Friday July 5th 2013 Illawarra Bird Observers Club PELAGIC TRIP, WOLLONGONG, NSW, AUSTRALIA.
Report prepared by: Lindsay E. Smith
Departed: 07.30 hrs
Return 11.30 hrs
Sea conditions: 1.5mtrs
Swell from the east tending southerly
Weather: Fine with scattered cloud
Temperature range: 9.0 - 16 0 °C.
Barometric pressure: 1010Hp rising later in the day
Wind: West-20-25 knots
Sea surface temperature: 18.0
Current From the North at 1.5 knots
Summary:
Conditions at sea were quite comfortable though the sunny and mild weather made for a pleasant morning at sea. Migrating Hump-backed whales on the way out were an added attraction.
Birds for the morning were typical of the winter visitors to our region with a variety of species being observed. Four species of Albatrosses, Prions, Fluttering Shearwater, and a Brown Skua were just a few of the species observed.
See list below.
Black-browed albatrosses offered an identification lesson for all and a challenge for some. In this case Black-browed and Campbell Island albatrosses, with juvenile, immature, sub-adult and adults of both species being present. At times, within a few metres! Thus, allowing direct comparison of the changes in the plumage, bill and iris colour of these species with age.
Thank you to all who supported the trip and helped out.
I hope you enjoyed your introduction to our wonderful Seabirds.
We hope to see you again soon
Kind regards
Lindsay Smith
Bird list for Illawarra Bird Observers Club (IBOC)
Pelagic Trip July 5th 2013
Species code: Species name:
005 Little Penguin, Eudyptula minor
083 Fairy Prion, Pachyptila turtur
068 Fluttering Shearwater, Puffinus gavia
088 Black-browed Albatross, Thalassarche melanophrys
859 Campbell Albatross, Thalassarche impavida
091 Shy Albatross, Thalassarche cauta
864 Indian yellow-nosed Albatross, Thalassarche carteri
104 Australasian Gannet, Morus serrator
100 Little Pied Cormorant, Phalacrocorax melanoleucos
099 Pied Cormorant, Phalacrocorax varius
097 Little black Cormorant, Phalacrocorax sulcirostris
096 Great Cormorant, Phalacrocorax carbo
106 Australian Pelican, Pelicanus conspicillatus
980 Brown Skua, Catharacta skua
981 Kelp Gull, Larus dominicanus
125 Silver Gull, Larus novaehollandiae
115 Crested Tern, Sterna bergii
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 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.