Due to a late cancellation I was invited on a pelagic, and it turned out to be an amazing experience! We left Simon’s Town at dawn on a day with perfect weather. Still in False Bay, we came across a pod of a few hundred Common Dolphins. It was awesome, watching them pass by in a seemingly never ending stream.
Passing Cape Point we saw Common and Swift Terns, and soon after the first Sooty Shearwaters. About 40 km south of Cape Point we came across two trawlers, resulting in an incredible spectacle for the next few hours. A few thousand seabirds milled around the trawlers. We followed one trawler for some time, then found the other one. It was hard to focus on any particular bird, with seabirds gliding of flapping past, resting on the waves, or squabbling over food scraps.
The bulk of the birds were Black-browed and Shy Albatrosses, with large numbers of Pintado Petrels, White-chinned Petrels and Sooty Shearwaters. There were a few Brown Skuas, Northern and Southern Giant Petrels. We were fortunate to pick up two rarities at very close quarters – a Northern Royal Albatross and a Spectacled Petrel. One or two Antarctic Prions flew past at high speed.
Around noon we started the return journey. In False Bay at Partridge Point we spent a few minutes to see the breeding Bank Cormorants with many resting Cape Cormorants and a few White-breasted Cormorants. Shortly afterwards we saw the blows of some Humpback Whales. As we stopped to watch them, one swam right in front of the boat, flashing its tail a few metres from us!
Thanks to Cape Town Pelagics and seabird guide Vanessa Stephen for the invite to this amazing opportunity!
Dolphins at dawn
Seabirds at sea
Notes on Cape Town pelagics (13/11/2023)
There are 2 companies offering pelagics in Cape Town.
Cape Town Pelagics – generally from Simonstown – there is a link in the text “2023 & 2024 trip calendars” which shows available spots. At the bottom of the main web page, there are links to “About the trips”.
Zest for Birds – from Hout Bay – click on “pelagic birding” in menu on left, then click on Cape Town to see general info. On the bottom of the menu on the left, click on “pelagic schedules” and scroll down to see dates with available spots.
Different seabird species can be seen at different times of year, but the common species (Shy and Black-browed Albatross, White-chinned Petrel, etc) can be seen year round.
Note that you should keep a whole weekend open when you book. The pelagics are planned for a Saturday but If the seas are too rough, they will postpone to Sunday.
