Views from the Bay
from the centre of New Zealand: pictures and observations
Wandering albatross
In: Photographic
29 Nov 2009This weekend I’m off on a fishing trip to Kaikoura. The charter boat provides all fishing gear, so I’ll just be loaded up with my photographic gear. On my last trip, I was trying out a new lens, a 300mm telephoto. It was incredibly difficult, the sea was lumpy, the autofocus kept latching onto people’s fishing rods rather than the birdlife, so most of my pics were no good.
But I got lucky. I had the camera to my eye when I noticed a bird swooping in towards us. He did only one quick pass as I struggled to track him and get off a series of quick shots. Only afterwards when I studied the images did I realise just what I had captured. It was a Wandering Albatross, one of the very largest! Adults have a wingspan approaching 4 metres, with a body length of more than a metre. None of the pics is a world beater (he was already too close to fit in the frame when I first saw him), but I was delighted with them.
Wandering albatross
Wandering albatross
Wandering albatross
You will find more birdlife pics at New Zealand Pictures Online.
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About this blog
This blog presents the images and observations of someone who has had a long and successful career, ranging from heavy engineering to environmental sciences, from paper machines to marine biology.
The digital revolution has enabled Graeme Robertson to devote much of his time to a rediscovered passion, photography. His images have won national competitions and been published in magazines and newspapers.
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2 Responses to Wandering albatross
Sandy Stephens
December 2nd, 2009 at 12:59 am
You have aniother with seagull and albatross in same photo, I think?
admin
December 2nd, 2009 at 10:38 am
Aha! Watch this space!