December Pelagic trip out of Southport Qld.

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Reflex
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December Pelagic trip out of Southport Qld.

Because of the number of people starting to go on these Pelagic trips now there was two trips this week-end and Devster and I went on the Sunday trip (luckily).

Calm seas were the order of the day struggling to get up to 5 knots. A complete contrast to our November outing. A great start to the day whilst my camera was still in the bag was a Brown Booby making this the second time I have missed one of these. Next up was a fleeting glimpse of a White-tailed Tropic bird which I did manage to photograph but because it was so far away (read small white could be anything photograph) it's not one I am going to count.

Next first for me was a Black Petrel.

 

Next first was a very rare bird.The scenario, heavily grey skies, a grey sea and a heavy rain squall approaching, when a small grey and white bird approaches and disappears will o' wisp after just a few short seconds and it was gone. I managed five or six poorly focused shots of a Cook's Petrel a rare visiter to eastern Australian waters

A few other shots from the day. 

A pod of Bottle-nosed Dolphins passed at one stage.

Flesh-footed Shearwater.

Wedge-tailed Shearwater.

HelloBirdy
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Wow, some nice birds there. I should start considering going on a pelagic after seeing some of the amazing things many of you have come across 

Ryu
Canberra
Aiming for DSLR-quality shots with a bridge camera

Rick N
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I hate you :-) :-) Great work.

Reflex
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Rick N wrote:

I hate you :-) :-) Great work.

 Lol! It gets better...from Qld Eremaea web site for unusual sightings "Bird was initially believed to be a Black-winged Petrel, but was re-identified as Cook's following a review of several good photographs taken by another birder. This first for Queensland was seen well by all onboard."

I didn't know that this morning.

Samford Valley Qld.

WhistlingDuck

Very nice photos ... can see the variations in the weather during the day from the colour of the sea. Well done getting the Cooks petrel! Great photo of the WT shearwater.

pacman
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another good pelagic and congrats on the Cook's Petrel

what is your list at now?

Peter

Reflex
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pacman wrote:

another good pelagic and congrats on the Cook's Petrel

what is your list at now?

Thanks Peter. Should be 226 but I missed the Booby altogether and the White-Tailed Tropicbird was so small on the photograph it could have been anything so I didn't count that one either, so 224 at the moment but am planning to make it 225 by the end of this week hopefully.

I also missed (after almost standing on it) a solitary Black-breasted Button Quail at Samsonvale the day I got my Rose-crowned Fruit-Dove which would have been a good bird to have a photograph off.

Samford Valley Qld.

TheBirdLover
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Great photos! You're so lucky to be able to go on a Pelagic trip and photograph those amazing birds (and the gorgeous dolphins, too).

M.M.

Snail
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Looks like you had a great trip, that Black Petrel is stunning. Congrats on the rarity.

LM

rawshorty
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Nice pics Reflex, and a big congrats on the Cook's, well done.

Shorty......Canon gear

Canberra

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rawshorty/ 

Woko
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Very special getting a photo of the Cook's Petrel, Reflex. Good on you.

Reflex
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For anyone who is interested here's the link to the ebird checklist from that trip.

http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S26400791

Samford Valley Qld.

Reflex
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I have now photograped a Cooks Petrel again off S E Queensland. And a much better shot.

Samford Valley Qld.

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