Did I mention Troy bought me a new camera for my birthday (and he's just told me it counts for Christmas and the next ten birthdays too haha - news for him!) Admittedly there are a lot more settings on the new D40 so its taken a bit of getting used to but here are some of my latest pics.
This is a photo of a Spur-winged Plovers nest. The mother bird laid her eggs in the middle of the cow paddock next door. The pair successfully raised all three eggs to chicks although another pairs nest was not so lucky and was abandoned after the cows invaded the paddock and trampled the eggs. Such beautiful speckles don't you think? This photo is dedicated to Lisa at http://www.lisasarsfield.blogspot.com/ I know she is a fan of nests.
Troy sent me a text one morning to say there was a seal in the river by the bridge. I shot down there without much hope that it would still be there. Standing on the bank I saw nothing but a couple of ducks and a piece of driftwood floating downstream but on closer inspection the driftwood turned out to be the seal! It was floating on its side holding its tail with a flipper. I spent about an hour photographing it as it cruised with the current and I was surprised to watch it swim to the rocky bank and pee like a dog onto the rocks before it floated back out into the current again! Whats with that!!! Marking its territory?? But what a cutie, such big eyes. It was a young seal, probably last years pup that was needing a rest after the recent heavy seas we've had. He was in good nick, Ive seen many in a lot worse condition so I'm sure he would have recovered well and buggered off back to sea after a day or two.
Troy sent me a text one morning to say there was a seal in the river by the bridge. I shot down there without much hope that it would still be there. Standing on the bank I saw nothing but a couple of ducks and a piece of driftwood floating downstream but on closer inspection the driftwood turned out to be the seal! It was floating on its side holding its tail with a flipper. I spent about an hour photographing it as it cruised with the current and I was surprised to watch it swim to the rocky bank and pee like a dog onto the rocks before it floated back out into the current again! Whats with that!!! Marking its territory?? But what a cutie, such big eyes. It was a young seal, probably last years pup that was needing a rest after the recent heavy seas we've had. He was in good nick, Ive seen many in a lot worse condition so I'm sure he would have recovered well and buggered off back to sea after a day or two.
The last pic for tonights blog is of an Australasian Coot. I photographed this guy in Taupo on Fathers day. What a beautiful sunny sunday it was, we took a day trip with my Mum and Dad to Taupo and spent some time with Dads friends at a model Plane meet then had lunch at a cafe and wandered down to the lakefront where I shot this guy at the marina. I love the way he looks like he is floating in mid air. The water was crystal clear and simply stunning. Happy Fathers day Dad!
Finally, today I finished my 11th and final painting for the exhibition opening this Friday. Am having tomorrow off to recover and get myself psyched for Friday night. Bring it on!
