Otago harbour is a fairly clean (clean enough to have a small little-neck clam 'cockle' collection business) and biologically vibrant environment with plenty of small fry and zooplankton.
This results in quite excited surges of feeding from large flocks of shags ably supported by dive-bombing terns whenever there is a concentration of food (as above); generally out in the main channel and so it's a bit difficult to get close-up shots without a *really* big lens.
These are mostly spotted shags in eclipse plumage and the smaller white-fronted terns.
It's most likely small crustaceans (krill) that they're feeding on.
This results in quite excited surges of feeding from large flocks of shags ably supported by dive-bombing terns whenever there is a concentration of food (as above); generally out in the main channel and so it's a bit difficult to get close-up shots without a *really* big lens.
These are mostly spotted shags in eclipse plumage and the smaller white-fronted terns.
It's most likely small crustaceans (krill) that they're feeding on.
Closer to shore we have the usual complement of herons,gulls and ducks but are also particularly lucky to have small flocks and random individuals of the spectacular Royal Spoonbills (Platalea regia), which as recently as a decade ago only numbered around 1000 nationally.
These (above and below) were feeding in Sawyers Bay.
These (above and below) were feeding in Sawyers Bay.
Top-of-the-food-chain creatures such as these give us vital clues as to the state of the whole ecosystem.
It gives me a lift every time I see them.
It gives me a lift every time I see them.
RSS Feed
