Hi,

I'm working on a winter trip to New Zealand (July) and am wondering if there are any wildlife opportunities. I know the yellow-eyed penguin breeding season will be long over by then, but are there still any chances to see it -- or other penguins? Albatross? Is there any reason to carry a powerful telephoto lens this time of year?

I'm going primarily for the scenery and I don't think I'll have enough time to do Stewart Island justice. I may be able to manage an overnight stay. I'm especially curious about the Otago Peninsula. Is it worth making a stop there in July, or should I skip it and spend more time elsewhere?

Thanks in advance!

Kevin

Hi Kevin

I will be in NZ myself in the South Island in July in 4 weeks time for a dedicated landscape photography trip.

I am told (And I am booked on) a trip for the Dolphins near or at Milford Sound - apparently they are pretty spectacular. So would be worth checking out.

You will get native birds anytime you walk through native bush. Here is a link to the NZ Birding Network: http://www.birdingnz.co.nz
Bird Gallery: http://www.nzbirds.com/birds/gallery.html
and a general link: http://www.kiwiwise.co.nz/tag/bird-watching
There is also an excellent forum at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/BIRDING-NZ/
which could be a place to make an enquiry.
Kaikoura has a tour to see albatross which comes highly recommended. You can get their email at: http://www.oceanwings.co.nz/
and make an enquiry about what can be seen in July. Also whale watching if you want: http://www.whalewatch.co.nz/flash.html.
The problem with the smaller birds in the wild is that they move fast and can be very friendly. I have found that when sitting on the ground with a 400mm canon f5.6 it can be difficult photographing a robin chewing my shoes. Move back and they follow. I would carry a flash and maybe a 70-200 zoom. Dense forest is usually ideal.
The trouble is of course if you leave your long telephoto at home you will probably regret it.
Many towns have protected swamp areas and semi-native parks where anyone can wander. Ask at the local tourist info place.
I've just made an enquiry south to a contact about the blue penguin colony at Oamaru and the reply came in while I was typing this: "Hi David. Yes many birds. Can set up meeting with colony manager. Advise.
Kind regards DW "


Hope that's some help, David

David and Josh,

Thanks so much for your help.

David - As for the blue penguin colony, do you need to go on a guided tour to see the penguins or do you just pay an admission fee to access a viewpoint? And if you do have to do a tour, how hard is it to get good images?

Josh - Who are you using for the dolphin tour?

Thanks again!

Kevin

Capture NZ

Hi Kevin. Oamaru was an important centre for the export of frozen meat in the 19th century. I think the little blue penguins are the smallest in the world, and nest in lots of places in the old dock area. (Lots of architecture to photograph as well). If you ask around the old centre locals will direct you. My friend Bill Blair who has a trug making business there has had them nesting in the walls. A commercial penguin viewing business started up for tourists a few years ago. They probably don't want it known you can see penguins elsewhere, but they are set up for viewing, and close a public track at dusk for viewing from a stand at a distance of maybe 20 or 30 yards. You can make enquiries at http://www.penguins.co.nz/. I haven't tried getting images from the viewing platform there, so I can't help you on what you can expect. The fastest way to get more details would be to email the place direct, and they will no doubt be as helpful as they can, perhaps letting you set up closer, but don't mention what I've said about being able to see them anywhere!
Just a little further south you can find the rare yellow eyed penguins. Again asking locals when you get there is often the best way to get shots. David

Getting a penguin shot is not easy. Most penguins will leave early in the morning to feed and return at dusk. Where there are colonies you will find physical barriers or signs restricting your access to their nesting areas.

There are tours of the Yellow Eyed Penguin Reserve in Otago Peninsula. When I did the tour the penguins were out feeding. The signets were waiting in the dark and were difficult to photograph, that is, little fluffy grey birds in the shadows. The is a rehabilitation area on the reserve but I only took a photo as a reference for possible work use you can see why below. There is an albatross colony there but I didn't pay to see them as it was very windy and unpleasant (and that was in summer).

Click to view attachment Click to view attachment

You can see penguins in the Antarctic Centre in Christchurch but the ones I saw had blue socks on.

Kaikoura Peninsula is an excellent place to see wildlife. The whale watch tour is excellent, but just be aware that it does go out into the open ocean if you get seasick. There are whales, dusky dolphins, fur seals, albatross and other sea birds in the area. They even had a pod of orca visiting a week before I did my first tour. The peninsula is very photogenic and although I visited in summer the postcards shot in winter look very spectacular.

Good luck, I hope you have more success than I have had.

Cheers,

Hi kevin,

I'm based in Dunedin NZ. Advice so far is good. I must recomend the Kaikoura Pelagic bird tour. Winter is best for this. Don't forget the NZ sealion. The Catlins and the Otago peninsula is the best for these.

The Yellow-eyed penguin is difficult to photograph as it is shy and very rare. If they see you on the beach they won't come ashore. I suggest one of the tours where they have hides setup might be your best option.

cheer
dave

lenses.

I wouldn't worry about a 600mm as you need to be mobile. I use a 400mm DO sometimes with a x1.4 attached. If you are shooting albatross from a boat something like 70-200 or 100-400 would do. The tours usually feed them so they will fly as close as 2 or 3 metres from the boat.

Otago peninsula.
July is probably not the best time of year so it really depends on your other options. e.g. the Catlins or Ulva island santuary down off Stewart Isalnd.

Thanks Dave and Tom! I'm still working out the final details on the trip, but am very much looking forward to it.

Just for the benefit of anyone else who's researching this: the Oamaru blue penguin viewing area is still getting a couple dozen penguins each night, even though it's off season -- but photography is not allowed there at all.

Kevin

Yes, they use to allow photography but too many point and shoot cameras couldn't or didn't no how to turn their flash off.