Green Cape 2005

COG visit to Green Cape NSW 25th–28th October 2005

Green Cape from Google maps

Some views of the light-station buildings

Ten members of the Canberra Ornithologists Group (COG) visited Green Cape from 25th – 28th October 2005. This field trip was organized following the successful one in June 2004 (See Fullagar 2004 for a report to COG). The group was again based in the duplex cottages originally used by the Assistant Lightkeepers. These buildings have been refurbished splendidly and are available for short term rental from National Parks NSW.

The survey area
Green Cape is within the Ben Boyd National Park forming its southern extremity. At Green Cape the vegetation is modified heathland having suffered the existence of a lightstation since 1883 but the affected area is small. There is a dirt road that provides access to the Cape. The lightstation buildings are backed to the north and west by tall Ti-tree Melaleuca sp. and Coast Banksia integrifolia. The cliff tops at the point are dominated by low coastal vegetation of native flora with patches of Coast Rosemary Westringia fruticosa, heavily wind shorn bushes of Ti-tree and clumps of Tussock Grass Poa sp. and a rush Isolepis sp. Open grassy areas mown to a short sward are maintained only in the immediate surrounds of the lighthouse buildings and along a small network of paths radiating from these buildings. The remaining heathland is not extensive but is rich in floristic diversity and is a good representative example of the coastal heathlands of southern NSW. It appears not to have been burnt for some years

Green Cape and the adjoining heathlands constitute the observation area. This area extends to as far north as the forest edge beyond the Pulpit Rock trail but does not include any part of the forest. Green Cape juts out almost SE. To the south-west is Disaster Bay and the coastline northwards from the point runs roughly NNW. To seawards our observations include the area to the limits of visibility which from the tip of the Cape (the point) involves about 320˚ of arc.

Weather, wind and sea conditions in 2005
Fine and relatively stable weather occurred throughout the four days. Most of the time sea and wind condition were not conducive to really good seabird watching although sea surface temperatures were warm offshore (fig 1) and rumour had it that fishing was good. Westerly winds and stormy conditions with occasional heavy showers and some lightning occurred in the late afternoon and evening of 25th accompanied by some spectacular views of rainbows out to sea.

Spectacular rainbow display in the late afternoon of 25th October

Winds over the next few days were generally light to moderate and northerly with an occasional abrupt change to the south and a temporary increase in wind strength. This occurred late on the 26th with winds quickly rising to more than 30 knots for a while. There was never much swell and winds of more than 20 knots were on the whole rare. The morning of 28th saw the wind swing to the north and fall away to calm seas before mid morning at the time of our departure.

Sea surface temperatures off south eastern Australia during the 2005 COG trip to Green Cape. Note the warm east Australian current pressing south offshore.
[Acknowledgement to CSIRO for this map on their website at: htpp://www.marine.csiro.au/remotesensing/web_point/]

Observations on birds and mammals
Each morning we observed at the Point from 05:00 hrs for about 1 –1.5 hrs then continued surveillance of the ocean for most of the day from the cottage verandahs but sometimes resuming a watch at the point for about 1 hour at dusk . This became the standard routine although exploration of the surrounding heathlands was done by individuals and small groups from time to time throughout the visit. Most of the party walked the coastal track to Pulpit Rock during the morning of 27th following an early morning exploration of the heaths for emu-wrens and the like.

Views north and south at Pulpit Rock

The verandah seawatch OP (observation point) at Green Cape. Surely one of the the best anywhere!

Seawatching at the point

Birds:

