• 3rd July 1999, Wollongong, NSW Pelagic Trip Report

    Report prepared by Tony Palliser & P. Milburn

    Conditions:


    Departed at 7.10 am and returned at approx. 5.30 pm.
    Sea Conditions: Sea southerly, 1 to 2 metres on a 2-3 metre swell.
    Weather: Cold southerly winds, some light rain. Air temperature 8 to 15 °C.
    Wind: up to 20 knots.
    Water temperature 15.3 to 18.5 degrees C.
    Primary chumming location 34'35 - 151'18.

    Summary:

    This is the one we have all been waiting for... I would not have thought it possible to improve on last weeks amazing trip, but it happened. Another pelagic that will go down in history as one of the all time greats...

    The southerly influence continuing to produce fanastic birds, with at least two species added to the Wollongong list, which is already impressive. The number of rarities being unprecedented with this being one of those often talked about (but rarely occuring) 'invasion years'. Highlights included 10 species of Albatross, 3 species of Storm Petrel, 3 (possibly 4) species of Prion and a few Blue Petrels (these will be the first documented live records for NSW) which were so confiding one could literally touch them as they flew past the boat. In fact one of the Blue Petrels was captured in a hand net as it flew past, it then being banded and released by the banders from SOSSA, as were a number of the Gibson's,Antipodean and Shy Albatross. Also unusual at this time of year was the sighting of a Short-tailed Shearwater and a White-faced Storm Petrel. Identification of Salvin's Prion requires further work and hopefully there will be photographs to assist! What a trip!

    Birds recorded:Species code: Species name: Numbers: (Note: numbers in parenthesis = highest count at any one time)

    086 WANDERING ALBATROSS D. exulans 2 (1)
    847 Gibson's Albatross D. gibsoni 20+ (8)
    846 ANTIPODEAN ALBATROSS D. antipodensis 2 (2)
    864 Indian Yellow-nosed Albatross Thalassarche carteri 15-20 (15)
    091 Shy Albatross T. cauta 30+ (10)
    088 Black-browed Albatross T. melanophrys 20-30 (15)
    859 Campbell Albatross T. impavida 10-15 (5)
    090 GREY-HEADED ALBATROSS T. chrysostoma 2 first year and 1 adult (1)
    931 BULLER'S ALBATROSS T. bulleri 5 (3) all adults, Pacific Albatross was excluded.
    092 SOOTY ALBATROSS Phoebetria fusca 1 (1) (adult)
    073 Great-winged Petrel Pterodroma m. macroptera 5-6 (2)
    971 Providence Petrel P. solandr 8 (3)
    081 BLUE PETREL Halobaena caerulea 3-4 (3)
    929 Southern Giant Petrel Macronectes gigantius 4 (2)
    937 Northern Giant Petrel M. halli 3 (2)
    984 Cape Petrel Daption capense australe 75+ (40+)
    984 Cape Petrel D. c. capense 2 (1)
    083 Fairy Prion Pachyptila turtur 300+ (30+)
    084 ANTARCTIC PRION P. desolata 20-30 (10+)
    941 SALVIN'S PRION P. salvini 2+ (2)
    942 NARROW-BILLED PRION P. belcheri 4+ (2)
    063 Wilson's Storm-Petrel Oceanites oceanicus 2 (1)
    064 GREY-BACKED STORM-PETREL Nereis garrodia
    065 White-faced Storm-Petrel Pelagodroma marina 1
    068 Fluttering Shearwater Puffinus gavia 5 (3)
    071 Slender-billed Shearwater P. tenuirostris 1
    980 Brown Skua Catharactus lonnbergi1
    104 Australasian Gannet Morus serrator17 (5)
    125 Silver Gull Larus novaehollandiae 100+ (47)
    981 Kelp Gull L. dominicanus 9 (including 4 1stw and 1 2ndw)
    115 Crested Tern Sterna bergii 15+ (6)27 species of seabird identified outside the breakwater.

    Mammals:

    Common Dolphin 10+
    Hump-backed Whale 2
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