13 May 2023 Report
OVERVIEW
18C, Overcast, storm system, producing lightening and water spouts, lingered ~5NM off Long Reef throughout the day. Multiple water spouts were observed from the seaward side of the system. Another storm system developed to the south while we were at the shelf. Rain squalls also encountered. Wind: stronger then forecast, reaching 20 knots on the way out. Settled once we were at the shelf. Sea surface temps: 21C. 1.5-2m seas.
TRIP SUMMARY
A drift was set up at the shelf around 10:30am. The boat drifted WSW at around 0.5 knots/hr. Silver Gulls followed us all the way from the heads to the shelf. We picked up a Black-browed then a Campbell Albatross around 12NM which followed us to the shelf. Two very distant albatrosses remained unidentified due to the squalls. Other albatross spp. joined us at the shelf. Providence Petrels encountered at the shelf as expected. Short-tailed Shearwater joined the boat at the shelf.
BIRD LIST
(Note that the numbers in parentheses represent the approximate maximum number of that species in view at one time)
| Wilson's Storm Petrel | 20 | (14) |
| Indian Yellow-nosed Albatross | 5 | (4) |
| Buller's Albatross | 10 | (5) |
| Shy Albatross | 8 | (2) |
| Black-browed Albatross | 11 | |
| Campbell Albatross | 5 | (4) |
| Wandering Albatross (Gibson's) | 3 | (3) |
| Providence Petrel | 9 | (5) |
| Wedge-tailed Shearwater | 2 | |
| Short-tailed Shearwater | 2 | (1) |
| Fluttering-type Shearwaters | 1 | |
| Australasian Gannet | 18 | (6) |
| Silver Gull | 120 | (90) |
| Greater Crested Tern | 8 |
OTHER
| White shark | 1 |
Highlights
(Photographs Dave Irving, Matthew Egan and Greg McLachlan).
Dave Irving
Dave Irving
Dave Irving
Dave Irving
Dave Irving
Dave Irving
Mathew Egan
Mathew Egan
Greg McLachlan
Greg McLachlan
Greg McLachlan
Greg McLachlan