To be honest, I feel like I’ve been struggling to produce my best work at Muriwai this summer. But this morning I finally remembered a good strategy that took me most of last summer to figure out - leave the teleconverter at home… 🪶🇳🇿

A matuku moana (white-faced heron) procuring breakfast on the Manukau Harbour this morning. 🪶🇳🇿

A female pāpango (New Zealand scaup) going about her business at Western Springs this morning. 🪶🇳🇿

A kakīānau (black swan) having a grand old time splashing about in the dawn light at Western Springs this morning. 🪶🇳🇿

A pāpango (New Zealand scaup) making a splash at Western Springs this morning. 🪶🇳🇿

A pāpango (New Zealand scaup) chick launching itself into the deep at Western Springs this morning. 🪶🇳🇿

After a rough couple of days that culminated in an emergency root canal yesterday… I enjoyed waking up after a good night’s sleep and spending some time taking portraits of this gentleman doing his thing at Western Springs this morning. 🪶🇳🇿

The cat had a vet check-up first thing this morning, so I couldn't get out with the camera. In lieu of new work I've made a diptych out of a couple of shots from previous outings. 🪶🇳🇿

Oh lawd, he comin’! 🪶🇳🇿

This morning at Muriwai. 🪶🇳🇿

A kawaupaka (little shag) with the catch of the day at Western Springs this morning. 🪶🇳🇿

The face of someone enjoying their weekend because they’re a world away from any shopping malls. 🪶🇳🇿

The first shot of my summer break from work. A tākapu (Australasian gannet) trying to get some rest on a blustery morning. 🪶🇳🇿

Reposting some of my best work of 2025. Photographers are supposed to hate it when people say “your camera takes nice photos” but let’s be real, great gear helps a lot. I upgraded to mirrorless in March, and the way it focuses makes shots like this one a lot more gettable than my old DSLR did. 🪶🇳🇿

Reposting some of my best work of 2025. I was photographing godwits when I noticed this tūturiwhatu (New Zealand dotterel) sussung me out from the other side of a sand bank. I find this quite striking in black and white. 🪶🇳🇿

Something a bit different from my usual fare. The shadow of a rock pigeon taking flight on the side of an old shipping container. 🪶🇳🇿

Reposting some of my best work of 2025. A kuaka (bar-tailed godwit) wandering in front of the reflection of a sunrise on the Hauraki Gulf. It looks a bit like an ultrasound. Congratulations, you’re having a godwit! 🪶🇳🇿

Reposting some of my best work of 2025. A tiny spring duckling charging around my local neighbourhood. Thanks to a super low perspective, it looks like a giant predator coming to eat me. 🪶🇳🇿

Reposting some of my best work of 2025, starting with this. The background - bare earth that was teeming with life just a couple of weeks prior. The foreground - one of the last remaining juvenile tākapu (Australasian gannets) from the 2024/25 breeding season about to embark on its maiden flight. 🪶🇳🇿

Chiaroscuro pūkeko. 🪶🇳🇿

A Kakīānau (black swan) living life to the fullest at Western Springs this morning. 🪶🇳🇿

Spotify Wrapped but birds I’ve photographed the most: 5. Rock pigeons - 4 keepers 4. Dotterels - 8 keepers 3. Godwits - 9 keepers 2. Swans - 11 keepers 1. Gannets - 18 keepers Most visited location: Western Springs - 50 hours approx. Photography age: 32 - Finally getting the hang of things. 🪶🇳🇿

Apple Music have informed me that I’m in the top 500 listeners of M¥SS KETA this year. All I can say is the rest of you are really missing out! Start with her debut album UNA VITA IN CAPSLOCK - a masterpiece of Italian rap and electronica. And no, you don’t need to speak Italian to enjoy it.

Every 1st December I bundle up my 18 favourite pictures I’ve taken since January into my Instagram highlights. It’s so satisfying to watch them all through and see the journey I’ve been on since 2020. Here’s this year’s selection. Head to my instagram for the full 6-year experience! 🪶🇳🇿

My cat in his favourite sunny day spot.

Popped into the zoo at lunchtime today. Met this cotton-top tamarin who appeared dissatisfied with the prison food.

Last week was one of making big life changing decisions that will set the tone for the next stage of my life. I spent some time reflecting on that at Wenderholm Regional Park this morning. 🪶🇳🇿

I’ve got the day off work today! Spent the first couple of hours of it chilling with a flock of kuaka (bar-tailed godwits). 🪶🇳🇿

I don’t generally chase rare species but if one lands right next to me, what’s a guy to do? A tara-iti (New Zealand fairy tern) at Omaha this morning. There are less than 40 individuals and only 9 breeding pairs left in the world. 🪶🇳🇿

A tākapu (Australasian gannet) flying over my head this morning. I’m thinking “please don’t poop on me!!” (Wouldn’t be the first time…) 🪶🇳🇿

This morning at Muriwai. Probably not the most exciting picture I’ve ever taken but I like the shapes. 🪶🇳🇿

Playing with the reflection of the sunrise dancing around on the water at Omaha Spit this morning. Thanks to this tūturiwhatu (New Zealand dotterel) for standing still for a few seconds! They were giving me the runaround a bit darting here and there messing with the paparazzi… 🪶🇳🇿

A kererū aropari (rock pigeon) in the dawn light this morning. 🪶🇳🇿

I had never printed and framed any of my bird photos for the wall at home until now, because I made a deal with myself that I wouldn’t do it until I could do it with an image that had been an NZ Geographic PoTY finalist. I saw that deal through to its conclusion today. 🪶🇳🇿

I don’t have to go far for my bird photography fix at this time of year. There’s a stormwater catchment three minutes’ walk from my front door, and when the harakeke that surrounds it bursts into flower the tūī swarm all over it. 🪶🇳🇿

I was back on the swans at Western Springs this morning. 🪶🇳🇿

Last night was the awards ceremony for NZ Geographic Photographer of the Year, at which I was a finalist. I didn’t win or place but honestly, my victory was just being there. Photo comps get a bad rap, but I find them useful. I decided to take this opportunity to write about why on my website. 🪶🇳🇿

Mates for life. 🪶🇳🇿

Liftoff… 🪶🇳🇿

I’ve had a productive few days with my camera! I’m particularly pleased with the godwit silhouette. 😁🪶🇳🇿

Kererū aropari (rock pigeons) aren’t everyone’s cup of tea, but I’m a fan. 🪶🇳🇿

An experiment in high key tākapu (Australasian gannet) photography. 🪶🇳🇿

A kuaka (bar-tailed godwit) parading in front of this morning’s sunrise reflected on the water at Omaha this morning. 🪶🇳🇿

“Hello, can I help you?” 🪶🇳🇿

When you’re the size of a golf ball, walking over a bit of grass can feel like exploring the Amazon. 🪶🇳🇿

A mallard duckling exploring our neighbourhood this afternoon. There were six bubs in this family on Sunday. Five yesterday. Four today. Always hard watching them dwindle down to one or two if we’re lucky. I wish people would keep their cats inside. 🪶🇳🇿

Love me a bin chicken! 😍

It’s been brought to my attention that it’s World Migratory Bird Day. I can think of no better excuse to share four of my best pictures of the undisputed king of migratory birds - the kuaka (bar-tailed godwit), which boasts the longest non-stop migration on the planet. Alaska-Aotearoa. 🪶🇳🇿

That look you get when someone thinks you’re trying to steal their lunch… 🪶🇳🇿

I've made a few tweaks to my photography website that make it more conducive to writing. I might start using it to say things from time to time when the mood takes me. To start with, here's a short piece about "talent". birds.photos/2025/10/09/9...