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A Cape Town Pelagics trip departed
from Simonstown at 07h30 on Monday 12 October, guided
by Cape Town Pelagics guide Alvin Cope.
The group of birders left aboard the White Pointer
led by undersigned in a reasonable sea, steady rain
and little wind. A few White Chinned Petrels
and a Parasitic Jaeger were seen
on our way to the Point. Outside the Point, we headed
slowly into a 20 kt wind and a 3 to 4m sea, the skipper
said he would give it a few miles before deciding
on a strategy.
A Manx Shearwater was seen in the
distance, with some White Chinned Petrels and many
Great Shearwaters. A small pod of
Common Dolphins at 4 miles put in an appearance. This
strategy paid off as when the rain eventually stopped,
at about 12 miles, we spotted a trawler which, fortunately,
was heading towards us.
The timing was perfect as the vessel hauled its net
20 minutes after we got into its birds. We were surrounded
by its entourage but sadly it did a 180 and headed
out to sea, dragging its birds with it. The sea and
wind were such that we did not even consider following
it and stayed in the area for an hour before we turned
for home.
This direction was much better, with no rain and the
wind and sea following, it was verging on a pleasant
mid day cruise. A Soft-Plumaged Petrel
and two Great-Winged Petrels were
added to the list on the way back, as well as a huge
school of Common Dolphins at 7 miles many of them
bow-riding (swimming?). The weather inside the Bay
was lovely, but none of the passengers was keen to
go out again.
A breaching Southern Right Whale in the distance and
a fairly close Bryde's Whale off the Boulders rounded
off the day.
Of interest, many more Shy than Black Browed Albatross
and only two Wilson's Storm Petrels, no Black-Bellied
Storm Petrels.
Birds seen, with numbers where known
and estimated, excluding all the usual stuff on the
inside.
Shy Albatross 80
Black-browed Albatross 20
Indian Yellow-nosed Albatross 1
Atlantic Yellow-nosed Albatross 2
Yellow-nosed Albatross sp 1
Northern Giant Petrel 1
Giant Petrel sp 1
White-Chinned Petrel 2000
Sooty Shearwater 20
Great-Winged Petrel 2
Great Shearwater 1500
Manx Shearwater 1
Pintado Petrel 20
Soft-Plumaged Petrel 1
Wilson's Storm Petrel 2
Sub-Antarctic Skua 6
Parasitic Jaeger 4
Sabine's Gull 1
Arctic Tern 10
Mammals
Cape Fur Seal
Bryde's Whale
Southern Right Whale
Common Dolphin
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 Alvin Cope.
To book, simply email
or phone us, or submit a
booking enquiry online.
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