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...

A pāpango (New Zealand scaup) showing off at Western Springs this morning. 🪶🇳🇿

A pāpango (New Zealand scaup) who was kind enough to spray some water about in a nice patch of light for me this morning. Thanks little buddy! 🪶🇳🇿

Kōtuku ngutupapa (royal spoonbills) spooked by something this morning. I was in a good position and not distracted at the decisive moment for a refreshing change! 🪶🇳🇿

One of my favourites re-edited. A kuaka (bar-tailed godwit) fleeing a wave that I didn’t have the wherewithal to escape! I got a soaking right after this click. 🪶🇳🇿

This guy was looking particularly photogenic this afternoon. Couldn’t resist getting the camera out…

Why do I keep coming back to kakīānau (black swans)? One big reason is the endless number of shapes they make… 🪶🇳🇿

Spring has well and truly sprung at Western Springs! Here’s a cygnet I spent an hour or so photographing this morning. 🪶🇳🇿

The @nzctu.bsky.social’s @melansellbridges.bsky.social at the Women’s Day of Action yesterday. The New Zealand government has cancelled $12.8 billion worth of pay equity claims for low paid women to fund tax cuts for landlords and tobacco companies.

The fifth Beatle? 🪶🇳🇿

Messing with slow shutter speeds at Muriwai this morning. 🪶🇳🇿

Something from the archives? Why not! I took this tauhou (waxeye/silvereye) shot in November 2023 when the harakeke around my local stormwater catchment was out in bloom. It’s an image that marks the start of my adventures in low-key photography. 🪶🇳🇿

The work of all the New Zealand Geographic Photographer of the Year finalists is on display at Britomart from now until the end of November. Massive thanks to Keerti Siag for capturing a set of images I’ll treasure for years to come! 🪶🇳🇿

I have a folder on my laptop where I put RAW files that I’ve abandoned during editing because I don’t like how they are turning out. Occasionally when I need a little downtime I have a look to see if there’s anything in there worth having another crack at. This is a shot I took back in July. 🪶🇳🇿

A kuaka (bar-tailed godwit) greeting the dawn this morning. 🪶🇳🇿

Sorting out the pecking order at Muriwai this morning. 🪶🇳🇿

A little photography assignment I did last night for the Labour Party, of which I have been a proud member for 27 years.

A self-portrait of the artist, driving with KFC. 🪶🇳🇿

Go check out the photos (link in Enzo’s next post) and vote for your favourites!! Make sure you save one of your five votes for Enzo! 📸 #kikorangi

Huge congratulations to Enzo for this truly magnificent image and for being selected as finalist in NZ Geographic Photographer of the Year! Enzo is an outstanding wildlife photographer, I highly recommend you follow him!

I’m proud and over the moon to share the news that I’m a finalist in the Wildlife category of NZ Geographic Photographer of the Year 2025. This is the big kahuna for Aotearoa wildlife photographers and a major goal I’ve been chasing for a long time. To achieve it is exceptionally special to me. 🪶🇳🇿

It’s easy to tell how close to Christmas we are by what the tūī are getting into. Right now it’s the Taiwanese cherry. Soon it will be the kōwhai. Then the harakeke. And after that it will be the pōhutukawa and you know what that means… 🪶🇳🇿

A tūturiwhatu (New Zealand dotterel) keeping an eye on me this morning. 🪶🇳🇿

I took my 70-200 to Muriwai this morning and spent an hour concentrating solely on the four or five tākapu (Australasian gannets) that are nesting directly below the viewing platform. I snapped this curious individual looking up at me through the drizzle. 🪶🇳🇿

“Guess who's back, back again? The gannets are back, don’t tell any friends because I don’t want them turning up and getting in my way…” - Eminem if he was a bird photographer 🪶🇳🇿

Believe it or not, these two pictures were only taken a few moments apart! The difference between before the day’s first rays of sun kiss the sand and when they do. 🪶🇳🇿

This is a pretty great start to the weekend! My ‘Model Parenting’ image is through to the final round in the International Photography Awards, a globally recognised competition. 🪶🇳🇿

I took a week and a half off work starting last Thursday, and managed to get out with the camera on a fair few mornings. Here are my best shots from the break. Think I did pretty good! 🪶🇳🇿

I took a week and a half off work starting last Thursday, and managed to get out with the camera on a fair few mornings. Here are my best shots from the break. Think I did pretty good! 🪶🇳🇿