Saturday 25th May . 2013 SOSSA PELAGIC TRIP, WOLLONGONG, NSW, AUSTRALIA.
Report prepared by: Lindsay E. Smith & G. Barwell
Departed: 0710 hrs
Return 1542 hrs
Sea conditions: Swell 1.5-2m from the east tending southerly in the afternoon
Weather:Fine with scattered cloud
Temperature range: 13.0 - 19 0 °C.
Barometric pressure: 1020Hp rising later in the day
Wind: S-SW 15-25 knots tending to Southerly 5-15 knots in the afternoon
Sea surface temperature: 20.0° inshore 23.0° over the continental shelf break
Current from the North at 1.5 knots
Summary:
We travelled out to 34° 22' 01" S; 151° 17' 52" E, 36.5 km ENE of Wollongong harbour in 180m+ shelf edge waters, where we stopped, chummed and drifted 1.17 km SW to 34° 22' 33" S; 151° 17' 26" E, 11.20-11.50 hrs, then turned back in, stopping at 34° 24' 20" S; 150° 58' 06" E, 6.07 km E of the harbour in 30m+ shelf waters, 14.20-15.09 hrs, arriving back at 15.42 hrs. Water temperature 20°c Inshore 23°c at the shelf edge. Sea conditions bumpy for most of the morning with swell from east, current from north and wind from southwest. Conditions eased in the afternoon.
Conditions at sea were a little uncomfortable. There were good numbers of albatross about, however conditions did not allow for the safe handling of the birds. No banding was conducted and no banded birds were observed on the day
Thank you to all who supported the trip and helped out.
Cheers Lindsay
Highlights
Black Noddy.
Buller’s Shearwater
Species code: Species name: Numbers:
(Note: numbers in parenthesis = highest count at any one time)
937 Northern Giant-Petrel, Macronectes halli 3 (2)
075 Great-winged Petrel, Pterodroma macroptera 2 (2)
075 Great-winged Petrel, Pterodroma macroptera gouldi 3 (2)
971 Providence Petrel, Pterodroma solandri 2 (2)
083 Fairy Prion, Pachyptila turtur 20+ (5)
071 Short-tailed Shearwater, Puffinus tenuirostris 2 (2)
068 Fluttering Shearwater, Puffinus gavia 1
975 Bullers Shearwater, Puffinus bulleri 1
088 Black-browed Albatross, Thalassarche melanophrys 6+
859 Campbell Albatross, Thalassarche impavida 3+
931 Buller’s Albatross, Thalassarche bulleri 4+
091 Shy Albatross, Thalassarche cauta 10+ (8)
864 Indian yellow-nosed Albatross, Thalassarche bassi 6+ (6)
104 Australasian Gannet, Morus serrator 10+
106 Australian Pelican, Pelicanus conspicillatus 3
980 Brown Skua, Catharacta skua 1
981 Kelp Gull, Larus dominicanus 3
125 Silver Gull, Larus novaehollandiae 50+
115 Crested Tern, Sterna bergii 7+
122 Black Noddy, Anous minutus 1
Mammals
Common Dolphin c10
Hump-backed Whale 1
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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 regular SOSSA Wollongong Pelagic Trips. Which departs on the 4th Saturday of each month. Contact: SOSSA: Phone 02 4272 4626 Email: sossa@tpg.com.au For further information in regards to other trips.