BLACK SWAN Cygnus atratus
Four seen going S over the sea early morning on 26th and 8 seen doing the same shortly after dawn on 28th.
LITTLE PENGUIN Eudyptula minor
Heard occasionally but none seen.
GIANT PETREL sp. Macronectes sp.
One seen 27th early morning was an immature and undetermined to species.
WHITE-CHINNED PETREL Procellaria aequinoctialis/WESTLAND PETREL Procellaria westlandica.
Two individuals following a fishing boat returning towards Eden in the late afternoon on 26th were certainly one of these species but were too large to have been BLACK PETREL Procellaria parkinsoni. They were amongst a mob of about 50 shearwaters close astern of this vessel which was gutting at sea. Most of these shearwaters appeared to be Wedge-tailed Shearwater.
WEDGE-TAILED SHEARWATER Puffinus pacificus
Seen often and each day but in small numbers compared with the Short-tailed shearwater.
FLESH-FOOTED SHEARWATER Puffinus carneipes
Possibly one amongst a flock scavenging behind a fishing boat on 26th (See White-chined Petrel above).
SOOTY SHEARWATER Puffinus griseus
One all dark shearwater seen in good light condition close to shore in the late afternoon on 27th was identified as this species. The underwing pattern was consistent with P. griseus and too distinct to be P. tenuirostris.
SHORT-TAILED SHEARWATER Puffinus tenuirostris
Abundant and at times streaming past the Cape or seen in large rafts and feeding frenzies. One such frenzy moved slowly N close to shore over a period of 45 minutes in mid morning on 27th. Some Fluttering Shearwater and fewer Wedge-tailed shearwaters involved in the flock with gannets diving amongst them.

A dispersing feeding frenzie close inshore

FLUTTERING SHEARWATER Puffinus gavia
Seen each day and sometimes in large numbers amongst the Short-tailed Shearwaters. On 26th at least 1000 present in 3-4 groups.
Hutton’s Shearwater Puffinus huttoni
None specifically identified amongst the numerous Fluttering Shearwaters observed.
WANDERING ALBATROSS Diomedea exulans [NB Five species are now sometimes recognized within this taxon. At least two of these occur off Green Cape. Wandering (Snowy) Albatross Diomedea exulans and Auckland (Island) Albatross Diomedea gibsoni]. Two seen during the morning on 26th and four more late on the 27th. All had pale backs. Using the modified Gibson Plumage Index or GPI (Tickell 2000) it seems that of the four birds seen on 27th one was approximately 4:2:2:2 for back: head: upperwings and belly and another approximately 4:3:3;4 suggesting D. e. gibsoni types. Another was definitely a Snowy type of approximately 6:6:6 for back: head and upper wings. The remaining individual was probably 6:6:4:5 or 6:6:5:5 making it also a D. e. exulans type. None came sufficiently close to allow more detailed description. An individual with the darkest upperwings seen on this trip (2) perhaps 5:5:2:5 on the GPI was seen to land and hassle a presumed Salvin’s Albatross at offal early morning on 28th. This bird did not take over the food source whatever it was and remained for some minutes resting alongside the shearwater raft.

On the left the original Gibson code and on the right a modified form that includes more detail about belly, neck and thigh.

NORTHERN ROYAL ALBATROSS Diomedea epomophora sandfordi [NB Two subspecies are identifiable in the field and recently they have been treated by some authorities as species - Northern Royal Albatross Diomedea sandfordi and Southern Royal Albatross Diomedea epomophora]
A probable example of the Northern Royal Albatross Diomedea e. sandfordi passed close to shore going S in the late afternoon on 27th. Its upperwing pattern and jizz made this individual almost certainly an example of this species but the black cutting edge of the upper mandible latericorn plate and distinctive shape of the base of the bill of Royal Albatross could not be confirmed.
BLACK-BROWED ALBATROSS Thalassarche malanophrys
One sub-adult seen early morning on 26th and the same or another seen again later that day with an adult plumaged bird. Another adult plumaged bird seen on 27th going N.
SHY ALBATROSS Thalassarche cauta [NB Shy Albatrosses have recently been treated by some authorities as four species but are treated here as subspecies. The Tasmanian Shy Albatross Thalassarche c. cauta and the Auckland [Island] Shy Albatross Thalassarche c. steadi are not reliably separable in the field but both undoubtedly occur in the waters off Green Cape. Another, but very distinctive Shy Albatross the Chatham [Island]Albatross Thalassarche c. eremita has not so far been reported from the waters off Green Cape. The fourth subspecies is Salvin's Albatross D. c. salvini. This subspecies is also identifiable in the field and has been reported from Green Cape in the past.]
One or possibly two seen 26th and another seen in the early morning on 27th having what appeared to be some difficulty with a large object visible as a lump swelling its lower neck. For some time this bird struggled in trying to gulp down the obstruction. Occasionally it reared up on the water while swinging and rolling its head from side to side, balancing with open wings, in an effort to swallow the obstruction. Eventually it was successful and then sat and preened before taking flight.
SALVIN'S ALBATROSS D. salvini [NB identifiable in the field from all other Shy albatrosses and now often treated as a full species].
Two feeding amongst a small raft of shearwaters, mostly Wedge-tiled Shearwater, in calm conditions early morning on the 28th. Both showed the distinctive dusky heads of this albatross. One of them was vigorously attacking a floating object and the shearwaters were feasting on other flotsam. The food source was not identified but the albatross defended its piece against the other salvini individual but gave up when a Wandering Albatross pitched in and chased it off the item. However, the Wanderer did not take over the food source and remained for some time sitting on the sea before moving on.
YELLOW-NOSED ALBATROSS Thalassarche chlororhynchos [Two subspecies occur which are identifiable in the field. Western Yellow-nosed Albatross Thalassarche c. chlororhynchos and Eastern Yellow-nosed Albatross Thalassarche c. carteri – formerly known as T. c. bassi]
An adult of the carteri type seen well soon after dawn on the 27th.
AUSTRALASIAN GANNET Morus serrator
Seen each day often in large numbers and frequently associating with massed shearwater feeding frenzies where they invariably dived amongst the feeding shearwaters in turbulent waters. Early on 27th about 50 individuals present diving in a feeding frenzy with a few Short-tailed shearwaters and some feasting Australian fur seals. Later that day up to 500 seen often loafing in rafts.
BLACK-FACED CORMORANT Phalacrocorax fuscescens
Two birds seen in the morning of 26th heading N round the Cape.
GREAT CORMORANT Phalacrocorax carbo
Seen occasionally with up to 20 birds probably in the area. A least two roosting sites seen; one to the W of the Cape in Disaster Bay and the other N along the shore towards Pulpit Rock.
EASTERN REEF EGRET Egretta sacra
One bird seen on rocks below the lighthouse early on 25th; There were no further sightings.
WHISTLING KITE Haliastur shenurus
One bird seen with Sea-eagles on 27th in the updrafts along the eastern cliffs during walk to Pulpit Rock.
SWAMP HARRIER Circus approximans
One bird seen at Cape on several occasions.
BROWN FALCON Falco berigora
One pale morph seen during walk to Pulpit Rock 27th.
WHITE-BELLIED SEA-EAGLE Haliaeetus leucogaster
Seen each day. During the morning of 27th four sub-adult birds were soaring in updrafts along the cliff edge towards Pulpit Rock. Later that evening a sub-adult was seen to take a shearwater from a feeding raft about 1km offshore and what was presumed to be another sub-adult did the same about half an hour later. Early in the morning of 28th a sub-adult again took a shearwater from a feeding raft a little nearer to the Cape (see Salvin’s Albatross and Wandering Albatross). These sea-eagles seem to take prey effortlessly in this way. They fly out briskly to where the birds are rafting or active in a feeding frenzy and without much ado swoop into the fray snatching an unsuspecting bird from the surface and return to the land. The flight back is laboured and very close to the water. The prey can be seen suspended in the dangled talons. From an observation on the 28th when another sub-adult was seen to take a bird but then lose it we concluded that the effort to take prey in this way might be taxing on a sea-eagle. This bird pulled away from the raft and flew back empty footed. Perhaps it had become exhausted by its unsuccessful attack and did not intend to risk another sortie. However, instant success is not certain because several attacks and misses were seen before eventually taking prey in some of our other observations.
BAR-TAILED GODWIT Limosa lapponica
A small group seen flying around the Point during the morning on 26th.
SOOTY OYSTERCATCHER Haematopus fuliginosa
A group of 6 arrived on the rock shelf at the Cape below the cottages in the evening of 27th and this group was still present the following morning.
ARCTIC JAEGER (SKUA) Stercorarius parasitica
A pale morph seen going S soon after dawn on 26th and another single followed by 4 more seen later, also going S. All five of these birds were dark morphs. A few more individuals were noted over the next two days all of which were dark birds and all were heading south. In most instances the flight of these jaegers was close to the water in a steady, fast, purposeful manner with only one bird noted as passing high up but again in a resolute manner.
PACIFIC GULL Larus pacificus
Two adults present at the Cape and occasionally on the rock shelf in front of the cottages throughout our visit. They joined a small feeding frenzy of shearwaters on the 27th??. Several birds were seen flying past at other times, possibly additional to these birds.

