Eaglehawk Pelagic Trip Report, 6th December 2014

Participants: Penny Beaver, Ruth Brozek, Mike Double, Ian Halliday, Rob Hamilton, Golo Maurer, John Tongue, Shirley Tongue, Peter Tongue, Kimberley Tongue, Els Wakefield, and Paul Brooks (organiser and report compiler) Boat: The Pauletta, skippered by John Males, with deckhand Adam. Conditions and Activity: Set out at 0705 hrs under overcast skies with some light drizzle. A light southerly breeze blew with a swell around 1 m; light seas picked up somewhat as we headed towards the Hippolytes. Nearing Cheverton Rock, conditions became quite sloppy with some spray; conditions remained similar as we headed east towards the shelf break. We berleyed with Atlantic salmon frames and tuna oil beyond the shelf east of the Hippolyte in 320 fathoms from 0930 hrs. The southerly breeze was around 15 knots with gusts to 20 knots; swell was low but the sloppy conditions continued with some waves to 3 metres keeping us on our toes Occasional squalls brought rain and higher winds for periods. Drifted north into about 220 fathoms at 1150 hrs before heading north to set up another slick at 1225 over 400 fathoms. Conditions were similar with some waves to 4 metres. Drifted in to 340 fathoms before setting sail for home at 1315 hrs, arriving at 1510 hrs. Water temperature was around 15 deg C inshore, rising to 15.8 deg C out wide. One seasick. Mammals: Australian/New Zealand Fur Seal: About a dozen on the Hippolytes and 1 female frolicking near the boat for a while out wide. Birds (IOC v 4.2 – max at one time in brackets): Little Penguin: 2 (2) Observed offshore by one observer. Wandering-type Albatross: 1 A quite white, large bird with a large bill was a good candidate for an *exulans* wanderer. Antipodean Albatross: 8 (6) 7 adult male Gibson’s and 1 female Gibson’s, all in pelagic waters. Southern Royal Albatross: 2 (1) Pelagic. Black-browed Albatross: 4 (4) 2 juveniles and 2 adults began following the boat in offshore waters all the way to our first berley stop. Campbell Albatross: 8 (8) At least this many – 7 adults on the water around the boat at once with one sub-adult. Shy Albatross: c. 60 (18) 5 inshore in the morning, 8 offshore, the remainder pelagic. Southern Giant Petrel: 1 immature in pelagic waters. Northern Giant Petrel: 1 immature in pelagic waters. Fairy Prion: 12 (3) 3 offshore in the morning, remainder pelagic. Great-winged Petrel: 1 in pelagic waters; race *gouldi*. White-headed Petrel: 4 (1) Pelagic waters. MOTTLED PETREL: 5 (2) A couple of birds gave good views at close range. All in pelagic waters. GOULD’S PETREL: 12 (2) A couple of birds were quite curious, making repeated, close passes of the boat. Up to another dozen birds seen at a distance. All in pelagic waters. COOK’S PETREL: 4 (1) Sighted our first almost immediately after pulling up for our first stop. All pelagic. White-chinned Petrel: c. 50 (36) 3 offshore in the morning, remainder pelagic, many of which followed the boat between stops. Sooty Shearwater: c. 80 (c. 70) Completely replaced Short-tailed Shearwater at our first berley stop, where there were up to 9 birds around the boat at once. While motoring between stops, we disturbed a raft of around 70 birds, a high number for an Eaglehawk trip. Short-tailed Shearwater: c. 2000 (c. 300) Common from near the Hippolyte to the shelf break but absent in pelagic waters. Hutton’s Shearwater: 1 offshore in the afternoon. Wilson’s Storm Petrel: 6 (3) All pelagic. Grey-backed Storm Petrel: 3 (2) All pelagic. White-faced Storm Petrel: 6 (3) All pelagic. BLACK-BELLIED STORM PETREL: 2 (1) The first bird showed up within a minute of us pulling up for our first stop. The second bird showed well at our second stop. Common Diving Petrel: 1 Offshore in the afternoon. Black-faced Cormorant: c.190 (c. 100) c. 30 inshore in the morning, c. 160 on the Hippolytes. Australasian Gannet: c. 50 (c. 20) 18 inshore in the morning, c. 30 on the Hippolytes and 2 pelagic. Swamp Harrier: 1 over the Hippolyte. Silver Gull: c. 100 (c.70) Inshore and on the Hippolytes; 1 pelagic. Pacific Gull: 2 (2) Adults at the southern head of Pirates Bay. Kelp Gull: c. 105 (c. 50) 27 inshore in the morning, c. 70 on the Hippolyte and 6 offshore in the morning. Greater Crested Tern: c. 31 (3) 2 inshore in the morning; 1 at the Hippolytes, 2 offshore in the morning; remainder pelagic. Jaeger sp.: 7 (2) Too distant to ID to species level – 6 birds in pelagic waters, 1 offshore in the afternoon. Good numbers for Eaglehawk. Parasitic Jaeger: 2 (1) 1 dark morph and 1 light morph, both in pelagic waters. LONG-TAILED JAEGER: 2 (1) 1 dark morph and 1 light morph, both in pelagic waters. Forest Raven: 1 on the Hippolyte. PB