Hi All,
Here’s a trip report for the Birds Australia Vic Group pelagic that got off Portland, western Vic on Sunday.
Cheers,
Rohan Clarke
BA Vic Group Pelagic off Portland, Victoria, Sun 20 June 2010
Participants: Elizabeth Shaw, Alan Crawford, Adam Rigg, Anne-Marie Burgoine, Helen Snibson, Gil Langfield, Paul Dodd, Ruth Woodrow, George Appleby, Rosemary Lester, Chris Lester (organiser), Rohan Clarke (report compiler).
Activity: Departed Portland harbour aboard the ‘Southern Pride’ at 0805, passing between Lawrence Rocks and Point Danger and heading south south west to the shelf. When underway we travelled at 11-12 knots. A brief stop of ~10 mins was made over 80 fathoms of water, but the small numbers of prions showed no interest in berley so we proceeded to the shelf, crossing it at 1040 and stopping for a more extended berley session a few minutes later (38°45.67’E, 141°32.25’S ~180 fathoms). Berleyed here till 1205 before moving to 38°46.04’E, 141°27.78’S ~210 fathoms . We departed here at 1320 moving NW along the shelf and joining a trawler that had just finished hauling its catch. Here we completed a third drift and berley session again on the 200 fathom line at 38 45.49 E, 141 28.60 S. Headed back in at 1520. Given the large sea and the fact that the sun set as we approached the coast we didn’t visit Lawrence Rocks and instead picked a course through the breaking swell on the reefs between the rock and the coast before arriving in the harbour at 1720.
Conditions: A ~10 knot SW wind provided a small amount of spray on the way out. This wind moderated through the day such that it was quite pleasant beyond the shelf. There was a 4-5 m swell inshore and a 3-4 m swell offshore. On top this a 1 m sea moderated through the morning to be less than < 0.5 m by 10 am. Cloudy at first but then clearing to bright, well lit conditions, with occasional clouds. These conditions made for a reasonably pleasant day at sea, though three+ were seasick. Good diversity with 25 species of seabird recorded during the trip. Rarity-wise the highlight was a Blue Petrel, but sadly this bird was only seen fleetingly and at some distance. Other highlights were the good numbers of albatross including a Southern Royal and Salvin's form of Shy Albatross, three species of prion, large numbers of Cape Petrel and close approaches by Sooty Shearwater. Mammals: Common Dolphin: 2 in pelagic waters around midday and another 4 or so in inshore waters on our return in the pm. The animals in the pm leapt clear of the water on several occasions as they followed in the large swell. Bottle-nosed Dolphin: 4 adults between the Lawrence Rocks and Portland Harbour in the pm. Australian Fur Seal. 1 just outside the harbour entrance in the am, 1 in offshore waters in the am and 2 in pelagic waters with the trawler. These last animals put the attending birds into flight on a number of occasions. Bird: Little Penguin: 8 together in inshore waters in the late pm. Black-browed Albatross melanophrys 200 (80). Mostly adults, though 2-3 immature birds seen. 34 in inshore waters, 25 in offshore waters, remainder pelagic. Largest aggregation was at the trawler haul point impavida: 8 (5). All pelagic. All adult. Shy Albatross cauta: 380 (300). 4 in inshore waters in the am, 20 in offshore waters in am, remainder pelagic. Largest aggregation was at the trawler haul point. Mostly adult with small numbers of immature birds and at least 1 juvenile through the day. SALVINI: 3. 2 different adults and an immature in pelagic waters. http://www.pbase.com/wildlifeimages/salvins_albatross [first 3 images]
Yellow-nosed Albatross: 5 (2). 2 inshore, 1 offshore, 2 pelagic. One immature, remainder adult.
Wandering Albatross:7 (5). Mostly stage 3-4 birds that appeared to be gibsoni. 1 older juvenile exulens given its large size.
SOUTHERN ROYAL ALBATROSS: 1 younger adult that visited us at two of the three berley points and joined other birds at the back of the boat for photo opportunities.
http://www.pbase.com/wildlifeimages/southern_royal_albatross [first 3 images]
Northern Giant Petrel: 2 juveniles at the third berley point.
Southern Giant Petrel: 1 juvenile at the second berley point. It was presumably the same individual that followed us to the third berley point.
BLUE PETREL: 1. A distant bird over 80 fathoms of water on the way out. We stopped but it didn’t show any interest.
Great-winged Petrel: 30 (12). All macroptera. 2 offshore, remainder pelagic.
Cape Petrel: 150 (60). 5 offshore, remainder pelagic. Nice photo opportunities given the close approaches and good light.
http://www.pbase.com/wildlifeimages/cape_petrel [first 12 images]
Fairy Prion: 65 (15). 20 offshore, remainder pelagic.
SLENDER-BILLED PRION: 1 at the third berley stop.
ANTARCTIC PRION: 4 (2). 1 offshore, remainder pelagic.
Wilson’s Storm-Petrel: 2 (1). Two sightings at the third berley point, may have been of the same individual.
Grey-backed Storm-Petrel: 50 (25). All pelagic.
Sooty Shearwater: 5 (2) All pelagic.
Fluttering Shearwater: 13 (12). All over inshore waters in the pm.
Australian Gannet: 40 (20). Mostly inshore, 4 offshore.
Black-faced Cormorant: 1 inshore in the am.
Southern Skua: 4 on the harbour seawall as we departed. This is the third or fourth winter in succession where Southern Skua have taken to resting on land in Portland Harbour.
Crested Tern: 12 (5). 1 offshore, remainder inshore.
Silver Gull: 10 inshore in the am and a similar number in the pm.
Kelp Gull: 1 in Portland Harbour in the am.
Pacific Gull: 2 in inshore waters in am.
Rohan Clarke www.wildlifeimages.com.au ============================== To unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message: unsubscribe (in the body of the message, with no Subject line) to: birding-aus-request@vicnet.net.au
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