Two reports: 28th October & 29th October.

28th OCTOBER 2000 WOLLONGONG PELAGIC TRIP REPORT, NSW, AUSTRALIA

Report prepared by: P.J. Milburn.

Conditions:

Departed at 7.15 am and returned at approx.4.00 pm.
Sea Conditions: Seas moderate, 2 metres swell 3 to 4 metre, S, abating slightly in the afternoon
Weather: Glorious sunshine all day. Max. 20°C
Barometeric pressure: 1016 HPa steady
Wind: Moderate to strong 20 to 25 kts southerly.
Water temperature 16.8 to 19.4 degrees C.

Summary:

Spring at sea has been suspended temporarily by stong southerly winds. But for a lone Pomarine Jaeger, a handful of Common Terns and thousands of Slender-billed Shearwaters one would be forgiven for thinking it was winter again. A large contingent of overseas visitors experienced a great day of winter pelagic birding! Unfortunately, the conditions would only have been enjoyed by true pelagic fanatics. Much credit is due to the Skipper who's expert seamanship minimised the discomfort, although this may have gone unobserved by some.

Albatross numbers were astonishingly high for the end of October, although most of the adult Thalassarche have now left these waters. Even more astonishing was the complete failure to identify positively a single species of Pterodroma despite being in deep water for over an hour!

We departed the harbour in a stiff southerly breeze. Knowing that conditions would worsen as we headed offshore we headed south east to cross over the contintal shelf break east of Kiama. We were barely out of the harbour before being joined by a Black-browed Albatross. Several miles out, we were joined by the first Wedge-tailed Shearwaters which were soon diluted to the point of disappearing by Slender-billed Shearwaters. A few Fluttering Shearwaters were among these hordes. Shy Albatross appeared and then, astonishigly, a COMMON DIVING PETREL was flying right beside the boat affording brilliant views. A small group of Common Terns followed behind for a while as if in attempt to convince us that it was not mid winter. As we approached deeper water we encountered Hutton's Shearwaters amd more Wedge-tailed Shearwaters.

Once at 150 fathoms we idled into the sea and frenetic berlying soon attracted a mob of birds. Storm-Petrels appeared along with several Prions. One of the Prions was very pale blue above with a pronounced greater-covert bar. Trying to note the bill proprtions proved to be surprisingly difficult. The bird made some closer approaches revealing a stubby, almost finch-like bill, quite unlike that of accompanying Fairy Prions, confriming its identity as a FULMAR PRION. This was the first time that this species has been recorded on a Wollongong Pelagic. A second year BULLER'S ALBATROSS was cryptic in the mob of Albatross behind the boat. Two brief sightings of BLACK-BELLIED STORM-PETREL among a horde of Wilson's and White-faced threw out a challenge to the observers on board. October now appears to be a reliable month to see BBSP on the Wollongong Pelagics, although they have been recorded on many trips in NSW waters during the winter of 2000. Despite the greatest efforts of the seasoned observers on board no Pterodroma Petrels were recorded. This was the first time that I have witnessed this on any pelagic trip in S.E. Australia.

On the return trip, a newly fledged BULLER'S ALBATROSS followed the boat almost back into the harbour (to Flinder's Island).On the island we observed several Sooty Oystercatchers.

Highlights:

Despite the novelty of the FULMAR PRION, the unseasonality of the always rare COMMON DIVING PETREL and the thrill which always comes with seeing a BLACK-BELLIED STORM-PETREL appear from behind a wave, my personal highlight was the newly fledged BULLER'S ALBATROSS. This bird simply leamed in the brilliant sunshine and was always subtle in its beauty.

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

085 COMMON DIVING PETREL 1
080 Cape Petrel Daption capense australe 1
947 FULMAR PRION Pachyptila crassirostris 1
083 Fairy Prion P. turtur 5+ (3)
068 Fluttering Shearwater Puffinus gavia 50+ (15)
913 Hutton's Shearwater P. huttoni 10 (1)
069 Wedge-tailed Shearwater P. pacificus 50+ (35)
070 Sooty Shearwtater P. griseus 10 (1)
071 Slender-billed Shearwater P. tenuirostris 15 000+ (1 000+)
847 Gibson's Albatross Diomedea gibsoni 12 (7)
088 Black-browed Albatross Thalassarche melanophrys 15 (10)
859 Campbell Albatross T. impavida 25 (15) one adult
931 BULLER'S ALBATROSS T. bulleri 2 (1)
091 Shy Albatross T. cauta 15 (10)
861 White-capped Albatross T. steadi 7 (3)
864 Indic Yellow-nosed Albatross T. carteri 5 (3)
063 Wilson's Storm Petrel Oceanites oceanicus 30 (10)
065 White-faced Storm-Petrel Pelagodroma marina 40 (15)
066 BLACK-BELLIED STORM-PETREL Fregetta tropica 2 (1)
104 Australasian Gannet Morus serrator 30 (7)
106 Australian Pelican Pelicanus conspicillatus 7 (7)
945 Pomarine Jaeger Stercorarius pomarinus 1
981 Kelp Gull Larus dominicanus 12 (8)
125 Silver Gull L. novaehollandiae 50+ (32)
115 Crested Tern Sterna bergii 45+ (35+)
114 White-fronted Tern S. striata 2 (1)
953 Common Tern S. hirundo 12 (5)
226 White-bellied Sea-Eagle Haliaeetus leucogaster 2 (2)

In the harbour:

981 Kelp Gull Larus dominicanus 2 adult
115 Crested Tern Sterna bergii 3
100 Great Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo 3
106 Australian Pelican Pelicanus conspicillatus 16

28 species of seabird identified outside the breakwater.

