TRIP REPORT
September 2001

This was just the best Pelagic Trip with perfect weather and birds
galore. A big thanks to all the guides & the skipper, who with their
expertise helped to make this just such a memorable trip.

A mixed bunch of enthusiastic birders from South Africa, the U.K. and
Madagascar, led by Alvin Cope, Bruce Dyer, Barry Watkins and Phil
Whittington, left Simon's Town Harbour in flat calm sea and wind
conditions on Sunday 16 September 2001.

Cetaceans hogged the initial limelight with good views of two Southern
Right Whales about half-way to Cape Point. Two Bryde's Whales gave us a fleeting glimpse of a back and a fin before disappearing from view, between Cape Point and the "Cape Canyon".

Between about 22 and 32 miles south-west of the Point, we were within a mile or two of at least 8 long liners and 4 trawlers. We went from one
vessel to the next, reeling in better views of everything and lifers for
many on board, including lifers for a few "regulars". Of particular interest were the first Sabine's Gull of the season, a very confiding Northern Royal Albatross, several Indian Ocean Yellow-nosed Albatrosses, rubbing themselves against our boat's beam, and one Atlantic Ocean Yellow-nosed Albatross. Also of interest were the vast numbers of sated birds sitting on the water behind some of the trawlers - kilometres of white heads bobbing in and out of view on the swells. The ultimate in a Pelagic birding experience.

The return to Cape Town was relatively quiet but a sunfish put in an
appearance to liven up the proceedings. A very enjoyable trip and nobody was sick!

List of birds seen, with approximate numbers in brackets.

Jackass Penguin
Royal Albatross - N (1)
Shy Albatross (1000)
Blackbrowed Albatross (1000)
Yellownosed Albatross - Indian Ocean (8)
Yellownosed Albatross - Atlantic Ocean (1)
Giant Petrel - Southern (15)
Giant Petrel - Northern (2)
Whitechinned Petrel (2000)
Sooty Shearwater (500)
Great Shearwater (6)
Pintado Petrel (3476)
Wilson's Storm Petrel (100)
Subantarctic Skua (20)
Sabines Gull (1)
Arctic Tern (1)
Antarctic Tern (1)
Common Tern
Swift Tern
Cape Gannet (2000)
Whitebreasted Cormorant
Cape Cormorant
Crowned Cormorant
Bank Cormorant
Kelp Gull
Hartlaub's Gull

Mammals
Cape Fur Seal
Bryde's Whale
Southern Right Whale