• 30th July 2011 SOSSA PELAGIC TRIP, WOLLONGONG, NSW, AUSTRALIA.

    Report prepared by: Lindsay E. Smith.

    Departed: 07:15 returned at 16:15hrs.
    Sea conditions: below 1-.0 m becoming choppy later in the day
    Swell: 0.5m
    Weather: Scattered cloud during the morning. Clearing and wind rising to 5-15 knts later in the day.
    Temperature range: 7 to 20°C.
    Wind: North west 5-10knts
    Sea surface temperature: 18°-20°.

    Primary chumming location: None

    Summary:

    Under the influence of a high pressure moving out into the Tasman Sea conditiond were ideal for boating. Unfortunately this lead to a lower species diversity than our previous trip on July 24th.

    A few Crested Terns and Australasian Gannets were patrolling the inshore waters as were small numbers of albatrosses, including, Black-browed, and Shy types. We had brief views of a couple of White-fronted Terns as we approached the Wollongong Trap Reef and we came upon a large pod of 50+ Common Dolphins.

    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. At this point the first prion appeared, a Fairy Prion. Very few petrels were observed on the day

    As we cruised over the edge of the continental shelf at the 100-fathom line, we stopped to catch an Indian Yellow-nosed albatross and it was here that we were joined by a Wandering Albatross one of only two seen all day.

    The banding team were successful in capturing and tagging a number of Yellow-nosed albatrosses and two Brown Skuas. Two previously banded birds were also recaptured.

    Highlights:

    Good numbers of albatrosses including Shy, Yellow-nosed, Black browed and a couple of Wanderer’s, also Solanders Petrel’s.

    A comfortable day on the ocean. What a difference a week can make!

    Many thanks to all who shared the day.

    Thank you for having 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)
    971 Solander’s Petrel Pterodroma solandri 3 (1)
    083 Fairy Prion Pachyptila turtur 1 (1)
    068 Fluttering Shearwater P. gavia 20 (4)
    086.Wandering Albatross Diomedea exulans 2 (1)
    088 Black-browed Albatross Thalassarche melanophris 40+ (15)
    091 Shy Albatross T. cauta . 2 (1)
    089 Indian yellow-nosed Albatross T.carteri 15+
    8698 Brown Skua Catharacta lonnbergi 4+
    104 Australasian Gannet Morus serrator 40 (8)
    106 Australian Pelican Pelicanus conspicillatus 5 (5)
    125 Silver Gull L. novaehollandiae 200+ (200+)
    115 Crested Tern Sterna bergii 30+ (9)
    114 White-fronted Tern sterna striata 4 (2)

    13 species sighted 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

    Mammals:
    Common Dolphin 70+ (2-3 pods)
    Hump-backed whale 2
    Australian Fur Seal 2+

    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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