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Highlights: Juvenile Wandering
Albatross, Pomarine Jaeger
and Red Phalarope
Please scroll down for the trip report.
Juvenile Wandering Albatross on the Cape Town Pelagics
trip of 12 February © Jon Hartley.
Great Shearwater on the Cape Town Pelagics trip of
12 February © Jon Hartley.
Sabine's Gull on the Cape Town Pelagics trip of 12
February © Jon Hartley.
European Storm-Petrel on the Cape Town Pelagics trip
of 12 February © Jon Hartley.
Trawler on the Cape Town Pelagics trip of 12 February
© Jon Hartley.
juvenile Northern Giant Petrel on the Cape Town Pelagics
trip of 12 February © Jon Hartley.
Atlantic Yellow-nosed Albatross on the Cape Town Pelagics
trip of 12 February © Jon Hartley.
White-chinned Petrel on the Cape Town Pelagics trip
of 12 February © Jon Hartley.
Black-browed Albatross on the Cape Town Pelagics trip
of 12 February © Jon Hartley.
Black-browed Albatross and White-chinned Petrel on
the Cape Town Pelagics trip of 12 February © Jon
Hartley.
It was with a bit of surprise and
much joy when we all got word that the pelagic would
indeed be going ahead. Big seas and a frontal system
had made any chance of getting out over the weekend
quite unlikely but the wind and the sea were a bit
calmer than originally predicted and we were able
to head out. We gathered at Hout Bay harbour early
on the morning of Sunday 12 February and soon were
boarding a Cape Town Pelagics trip guided by Cliff
Dorse. We enjoyed great views of the picturesque
Hout Bay and some Cape Fur Seals
as we left the harbour.
Before long we started seeing White-chinned
Petrel, Cory’s Shearwater
and Sooty Shearwater along with the
regular Cape Gannets and Swift
Terns. However, conditions for viewing these
birds were not ideal as we hunkered down and headed
further out. We then added Great Shearwater
and our first albatross of the day in the form of
an immature Shy Albatross. Our skipper
spotted a blip on the radar and we headed in that
direction, holding thumbs that it was to be an active
fishing vessel. As we neared the boat we could see
that it was indeed a stern trawler, the Harvest Veronica.
As we drew closer to the fishing boat we slowed down
and all emerged from the cabin to enjoy the spectacle.
We had great views of all the above species including
good numbers of European and Wilson’s
Storm Petrel. Just as we arrived at the boat
a huge bird was spotted heading directly towards us.
The upper parts were a dark chocolate brown which
contrasted strongly with the white face and huge pink
bill. A stunning juvenile Wandering Albatross!
It did one close flyby allowing the photographers
on board a few shots. It’s not every day that
Wandering Albatross is the second
Albatross species on a day list out of Cape Town.
We stayed in the wake of the trawler working through
the large number of birds in attendance. We added
Black-browed Albatross, Subantarctic Skua
and Sabine’s Gull. Very few Yellow-nosed
Albatross were about and we had poor views of Atlantic
Yellow-nosed and an immature bird. Giant
Petrels were equally scarce and surprisingly shy.
We identified only Southern Giant Petrel
at sea. However, when reviewing photos after the trip,
it became evident that there was at least one Northern
Giant Petrel about. When the trawler eventually
pulled in her nets, we were treated to a hive of activity.
Although no additional trip birds were encountered.
Before we parted ways with the trawler, a single Pomarine
Jaeger put in an appearance. We then started
making our way back to Hout Bay. On route we encountered
two single Red Phalarope. The first
was 17 miles off Kommetjie Light House.
The following is a list of the species seen during
the course of the day. The numbers reflected can be
considered as rough estimations only.
Wandering Albatross 1
Shy Albatross c. 60
Black-browed Albatross c. 10
Atlantic Yellow-nosed Albatross 1
Yellow-nosed Albatross (Immature) 1
Southern Giant Petrel 1
Northern Giant Petrel 1
White-chinned Petrel c. 800
Cory’s Shearwater c. 100
Great Shearwater c. 25
Sooty Shearwater c. 12
Wilson’s Storm Petrel c. 50
European Storm Petrel c. 40
Subantarctic Skua 5
Pomarine Jaeger 1
Parasitic Jaeger 5+
Sabine’s Gull 20+
Arctic Tern 1
Red Phalarope 2
Coastal species
African Penguin
Cape Gannet
White-breasted Cormorant
Cape Cormorant
Kelp Gull
Hartlaub’s Gull
Common Tern
Swift Tern
Mammals
Cape Fur Seal
A message from Cape Town Pelagics:
A huge thank you to our experienced skippers who are
able to safely lead us to the best birding areas and
skillfully manoeuvre the boat into just the best position
while all on board are busy concentrating on the birds!
Coordinating a pelagic trip over a year in advance
with guests from all across South Africa and different
countries around the world requires an organised office
team. We thank them for their special eye for detail
- and for the sometimes last-minute rearrangements
and frustration if the weather delays the trip to
another day! Our biggest thank-you is to our Cape
Town Pelagics guides who take time out of their work,
often involving seabirds and conservation, and time
away from their families, to provide our guests with
a world-class birding experience. Cape Town Pelagics
donates all it profits to seabirds, and so all the
participants who join the trip make a contribution
towards bird research and conservation - a big thank
you from all of us.
Trip report by Cape Town Pelagics
guide Cliff
Dorse.
To book, simply email
or phone us, or submit a
booking enquiry online.
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