King………..

……………Shags


This morning we travelled by boat through the Queen Charlotte Sounds to Motuara Island Bird Sanctuary. This predator-free island is 32km from Picton at the top of the South Island, NZ.

Motuara Island is also where, in 1770, Captain Cook proclaimed British sovereignty over the South Island of New Zealand.

The birds in this main photo are the King Shag, one of the world’s rarest sea birds and only found in the Marlborough Sounds. They are the largest of the Cormorant species that inhabit the region. At present there are only 830 birds in existence.

 Extra photos from today’s wonderful field trip
1 - NZ Bell Bird
2 - Australasian Gannets
3 - NZ Fur Seal
4 - NZ South Island Robin

The camera club weekend has been really enjoyable - very busy and little time to sort out photos for blip let alone comment or catch up with your journals. I appreciate the continued stars, hearts and comments. Even this blip is a day late being uploaded and once it is, we are off out with our cameras. For the moment, thank you, everyone.