Kalba Pelagic 25.06.10

[MarkS]

MIke, Ahmed and I went out today and scored very early on with a Brown Noddy about 10 minutes out of Kalba harbour. After that, everything was hard work. Despite staying out for 4 hours, we didn't find a single feeding flock any bigger than anout 20 birds> What a contrast from the previous 2 weekends!

Despite this, we totalled 3 Brown Noddies (in addition to 2 I had from FPB at lunchtime) and 4 Arctic Skua, one an adult bird. On any other day, not a bad haul, but after the previous two trips I had done it was pretty slow. Makes you realise just how lucky we were first time out....

Final tally:
3 Brown Noddy
4 Arctic Skua
50+ Persian Shearwater
100+ Bridled Tern
20+ Lesser Crested Tern
10 Common Tern
2 Sandwich Tern

[Mike Barth]

Here are some pics from this trip. Mark forgot to add 1 Osprey which waved us out of the harbour !
The Noddy and Skua - new UAE ticks for me ! The dusty conditions did help the situation either - light was somewhat subdued !

Great trip though and will definitely be out there again !

[Sandman]

Nice ones Mike!
You obviously had calmer seas than we did :-)

[MarkS]

The seas weren't exactly a mill-pond, but the results Mike has got are absolutely amazing considering the way the boat was bucking and the weight of the gear he was carrying. I find it hard enough to keep my bins on a bird, let alone keep it pin-sharp and in frame!

I think the last few weeks has raised the bar for the quality of photos needed to make the gallery for a few species. You're spoilt for choice, Tommy.

[Mike Barth]

Mark, keepers were about 1 in 50 !! - Pure luck any that stay sharp believe me.

Tommy, Mark insisted we start a Fish Forum so I have included the first pic - of a jumping Tuna ! Not a sharp shot - so the challenge is set !
Some more pics from the trip - including shots of the Skua.

Regards

[Sandman]

Nice ones Mike - the tuna shot is very impressive!

[ahmed al ali]

it was a very nice trip.. nice meeting mark at last ..

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