pelagic birds from Sydney coast, help needed (1 Viewer)

kungsfiskare

Active member

• Nov 20, 2007

• #1

I had the good fortune to be in Sydney in November during a hard storm. The locals weren't too excited about it, but it gave me my first chance to see some pelagic seabird. So I promptly headed to Magic Point in Sydney and spent a couple of hours taking photographs of albatross and shearwaters. Now the only question is what did I see? Here's a link to a few of the better pictures:

http://www.pbase.com/image/89243826

Any assistance is greatly appreciated!!

Cheers from Sweden,

Michael Gehrisch

 

Jane Turner

Well-known member

• Nov 20, 2007

• #2

Undecided on your first row but it's big, your second row is a Wandering/Royal type, whilst your third row is a Mollyhawk. Grey-headed is my gut feel, but I need to brush up on these. Back shortly - and the Shearwaters... they should be easy enough - being dark under-winged and apparently wedge-tailed.

 

Last edited: Nov 20, 2007

kungsfiskare

Active member

• Nov 20, 2007

• #3

Thanks Jane! My first time in Australia, and having missed the pelagic tours boat, I figured I didn't need to buy a book over Australien birds. On the other hand if I had bought the book, there probably would have been no storm ;-)

 

joe cockram

Registered Member

• Nov 20, 2007

• #4

First bird is a Shy Albatross, not sure which subspecies.
As Jane said, second bird is a Wandering or Royal Albatross, Royal is pretty rare off NSW, so it is most likely a Wandering.
Third, I think is a young Black-browed or Campbell Albatross, some would say that they're the same species anyway.
The final bird, or birds, are Wedge-tailed Shearwaters

 

kungsfiskare

Active member

• Nov 20, 2007

• #5

Thanks Joe! You've made my day; three different species from shore!

 

swiss7

Well-known member

• Nov 20, 2007

• #6

Hey, first bird looks like a juvenile Shy Albatross.

Second is most likely adult Antipodean Albatross, though could be a Gibson's, but both are considered the same species anyhow.

Third is a juvenile black-browed Albatross.

And spot on with the Wedge-tailed Shearwater.

Cheers
Damien

 

kungsfiskare

Active member

• Nov 21, 2007

• #7

Thanks Damien! Beautiful birds! I hope I can get back to Australia for close up shots on the pelagic tour from Woolongong!