Sunday, April 15, 2012

Otago Peninsula: Royal albatross colony

Tiairoa Head, on the eastern tip of the Otago Peninsula, is the world’s only mainland albatross breeding ground. 

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The breeding colony is around the other side of this cliff.

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We didn’t take the (expensive) tour but from the headland were able to see some of these magnificent birds flying in to feed their chicks .

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The albatross has a wing span of up to three metres.

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It was very exciting watching them coming in to land.

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There were also some NZ fur seals flopping about on the cliffs as well as some swimming in the sea, but they were a bit hard to photograph.

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At the base of the cliffs was some giant bull kelp seaweed, a useful prop for a horror movie.
Experienced on 12th April 2012.

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