Sections
CalendarSYDNEY PELAGIC
10 March 2018 Report
OVERVIEW
The morning began with some cloud cover delivering patchy rain which gradually cleared as the day progressed. Sea water temperatures were still high at 24 deg C. We motored out to Brown's Mountain (approx. 22.5NM ESE off the Heads)arriving there around mid-morning. Good numbers of Shearwater, with the odd Jaeger, trailed the boat while underway with a mix of Petrel and Albatross adding to the excitement. A terrific day on the water.
TRIP SUMMARY
With a full list of passengers on board the boat motored through the Heads into a gentle ocean swell around 7:40am. We started the berley trail soon after. A few disinterested Silver Gull and Crested Tern were seen flying some distance from the boat. Soon after we came upon the odd Wedge-tailed Shearwater tracking in a southerly direction. As we passed a fishing boat a trail of hungry Shearwater began forming behind our boat. They were to remain a constant throughout the day.
The first of the Pomarine Jaegers were now starting to show some interest as well slowly working their way into the wake well behind the boat. We added Hutton's Shearwater along with Short-tailed Shearwater on the journey out. As we journeyed to Brown's Flesh-footed Shearwater were beginning to join the feeding birds along with more Short-tailed Shearwater. A few on board were fortunate to see Flying fish skimming above the surface as we motored along.They were to make an appearance periodically during the trip. Oceanic Bottlenose Dolphin came in briefly to ride the bow wave but soon left given the speed we were traveling. Risso's Dolphin were also seen with one specimen showing a distinctively notched dorsal fin.
Just on Brown's Steve spotted a distant WHITE-NECKED PETREL which was heading toward the boat. Fortunately it continued close enough on its fly-by for all on board to get a good view and a chance to photograph the bird before it arced up revealing its underside. It didn't hang around as it circled further behind the boat before disappearing. A Sooty Shearwater was seen by two on board but couldn't be located again.
Fifteen minutes later we were over Brown's with the first slick working its magic. It seemed every fishing boat present had a number of Shearwater buzzing around each of them. A banded (right, metal band) Black Petrel joined the throng of hungry Shearwaters on the water well behind our boat. The bird eventually came to the boat looking for choice bits of berley. A GOULD'S PETREL soon appeared giving exceptional views with repeated close fly-bys as it circled the boat. This was to be the first of seven seen during the trip. A Shy Albatross found the boat soon after. The first of three for the day. A Wilson's Storm-petrel put in a brief appearance too. By now the expected Gray-faced Petrels were wheeling around as well as landing close to the back of the boat.
We continued a slow motor further out taking our flock of hungry birds with us. A lone Wilson's Storm-petrel skipped past. We stopped once again where we added to the count rather than diversity. That soon changed when a Wandering Albatross came in low from the side of the boat for a look and decided to stay with us for the entire return journey. A lovely sight.
Australasian Gannet was added to the list. All immature birds. Nearing the Heads the boat almost ran over a large cetacean which turned out to be a False Killer Whale. The boat entered the Heads after 3:30pm.
BIRD LIST
(Note that the numbers in parentheses represent the approximate maximum numberof that species in view at one time)
Shy Albatross - 3 (2)
Wandering Albatross (Gibson's) - 1 (1)
Grey-faced Petrel - 20 (15)
WHITE-NECKED PETREL - 1 (1)
GOULD'S PETREL - 7 (2)
Black Petrel - 1 (1)
Flesh-footed Shearwater - 40 (20)
Wedge-tailed Shearwater - 200 (150)
Hutton's Shearwater - 4 (2)
Short-tailed Shearwater - 8 (2)
Sooty Shearwater - 1 (1)
Wilson's Storm Petrel - 2 (1)
Australasian Gannet - 4 (3)
Pomarine Jeager - 8 (4)
Silver Gull - 50 (40)
Greater Crested Tern - 3 (2)
OTHER
Oceanic Bottle-nosed Dolphin - 10
False Killer Whale - 1
Risso's Dolphin - 12
Flyingfish - 30