Mammals:

Common Dolphin 12

29th OCTOBER 2000 WOLLONGONG PELAGIC TRIP REPORT, NSW, AUSTRALIA

Report prepared by: P.J. Milburn.

Conditions:

Departed at 7.30 am and returned at approx.4.00 pm.
Sea Conditions: Seas moderate, 1.5 to 2.0 metres swell 2 to 3 metre, south
easterly, abating in the afternoon
Weather: Variable between full cloud cover to full sunshine. Max. 23°C
Barometeric pressure: 1020 HPa rising
Wind: Moderate 15 to 20 kts south easterly, dropping to 10 to 15kts later.
Water temperature 16.8 to 19.6 degrees C.
Primary chumming location: S 34° 31' : E 151° 21'

Summary:

The low pressure system in the Tasman had moved further east since the previous day's trip, swinging the winds around to the south east. From years of prior experience we expected birds similar to the previous day, with predominantly birds of New Zealand provenance but perhaps with some birds from more northern waters in keeping with the season.

Once again albatross numbers were high for the end of October. It is very unusual to see the numbers of Shy Albatross recorded on this trip as far north as Wollongong in October. Mercifully, we were able to identify a few Pterodroma Petrels on this trip, in contrast to the previous day.

We departed the harbour in a friendly south-easterly breeze which had a look of promise to it. On this trip we were able to head due east although some unfortunate people found the conditions unpleasant. Not long out of the harbour we saw a Little Penguin alongside the boat and soon after we were joined by the shearwater hordes. As we headed east immature Black-browed and Shy Albatross appeared, foraging over the wake.

Additional Albatross joined us until. at 75 fathoms. I observed a first year NORTHERN ROYAL ALBATROSS approaching us. We stopped the boat and began to berley in earnest. Other albatross joined the melee for food at the stern. While most of us were delighting in the NORTHERN ROYAL ALBATROSS, which looked immaculate in the perfect viewing conditions, Lindsay Smith yelled "this is a TRISTAN ALBATROSS!" Lindsay and I had been looking at one of the very few photographs of this species the previous evening and I was forced to agree with him. Carl Loves captured the bird with a skill level that rivalled Lindsay's skill in its identification. The bird had been banded and, expecting a South African band, I was pushed further into a state of perpetual amazement to see that it was one of our own! The bird was banded by SOSSA off Wollongong on September 1, 1999. At that time it was in its second year so it was mostly brown and was identified as TRISTAN ALBATROSS on the basis of morphometrics alone. This year the plumage characteristics confirmed its identity and photographs were obtained. The details of this occurence will be published in due course.

The NORTHERN ROYAL ALBATROSS followed us out to 420 fathoms and continued to steal food from the other albatross, which appeared tiny by comparison. No further rarities were recorded although, as usual, it was good to see so many seabirds at close quarters. On the return to port solitary Wilson' Storm-Petrels were observed close to shore.

Highlights:

A mixed flock of TRISTAN, Gibson's, NORTHERN ROYAL, Black-browed, Campbell, Shy and Indic Yellow-nosed Albatross feeding at the stern the boat!

Birds recorded (positively identified) 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 1
080 Cape Petrel Daption capense australe 12 (8)
075 Great-winged Petrel Pterodroma macroptera gouldi 12 (5)
971 Solander's Petrel P. solandri 1
083 Fairy Prion Pachyptila turtur 5 (2)
068 Fluttering Shearwater Puffinus gavia 13 (4)
913 Hutton's Shearwater P. huttoni 3 (1)
069 Wedge-tailed Shearwater P. pacificus 20 (10)
070 Sooty Shearwtater P. griseus 4 (1)
071 Slender-billed Shearwater P. tenuirostris 5 000+ (750+)
845 TRISTAN ALBATROSS Diomedea dabeneena 1 (possibly 2)
847 Gibson's Albatross D. gibsoni 12 (7)
973 NORTHERN ROYAL ALBATROSS D. sandfordi 1
088 Black-browed Albatross Thalassarche melanophrys 9 (2)
859 Campbell Albatross T. impavida 13 (8) one adult
091 Shy Albatross T. cauta 31 (9)
861 White-capped Albatross T. steadi 8 (5)
864 Indic Yellow-nosed Albatross T. carteri 2 (1) one adult
063 Wilson's Storm Petrel Oceanites oceanicus 54+ (48)
104 Australasian Gannet Morus serrator 18 (15)
128 Arctic Jaeger Stercorarius parasiticus 1
945 Pomarine Jaeger S. pomarinus 1
981 Kelp Gull Larus dominicanus 3
125 Silver Gull L. novaehollandiae 64 (35)
115 Crested Tern Sterna bergii 4 (2)
114 White-fronted Tern S. striata 2 (1)
953 Common Tern S. hirundo 18 (5)

In the harbour:

100 Great Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo 2
106 Australian Pelican Pelicanus conspicillatus 11

27 species of seabird identified outside the breakwater.

Mammals:

None observed