Report prepared by: P.J. Milburn.
Departed: 07:15 returned at approx. 17:00.
Sea conditions: calm.
Swell: E 2 to 3m at first, to 5m later.
Weather: Overcast with sea mist, some sunny periods in late afternoon.
Temperature range: 22.4 to 25.9°C.
Barometric pressure: 1016 falling to 1006 HPa.
Wind: calm at first, NNE 5 kts later.
Sea surface temperature: 21.8 to 23.2°C.
Primary chumming location: None due to adverse current conditions.
Summary:
A low-pressure system was developing off the coast resulting in a humid summer day with poor visibility and a large swell. Erratic oceanic currents constrained our navigational options and prevented us from drifting to attract birds.
The usual summer collection of shearwaters and jeagers were apparent with Flesh-footed Shearwaters being present in unusually high numbers. Petrel numbers were disappointing but we were rewarded with great views of a WHITE-NECKED PETREL several kilometres from the coast on our return trip.
Highlights:
A WHITE-NECKED PETREL and a LONG-TAILED JEAGER were identified amidst large numbers of the usual summer seabird species.
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
073 Great-winged Petrel Pterodroma macroptera gouldi 3 (1)
774 WHITE-NECKED PETREL P. cervicalis 1
068 Fluttering Shearwater Puffinus gavia 2 (1)
917 Hutton’s Shearwater P. huttoni 1
069 Wedge-tailed Shearwater P. pacificus 600+ (150+)
071 Short-tailed Shearwater P. tenuirostris 2 (1)
072 Flesh-footed Shearwater P. carneipes 550+ (200+)
097 Little Black Cormorant Phalacrocorax sulcirostris 2
128 Arctic Jaeger Stercorarius parasiticus 2 (1)
933 LONG-TAILED JAEGER S. longicauda 1
945 Pomarine Jaeger S. pomarinus 18 (4)
125 Silver Gull Larus novaehollandiae 2 (2)
115 Crested Tern Sterna bergii 15 (6)
In the harbour:
096 Great Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo 1
097 Little Black Cormorant P. sulcirostris 5
106 Australian Pelican Pelicanus conspicillatus 5
981 Kelp Gull Larus dominicanus 1
115 Crested Tern Sterna bergii 3
14 species of seabird identified outside the breakwater.
Mammals:
Short-beaked Common Dolphin Delphinus delphis 5