seal
Today I share images from yet another stunning Kaikoura landscape. Fyffe Quay is a popular sunbathing spot for New Zealand fur seals. They dawdle about well into the evening, providing an unusual opportunity to photograph them at dusk. I was lucky enough to spot a pup posing on a rocky wall, perfectly positioned against the snowy mountains in the background.
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.
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.
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.
During my one-day visit to the Isle of May, I had a chance to photograph a variety of wildlife. It was unfortunately too late in the breeding season for guillemots and razorbills, but I still saw plenty of kittiwakes, puffins, and grey seals.
Here are some of the wildlife highlights of the day.
During my stay at St Andrews, I went on a daytrip to Anstruther and took the ferry to the Isle of May. It was a very sunny day, and although the light was not at its best, it was still a great opportunity to see some truly amazing vistas (including many lighthouses!) and photograph some wildlife along the way.
Here are some of my favourite images from the Isle of May, featuring the island’s incredible landscape.
