Birding New Zealand's South Island (Penguins! Albatrosses! Dolphins!)

Описание: This video features New Zealand's South Island.** Second of 3 videos featuring the beautiful country of New Zealand. See also Birding New Zealand's North Island and Birding New Zealand's Stewart and Ulva Islands also on this channel.

All photographs taken during our trip to New Zealand February and March 2016.

"Cover Bird" is the Snares Crested Penguin. (Also known as Snares Penguin and Snares Islands Penguin.) This penguin wanted to be seen and its posture seems to disdainfully say, "Yes, you see me, but I also see you and I'm not that impressed." Photographed on South Island's Otago Peninsula.

Featuring:

RARE New Zealand White Heron! Only 120-150 (That's not a typo!) estimated to exist in New Zealand. We felt that we "won" the White Heron lottery with our sightings of 2 of these critically endangered birds! View our encounters (at 21:56) from a flat boat on the Ōkārito Lagoon. It was a peaceful day on the lagoon with lovely views of the White Herons, New Zealand Alps and Franz Josef Glacier. The evening there was also very tranquil.

Penguins! The RARE Yellow-eyed Penguin was hiding. It tried to elude us completely, but we were able to snap one picture (26:15) before it sneaked totally out of view. Our Snares Crested Penguin (25:43) "Cover Bird" was another life bird for both of us. Diminutive Little Blue Penguins end this video and say goodnight as they waddle to their burrows.

Albatrosses! Nearly all of our albatross sightings were made while we were on some kind of boat. The Grey-headed Albatross (Endangered Conservation Status) was much shyer than the Shy Albatross as we were only able to get a fleeting glimpse of the Grey-headed, but loads of photos of the Shy Albatross.

The Wandering Albatross is quite impressive. It has the largest wingspan of ANY living bird—up to 3.65 meters (12.0 feet)! See 17:18 for a nearly side-by-side comparison with its flying buddy the White-capped Albatross. [The White-capped Albatross has a respectable wingspan of 2.5 meters (8.5 feet).] Look for Salvin's, White-capped, Northern Royal, Southern Royal and Giant Albatross too.

ALSO STARRING great sequences of New Zealand Fur Seals and Dusky Dolphins. We saw this particular group of NZ Fur Seals (13:39) "chilling" north of Kaikōura. They were visible from the road and weren't fazed by their photos being taken.

Our experience with the Dusky Dolphins is something we'll remember the rest of our lives.We were driving south of Kaikōura and noticed a gentlemen standing off the road staring out to the sea. Yes, we'd seen that before. But this time we followed his gaze and saw dozens and dozens of acrobatic Dusky Dolphins (19:39) making their way north. We pulled off the road into a caravan (trailer) park and stood watching their antics in awe and amazement for at least 15-20 minutes.

South Island species of Grey Fantail, Saddleback, Tomtit and Takahē
New Zealand species of White Heron, Kingfisher, Blackbird, Goldfinch and Pipit.
Australasian species- Australasian Gannets

Shags (Cormorants)! Spotted; Pied; and King. Stewart Island Shags like South Island too.

Petrels! Check out the side-by-side difference between the Cape Petrel and The Southern Giant Petrel (15:47), Westland's was a fly by but we got it.

Also: shearwaters, ducks, spoonbills, an inconspicuous Fernbird, Elephant Seal, Hector's Dolphins, Grey Warbler and more.

Lighthouses! Taiaroa Head; Akaroa, Nugget Point and Waipapa Point


**South Island locations visited included Dunedin; Milford Sound; Queen Charlotte Sound: Ōkārito Lagoon; Kaikōura, Royal Albatross Centre at Harrington Point and Queenstown.

Equipment Canon EOS 70 D using an EF 70-300 mm lens.