OTAGO PENINSULA, DUNEDIN

TAIAROA HEAD

 What a wonderful day we had on this amazing peninsula. Cloud base was so low but it didn't stop the birds playing!

We drove the coast road out to Royal Albatross Centre, the only mainland based colony. We got there about 3 and the next tour available was 4-30, after a short discussion partly regarding cost $50 each, we booked and soon filled in the time wandering around the headland and spotting the amazing albatrosses flying – crazy to photograph. (I need a faster camera!)

The tour was well worth the money, a short talk and film then walked up to the hide where we saw four albatrosses sat on nests, their chicks were a week old. Sadly not one bird stood up or changed with their mate for sitting duty, but the albatrosses flying overhead were stunning! Our guide said of course they have no control over flight and her earlier tour there was only one flying, how lucky were we.

There were about 26 pairs there at the moment about 64 pairs return every other year. What an amazing bird, after fledging it takes off and flies for 5 years without landfall, going round the Southern Ocean. They come back to the same place to find a mate and only produce one egg every two years. The need fresh water and have a special gland which desalinates the sea water.

REPLICA ALBATROSS EGG

ALBATROSSES GALORE

SAT ON NEST WITH WEEK OLD CHICK IN

JUVENILE ALBATROSSES

sailing despite the rain

ROYAL SHAG

BLACK SWANS

ROYAL SPOONBILLS

OTAKOU CHURCH

TOTALLY CHEAPING WITH THIS PIC, IT WAS THICK CLOUD HERE AND WE SAW NOTHING OF LANARCH CASTLE

Back along the Highcliff Road stopping at Sandfly Bay where we were overjoyed to see one yellow eyed penguin who had been sat in the sand dunes for about half an hour before we got there – waiting for me! We were not privileged to see any coming out of the ocean but then you cant have everything!

We walked the length of the beach and saw a few New Zealand Sea lions – another first!

Many beautiful birds on the way back and we just made it to the fish and chip shop where she stayed open and cooked them fresh for us to eat in! Blissful day!

SANDFLY BAY

OFF TO LOOK FOR PENGUINS

THE YELLOW EYED PENGUIN - ONE OF THE RAREST

WALKED DOWN TO END TO SEE THE NEW ZEALAND SEA LIONS

COULDN'T RESIST MORE PENGUIN PICS

THEY DO AN AWFUL LOT OF GROOMING

SKIES CLEARED ON WAY HOME

                                   WING SPAN OF DIFFERENT BIRDS

STILT

REAL NEW ZEALAND LAMB!

Got a bit out of order with photos and write up but don't want to push my luck, we are in the middle of nowhere on a campsite with free wifi and its working!