TRIP REPORT
16 February 2008

A group of birders left Simon's Town at 07:30 on Saturday 16 February 2008 on an Anne Albatross trip, in very little sea and a moderate south easter on the Blue Pointer 2 led by Alvin Cope.

A single White-chinned Petrel just inside the Point was the first pelagic bird seen. From about 3 to 12 miles we passed thru good numbers of White-chinned Petrels, Cory and Sooty Shearwaters, a few Shy Albatrosses, a friendly Manx Shearwater, as well as large numbers of Sabine's Gulls. There were few birds on the way to a trawler at about 24 miles, a single Great-winged Petrel being a bonus.

We arrived at the trawler as it was about to haul and spent the rest of the day in the area with good numbers of birds, plus a Mako Shark which breached. Another Mako Shark plus two Atlantic Blue Sharks were spotted in the vicinity of the trawler.

The wind had dropped to a gentle breeze from the south east as we turned for home. The ride back to the Point very comfortable, with two Long-tailed and one Parasitic Jaeger and of course the big flock of Sabine's Gulls being worth a mention. At the Point and inside the Bay, the south easter was now up to 15 to 18 knots, but at least it was behind us.

Of interest, compared to the day before, no Black-browed Albatross and reasonable numbers of Wilson 's and European Storm Petrels.

Birds seen, with numbers where known.

Shy Albatross
Atlantic Yellow-nosed Albatross 2
White chinned Petrel
Sooty Shearwater
Greatwinged Petrel 2
Great Shearwater
Cory's Shearwater
Manx Shearwater 1
European Storm Petrel
Wilson 's Storm Petrel
Subantarctic Skua 3
Parasitic Jaeger 1
Long-tailed Jaeger 4
Sabine's Gull
Coastal : White-breasted, Cape, Crowned & Bank Cormorants Swift, Sandwich , Common Terns African Penguins Cape Gannets Kelp & Hartlaub's Gulls

Mammals

Cape Fur Seal
Mako Sharks 2
Atlantic Blue Sharks 2