|
|||||||||||||||||
|
Ray Wilson
Bird & Wildlife Photography |
|
New Zealand: 5th November-4th December 2005
|
Muriwai Beach The Australasian Gannet colony at Muriwai Beach is quite a small colony (by Gannet standards), only having formed about 30-40 years ago, but it is by far the most accessible in New Zealand and since it is only a 45-minute drive from Aukland International Airport, it makes an ideal place to either start or end a trip to New Zealand. |
||
 |
||
|
Australasian Gannet (Morus serrator) colony
|
||
| The viewing platforms on the top of the cliff afford eye-level views of the gannets as they fly over the colony. | ||
 |
||
 |
||
 |
||
 |
||
|
Australasian Gannet (Morus serrator)
|
||
| The closeness of the colony to the viewing platforms allows easy observation of the gannet's courtship and mating behaviour... | ||
|
||
| When a bird lands at its nest, it greets its partner with a ritualised bill-fencing display (above left) and an intertwining of necks (above right). Gannets usually mate for life and this display is important in strengthening the pair-bond. A similar display is also used as a prelude to mating... | ||
 |
||
 |
||
| Other birds nesting on the cliffs included... | ||
 |
||
|
Red-billed Gull (Larus scopulinus)
|
||
 |
||
|
Kelp Gull (Larus dominicanus)
|
||
| The most commonly encountered land birds in New Zealand are almost all non-native species introduced to the islands by European settlers... | ||
 |
||
|
Yellowhammer (Emberiza citrinella)
|
||
 |
||
|
Eurasian Blackbird (Turdus merula)
|
||
|
All images are copyright Ray Wilson
|
|