January fieldwork
After seven days in the subantarctic, I'm back on the Poor Knights islands. It's Northland warm, still and sunny, Shag bay turquoise and calm. The storms of December ripped through…
After seven days in the subantarctic, I'm back on the Poor Knights islands. It's Northland warm, still and sunny, Shag bay turquoise and calm. The storms of December ripped through…
I've lived in Auckland for eight years or so now. Because I'm unashamedly a bird person, and seabirds are my passion, Muriwai gannet colony is one of my most-visited places.…
I have a complicated relationship with the lighthouse on Burgess island. I love it for the predictable swing of the beams that slice out into the night, rays reaching out…
I've just noticed how many of my recent post titles have the word 'light' in them. Which isn't surprising, I suppose, as light is what makes this whole 'seeing' and…
The thing I've missed most during lockdown has been living outside. In April I'd normally be living in a tent on the Poor Knights islands, spending most of the day…
I wrote a blog a while ago about the Chatham islands, and how I was looking forward to visiting Rangatira for a seabird translocation project. It's taken me a while…
Occasionally, I find myself stuck on islands. I never mind - it's just part of the work I do. We can't control the weather or the sea. More time away…
The wind was howling when I woke up, but it's an unusual day when the wind isn't howling in the southern ocean. The sky is a swirled and subtle mix…
I really like this photo for two reasons - one is the feather textures, which are just stunning. The other is that backlit foot - you wouldn't notice quite how…
I was an artist long before I was a photographer. I was also a birdwatcher long before I was a photographer, and it was only natural for the two to…
I've been enjoying watching the garden birds outside my 'home-office' (my bedroom). House sparrows are the most common visitors, closely followed by these tauhou - silvereyes - tempted by the…
This little bird, this unusual leucistic fantail, spurred a lot of interest last year. I spent a lot of time watching it and chatting to people visiting the cemetery where…
Every day for a week, I hopped on the Rakiura Charters boat at Golden Bay, disembarked on Ulva island, and spent the day in solitude. Well, nearly solitude. Human solitude…
Light goes quickly in the mountains, particularly in winter. Days start cold and blue, even with clear skies. They end cold and blue, golden rays barely eking over the stark…