Encounters with New Zealand Residents

[NorthernFocus]

We were really surprised by some of our interactions with NZ residents that we ran across. Here are a few examples.

1) We were surprised at how loud and flamboyant some folks were.



2) And how nervous we made others



3) We received some stone faced looks



4) Unintentionally ruffled a few feathers



5) And had more than a few eyebrows raised at us



6) We got a few backward looks



7) And shy, covert glances



8) Some mothers gathered their kids under their skirts as if we were predators



9) While others left small children unattended on public beaches



10) We witnessed public displays of affection



11) Family quarrels



12) And children taking food right from their mother's mouth



13) This lady shamelessly gazed into our bedroom window



14) And some folks were simply so friendly that they wouldn't be put off



15) While some couldn't be bothered with us



16) And of course, there's always a clown in the crowd

[Tronhard]

Great photos Dan!!!

Still that's what you get when you visit NZ on the 'cheep'!

[pnodrog]

Well what a busy time the locals made you have. Great set.

[Urbanflyer]

Wonderful series!! Thanks for sharing!

[rpcrowe]

Really super series - both images and captions...

[NorthernFocus]

Thanks, guys. Glad you enjoyed the post.

Well what a busy time the locals made you have...

Indeed, Paul. Paige walked a few miles on beaches by herself while I lay in the sand stalking the baby chicks.

[Rita]

Great images and I love the commentary

[Tronhard]

Hi Dan:

This is what I think you have got... with one or two the angle is hard to tell.
1. Tui (adolescent)
2. Fantail
3. Black Swan
4. Grey Heron chick
5. Gannet
6. Pukeko
7. NZ North Island Robin
8. Oyster Catcher
9. NZ Dotterel chick
10. Gannets
11. Shags
12. Tui chick
13. NZ Dotterel
14. NZ N.I. Robin or a Fern Bird
15. Oyster Catcher
16. Godwit

[pnodrog]

Hi Dan:

This is what I think you have got... with one or two the angle is hard to tell.
1. Tui (adolescent)
2. Fantail
3. Black Swan
4. Grey Heron chick
5. Gannet
6. Pukeko
7. NZ North Island Robin
8. Oyster Catcher
9. NZ Dotterel chick
10. Gannets
11. Shags
12. Tui chick
13. NZ Dotterel
14. NZ N.I. Robin or a Fern Bird
15. Oyster Catcher
16. Godwit

I think the order has been changed with the squabbling NZ dotterels moved from 13 to join in just below the chick. Don't you hate it when that happens...

[pnodrog]

Thanks, guys. Glad you enjoyed the post.


Indeed, Paul. Paige walked a few miles on beaches by herself while I lay in the sand stalking the baby chicks.

Well done - not for sending Paige off all alone but getting a good shot of the chick without obvious parental supervision. The sacrifices partners of photographers have to make.

[Tronhard]

Ah well... I shall forgive myself! Suffering severe pain from a torn and collapsed knee joint right now, so not at my peak!

[NorthernFocus]

Hi Dan:

This is what I think you have got... with one or two the angle is hard to tell.
1. Tui (adolescent)
2. Fantail
3. Black Swan
4. Grey Heron chick
5. Gannet
6. Pukeko
7. NZ North Island Robin
8. Oyster Catcher
9. NZ Dotterel chick
10. Gannets
11. Shags
12. Tui chick
13. NZ Dotterel
14. NZ N.I. Robin or a Fern Bird
15. Oyster Catcher
16. Godwit

Close, Trev, with the following clarifications/corrections:

7) tomtit, not a robin

I think you got you numbers crossed on 11, 12, 13.

11) NZ dotterels fighting(here I think you got your numbers crossed)
12) pied shags
13) female starling (I also thought it was a tui youngster at first but she was bringing food to her chicks in a nest. Never knew starlings were so pretty.)
14) is indeed a North Island Robin and perhaps the most acomodating bird ever to photograph
16) pied stilt, not a godwit

During our trip I captured a few more first time(for me) species not shown here. I'll post more when I get a chance including bell bird, fairy prion, wedge tailed shearwater, kingfisher, black backed gull, welcome swallow, and ringed dotterel.

[NorthernFocus]

Well done - not for sending Paige off all alone but getting a good shot of the chick without obvious parental supervision. The sacrifices partners of photographers have to make.

The dotterel parents appeared to intentionally stay away from the chicks as a way of distracting attention away from them. But I did manage one frame with both together.

[Tronhard]

Yes, that would be right. It's a standard tactic to draw you away from the nest. Often they will appear to be injured and make a big fuss, then once you have followed them to an appropriate distance they miraculously get better and fly off.

The dotterel parents appeared to intentionally stay away from the chicks as a way of distracting attention away from them. But I did manage one frame with both together.

[JBW]

Fabulous

[madcrow]

Well what did you expect, a stranger with a camara shoving into their faces, a hug. Fantastic series and narrative.

[Shadowman]

Nice series.

[Dave Humphries]

Great series, pictures and narrative, thanks Dan.

Dave

[JohnRostron]

Great images and I love the commentary

+1 to That!

John

[John 2]

That's a wonderful collection of images Dan. Not a bad one amongst them. I like every single one.