A Little Bird Told Me...

'Until you spread your wings, you'll have no idea how far you can go.'

Spring is almost here!

Images From New Zealand

It's not difficult to take a nice photograph in New Zealand - everything is beautiful and dramatic, or quaint and lovely.  I managed to take over 4,000 photos - of course, many of those were trying different aperatures, shutter speeds, or just different perspectives.  Imagine hundreds of images of beautiful flowers, whimsical Bed and Breakfasts, stormy seas, art festivals and interesting people, unusal sea birds, miles of pastures and mountains...well, anyway - you get the idea.  Here are a few:

Abel Tasman National Park - Bay at Trail Head

Located next to this Bay is a wonderful little eclectic cafe where I found a beer I actually liked - Tui Beer.  I haven't been able to find it in Iowa...

'Percy' the Black-Billed Gull (Larus bulleri) was quite tame and perched on our kayaks for awhile.  Black-billed Gulls are the most threatened of our gull species and are only found in New Zealand.

Some folks find love throughout this long journey....

Pathway to Franz Josef Glacier.

My camera appreciated the red coat and cap.  :)

Rough seas and stormy skies - along the West Coast Bluffs north of Point Elizabeth. 

Kayaking in dense fog in Milford Sound - Fiordland National Park.

This seal pup is actually very far away and down a cliff - but he could see me and was very curious about what I was doing!

I took this for Patty T-B.  :)

It's always a treat to paddle with seals in their natural environment.

Yellow-eyed Penguin (Megadyptes antipodes) is the third largest penguin in the world and found only in certain parts of New Zealand.  New Zealand has no native land animals - and many of the birds grew large and flightless over time because they had no need to escape from predators.  Introduced species have resulted in the rapid decline, or in some cases extinction, of many of the native birds and plants. 

This adult penguin had just emerged from the sea to feed her chick who was waiting in the cliffs (photo was taken with a 400mm telephoto lens).

Kayaking to Taiaroa Head at the end of Otago Peninsula - I would have taken some more interesting photos of the sea and swells once I was past the Point, but if I had stopped paddling I would have drowned!

Fox Glacier - it's BLUE, as is the melting ice and water creating beautiful cyan-blue lakes and rivers.

Curious Little Sheep. 

I especially liked the sheep.

Lake Wakatipu - Queenstown, New Zealand 

This ski town reminded me of Jackson Hole, Wyoming.

And finally - Why DID the chicken cross the road...?

Marlborough Sounds - New Zealand

                                  With only a few exceptions every bird I've seen here is new to me!  I haven't met any Americans yet, so I'm doing my best to represent Iowa kayakers....so far holding my own, I think.  :)

Adventures in Kayaking

Canoesports Outfitters EXPO 2011

Don't miss the fun!

Morning Solitude

Low Tide in the Morning on Pavillion Key

Dark Blue and Orange Hues with Circles and Lines

Smile

You really can't tell from this photo, but this fellow was VERY big (15 - 17 ft) ....and, he was watching us.  Doesn't it look like he's smiling?  American Alligator - Alligator mississippiensis (can you say that three times fast).

Everglades Osprey

North American Osprey - Pandion Heliaetus Carolinensis

 The Osprey thrives in the Florida Everglades.  On my morning walks along the shores I was often visited by this majestic raptor.

Consider the meaning of the Osprey’s scientific name:  “Pandion” refers to the mythic King of Athens whose daughters were turned into birds in Greek mythology.  “Haliaetus” comes from the Greek word “Halos” (Sea or Salt) combined with “Aetos” or Eagle.  Thus - ' Sea Eagle'.

I was once fortunate to hold one of these magnificent birds for a brief moment and look into her eyes....perhaps she now lives in the Everglades.  I hope one day she will return to  Lake Red Rock in Iowa.