Skulls, swans and kingfishers

I went down to Petone today to see if George (the white heron) was about. I have seen some lovely images by a fellow photographer just recently showing him in residence but alas he was no where to be seen. I spent some time there chatting to the locals and seeing what was about. This collection of images is the result.

As soon as this swan saw me, it started swimming directly towards me. I am assuming it was expecting to be fed, maybe it had read my car's number plate, but as soon as it realised there was nothing to be had it lost interest and swam away.

There were kingfishers about but they are very skittish here and it is very hard to get close enough to them to get a decent shot. The tide wasn't out far enough to get out the hide. I did manage a few images though.

There were a good number of shags there today and this last image is of one trying to dry itself. I think someone forgot to mention to it that there was no sunshine today - hardly even a breeze!

Hikoikoi Reserve - Petone Estuary

The last post was from Sunday afternoon, so now we go back in time a few hours to Sunday morning. We followed the low tide to Petone and parked up by the boat sheds. One of them is currently for sale and it is an enticing possibility - however if given the choice of a boat shed or early retirement I am afraid the boat shed lost.

The light was not great with the sun shining in our faces and the birds were not playing fair either but I still managed to get a few shots.  We have positioned a new log for the kingfishers, hopefully next time we go down it is still there and the birds are using it. If they do it will make photographing them so much easier.