Buller's Albatross (Thalassarche bulleri) Pacific Ocean off Sydney NSW
Buller's Albatross (Thalassarche bulleri) Pacific Ocean off Sydney NSW
Canon EOS 40D Lens 100-400mm L IS USM at 100mm ISO 640 7.1 1/2500 available light 12 June 2010
Taken on the June Sydney Pelagic Trip a monthly journey that leaves 7.00am and returns 3.00pm to observe both whales and also journeys out to the Continental Shelf to observe seabirds most of which are not seen in shore. Buller's Albatross is a striking bird by any standards and breeds on Snares and Solander Islands off New Zealand. Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts (DEWHA) website: http://www.environment.gov.au/cgi-bin/s ... n_id=64460
is well worth a read.
This is a very distinctive species and likely not to be identified incorrectly. Certainly for this viewer it made my day. Nicholas Haas a regular experienced observer supplied the following observations:
1. Wilson's Storm-Petrel: 1 (over the slick at the shelf)
2. White-faced Storm-Petrel: 1 (over the slick at the shelf; [seen only by one observer])
3. Gibson's (Wandering) Albatross: 1
4. Black-browed Albatross: common
5. Campbell (Black-browed) Albatross: common
6. Shy Albatross: present
7. White-capped (Shy) Albatross: present
8. Indian Yellow-nosed Albatross: present
9. Buller's Albatross: 3+ (2+ adults, 1 imm.)
10. Northern Giant-Petrel: 2+ [plus one possible Southern Giant-Petrel]
1. Cape Petrel (New Zealand ssp. australe): 2
2. ANTARCTIC PRION: common at the shelf [plus several possible Slender-billed Prions; I need to check more photos to confirm this species]
1. Fairy Prion: less common and closer to shore than Antarctic
2. Short-tailed Shearwater: 2
3. Fluttering Shearwater: present
4. Great-winged Petrel (macroptera): 4
5. Providence Petrel: 2
6. Australasian Gannet: present
7. Pied Cormorant: 2 (in harbour)
8. Brown Skua: 4
9. White-fronted Tern: 1 juv.
10. Crested Tern: present
11. Silver Gull: common
Mammals:
1. Humpback Whale
2. Oceanic Bottlenose Dolphin
In all an exciting trip to see the above list which includes seven Albatross species !!! Great to also have experienced pelagic experts on tap for identification and see how quickly they can identify the various species.
Thanks for viewing,
Best regards
Cool bird and sharp. You did as good as you could in brutal lighting conditions: the hot whites on the flank and the sharp shadow are problematic.
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Yes! Artie!!, but apart from the light it was a rough sea and windy but well worth the effort. Would recommend this pelagic oting to anyone coming downunder to see a number of species ffrom the southern Pacific ocean.
Best regards
Rod Warnock
It must be great to see so many different albatross species. Sharpness and eye contact look good in this one, toning down the whites underneath the near wing should be easy, the shadow across the face is a bit distracting though.
Buller's Albatross (Thalassarche bulleri) Pacific Ocean off Sydney NSW
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