Seabirds

Very few birds inshore, an immature Black-browed Albatross and a few juvenile Australasian Gannets past over our wake and were soon joined by a few Silver Gulls . As we cleared the Wollongong Reef, Crested Terns and a juvenile Fluttering Shearwater were observed. Progressing north east into the low swell we added in quick succession; Campbell, Shy, Yellow-nosed and White-capped albatrosses to our tally for the day.

Several Humpback Whales were observed inshore and one swam under our stationary vessel. This was a great hit with all on board. We were soon joined by Solander’s petrels in worn plumage as we approached the region off the continental shelf. Here we also encountered a small number of Shy, White-capped, Black-browed albatrosses and Brown Skua .  Although uncomfortable for some, we set up a drift-and-berley session just beyond the 200-fathom line and the conditions were soon forgotten as the Banding crew set into action and managed to capture a few birds and band them.

A series of cold fronts had past through the southwest of NSW in the previous weeks creating moderate to strong SW winds, this was now was moving eastwards into the Tasman Sea under the influence of a high pressure system. The weather was very calm <5-6 knots inshore rising to 10-12 knots offshore. It was a very pleasant and comfortable day at sea aboard the Sandra K. Birds were down in numbers and species diversity. There is large “Warm Core Eddy” (21.0 +c) and SE drift rate of 1.6knots directly of the coast. This eddy extends to well inshore to the Wollongong Reef.

Unfortunately it was soon time to head for the safety of the harbour.

Many thanks for the great work done by the team at Taronga Wildlife Hospital.

Highlights: Hump-backed Whales swimming under the boat!

Departed : 07:30 returned at 15:30. Sea conditions : E > 1.0 to 2.0m | Swell: E to 1.0 to 1.5m With ground swell to 2 metres. Sea surface temperature:17.0 inshore - 19.6°C. at 200 fathoms. Weather : overcast in morning clearing later in the day to be fine and sunny. Temperature range: 6 to19.0°C. Barometric pressure: 1027 HPa steady though out the day. Wind : North westerly 3-4 knots at first increasing to 6 to 10 knots by late afternoon. Primary chumming location: 34° 30'S : 151° 16'E.