| - 1 ANTARCTIC PRION
- 2 WANDERING ALBATROSSES
- FIRST SOUTHERN FULMAR FOR A 2005 PELAGIC
Despite the intermittent showers and breeze, a group of 6
birders left Simon’s Town harbour on a Cape Town Pelagics
trip, early on Saturday 13 August. We made good time out to
the point, and picked up the usual gulls, terns, gannets and
cormorants on the way. A couple of African Penguins were also
seen in the water. At the point we had a Giant Petrel, and
good numbers of other procellariiforms. The seas were rough
with a north-westerly wind breaking things up, but before
we had got out to the deeper water, we were given things to
take our minds off the weather. The first of several Soft-plumaged
Petrels came in close and gave good views. Not long later,
the trip’s only Antarctic Prion was seen off to starboard.
It circled round the boat twice and came in close, giving
everyone on board great views.
We found a trawler at about 30 nm off the point, and it had
just finished hauling and re-deploying, so the numbers of
birds in its wake were stupendous – with more Pintado
Petrels than you could wave a stick at! We stuck with the
trawler for several hours, and all the usual species put in
excellent, close appearances. Some passengers nearly lost
their caps to incautious Pintados that were flying easily
within arms-reach of us. It was fantastic, but then it got
better. A Wandering Albatross came in from our stern and cruised
passed languidly. From the minimal white showing in the wings
and slightly mottled back I estimate it was a young male or
an adult female. Not 5 minutes later another Wanderer, this
time an all-dark juvenile, was seen, although it stayed some
distance off.
Never a dull moment was had, and we had just relaxed into
enjoying watching the Shys and picking out the odd Yellow-nosed
albatrosses when a pale bird with a different jizz was identified
as a Southern Fulmar, the first for a pelagic trip this year!
It gave excellent views, and was around the trawler for at
least half an hour. It capped off an extremely good and very
memorable pelagic trip.
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