Eaglehawk Pelagic Trip Report – 18/10/2014

Participants: Rob Armstrong, Sue Armstrong, Chris Darby, Maureen Davey, Karen Dick, Rob Hamilton, Liz Hynes, Mona Loofs-Samorzewski, Jeremy O’Wheel, Glen Pacey, Els Wakefield, John Weigel and Paul Brooks (organiser and report compiler). Conditions: Conditions were fairly calm inshore with little breeze or sea to speak of; the swell was below 1 metre for most of the day. Seas began to rise as we rounded the Hippolyte and the wind picked up. On our way to the shelf, the northerly kicked in and had us pitching about on choppy seas of 1.5 metres. As we crossed the shelf, the wind picked up to around 20 knots with seas over 2 metres. The northerly dropped to around 15 knots at around 1000 hrs but picked up again before midday and only got stronger, until winds were 30-35 knots at our final berley stop; the ride home was a slow and bumpy affair. It was a mainly fine day, partly cloudy but cold. Water temperature was 13.6 deg C inshore, rising to 14 deg C over the shelf break and beyond. Activity: Left Pirates Bay at 0705 hrs and headed southeast to circumnavigate the Hippolytes at 0805 hrs. Headed east to berley over 180 fathoms at 0905 hrs, drifting south-southeast to around 230 fathoms. At 1050 hrs we headed east to berley over 500 fathoms, drifting south for an hour, before heading back up the slick. After reaching the beginning of the slick, we immediately motored back inside the shelf to 70 fathoms and berleyed for 15 mins before heading back to port, docking at 1455 hrs. Mammals: c. 10 fur seals on Hippolyte Rock. Birds (IOC v 4.2 – max at one time in brackets): Antipodean Albatross: 3 (1) 1 at the first berley point; a very similar (or the same) bird appeared at the second berley point. 1 adult male Gibson’s at the second berley point and 1 at the 3rd berley point. One other Wandering-type seen in the distance while motoring between the first and seconds stops. Southern Royal Albatross: 3 (1) 1 adult at the first berley point; 1 adult and 1 juvenile at the second berley point. NORTHERN ROYAL ALBATROSS: 1 at the first berley point. Black-browed Albatross: 6 (2) 1 juvenile offshore in the morning; a sub-adult at the first berley point; 2 juveniles and a sub-adult at the second berley point; 1 juvenile at the 3rd berley point. Campbell Albatross: 5 (2) An adult and a sub-adult at the first berley point; an adult and 2 sub-adults at the second berley point. Shy Albatross: c. 80 (22) Just 1 bird inshore in the morning; 16 on the way to the shelf; remainder pelagic. SALVIN’S ALBATROSS: 2 (1) 1 adult and 1 sub-adult at the first berley point. Southern Giant Petrel: 1 offshore in the morning. Northern Giant Petrel: 12 (5) 1 offshore in the morning; 3 at the first berley stop; 5 immatures and 1 adult at the second berley stop; 2 at the third berley stop. Cape Petrel: 3 (3) Probably the same 3 birds following us around all day; 2 nominate, 1 *australe*. The *australe* bird approached just inside the shelf break, the other 2 joined us later. ANTARCTIC PRION: 1 What was likely the same bird made a few moderately close approaches at the first berley point. ID confirmed from photos. Fairy Prion: 11 (3) All pelagic. Great-winged Petrel: 10 (2) 1 offshore in the morning, the remainder pelagic. All race *gouldi*. White-headed Petrel: 7 (2) 2 offshore in the morning, remainder pelagic. White-chinned Petrel: c. 30 (11) 5 offshore in the morning, c. 20 in pelagic waters, many of which followed the boat between stops. Sooty Shearwater: 1 Pelagic. Short-tailed Shearwater: c. 8000 (c. 500) Omnipresent in all waters; most abundant just offshore where large rafts occurred. Wilson’s Storm Petrel: 9 (5) Pelagic. Grey-backed Storm Petrel: 8 (4) White-faced Storm Petrel: 1 Pelagic. Black-faced Cormorant: c.315 Mainly on the Hippolytes. Australasian Gannet: 13 (12) Mainly on the Hippolytes. Sooty Oystercatcher: 1 On a rock shelf just outside Prates Bay in the morning. Silver Gull: c. 70 Mainly on the Hippolyte. Pacific Gull: 4 (2) 2 inshore, 2 on the Hippolyte. Kelp Gull: c. 220 (c. 30) Inshore and on the Hippolyte. Greater Crested Tern: 30 (5) 1 inshore in the morning; 7 offshore in the morning; remainder pelagic. Skua Sp.: A Brown Skua-type bird seen well west of the boat on our first drift. Didn’t approach closely enough to make a positive ID. Welcome Swallow: 1 at the Hippolyte. PB