Hi All,
A somewhat belated report concerning the cetaceans seen on the annual
Ashmore Reef trip that sailed from Broome Western Australia on 20 October
and returned on 27 October 2008. The trip is run by George Swann of
Kimberley Birdwatching.

16 participants recorded a total of 10 species of cetacean during the 6 days
at sea (2 further full days were spent moored within Ashmore Reef).

Species were as follows:

HUMPBACK WHALE: 6 on the 20 Oct (first day out of Broome) and another 6 on
the 27 Oct (last day as we returned to Broome). All in inshore waters.
Mostly mothers with calves.

MELON-HEADED WHALE: About 5 in company with Fraser's Dolphins and
Bottle-nosed Dolphins on 25 Oct in slope waters south of Ashmore Reef.

AUSTRALIAN SNUBFIN DOLPHIN: 1 close to Broome soon after we departed on 20
Oct. After we had landed back at Broome two more animals were seen adjacent
to the main Broome jetty.

ROUGH-TOOTHED DOLPHIN: 1 was seen (not by me) with all the other cetaceans
on the 25 Oct over reasonably deep slope waters.

INDO-PACIFIC HUMPBACK DOLPHIN: Two small pods of 3 and 4 in shallow inshore
waters on the 27 Oct as we cruised down the coast from the Lacapede Islands
to Broome.

BOTTLE-NOSED DOLPHIN: 3 in inshore waters near Broome on 20 Oct, 2 near
Ashmore Reef on 25 Oct and a further 30 well south of Ashmore Reef in with
the Fraser's Dolphins and Melon-headed Whales. A final pod of 7 was seen on
the 26 Oct north of the Lacapede Islands.

PAN-TROPICAL SPOTTED DOLPHIN: A pod of 25 on 21 Oct mixed in with Fraser's
Dolphins near Scott Reef, another pod of 40 on the 22 Oct in slope waters
near Ashmore Reef and a final group of 20 on the 25 Oct south of Ashmore
Reef.

SPINNER DOLPHIN: A pod of 30 in the afternoon of the 20 Oct a little way
north west of Broome, a small group of just 5 on the 21 Oct south of Scott
Reef, a number of pods totalling 160 animals south of Ashmore Reef on 25 Oct
and a final pod of 30 in reasonably shallow water to the north of the
Lacapede Islands.

RISSO'S DOLPHIN: 6 on the 21 Oct over slope waters. Moving slowly and
showing little interest in the vessel. As with sightings last year, there
were no particularly pale animals seen in the group.

FRASER'S DOLPHIN: Mammal highlight of the trip for me. A pod of 30 or so on
the 21 Oct just south of Scott Reef and another pod of 100 mixed with other
cetaceans on the 25 Oct well south of Ashmore Reef..

I've posted photos of some of these animals at

http://www.pbase.com/wildlifeimages/whales_and_dolphins

Just drill down through the relevant folders.

A more complete trip report including a summary of the birds etc can be
found at

http://www.ecology-solutions.com.au/2008%20ASHMORE%20REEF/index.html

Cheers,
Rohan


Rohan Clarke
www.wildlifeimages.com.au