My Wildlife Adventure

Standing on a cliff, wind in my back and looking through binoculars, I was scanning the beach for this magical creature I had been wanting to encounter for many years. And finally there it was, this bird with its yellow band around its yellow eyes returning from a day's hunting at sea. Coming home to climb up the hill and rest in its nest. A little later, our group was watching the yellow-eyed penguins, or hoiho, from very close distance from the viewing hides. They were moving into their nest, and into horizontal sleeping position.

On our way to the viewing hide, we almost stumbled over a young male sea lion, fast asleep in the tussock. These are enormous creatures; the adult male reaching up to 3 metres in length, and weighing up to 400 kg. Although it was beautiful and exciting to see a sea lion for the first time, you probably understand why I didn't want to get too close...

Earlier on we had tramped to a viewing spot to watch a fur seal colony. It was late afternoon, and many mothers were feeding their young pups. Older pups were play fighting, frolicking in the rock pools, or just having a rest on the rocks.

Luckily there was enough wind to be able to see the royal albatross. Otago peninsula is the only breeding place for albatrosses on mainland New Zealand. As these birds are gliders, they need to catch the wind to be able to fly. The royal albatrosses are the largest of the world's seabirds with a body length of 1.2 metres, and a wingspan of 3.3 metres. 

Another special bird we saw was the royal spoon bill, which looks so comical with it funnily shaped bill, and strange hairdo. 

This tour was very ably guided by a young marine scientist, who had just finished her masters degree at Otago University. I wouldn't mind having her job, as I could easily go out each day to watch all these wonderful creatures, and tell their stories to interested people from all over the world. 

See you next time!

Photos courtesy of Shaun Templeton - Elm Wildlife Tours