Knysna Pelagic

30 December 2022 - Knysna; Day 8

Last year I had heard about pelagic trips out of Knysna. So, this year I made contact Tim Carr, the organiser, to book a place on one of the Friday pelagic's out of Knysna Lagoon in December. 

For anyone interested in joining a pelagic out of Knysna, contact Tim on 071 683 4133 or Reflectionsreserve@gmail.com

Our small group met on the docks at the lagoon at 6am and to meet Tim, Collin and our Skipper Nicky with his boat Wave Dancer. We had a quick briefing, loaded the boat with many buckets of chum and took our places, before heading to the formidable Knysna Heads which is the funneled exit and entry to the Indian Ocean beyond. On route we had a few regular sea birds, including a Common Tern on a buoy.

Common Tern (Sterna hirundo)

Compared to the two previous outings, the sea was big today with inclement weather and wind predicted later in the day. As a result the exit through the Heads was daunting and it took 3 attempts before our experienced skipper found the break and we safely negotiated the big waves and swells. My last two pelagics were on the dam like Arabian Gulf, so this is the real deal as far a pelagics go. 

I had taken seasick tablets before leaving and hoped like hell they would do their job, but it did take me quite some time to find my sea legs in the 3 - 4m swells as we slowly headed East to deeper water. It was really challenging to keep focus and tracking on the birds as we dipped in the deep troughs and were surrounded by water on all sides and then back on the top of the swell and seeing land in the distance whilst the birds disappeared into the troughs - very tough photography!

Rather than post a chronological account of the species recorded, I will post the images taken by species seen.

Cape Gannet was the first seabird, but is not classified as a pelagic as it roosts on land. Later in the morning we got to witness their spectacular vertical dives into the sea when the Whale was feeding

Cape Gannet (Morus capensis)

By far the most common pelagic bird in these waters (Indian Ocean) are Cory's Shearwater and we encountered them in great numbers - first in rafts sitting on the water and later flying and looking for food

Cory's Shearwater (Calonectris borealis)

In amongst the masses, were the odd Kelp Gull and Swift Tern - no Sabine's unfortunately.

Swift Tern (Thalasseus bergii)

Early on we encountered a Bryde's Whale (pronounced "broodus") feeding in water depth of around 80m. Bryde's are members of the baleen whale family and are considered one of the 'great whales' that include Blue and Humpback Whales. Its presence and feeding attracted sea birds in big numbers as they followed and dived around it looking for tidbits and also saved us having to chum. 

Definitely a highlight of the trip in terms of the spectacle and shear number of birds following it - primarily Cory's.

Bryde's Whale (Balaenoptera brydei)

In the melee we picked up two Manx and a single Flesh-footed Shearwater - but it was just not possible to get any images as they barreled past in front of the boat. We did however pick up a cracking Pomarine Jaeger

Pomarine Jaeger (Stercorarius pomarinus)

and a single dark-form Parasitic Jaeger

Parasitic Jaeger (Stercorarius parasiticus)

By now we were also joined by small numbers of Sooty Shearwater's

Sooty Shearwater (Puffinus griseus)

and the cool looking White-chinned

White-chinned Petrel (Procellaria aequinoctialis)

Once the whale disappeared from view we continued east whilst continuing to chum. This attracted the only Wilson's Storm Petrel of the trip. I was really hoping for a European that was seen the previous week. Tough to photograph such a small fast moving bird in big swells and that didnt care about which side the light was coming from.

Wilson's Storm Petrel (Oceanites oceanicus)

By now the weather was starting to deteriorate and the white horses were much more evident as the wind started picking up. It had been a great morning, so we turned west and headed back to the Knysna Heads. 

We were followed by a few Corey's and White-chinned when suddenly flying toward us from the horizon was a beast of a bird. In fact it is considered the vulture of the sea and as it got close, we could confirm it was a magnificent Northern Giant Petrel. It flew behind, alongside and overhead giving superb views and photo opportunities before turning and heading back out to sea - an awesome bird to end this memorable pelagic trip

Northern Giant Petrel (Macronectes halli)

By now the sea was lumpy and it was having an effect on some of the passengers who started losing their breakfast over the side - despite asking a few to throw up near the engines, it was a little too late as some of us, as we were victims of the residue of their breakfast from the increasing wind blowing across the boat. This is all part of being on a pelagic and I was grateful that I didnt contribute to the unplanned chumming.

Going back through the Heads was less daunting than the exit and once we docked, we disembarked for an early lunch and drinks to share notes on what Tim had considered one of the best pelagics of the December season - I was certainly thrilled with the 3 lifers that I recorded!

On the last day of the year it was family time, but last bird of the year that I recorded was a Cape Gannet out in Lookout Beach Bay.