Kumeu Art in The Garden (7th & 8th Nov)

Kumeu Art in the Garden is a festival over two days showing almost 100 artists and sculptors within the gallery of six of Kumeu’s award winning gardens. The event run on Sat 7th & Sun 8th November 2009 10 am to 3pm.

I will be at the Dragonfly Garden which is at 130 Muriwai Valley Road, Waimauku.

For tickets and more information visit the official website

The Conductor

This sequence of an Australasian Gannet at Muriwai reminds me of a conductor vigorously controlling an orchestra. Click image for a larger view.

Nikon D300, 300mm F2.8 VR.

NZ Dotterel (tūturiwhatu)

I spent a few hours photographing the endangered New Zealand dotterel at Wiawera last Friday. The Dotterel is inquisitive allowing you to get quite close without stressing the bird. Best approach is to just sit (or lie) on the sand and let them come to you. The dotterel was once widespread but has been subject to introduced predators and human impact and now only numbers 1500.

This bird was feeding on sand hoppers and would stand and perform a little stamp of the feet until hoppers jumped free. At this point a rapid chase ensued usually with the Dotterel getting a meal. Quite interesting behavior to observe.



Images shot with a Nikon D300, 300mm 2.8 VR lens and 1.7TC.