Summer trips may turn up Parasitic, or Pomarine Jaegers actively harassing terns for their prey. In winter, Subantarctic (Brown) Skuas, and White-chinned Petrels regularly enter False Bay.
Cape Fur Seals are common, while Humpback, Southern Right and Bryde’s Whales are seen at different times of year.
You arrive at Cape Point having been underway for half an hour. After a quick photo stop, the boat heads out into the deeper oceanic waters towards the productive fishing grounds around the Cape Canyon.
The shallower inshore waters usually deliver the first true pelagic species. White-chinned Petrels and Sooty Shearwaters are present all year, with good chances of either Northern, or Southern Giant Petrels, and Shy Albatrosses. In summer, Northern Hemisphere species are encountered including Manx, and Cory’s Shearwaters, and Parasitic, Pomarine, or even, Long-tailed Jaegers. Great Shearwater are common passage migrants especially in September/October and March/April. Oceanic Sunfish, and sharks are most commonly seen in this general area.
A couple of hours travel from the coast gets you out into the deep ocean. The aim is to locate either a hake trawler or other fishing vessel, but occasionally the only option is to throw out chum or fish oil. Regardless of season, a typical trip finds Shy, Black-browed, Indian and Atlantic Yellow-nosed Albatrosses, Northern and Southern Giant Petrels, Subantarctic (Brown) Skua, Kelp Gulls, Cape Gannets, White-chinned Petrels, and Wilson’s Storm Petrels.
In summer there are opportunities to find Great-winged Petrels, Flesh-footed, and Manx Shearwaters, European Storm Petrel, any of the three jaeger species, Sabine’s Gulls, and Arctic Tern. The highly sought-after Spectacled Petrel are more common in summer, but can occur year round.
A winter trip often delivers the classic spectacle of hundreds/thousands of seabirds behind a trawler. These massive flocks are usually dominated by beautifully patterned Pintado (Cape) Petrels. After a strong cold front large numbers of Antarctic Prions are regular. Another sought-after winter scarcity is Southern Fulmar. Soft-plumaged Petrels and Wilson’s Storm Petrels are most common at this time of year. Antarctic Tern is possible nearer the coast. The three species of “Great Albatrosses” are most frequently recorded on winter trips, with some records as late as spring and early summer. These three species are all considered rare visitors. Northern Royal Albatross is the most likely to be seen, followed by Southern Royal, and very rarely Wandering Albatross.
Spring (August-October) and autumn (March-May) are good for passage migrants. Black-bellied Storm Petrels are the focus at these times of year, with Great Shearwaters and Wilson’s Storm Petrels occurring at peak numbers.
Trips usually arrive back in port in the early/mid afternoon.
Key species:
Shy Albatross, Black-browed Albatross, Indian Yellow-nosed Albatross, Atlantic Yellow-nosed Albatross, White-chinned Petrel, Sooty Shearwater, Pintado (Cape) Petrel, Antarctic Prion, Sabine’s Gull, Wilson’s Storm Petrel
