• 10th September 2000, Sydney, Pelagic Trip Report, Sydney, NSW, Australia

    Sydney, NSW Pelagic Trip Report 10th September 2000

    Conditions,
    Departed at 7.15 am and returned at approx. 3.30 pm.
    Sea Conditions: Swell to 1.5m.
    Weather: Mainly fine
    Wind: 15-20 Knots from SW-SE
    Water temperature 17.4 degrees C on the shelf
    Stopped at 34 15' x 151 35'

    Summary,
    September is consistently a good month and this year was certainly no exception. Best bird beyond any doubt was an intermediate phase HERALD PETREL certainly a major rarity in NSW and one of only a few records nationally away from Raine Island, QLD. Also of note were the vast numbers of Hutton's Shearwater. But as with last September, the real highlight of the day were the Hump-backed Whales which provided an awesome display at close range.

    Birds,
    (Note: numbers in brackets = highest count at any one time)

    086 Wandering Albatross 10 (5) (most thought to be gibsoni)
    089 Yellow-nosed Albatross 3 (1)
    091 Shy Albatross 2 (1) (cauta/steadi)
    088 Black-browed Albatross 10 (2) at least 1 melanophrys
    073 Great-winged Petrel 10-15 (macroptera)
    971 Providence Petrel 30-40
    921 HERALD PETREL 1
    077 White-headed Petrel 3
    984 Cape Petrel 2
    084 Antarctic Prion 2
    083 Fairy Prion 20+
    --- Prion Sp 30+
    068 Fluttering Shearwater 4
    913 Hutton's Shearwater 1200+
    --- (+ many unidentified)
    069 Wedge-tailed Shearwater 40+
    065 White-faced Storm Petrel 5
    115 Crested Tern 10+ (7)
    125 Silver Gull 50+ mostly in the harbour
    980 Great Skua 3
    128 Arctic Jaeger 1
    104 Australasian Gannet 10-15
    106 Australian Pelican 4 in the harbour

    Mammals,
    Hump-backed Whale 6
    Common Dolphin 10+
    Bottle-nosed Dolphin 20+ Some in the harbour