Offshore - Angola (1 Viewer)

[Offman]

Hello again Folks, well here we are, day 9 of a 14 day quarantine prior to joining the 'Maersk Involver' for a 4 week trip.
We are going to be around 150Km from the coast in water 15-1800m deep.
In the Hotel Presidente, on the 19th floor!, managed to pick up a few locals, but I'm very high, should of brought my scope lol.
Looking forward to see what turns up, I downloaded the list for Angola, chances of an Ostrich are slim, but its nice to see Albatross & Penguin on there.

 

[Offman]

Good Afternoon, so after umpteen thousands of miles, 2 weeks in quarantine, a 6 hour journey in a water taxi I finally arrived on board.
First bird on my list, a Feral Pigeon, oh well. It appears very quiet out here, so we shall see.

 

[pbjosh]

As no one else has commented, I'll be the first to say that this sounds like an interesting adventure and I'll be keen to hear more. What is your route, where will you finish?

 

[Offman]

Hi Pbjosh, so were more or less stationary in position, 07.703 S, 011.786 E, that was a flying distance to get to Luanda

 

[Offman]

Hi Folks, Really struggling with this one, flock was around a 100 birds, this is my best shot, I should of said, they're bigger than Storm Petrel, but smaller than a Kittiwake.

 

[Nutcracker]

Black Terns?

 

[Offman]

Hi Nutcracker, Yup, Juv Black Terns, Many Thanks.
Got some video and more photo's today, sadly I can't upload, we are very rationed on our WiFi.

 

[Offman]

So now I have the Ternsn id'd, its spot the odd one out time, and crashing into the middle of a tern feeding frenzy came an Atlantic Petrel, initially thought it was a Shearwater, got all the id marks, matched none of them, but matched the petrel perfectly. Happy days.

 

[Offman]

Picked up Great Shearwater and a Pomerine Skua this morning, we were sailing into Luanda, but we were still around 50 miles off the coast.

 

[Offman]

Good Evening, and a Happy New year to you all. So its been very quiet out here, just the very occasional Black Tern. But Yesterday this large swallow came by, briefly. I grabbed my camera, took it outside and it misted up immediately, and this was all I got.
It was pale brown above, white below with a pale brown neck collar, white ish chin, pale brown vent and tail.
However this moth was resting under the bridge wing, its an Oleander Hawk Moth, it made my day.
Any help with the swallow would be most appreciated, I apologise for putting a moth on here.

 

[Offman]

A Storm Petrel came to visit last night, did a few circuits of our deck, then back into the night, saw a large gull at long range so no id.
It continues to be very quiet, bird wise, out here.

 

[Offman]

Were back in the heart of the field, picked up Cory's Shearwater and more Black Terns, on the wet side of things, Dolphins, Manta Rays and Hammerhead sharks.

 

[Offman]

So there was me saying that there is not much around, and then this happened. Out of nowhere this lot appeared, thousands of Cory's and Black Terns. It would appear that they stay pretty much together roaming around. There has been days and days of nothing, then this. By dusk, back to nothing again.

 

[Offman]

So fingers crossed I start my journey home tomorrow, all the best to you all, keep safe and thanks for looking in.

 

[Richard Prior]

Bon voyage Offman. Do you think that’s a Tuna showing in your 2nd photo?