Sections
CalendarAfter the March trip was cancelled, it was with some relief that we saw Kiama harbour slipping behind us as we set out to sea around 07.35 hrs. Conditions were much better than in February, so we headed straight out to the shelf edge. Wed only got about half way when we came upon a charter boat of fishing enthusiasts, whose activities had attracted a large flock of Flesh-footed and other shearwaters. As we slowed down to see what birds were present, the wing flashes of a skua were seen as it chased the shearwaters. Even though it didn't come in close, it was clearly a skua, not a jaeger, which meant it was either a Brown or a South Polar. Its pale nape and head were obvious and this, together with its behaviour, was strongly suggestive of South Polar, but it continued to stay some distance from us, a source of some frustration. Fortunately there were several photographers with impressively long lenses aboard, so it was thought very likely that their photographs would clinch the ID of this long sought after species. Back of the camera views looked very convincing. As we had hoped, the photographs which were shared after we returned to shore left no doubt as to the identity of this rarity in NSW waters. Much jubilation, as for many on board it was their first encounter with this species.
South Polar Skua
After the skua left us, we continued out to the beginning of the shelf edge at 34 44 48 S; 151 07 08 E, 25 km from the harbour in 109 fathoms/199 metres, where we stopped for 30 mins or so from 09:23 hrs, drifting 750 m south in the current bringing warm water down from the north. We then thought wed try further out in deeper water so moved 5 km east to 34 45 38 S; 151 10 38 E in 146 fthm/267 m, where the sea floor was beginning to drop off, about 30 km ESE of the harbour. The mixture of birds attracted to our chum was not much different from what it had been at our first stop, with Flesh-footed Shearwaters predominant and a few albatrosses around, but no sign of any petrels.
After drifting 2.2 km south in 25 mins in the strong northerly current and with little interest displayed by the birds in the delights of our chum, we then moved 7.15 km back in to 90 fthm/165 m waters at 34 46 16 S; 151 05 51 E, where again we chummed and tried our luck at what we might attract. Again the mix of birds remained very much the same with a predominance of Flesh-footed Shearwaters and the odd albatross. Because of the absence of our qualified banders on this trip, we were unable to engage in any catching and banding of the birds we attracted. After 30 mins or so, it was time to move on.
We proceeded back west, making a couple of further stops: one at 34 45 10 S; 151 02 59 E, about 20 kms from the harbour, where we stayed about 40 mins and noticed Wilson's Storm Petrels were being more frequently seen; the second at 34 43 54 S; 151 00 51, about 15.5 kms from the harbour and only a km or so from where we encountered the South Polar Skua on the way out. The skua didn't make another appearance, but were treated to a number of Wilsons Storm Petrels passing by, presumably on migration to their wintering grounds.
As we headed back into harbour we were joined briefly by a handsome Buller's Albatross, the only one seen over the day, and close to the harbour an immature Kelp Gull passed by, a species we don't often see off Kiama. We arrived back in harbour at 15: 25 hrs.
Sea conditions were comfortable with a swell around 1 m in light winds. Sea temperature at the shelf edge was 23.3 degrees, not much different from what it was in February.
Highlight of the day was undoubtedly the South Polar Skua, though we had a good mix of albatrosses too.
Species seen outside the harbour, maximum at any one time in brackets:
125 Silver Gull: 30+ (15)
981 Kelp Gull: 1 (1) immature
115 Greater Crested Tern: 15+ (6) often roosting on the bow rail of the boat
979 South Polar Skua: 1 (1) woohoo!!!
063 Wilson's Storm Petrel: 30+ (4)
088 Black-browed Albatross: 4 (1)
859 Campbell Albatross: 7 (3) at least 1 immature present
091/861 Shy Albatross: 3 (2) subspecies not determined
864 Indian Yellow-nosed Albatross: 2 (1)
931 Buller's Albatross: 1 (1) on range, most likely subspecies bulleri
069 Wedge-tailed Shearwater: 5 (1)
070 Sooty Shearwater: 2 (1)
071 Short-tailed Shearwater: 3 (1)
072 Flesh-footed Shearwater: 150+ (32)
068 Fluttering Shearwater: 1 (1)
104 Australasian Gannet: 6 (1) mainly juvenile, but at least 1 adult
No cetaceans seen.
Report prepared by Graham Barwell