• Sunday 24th July 2016 SOSSA PELAGIC TRIP, KIAMA, NSW, AUSTRALIA.

    Date / Month: 24th JULY 2016
    Recorded by: Lindsay Smith
    Location: Kiama
    Air temp: 8-15 Water temp: In Shore 19 Off Shore 20
    Air pressure: 1016 Cloud cover: scattered 2/5
    Wind speed and direction: west –sw 10-20 knots
    Sea conditions: about 1m on 2.5m swell

    Comments:
    Conditions were very good for birds. The highlights of the day were Grey-backed Storm-petrels along with a possible Kerguelen Petrel.


    Juvenile Wandering Albatross

    The Kerguelen Petrel was not called due to confusion with the larger Great-winged, Grey-faced Petrels and Solander’ Petrels (Providence Petrels) which were also present in shelf waters. Unfortunately I was concentrating on catching albatrosses when the possible Kerguelen Petrel came past. I managed to get good but brief views though failed to identify it soon enough to call.

    We had a great opportunity to directly compare the Grey-backed and White-faced Storm-petrels side by side and compare size, feeding behaviour and Flight. Wonderful views of these rare birds.


    Grey-backed Storm-petrel

    Sp No Species Number
    079 Giant-Petrel, Macronectes sp
    929 Southern Giant-Petrel, Macronectes giganteus 2 (1)
    937 Northern Giant-Petrel, Macronectes halli 1
    075 Great-winged Petrel, Pterodroma macroptera 1
    Grey-faced Petrel Pterodroma gouldi 5 (2)
    971 Providence Petrel, Pterodroma solandri 7+ (3)
    935 Kerguelen Petrel, Lugensa brevirostris ???
    Prion, Pachyptila spp 30+
    083 Fairy Prion, Pachyptila turtur 20+ (15)
    068 Fluttering Shearwater, Puffinus gavial 5 (2)
    Wandering Albatross, Diomedea spp 4 (3)
    846 Antipodean Albatross, Diomedea antipodensis 2 (1)
    859 Campbell Albatross, Thalassarche impavida 2 (2)
    Black-browed Albatross, Thalassarche spp
    088 Black-browed Albatross, Thalassarche melanophrys 30+ (18)
    931 Buller’s Albatross, Thalassarche bulleri 2 (1)
    Shy Albatross, Thalassarche cauta spp 10+ (5)
    091 Shy Albatross, Thalassarche cauta 6
    861 White-capped Albatross, Thalassarche steadi 3
    864 Indian yellow-nosed Albatross,Thalassarche bassi 30 (8)
    064 Grey-backed Storm-Petrel, Nereis garrodia 2 (1)
    065 White-faced Storm-Petrel, Pelagodroma marina 10 (4)
    104 Australasian Gannet, Morus serrator 10
    097 Little black Cormorant, Phalacrocorax sulcirostris 2
    096 Great Cormorant, Phalacrocorax carbo 3
    106 Australian Pelican, Pelicanus conspicillatus 2
    980 Brown Skua, Catharacta skua 2 (1)
    981 Kelp Gull, Larus dominicanus 1 (1)
    125 Silver Gull, Larus novaehollandiae 20+
    115 Crested Tern, Sterna bergii 10+