These Albatrosses were attracted by the fish thrown overboard by the captain of our boat. It also attracted many other birds. The Albatrosses waited for the fish to be thrown and would sometimes fight over them.
Wednesday, December 13, 2017
SALVIN'S ALBATROSS, PATERSON INLET, STEWART ISLAND, NEW ZEALAND
We can ID this albatross as a Salvin's Albatross by its silver-grey crown; grey face, upper throat and upper mantle; grey-black back, upperwing, and tail; white rump and underparts with a black thumbmark on the underwing and an underwing that is white with narrow black leading and trailing edges and black wings tips. The bill has a pale yellow upper ridge, a yellow tip on the upper mandible and a dark spot on the tip of the lower mandible.
Salvin's Albatross is a new species to our Photographic Life List, which now stands at 762.
SOUTHERN ROYAL ALBATROSS, PATERSON INLET, STEWART ISLAND, NEW ZEALAND
We can ID this albatross as a Southern Royal Albatross by its all white body, head and mantle; upperwings mostly black, but white at the leading edge and some white inboard; huge, pink and hooked bill with a creamy tip; black cutting edge of the upper mandible; white tail and pink legs.
The Southern Royal Albatross is the largest of all albatrosses and is endemic to New Zealand. The nonbreeding and juveniles cross the Southern Ocean to feed in waters off South America. They then return to New Zealand breeding areas by circumnavigating the globe,
The Southern Royal Albatross is a new species to our Photographic Life List, which now stands at 761.
Tuesday, December 12, 2017
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