On Sunday 22 March, I took another pelagic trip, this time out of Eden in southern NSW, with the intention to motor south into Victorian waters. We cast off from Eden Harbour before sunrise and as we headed south from Twofold Bay the sun burst over the eastern horizon, its golden glow hitting the east face of Boyds Tower.
Boyds Tower, Twofold Bay, NSW
and the cliffs along the coast of Beowa National Park.
Coastal cliffs, Beowa National Park, south of Eden, NSW
It wasn’t long before our first birds of the morning arrived with several gannets flying past - mostly juveniles and immature birds.
Australasian Gannet (immature)
We passed Green Cape, close enough to clearly see the maintenance work on the cottages.
Green Cape Lighthouse, Beowa National Park, NSW
By then our first shearwaters made an appearance - mostly Flesh-footed but an occasional Wedgetailed (of which I didn’t manage to get any reasonable photographs)
Flesh-footed Shearwater, off Green Cape, NSW
and our first albatross followed a few minutes later.
Shy Albatross with Green Cape Lighthouse in background, NSW
These were to be the most common species all day.
Shy Albatross, off Green Cape, NSW
By the time we reached Victorian waters, little had changed with Flesh-footed Shearwaters and Shy Albatross making up the majority of birds around the boat.
Flesh-footed Shearwater, off Cape Howe, Victoria
Shy Albatross with Gabo Island Lighthouse in background, Victoria
As we began to burley, many birds settled on the surface to feed
Shy Albatross
It’s always fun watching albatross take off, running along the water surface to get sufficient air under their wings to lift off.
Shy Albatross
We did get a couple of rare tropical vagrants appear. Unfortunately I missed the first one - a Tahiti Petrel (I was on the wrong side of the boat - the only downside of being out on a large boat) - but did spot the immature White-tailed Tropicbird, albeit at some distance.
White-tailed Tropicbird (immature)
Image heavily cropped
Just before we turned for the return trip, three other species appeared.
Grey-faced (Great-winged) Petrel
Gibsons (New Zealand Wandering) Albatross (immature)
Bullers Albatross
So, while low in species diversity, it’s always a good day when you get four species of albatross (there was also an immature Black-browed Albatross, of which I didn’t get any half reasonable photographs) and I got a lifer (tropicbird) as a bonus.
Thanks to Neil (Birdswing Birding & Wildlife Tours) and Simon and crew of “Bubbles” (Sapphire Coastal Adventures) for a great day out on the water.