point danger

Young Gannet Plumage

March 6, 2016 by Jade Craven Leave a Comment

One of the highlights of my January trip to Point Danger was seeing the gannets at various ages. These photos don’t do it justice – nothing can.

It is an experience that requires more then just one hour. I have no idea how to have more experiences like this, nor how I can afford it. Pelagics? All I know is that gannets are up there with red tailed black cockatoos.

This one has a little bit of green on its head. Any reason why?

And this one still has a downy patch amongst the newish black. (or the wrong way around. (I love, love, love watching the young.)

Gannets Greeting Each Other at Point Danger

February 23, 2016 by Jade Craven Leave a Comment

When gannets return to the nest, they greet each other by doing an activity called ‘bill fencing‘. The BBC calls “this gannet equivalent of kissing.” This is when they tap their bills against each others necks and faces to reaffirm their pair bond. It’s hard to describe and I may have misinterpreted it, but it is still an astonishing site to see.

My photos do not do the act justice. It is incredibly tender and beautiful. It cements why I love the species so much.

Australasian Gannet Feeding Chick At Point Danger

February 8, 2016 by Jade Craven Leave a Comment

It is pretty obvious that I love photographing adults feeding chicks. It doesn’t matter what the species. I was only able to witness this a couple of times. I love how persistent the younger chicks are! It looks so much more comical due to their size. [Read more…] about Australasian Gannet Feeding Chick At Point Danger

Adult Gannets Fighting At Point Danger

February 6, 2016 by Jade Craven Leave a Comment

Another of my favourite things to witness at Point Danger were the fights between individual gannets. I only saw a couple, but they were definitely a sight to behold! Watching normal fights are fascinating, but the sheer size of these birds leave you in awe. I think at one point one was pulling at another birds wing! In this video, you can see just how violent the gannets can be. (I think the birds in that video are a different species).

Melanie explained how the fights were mostly between the birds on the edge of the colony, who are the younger ones trying to establish their territory. Space is scarce so it is very competitive! I’m not sure if it is just the males who stay, or the age of the birds. Maybe first year?

Regardless, it was a highlight of the day. Something I would never have seen if I didn’t seek out a proper colony.

Cape Gannet at Point Danger

February 4, 2016 by Jade Craven Leave a Comment

One of the highlights of the Point Danger experience was seeing the cape gannets. I try not to be lifer obsessed but… gannets. Yes, there would be opportunities to see them in the future and I could have seen one while combining a trip with a pelagic. Gannets take away all logic with me though.

Melanie did a brilliant job of helping us find the cape pair but despite her best efforts, I struggled to see it. Here is an explanation of how to tell the difference.

The Cape gannet has a distinctly longer black, featherless gular stripe, stretching from the base of the lower mandible down to the middle of the throat (confined to the base of the chin in the Australasian gannet); a pale orange-yellow head (more golden in the Australasian gannet); a white rather than pale grey iris; and brighter, cyan stripes down the foreleg and toes (electric blue in the Australasian gannet).

via NZ Birds Online

This bird was on the nest, so we couldn’t clearly see the gular strip. I couldn’t see the iris difference using just my lens. Fortunately, a new friend helped me see the eye up close. I may have done a little dance then because I was so excited.

There are only a few species of birds that get me really excited. Parrots. Kelp gulls. Gannets. I’m besotted. I took about 1600 photos in one hour to make sure I captured the birds and, fortunately, I did.

Melanie was speaking later and stopped suddenly. “Did you hear that call? It is a cape gannet!” We got to see the bird land, so it was easy for me to find it amongst the others.

Even if I didn’t see it, it was very helpful by putting its beak up in the air. I got to clearly see the gular stripe, which is amazing.

I’m so glad I went to Melanies talk rather then going to see it by myself. I learned so much. It’s amazing, I event learned that there is one lone Australasian gannet over at the South African colony. The following video explains.