri 3 (2)
083 FAIRY PRION Pachyptila turtur 150+ (100+)
068 Fluttering Shearwater Puffinus gavia 100+ (50+)
913 Hutton’s Shearwater P. huttoni 2 (1)
071 Short-tailed Shearwater P. tenuirostris 3 (2)
086 WANDERING ALBATROSS Diomedea exulans 2 (2)
847 Gibson’s Albatross D. gibsoni 1
088 Black-browed Albatross Thalassarche melanophrys 29 (6)
859 Campbell Albatross T. impavida 12 (9)
931 BULLER’S ALBATROSS T. bulleri 1
861 White-capped Albatross T. steadi 8 (4)
864Indic Yellow-nosed Albatross T.carteri 11 (5)
063 Wilson’s Storm-Petrel Oceanites oceanicus 3 (3)
064 GREY-BACKED STORM-PETREL Nereis garrodia 1
104 Australasian Gannet Morus serrator 17 (5)
106 Australian Pelican Pelicanus conspicillatus 1
980 Brown Skua Catharacta lonnbergi 4 (1)
981 Kelp Gull Larus dominicanus 1
125 Silver Gull L. novaehollandiae 108 (61)
126 PACIFIC GULL L. pacificus 1
112 CASPIAN TERN Sterna caspia 2 (2)
114 White-fronted Tern S. striata 2 (1)
115 Crested Tern S. bergii 4 (2)
In the harbour:
005 Little Penguin Eudyptula minor 1
097 Little Black Cormorant Phalacrocorax sulcirostris 1
100 Little Pied Cormorant P. melanoleucos 1
101 Australian Darter Anhinga melanogaster 1
106 Australian Pelican Pelicanus conspicillatus 3 (3)
193 Striated Heron Ardeola striatus macrorhynchus 1
25 species of seabird identified outside the breakwater.
Other birds:
None
Mammals:
Humpback Whale Megaptera novaeangliae 2 (2)
Risso’s Dolphin Grampus griseus 6 (6)
Reptiles:
None
Fish:
None