A pair of Pacific Gulls

SILVER GULL Larus novaehollandiae
Present at sea occasionally but never in very large numbers and often none seen during extended periods of seawatching.
CASPIAN TERN Sterna caspia
Adult individuals passed to and fro each day with the suggestion that several birds were involved.
CRESTED TERN Sterna bergii
A few passing back and forth each day and occasionally larger numbers ( up to 50) offshore associated with feeding rafts of shearwaters
WHITE-FRONTED TERN Sterna striata
Several seen at sea on 27th.
GALAH Cacatua roseicapilla
A flock of 14 seen at the Cape shortly after dawn on 27th.
RAINBOW LORIKEET Trichoglossus haematodus
Two birds seen flying over heathlands a couple of km from the lighthouse; also heard calling in the skies behind the lighthouse buildings – an obvious flyover but were not seen.
FAN-TAILED CUCKOO Cacomantis flabelliformis
At least two were heard, and one bird seen around the entry road in Melaleuca and Banksia scrub.
SHINING BRONZE-CUCKOO Chrysococcyx lucidus
One calling near cottages each day. Others heard occasionally on the heaths but not numerous.
LAUGHING KOOKABURRA Dacelo novaeguineae
Heard calling near the edge of heath and forest a couple of km from the Lighthouse.
SUPERB FAIRY-WREN Malurus cyaneus
A breeding plumaged male in a party of 4-6 individuals was often seen in the vicinity of the lightstation. No song. Several small groups were observed on walks down the main entry road in Melaleuca scrub and near the edge of the heath.
SOUTHERN EMU-WREN Stipiturus malachurus
Found on the heathlands but none were in song and mostly not easily seen; e.g. none recorded during long walk to Pulpit rock and back via the main track in the late morning of 27th. On 27th a walking party had good views of a pair calling in heath on a side track overlooking Disaster Bay, a couple of km from the lighthouse, and heard brief contact calls in a couple of other places in the heath.
STRIATED PARDALOTE Pardalotus striatus
One bird heard, calling very near the cottages on 27th.
WHITE-BROWED SCRUBWREN Sericornis frontalis
Heard occasionally in dense vegetation near the cottages but not conspicuous.
BROWN THORNBILL Acanthiza pusilla
Heard near the cottages occasionally. Several birds observed or heard on walks down the main entry road in Melaleuca and Banksia scrub.
LITTLE WATTLEBIRD Anthochaera chrysoptera
Recorded each day but not singing and generally inconspicuous. Often present in the large Coast Banksia Banksia integrifolia.
YELLOW-FACED HONEYEATER Lichenostomus chrysops
Small groups of 6-10 noisy birds often seen at the Cape in the mornings and such flocks often found feeding in patches of Westringia nearby during the day. Occasionally a flock would make off to seawards but would soon return or move up the coast northwards. A few seen in the heathlands but not abundant.
WHITE-NAPED HONEYEATER Melithreptus lunatus
One or two heard and seen at the Cape on 26th and occasionally elsewhere.
NEW HOLLAND HONEYEATER Phylidonyris novaehollandiae
A few seen daily with small groups present in the taller vegetation in the vicinity of the lightstation and patchily on the heathlands. None singing. Not abundant.
TAWNY-CROWNED HONEYEATER Phylidonyris melanops
Seen each day on the heathlands but few were singing and song flights uncommon. Not abundant and again, like the New Holland Honeyeaters, patchy in occurrence on the heaths.
EASTERN YELLOW ROBIN Eopsaltria australis
One noted in the vicinity of the lightstation but this species remained remarkably quiet throughout our stay.
EASTERN WHIPBIRD Psephodes olivaceus
At least one was heard calling often in the general area W of the lightstation. Several birds were heard and seen near the Cemetery and in thicker Melaleuca scrub along the southern part of the trail to Pulpit Rock and in scrub along the main entry road.
GOLDEN WHISTLER Pachycephala pectoralis
One bird heard in Melaleuca/Banksia scrub near the cottages.
RUFOUS WHISTLER Pachycephala rufiventris
One calling occasionally in roadside Melaleuca near the car park at the Cape and several detected elsewhere around the scrub along the main entry road and on the heathlands.
GREY SHRIKE-THRUSH Colluricincla harmonica One bird, a female, seen near the cottages; one or two birds heard on walks down the main entry road.
GREY FANTAIL Rhipidura fuliginosa
Several birds heard and seen in and around Melaleuca/Banksia scrub. Also heard near the cottages.
BLACK-FACED CUCKOO SHRIKE Coracina novaehollandiae
One bird seen flying over heathlands.
PIED CURRAWONG Strepera graculina
One or two birds seen in the area.
AUSTRALIAN RAVEN Corvus coronoides
At least two adults often seen at the Cape.
AUSTRALIAN PIPIT Anthus australis
Several individuals present on mown lawns and other low vegetation areas near the Cape throughout our visit.
RED-BROWED FINCH Neochmia temporalis
Reported from the heathlands.
WELCOME SWALLOW Hirundo neoxena
Several seen each day feeding above the cliff tops at the Cape and in the vicinity of the lightstation. More than one pair present but difficult to count.
SILVEREYE Zosterops lateralis
Small groups seen and heard at the Point (in Westringia) and in Melaleuca/Banksia scrub.

