A seawatch on the southern coast of New South Wales

Abstract

A seawatch was made for more than 550 hours from 8 December 1973 to 27 October 1974 from Burrewarra Point near Bateman's Bay, NSW. Four species of albatross were recorded from May to October; the Black-browed Albatross was commonest in June and July, the Wandering Albatross in August and September and the Shy Albatross during October. The Yellow-nosed Albatross was scarce. Giant-petrels occurred from June to October. The shearwaters, Puffinus pacificus and tenuirostris were absent from May to August; the passage of tenuirostris at the end of September was spectacular, details of which are given. Other seabirds (Puffinus gavia, Pachyptila spp. Pelecanoides urinatrix. Morus serraror, Phalacrocorax carbo, Larus novaehollandiae, Sterna bergii and S. siriaia) occurred in fluctuating numbers with less obvious patterns of occurrence and movement.