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| (Photo Andy Ruffle) |
Passengers: Renate Deveden, Gerald
& Sue McCay, Geoff Nichols, Hazel van Rooyen, Sean Ross, Andy Ruffle, Val Smith, Penny Taylor, Anne Thompson.
Conditions were perfect for us this
morning, on the last of this year’s boat charters.
Clear sky, little wind and a
beautifully calm sea greeted us at the Shelly Beach Ski Boat Launch Site.
We weren’t out long before Geoff
called ‘’Albatross’’ and sure enough, behind us we saw an immature Indian
Yellow-nosed Albatross flying towards the boat. It circled us a few times before
heading off. It was interesting to note that our offerings of sardines didn’t
tempt it in this time.
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| immature Indian Yellow-nosed Albatross (Photo Geoff Nichols) |
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| immature Indian Yellow-nosed Albatross (Photo Geoff Nichols) |
Signs of whale activity could be seen
in the distance, so we set course to obtain some closer views, but made a quick
detour to a sea angling boat, to stock up on sardines. As we moved away the arrival of the whales was
heralded by the spectacular sight of a Humpback breaching some 100m from us.
The stage was now set as we saw whale
after whale.
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| (Photo Geoff Nichols) |
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| (Photo Geoff Nichols) |
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| (Photo Hazel van Rooyen) |
A dark bird sitting on the water
attracted our attention. Closer inspection revealed a Subantarctic Skua. This
bird was much more accommodating, giving us a nice show as we tossed out
sardines.
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| Sub-antarctic Skua (Photo Geoff Nichols) |
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| Sub-antarctic Skua (Photo Hazel van Rooyen) |
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| Sub-antarctic Skua (Photo Geoff Nichols) |
Three Cape Gannets flying over the
water in formation and a Swift Tern were other bird sightings today.
This trip was by far the best of the
series so far.’ What will next year hold in store?’ we ask.
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