Hello all,
I've provided some more New Zealand photographs on my website
(www.wildlifing.com). In part 2 I've covered Kaikoura, Arthurs Pass and
the Otago Peninsula.
At Kaikoura I went on a pelagic with Albatross Encounters at 630am I
think. Probably unnecessarily early in actual fact but I was hoping for
some interesting light for photography. The light was amazing on the
snow-covered mountains in the background but it was a bit dark on the
birds flying around the boat. Saw some great birds though including
Royal Albatross (northern and southern), Shy Albatross (Salvins and NZ
white-capped), Wanderings, Giant Petrels (northern and southern) and
quite a few others as well. I'm no seabird expert but it was a great
couple of hours- far too short! The continental shelf is quite close to
shore here and as result you don't need to go far offshore to be amongst
the seabirds.
At Arthur's Pass I had my first encounter with the cheeky Kea. I had
quite a few more adventures with Kea while I was in NZ. On the Otago
Peninsula (near Dunedin) I stayed at Penguin Place and was guided
through the trenches that have been built through their Yellow-eyed
Penguin colony. Penguin Place is on a working sheep property with a
visitor's centre, accommodation and a fenced off rehabilitated section
where the penguins breed. As a result of the underground trench and hide
system I was able to have some close encounters with breeding penguins.
It was a wonderful experience. Seeing the penguin coming up the beach
towards us in the late afternoon light was especially memorable.
Unfortunately I was 2 days too early to be guided into the Royal
Albatross breeding colony at Taiaroa Head. I was able to see the
occasional albatross flying over the visitor's centre but the actual
colony was out of sight.
Next I'll show some of my Stewart Island photos.
Cheers
Mick
PS. I've added some new address details for people that can be written
to if you would like to oppose the proposed Awaba open cut coal mine
that will impact on the Masked Owls that live there.
--
Michael Todd
Wildlifing
Images & Sounds of Nature
Latest Additions: New Zealand (Kaikoura, Arthurs Pass, Otago Peninsula)
www.wildlifing.com
Toronto, NSW, Australia
04101 23715
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