Memories of Sunnier Summer Days

Brrr! It sure has been cold outside these days! (For those of you who are not in the US, much of the country has been facing some serious ice storms this week). Although I do love the cold - and especially the snow -, I thought it might be a good idea to share some images of a warmer summer day at La Jolla Cove in San Diego. So, huddle up in your warmest layers and join me as I share some images of the incredible marine life of California, including sea lions, pelicans, cormorants, and even an osprey.

Pelicans at La Jolla

There’s something so captivating about the highly contrasted golden light that follows a dramatic sunrise. Following on from my previous post, where I shared some images of the cormorant colonies at La Jolla Cove, this week I want to showcase this stunning light on the local California brown pelicans.

The birding enthusiasts among you will quickly note that these birds are not in breeding plumage. This visit was late in the summer, after the chicks were fully fledged and looking almost indistinguishable from the adults. However, I have plans to return in January next year to see them in all their breeding plumage splendour. Here’s to hoping that the stunning light makes up for their drab feathers this time!

The Famous Wharariki Beach

Wharariki Beach, or “that beach on the Windows desktop background”, as it is more commonly known, is one of New Zealand’s best kept secrets. As it is in the northernmost tip of the South Island, getting there from the Abel Tasman region takes a little bit of time, patience, and planning. I tried to leave plenty of time during my visit, allowing for two sunsets and a sunrise, but the weather was having none of it. Despite the overcast mornings and evenings, and the almost constant rain, we managed a partly cloudy mid-morning visit. It’s not all I had hoped for from this detour, but it was still certainly worth the trip.

Abel Tasman Surroundings

The Abel Tasman region of New Zealand has many wonderful views to offer - green countryside, perfectly transparent water springs, and orange sand beaches! It is also at the very top of the South Island, meaning it has milder climate than most of the remaining island, and warm summers. Besides, the biggest city in the region, Nelson, has some of the best restaurants and wineries in all of New Zealand. It is no wonder the place is so popular with holidaymakers and retirees!

Below are just a few of my images from my brief visits to the Te Waikoropupū Springs and two of the local beaches…

Pancake Rocks and Their Inhabitants

These rock formations in New Zealand’s West Coast are, of course, named after their looks - they look like stacked rounded layers somewhat resembling pancakes. Pancake Rocks even boasts a suitably-themed pancake-serving café near the entrance to the park. I visited on a stormy evening and, although the weather left much to be desired, the white-fronted terns (Sterna striata) that inhabit this location more than made up for the moody skies.

Magical Rio

Today my blog features Rio de Janeiro, my hometown (home-megacity?). Although it suffers from many political and societal problems, Rio is undeniably a beautiful, colourful, and vibrant place. The real magic of the city comes alive at night, as the sun comes down and lights the sky up with a deep orange that perfectly matches the bright city lights. Here are some of my best images of this magical time…

Memories of a Greek Summer

This week’s blog post is a mishmash of a last few images of the photogenic island of Santorini, in Greece’s Cyclades archipelago. Again, you will find the relatively common white-and-blue theme, and variations on it… Next week, it’s back to the mainland for a final Greek blog post!

Milos & Mykonos

As I mentioned last week in my Meteora post, I will be sharing some older images from past trips over the next few weeks. The travel bug has truly bitten me as I’ve gone through my archives, and I can’t wait until I can start seeing more of the world again!

This week, I am sharing some of my favourites from Milos and Mykonos, two islands in the Cyclades in Greece. The first three are from Milos, featuring Sarakiniko Beach and Firiplaka Beach, and the final three are from the party island of Mykonos.

In Search of the Sperm Whales

Following a whale-watching flight over the Kaikoura coastline, we also took the opportunity to watch these giants from up close. An early morning cruise with Whale Watch provided several sightings of Sperm whales, the world’s largest toothed predator. These giants of the sea were commonly hunted in the 19th and 20th centuries, which inspired the classic novel Moby Dick. Now the species is protected throughout most of its territory, but there is still work to be done to fully protect them.

