Tuesday, April 7, 2009

STAFF: SHEARWATER CABIN 518

April 5, 6, & 7, 2009: CROSSING THE SOUTH ATLANTIC

Well, the good weather forecast did not hold up, and we encountered some
pretty stiff seas in a low pressure system, April 4- until early April 6
with large swells and a Beaufort 7-10. The night of April 5th was the
most difficult for sleeping, if not almost impossible.

However, the seas improved somewhat yesterday, and we awoke this morning
to very nice conditions, indeed. The BROAD-WINGED PRIONS are numbering
in the thousands, following round and round the ship, while we are in
awe of eye to eye contact with the greatest of the albatrosses:
wanderers at eye level from the bridge! Many of the birders have been
shooting photographs all day for the past two days. No wonder-- the
tubenose list for the past two days numbers 27!! Eight species of
albatrosses: SNOWY, TRISTAN, SOOTY, LIGHT-MANTELED SOOTY, ATLANTIC
YELLOW-NOSED, BLACK-BROWED, GRAY-HEADED, and "SHY". Petrels have
included: NORTHERN GIANT, SOUTHERN GIANT, KERGUELEN, GREAT-WINGED,
ATLANTIC, SOFT-PLUMAGED, GRAY, WHITE-CHINNED, and SPECTACLED. Prions
have included: BROAD-BILLED, ANTARCTIC, SLENDER-BILLED, and SALVIN'S
(presumed). Shearwaters have included: SOOTY, GREATER, and LITTLE. While
storm-petrels have included: WHITE-BELLIED, WILSON'S, and GRAY-BACKED.

This afternoon, Roger, one of the partcipants of the Bird Holidays group
noticed a bird that was hiding in one of the Zodiac boats on the stern
deck. It turned out to be a SOUTH GEORGIAN DIVING PETREL. I picked it
up, while Roger and Luke Cole shot photographs of its blue legs with a
black stripe down the back of the leg, and its blue feet, black on the
bottom! The little bird, which fit quite easily in the palm of my hand,
flew off-- and, we are hoping for the best for it.

If all goes well, tomorrow we will do a Zodiac cruise at Gough Island,
where we should be in the early morning. (Landing on Gough Island is not
permitted due to the abundance of seabirds). Cross fingers that we get a
chance to see the Northern Rockhopper Penguin, Gough Moorhen, and Gough
Bunting.

Debra Shearwater
4149S/1312W
(No replies, please)

No comments: