Kawaupaka

The Little Shag (Phalacrocorax melanoleucos) was originally named Kawaupaka by Maori. The Black Shag (the largest New Zealand shag) is called Kawau. The Bay we sit above is Kawau Bay, and the large island in the bay is Kawau Island. Shags are common here.

These birds vary greatly in their plumage from all black to pied. This one is in the white-throated phase. Its mate flew off a few minutes before this, and it was just about to go also, as I had clearly got just a little too close. Although gregarious when resting (a couple of days ago I saw three on the one chunk of rock), they tend to feed solitarily.

Although today was predicted to be very wet, it has been a beautiful day. I've had to be inside all day doing reports (it is Monday after all). The tide was perfect for a middle of the day jog/walk along the beaches to spot birds. This one is worth a look in large.

This morning I woke only just before the actual sunrise, and watched it from the deck. A different perspective to yesterday. I very much liked the last shot, when the sun was risen. A stripe of cloud was in front of the sun. The sun had risen over the distant peaks of Great Barrier Island, and Little Barrier's mass was visible to the photographer's left. In the mid ground Tauwharanui Peninsula and Kawau Island contained Kawau Bay across which the sun's rays coursed. You may look at it in my blipfolio.