Birds, Bull and Battlements

Today was why we came down to Dunedin. Having said that the stay has opened our eyes to the diversity of the city and surroundings. Our last visit was just a short stay but we are glad we stayed a while.

This afternoon we visited the Royal Albatross Centre on the Otago Peninsula. It was our second visit, a little earlier in the season than before which meant the chicks were only about 1 month old, before they were 4 months old and much bigger. 

We had been told on a boat trip out of Kaiteriteri it was best to visit in the afternoon because the winds favoured the birds. When we waited for our tour a lady on a previous one said there were no adults. I said I was happy to see the chicks. Well our informant had told us right because we did see an adult take off and another buzzed us when we went to the gun emplacement. I managed to get some video of it flying overhead!

Postcards: Fort Taiaroa and the recoiling gun is an interesting addition to the Albatross tour. Only 5 of the original 18 on the tour did this bit. It meant we got a better view of the flying albatross. With the lighthouse so close to the gun they had to remind the firing crew to miss the thing, hence the red warning on the walls. :o)

My other postcard to you all is a collection of images from the day. The building on the hillside is typical of Dunedin, there are collages of this but when I was on top of a department store I saw this and thought it was a good mix. The ship was just one of many leaving the port at Dunedin. The abandoned tram cars were just beside the road. I wondered if they were meant to have been restored or even used for accommodation. My guess it is too late for either now. Finally as we left the Albatross Centre I saw this huge bull fur seal on a beach. It did make its way towards the water and used its flippers and tail like legs for short distances. Again I took a video. 

Well tomorrow we head north again but we're not done yet...