• 25th June 2011 SOSSA PELAGIC TRIP, WOLLONGONG, NSW, AUSTRALIA.

    Report prepared by: Lindsay E. Smith.

    Departed: 07:15 returned at 16:15.
    Sea conditions: 1.0 m easing later in the day
    Swell: 2m
    Weather: Scattered cloud during the morning, clearing later in the day.
    Temperature range: 6 to 19°C.
    Sea surface temperature: 18°-22°.
    Primary chumming location: 34 27 48s 151 20 45e

    Summary:
    A series of cold fronts and gale force winds from the west south west had lashed the coast in the past few days only easing late on Friday night. As we departed the harbour the wind had eased to 5knots from the SW and the seas had abated to 2m inshore.

    A few Crested Terns and Australasian Gannets were patrolling the inshore waters as were good numbers of albatrosses including Black-browed and Shy types feeding on the Giant Cuttlefish which were abundant. We had brief views of a White-fronted Tern as we cruised past the Wollongong Trap Reef. Yellow-nosed albatrosses began appearing in increasing numbers and the first of the Brown Skuas sent the following flock of Silver Gulls high into the air.

    Generally in inshore waters were quite productive with small numbers of Fluttering Shearwaters passing by, as expected at this time of the year.

    The Silver Gulls were conspicuous in numbers, though breeding on the Five Islands had not yet started. At the 80-fathom line we encountered the first Gadfly petrel of the day it was a Solander’s Petrel which flew across our stern. As we cruised over the edge of the continental shelf at the 100-fathom line everybody was fully alert. Here to we were joined by a few Shy Albatrosses T.Cauta and a lone Juvenile Southern Giant Petrel following in our wake.

    At our primary chumming location 34 27.48s 151 20 45 s at 1200hrs.
    The banding team were successful in capturing and tagging a number of Yellow-nosed Albatross two Brown Skuas and a Southern Giant Petrel. No previously banded birds were recaptured.

    Highlights:

    Good numbers of Albatrosses including the largest number of Yellow-nosed albatrosses seen for many years. These were mostly adult birds.

    Once again a Great Day on the ocean. You can’t pick em!

    Many thanks to all who shared the day and supported our research.

    Cheers Lindsay

    Birds recorded according to the Environment Australia Reporting Schedule:

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

    929. Southern Giant Petrel Macronectes giganteus 1 Juvenile
    080 Cape Petrel Daption capense 1 (1)
    971 Solander’s Petrel Pterodroma solandri 1 (1)
    083 Fairy Prion Pachyptila turtur 1 (1)
    068 Fluttering Shearwater P. gavia 30 (4)
    088 Black-browed Albatross Thalassarche melanophris 40+ (15)
    859 Campbell Albatross T.impavida 3 (2)
    091 Shy Albatross T. cauta .>10 (6)
    089 Indian yellow-nosed Albatross 150+
    8698 Brown Skua 4+
    104 Australasian Gannet Morus serrator 10 (6)
    106 Australian Pelican Pelicanus conspicillatus 5 (5)
    981 Kelp Gull Larus dominicanus 3 (3)
    125 Silver Gull L. novaehollandiae 200+ (200+)
    115 Crested Tern Sterna bergii 3+
    114 White-fronted Tern sterna striata 2 (1)

    16 species outside the harbour

    In the harbour:
    096 Great Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo 1
    100 Little Pied Cormorant, P. melanoleucos 1
    106 Australian Pelican Pelicanus conspicillatus 1


    Other birds:
    Welcome Swallow Hirundo
    131 Sooty Oystercatcher Haematopus fuliginosus 4
    Intermediate Egret 1 (1)
    Striaghted Heron 1 (1)

    Mammals:
    Common Dolphin 7
    Australian Fur Seal 2+
    Distant Hump-backed Whales 5
    For previous trip reports and selected images from this trip visit
    http://www.sossa-international.org

    Future Trips:
    All Pelagic Trips from NSW are operated at no profit to the organizers, being operated as group boat charters for the benefit of all who wish to join us. If you would like to join one of these trips please contact us as detailed below:
    To make a booking on the SOSSA Wollongong Pelagic Trips These departs on the 4th Saturday of each month contact: SOSSA: Phone 02 4272 4626 Email: sossa@tpg.com.au
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