Sections
CalendarLeaving Kiama Harbour at 07.35 hrs, we travelled directly out to the shelf edge at 34°43’ 55” S; 151° 07’ 26” E, where, at 9.30 hrs, we made our first stop for the day. This was in 190m/104 fathoms at the start of the shelf edge, about 25 km ESE of the harbour. Here we drifted north in the southerly wind, chumming with our usual mixture of suet, chicken mince and tuna/vegetable oil to set up a slick and see what it would attract. The birds here were predominantly the small to medium-sized albatrosses, but a Cape Petrel and Brown Skua eventually arrived to investigate the slick.
After about 45 mins of drifting north then travelling along the slick, we went 7.2 km further east into deeper water, though still on the edge of the continental shelf. We stopped in 307m/168 fathoms at 34° 42’ 44” S; 151° 11’ 51” at 10.55 hrs and spent the next 2hrs 40 mins in this area, slowly drifting 4.84 km north as we set up a similar slick. Again the albatrosses dominated, but some pterodroma petrels turned up, as might be expected in deep water, along with a range of other species. Darryl single-handedly caught and banded several of the birds, giving those aboard excellent close-up views of Buller’s Albatross, Indian Yellow-nosed Albatross, Black-browed Albatross and a Wandering Albatross, a heavy bird with a medium-length bill indicating it was possibly from one of the Indian Ocean colonies. The elation after the effort to lure in and catch the latter bird was replaced by some disappointment, when the appropriately-sized band couldn’t be found in the banding kit, so the bird had to be released unbanded. On the other hand, we were delighted to catch a French-banded Black-browed Albatross, which must come from a study colony on either the Crozet or Kerguelen Islands in the Indian Ocean. We were also entertained by an Australian Fur Seal which swam about the boat for several minutes.
Eventually we had to turn for home and proceeded straight back to the harbour, arriving at 15.30 hrs.
Sea conditions were fairly bumpy in the morning in the 1.5-2m swell, but became easier in the afternoon as the swell diminished to 1-1.5m. Sea temperature at the shelf edge was 18°-18.3°.
Highlight of the day was the good range of albatrosses present (6 species), with three species able to be seen in the hand.
Species seen outside the harbour, maximum at any one time in brackets:
125 Silver Gull - 30+ (30+)
115 Greater Crested Tern - 25 (15)
980 Brown Skua - 1+ (1) photos indicate that there may have been only one bird staying with us most of the day
086 Wandering Albatross - 2 (1) both adult males
088 Black-browed Albatross - 15+ (5) mainly adults, but 1 imm. present; 1 bird with French metal and darvic bands
859 Campbell Albatross - 1 (1) adult
091/861 Shy Albatross - 6 (3) subspecies not determined
864 Indian Yellow-nosed Albatross - 25+ (15) mainly adults, but 1 imm. present
931 Buller’s Albatross - 7 (3)
929 Southern Giant Petrel - 1 (1) juv.
080 Cape Petrel - 3 (2) at least 1 subsp. capense
083 Fairy Prion - 1 (1)
075 Grey-faced Petrel - 2 (2)
971 Providence (Solander’s) Petrel - 4 (1)
104 Australasian Gannet - 10+ (2) mainly adults, but 1 imm. present
Surprisingly, no cetaceans were sighted though Humpback Whales are moving north along the coast at present, but the swell may have made it difficult to see signs of their presence. One Australian Fur Seal was sighted.
Report prepared by Graham Barwell