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: NumbersNote: 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