Mammals:

COMMON WOMBAT Vombatus ursinus
Signs evident but none seen.
COMMON RING-TAIL POSSUM Pseudochirus peregrinus
Roost site observed in the thicker Melaleuca but without spotlighting after dark no individuals seen during our stay.
EASTERN GREY KANGAROO Macropus giganteus
At least one large individual present near the lightstation.
AUSTRALIAN FUR SEAL Arctocephalus pusillus (doriferus)
Up to 20-30 individuals always present loafing in the water every day in a pod that remained offshore at the Point or just N of the Point. None seen ashore during this visit.

The pod of loafing seals off the point

EUROPEAN RABBIT Oryctolagus cuniculus Signs present and one seen.
COMMON DOLPHIN Delphinus delphis
Four individuals thought to be this species were seen passing very close at the Cape and going into Disaster Bay on 28th in the early morning.
BOTTLENOSE DOLPHIN Tursiops truncatus
Up to 50-60 seen on 26th.
HUMPBACK WHALE Megaptera novaeangliae
More than 100 individuals seen over the four days. This is probably a conservative estimate and it could have been that several hundred actually passed in this time. Usually a calf and mother was observed but some trios and occasionally up to five beasts were seen travelling close together. Almost always they were going south. Usually rolling along in the characteristic way of the Humpback but some spy-hopping, fluke bashing and fore flipper waving was seen with rarely a breach with some emerging tail first to crash back into the sea.

Humpback cow and calf

Humpback Whale rolling over. Note the small dorsal fin

Humpback Whale tail fluke

Humpback Whales blowing

With little swell and almost no white caps on the sea it was easy to pick out the characteristic ‘blows’ and follow the whales between surface slicks as slowly cruised past. Some individuals came very close to Cape and others occasionally moved well into Disaster Bay, especially during the late morning of 26th. There was rarely a time between dawn and dusk each day when we could not see at least one passing whale. No other species were certainly identified.

Jacky Lashtail Amphibolurus muricatus

Acknowledgments
The following were participants in the visit to Green Cape in October 2005: Jenny Bounds, Lia Battisson, Ron and Jen Dobb, Kay and Horst Hahne, Michael and Janette Lenz, Brian Scales and Peter Fullagar. In preparing this report I thank all for their involvement and enthusiasm and especially for providing me with the information on which it has been prepared. I would specially like to thank Jack Holland who makes all of the arrangements for these Green Cape trips on behalf of COG but has not had the pleasure of participation!

Tickell, W L N 2000 Albatrosses (Pica Press: Sussex); 448pp ISBN1-873403-94-1. See pages 132-133 for explanation of plumage codes.