Hi All, The Bird Observation and Conservation Australia (BOCA) pelagic got out off Eaglehawk Neck, SE Tasmania on the weekend. A fairly bumpy trip but a nice selection of birds seen. The next scheduled trip is for November 28th 2010. That trip is at present fully booked but contact me if you wish to be on the waitlist.
Cheers, Rohan Clarke
BOCA PELAGIC TRIP OFF EAGLEHAWK NECK, TASMANIA Sunday 19th September 2010
OBSERVERS: Marg Beames, Geoff Bromfield, Mike Bysouth, Jaimie Cleeland, Victoria Dixon, Katherine Kristof, John McEvoy, George Olah, Kate Stevens, Andrew Sutherland, Dejan Stojanovic, Bill Wakefield & Rohan Clarke (organiser and report compiler).
WEATHER: Fairly heavy cloud cover through much of the day, clearing occasionally for short breaks of sunlight. Cool but not particularly cold. Blowing around 20 knots for most of the day from the south. The wind swung round to the SW and increased to 30 knots around 2 pm by which stage we were well on our way back.
SEA: The forecast was for a more windy day than we experienced but the choppy and confused sea on a moderate swell was still larger than is ideal. Our vessel the ‘Pauletta’ seems to handle these larger seas well and the trip was neither too bumpy or wet. There was some spray on the return leg but even this was intermittent. A 1.5 to 2.0 m swell with occasional larger sets to 3 m at the shelf. Moderate chop (to 1.5 m, rarely 2 m) meant we did rock and roll at times, especially when stationary. Two noticeably seasick, a few others showing some discomfort.
ACTIVITY: Departed Pirates Bay Wharf at 0710. Headed to the shelf break via the Hippolytes (a prominent rock stack). Surprisingly few birds on the way out – even fewer when we reached the shelf. Crossed the shelf break (100 fathoms) at 0855 before making our first stop at 43º08.39S 148º12.57E over 300 fathoms of water. Here we berleyed with bread, chicken skin/fat, fish frames and tuna oil, and the birds gradually built up. A second stop was made a few miles NW of this point and then a final stop was made back on the shelf break at 43º00.48S 148º15.42E. Headed back in at 1240. As the return leg was anticipated to be a slow ride into the oncoming swell and a stiffening breeze our departure was about 1/2 an hour sooner than is usual. Docked at 15:20.
MAMMALS: Australian Fur Seals perhaps 30 on the Hippolytes. Also 1 on the boat ramp in Pirates Bay in both the AM and PM.
Common Dolphin: A single pod of ~20 in relatively shallow water a couple of miles outside of Pirates Bay in the AM.
BIRDS: 22 seabird species (+2 additional albatross taxa) beyond the point at Pirates Bay seems about typical for a Tasmanian pelagic. Highlights were Northern and Southern Royal Albatross and good numbers of Common Diving Petrels. Despite the ‘big blow’ over the previous week that included prevailing winds from the S and SW none of the hoped for cold water specialties put in an appearance.
Grey-backed Storm-Petrel: 5 (3). All pelagic.
Southern Royal Albatross: 3 (2) A nice count of Southern Royals including a few close fly-bys. At least three different individuals on plumage. All pelagic.
Northern Royal Albatross: 2 (1) A few visits at different berley points in pelagic waters.
Black-browed Albatross: nominate race 2 (1) A low count of just two adults beyond the shelf. (no impavida)
Shy Albatross: 200 (70). cauta/steadi 5 inshore, 13 offshore, remainder pelagic. Just 2 imms, remainder adult. The dominant albatross for the day.
Salvin’s Albatross: 1 older immature (almost full adult) in pelagic waters
Yellow-nosed Albatross: 2 different adults in pelagic waters
Bullers Albatross: A single adult in offshore waters.
Fairy Prion: 50 (20). All pelagic.
Short-tailed Shearwater: 1 at the shelf.
Sooty Shearwater: 2 (1). Both pelagic/at the shelf.
Northern Giant Petrel: 2. 1 juv, 1 older immature. Both pelagic.
Southern Giant Petrel: 1 immature pelagic.
Common Diving Petrel: 250 (10). 1 inshore, 55 offshore, remainder pelagic. Singletons and groups of up to 5 passing through throughout the day.
Great-winged Petrel: 8 (3). All nominate macroptera. All pelagic
Cape Petrel: 2 (1) at least one australe from NZ.
Little Penguin: 1 inshore in the AM.
Australasian Gannet: 15 (5). 5 pelagic, 2 offshore, 8 inshore.
Black-faced Cormorant: 7 inshore in the AM, 1 offshore in the PM and ~80 ashore on the Hippolytes.
Crested Tern: 10 (3). Mostly pelagic, but 1 offshore.
White-fronted Tern: 1 pelagic (distant)
Pacific Gull: 2 inshore in the AM.
Kelp Gull: 16 inshore in the AM, many (perhaps 50) around the Hippolytes. Several ages classes (juv through to adult).
Silver Gull: 12 (10) All inshore and/or around the Hippolytes.
A single Swamp Harrier over the Hippolytes rounded out the list.
