Sydney pelagic trip report, 8th September 2012
Overview:
After last month’s cancellation due to strong westerly winds, this time the 22
participants, including visitors from the USA, Germany, Denmark, Finland, UK and some local regulars, had a beautiful day on the water aboard the Halicat.Despite the again prevailing westerly winds, we had a good number of seabirds (see list below).For most of the day we had W to WSW winds around 20 kts, the swell was up to 3 m. The water temperature near the shore was 15.8°C and near the shelf break 16.8°C. The main berley point was 25 NM (55 km) off Sydney south of Brown’s Mountain at 200+ fathoms (400 m water depth). One of the highlights was already seen from shore before the Halicat showed up: A Pink-eared Duck on salt water in Rose Bay! True pelagic highlights were 5 White-faced Storm-petrels and a good number of Wandering-type Albatross. Non-avian highlights were two Eagle Rays ‘flying’ past the boat, an enormous Ocean Sunfish, four Humpback Whales and two pods of Short-beaked Common Dolphins.
Raja's photos will be uploaded here: http://www.adarman.com/Pelagics/Sydney-NSW
Trip summary – annotated list
Birds:
Pink-eared Duck: 1 (Rose Bay)
White-faced Storm-petrel: 5 (3 together)
Wandering Albatross: 10+ (most were Gibson’s,one possible exulans)
Black-browed Albatross: 50+
Campbell Albatross: 2 (1 1st/2nd year with amber eye; 1 2nd/3rd year with pale eye)
Shy Albatross: 10+ (including at least 3 adult cauta with yellow base of the culminicorn and at least 3 very fresh juveniles with very dark grey heads, likely steadi)
Indian Yellow-nosed Albatross: 15
Southern Giant-petrel: 2 (1st year)
Northern Giant-petrel: 3 (1 1st year, 2 2nd year)
Wedge-tailed Shearwater: many
Fluttering Shearwater: 50+
Hutton’s Shearwater: 10+
Great-winged Petrel: 4 (not clear if macroptera or gouldii)
Providence Petrel: 30
Australasian Gannet: 4
Pied Cormorant: 2 (Rose Bay)
Brown Skua: 3
White-fronted Tern: 1
Crested Tern: many
Silver Gull: many
Mammals:
Humpback
Whale: 4
Short-beaked
Common Dolphin: 10+
Fish:
Sunfish Mola spec. (likely Ocean Sunfish Mola mola): 1 (large)
Eagle Ray spec: 2
The next Sydney pelagic trip will be on Saturday 13th October 2012 departing Mosman Ferry Wharf at 6:45am and Rose Bay Ferry Wharf at 7:00am.
Call Hal at 0411311236 to make the booking.
Cheers,
Nikolas Haass