Sections
CalendarLeaving Kiama harbour at 07.30 hrs, we proceeded directly tothe shelf edge, rolling in the heavy 2.5 m swell from the north as we went.Reaching 212 m/116 fathoms at around 09.15 hrs, we stopped for our main chum anddrift session for the day, beginning at 34° 41’ 49” S; 151° 08’ 28” E, about 26km east of the harbour. Setting up a slick with tuna oil and the usual mixtureof chicken mince and suet, we waited to see what would come in. Over the nextthree and a quarter hours we drifted steadily 14.5 km south in the combinationof strong northerly winds and current, as the number of birds graduallyincreased. First it was the commoner shelf-edge species at this time of year,Flesh-footed Shearwaters and Grey-faced Petrels along with good numbers ofWhite-faced and Wilson’s Storm Petrels.
As the morning progressed, we had visits from somewhat lesscommon species, such as Long-tailed Jaegers, then a bird with white primaryshafts in the upperwing, suggesting a jaeger at first glance but which a secondlook showed to be a pale morph Kermadec Petrel. Prolonged scrutiny of the darkshearwaters around the boat eventually paid off as the first of at least fourBlack Petrels was identified. One of these was caught and proved to be carryinga New Zealand band. It will be from the colonies on Great Barrier or LittleBarrier Island. Then a Cookilaria petrel was sighted, but, instead of theslighly more regularly recorded Gould’s or Cook’s Petrel, turned out to be aBlack-winged Petrel, possibly from the nearest breeding colony on Lord HoweIsland. This bird, or a second individual, paid us another visit just as wewere leaving.
During the chum and drift session, the banding team workedsteadily, giving everyone on board close-up views as they banded Flesh-footedand Wedge-tailed Shearwaters, and Grey-faced Petrels, as well as the BlackPetrel. Just as we turned to head back in at 12.30 hrs we had a visit from asmall pod of what were thought to be Striped Dolphins.
On the return journey we had some time to spare, so stoppedfor an hour in shelf waters 8.5 km from the harbour at 34° 42’ 23” S; 150° 56’30” E, where we again were pushed south, nearly 5 kms, by the wind and current.Here we caught and banded the same mix of birds as further out at the shelfedge, including a Black Petrel which must have followed us in. Eventually wearrived back at the harbour at 15.55 hrs.
Sea conditions were fairly rocky in the 2.5 m swell pushedup by strong northerlies, diminishing somewhat as the day progressed. Seatemperature was 21° at the shelf edge, but a much cooler 16° inshore.
Highlight of the day was the range of less commonly seenpetrels: Kermadec, Black-winged and Black.
Species seen outside the harbour, maximum at any one time inbrackets:
063 Wilson’s Storm-petrel - 15 (7)
065 White-faced Storm-petrel - 10 (5)
088 Black-browed Albatross - 1 (1) imm.
859 Campbell Albatross - 1 (1) imm.
091 & 861 Shy Albatross - 4 (2) 1 adult cauta, 1adult steadi (based on moult) and at least 1 imm. steadi
075 Grey-faced Petrel - 30 (10)
922 Kermadec Petrel - 1 (1)
955 Black-winged Petrel - 2 (1) possibly 2 birdspresent
917 Black Petrel - 4 (2) at least 4 birds; 2 caught, 1with an NZ band
069 Wedge-tailed Shearwater - 40 (5) mainly in inshore waters
070 Sooty Shearwater - 3 (1)
071 Short-tailed Shearwater - 30 (25) at least one flock stillheading south
072 Flesh-footed Shearwater - 40 (20)
104 Australasian Gannet - 5 (2)
125 Silver Gull - 25 (20)
115 Greater Crested Tern - 5 (1)
945 Pomarine Jaeger - 4 (4)
933 Long-tailed Jaeger - 5 (2)
The only cetacean seen was Striped Dolphin at the shelfedge.
Report prepared by Graham Barwell