|
A second pelagic trip out of Durban
took to the sea on Sunday 21 June 2009.
No trawlers could be found in the area where one was
present the previous weekend and where the unprecedented
concentration of Flesh-footed Shearwaters
had been located (400-500 birds).
But some judicious and protracted chumming at a spot
where initially only a couple of juvenile Indian
Yellow-nosed Albatrosses and a single White-chinned
Petrel were cruising around soon attracted
a reasonable, and then excellent, congregation of
pelagics.
Over a couple of hour's work we managed to pull in
three albatross, two shearwater, one petrel, one storm-petrel
and one skua species. On the way back to harbour we
added a single Great-winged Petrel
that circled the boat once before departing at pace.
The full estimated tally for the day was:
Shy Albatross - 1 (immature)
Black-browed Albatross - 1 (juvenile)
Indian Yellow-nosed Albatross - 100
White-chinned Petrel - 30
Great-winged Petrel - 1
Flesh-footed Shearwater - 3
Sooty-Shearwater - 2
Wlison's Storm-Petrel - 4
Subantarctic Skua - 1
So, despite failing to locate a trawler we actually
got one more pelagic species (Great-winged
Petrel) than we did on the trip the previous
weekend; the pelagic species lists (tubenoses and
skuas) on the two trips otherwise being equal.
A few Cape Gannets and Swift
Terns were also seen out in the deep.
Hump-backed whales were again seen
on the way into harbour.
There are two spaces available for a trip one Sunday
28 June; contact me direct for further details.
Thanks.
Regards - David
David Allan
Curator of Birds
Durban Natural Science Museum
P.O. Box 4085
Durban 4000
South Africa
tel 031-305-4162/4/5/7
cell 082-3610261
fax (031) 311-2242
e-mail office: alland@durban.gov.za
e-mail home: davidallan@polka.co.za
Sub-antarctic Skua chasing Flesh-footed Shearwater
, Durban pelagic, June 2009 © David Allan.
Flesh-footed Shearwater, Durban pelagic, June 2009
© David Allan.
|
|
Indian Yellow-nosed Albatross, Durban pelagic, June
2009 © David Allan.
Shy Albatross, immature, Durban
pelagic, June 2009 © David Allan.
Black-browed Albatross, juvenile, Durban pelagic,
June 2009 © David Allan.
White-chinned Petrel, Durban pelagic, June 2009 ©
David Allan.
Subantarctic Skua, Durban pelagic, June 2009 ©
David Allan.
|