Kaikoura Seascapes

This weekend, I’m sharing a few relaxing images of the mountains and ocean on Kaikoura's coast. I hope these serve as a welcome reminder of times with unrestricted travel and a more carefree existence. I can’t wait to explore the wider world outside of New Zealand in search of more spectacular landscapes, when it is possible to do so.

Sunset at South Bay

Despite the fact that my inadequate footwear kept me mostly stranded in the middle of South Bay, having to take all photos from pretty much one single location, this was still one of my favourite sunsets I have seen in New Zealand. The golden light rolling over the hills bounced off the coarse beach gravel, giving it a sparkling quality. The low mist added some drama to the scene, blurring the trees behind. This is one of my fondest memories of the sleepy coastal town of Kaikoura.

Fur Seal Colony Kaikoura

The Kaikoura Peninsula Walkway is a great place to spot kekeno, also known as New Zealand fur seals. These are easily some of my favourite (and in my opinion, most photogenic) marine mammals. I hope you enjoy this selection of fur seals basking on the white rocks of the Kaikoura coastline.

Wings Over Whales

One of my best memories of Kaikoura was taking a whale-watching flight with Wings Over Whales. Although circling the whales did get me a little dizzy by the end, it was amazing to see these marine giants from the air, where you can get a true sense of their scale. During our flight, we saw two sperm whales and a humpback whale, and as a bonus we got to enjoy the view of the surrounding mountains and ocean from the air also.

Where the Mountains Meet the Sea

Kaikoura is another one of New Zealand’s hidden gems. It is less popular than other nearby tourist destinations, but is nonetheless a fantastic place to visit. This is one of the few places in the world where you will see a snowy mountain chain as a backdrop to a white sandy beach. Here are some of my favourite images of my first day on the beaches, capturing some of this unique landscape.

The Akaroa Harbour

Akaroa peninsula is the best place in New Zealand to spot the world’s smallest dolphin. The Hector’s Dolphin is endemic to New Zealand, and sadly are nationally endangered. In my time in Akaroa, I enjoyed the harbour views before hopping on a boat to try and spot some of these unique dolphins in their natural environment.

Akaroa's Fur Seals

Akaroa is peninsula on the Western coast of New Zealand’s South Island. It is just over an hours’ drive from the city of Christchurch, yet offers a completely different atmostphere. This is New Zealand’s only French settlement, and boasts abundant wildlife. I visited Akaroa for the first time late last year, and one of the highlights of my visit was a private tour to a fur seal colony. As it was Summer, the colony consisted mostly of very young - and very inquisitive - seal pups.

Moeraki Boulders

The Moeraki Boulders form a quintessential New Zealand landscape. The beach at Moeraki is covered in these enormous spheres, reminescent of alien eggs in a distant planet. Together with a striking sunrise or sunset painting their surroundings in bold warm colours, this makes for some postcard-worthy images. An incredible, one of a kind scenery!

Fur Seals of Katiki Point

Although it is famous for its circular boulders (more on this next week!), Moeraki is also home to a large New Zealand fur seal colony. This is based at Katiki Point, a short walk from the lighthouse. This is an excellent place to get up close to the fur seals, as they climb up from the beach to the grass on either side of the marked path. In the summer, their coats stand in striking contrast to the dried yellow grass.

Dunedin's Coast

Dunedin has some of the most spectacular coastline in all of New Zealand, which is made even more incredible by its wildlife. Today I feature some images of a sealion we spotted sunbathing on the beach, as well as a pink sunset over Tunnel Beach.

Dunedin's Wildlife

One of my favourite places in the South Island of New Zealand is the city of Dunedin. In my opinion, this is the country’s prime location for wildlife photography, particularly seabirds and marine mammals. There is no shortage of opportunities here, from fur seals and sealions to the only mainland colony of royal albatrosses in the world. Alongside the local fauna, the landscape is also a unique mix of farmland and pristine beaches. It is a really special place.