Published on 28-02-2004 05:35 PM
Report prepared by: Graham Barwell.
After a delayed start due to ropes across the boat harbour having to be removed, we left at 08:10 hrs aboard Sandra K and headed east into what was still quite a big swell following huge seas earlier in the week as a result of an offshore low. We motored out to 34° 27’ S; 151° 09’ E, 23.8 km east of the harbour, where SOSSA members tried unsuccessfully to catch shearwaters for banding, 10:00-10:05 hrs. We pushed further out to 34° 27’ S; 151° 19’ E, 38.7 km east of the harbour in pelagic waters, where the process of catching and banding Wedge-tailed Shearwaters, with a few Great-winged Petrels and Short-tailed Shearwaters, was much more successful. We stayed here for about 20 mins, then moved a little further east to 34° 27’ S; 151° 20’ E, 39.7 km E of the harbour, where the SOSSA banding team continued to work furiously, 12:00-12:30 hrs. We then proceeded out to our furthest point east, 34° 26’ S; 151° 26’ E, in 500 fathoms, where we turned at around 13:00 hrs and began the long trip back in, catching more shearwaters en route.
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