A Sighting of the Westland Petrel Procellaria westlandica off North-west Tasmania

Abstract

Between 4 and 18 April 1984, I took part in a cruise aboard the CSIRO oceanographical research vessel 'Sprightly'. The ship departed Hobart on 4 April and sailed north along the east Tasmanian coast to Bass Strait We then headed west through Bass Strait to the King Island region. Much time was spent performing oceanographical surveys over inshore waters around western Bass Strait, King Island, Cape Otway, and in deep waters off those regions before arriving in Melbourne on 18 April. During this period I observed many seabirds including the first Westland Petrel Procellaria westlandica for north-west Tasmania.