Birds Southern Ocean birds

[Ziggy]

Just back from a 17 day boat trip to New Zealand and Australian subantarctic islands. They're nesting and feeding grounds for a significant proportion of the world's ocean bird species.

They're World Heritage listed and require permits to visit. Four we could walk on and the rest we saw from zodiacs. The operator was Heritage Expeditions and they did an excellent job. Between island visits there were briefings and lectures from naturalists and a geologist.

I've done day pelagic tours from Australia and the difference here was that we were in the birds' world, not just snapping them as they fly past. And taking pics on terra firma is a lot more enjoyable than on a rolling boat!

Focal length is always an issue in pelagic shooting and especially when shooting from a zodiac. I took a 400/2.8 with TCs, a 100-400mm and 24-105mm zoom. I'd probably swap the middle zoom for a 200-600 if going again, and take a pocket point and shoot for non-avian subjects rather than the phone.

We were lucky with the weather and had drizzle for only one landing (and waves prevented another). That's in the latitudes of the roaring forties and furious fifties (we got about half way down to Antarctica). I had decided not to take the waterproof covers and dry pack that I'd got simply because there was already so much kit (in an extra checked bag).

I took about 16,000 shots and culled them by 90% using a laptop each night.

Chatham Island Albatross

• ILCE-1
• FE 400mm F2.8 GM OSS + 1.4X Teleconverter
• 560.0 mm
• ƒ/5.6
• 1/1600 sec
• ISO 3200

Royal Southern Albatross

• ILCE-1
• FE 100-400mm F4.5-5.6 GM OSS + 1.4X Teleconverter
• 560.0 mm
• ƒ/8
• 1/3200 sec
• ISO 1000

Royal Southern incubating

• ILCE-1
• FE 24-105mm F4 G OSS
• 46.0 mm
• ƒ/11
• 1/800 sec
• ISO 320

Light-mantled Sooty Albatross

• ILCE-1
• FE 400mm F2.8 GM OSS + 1.4X Teleconverter
• 560.0 mm
• ƒ/6.3
• 1/3200 sec
• ISO 1000

King Penguins incubating an egg on their feet

• ILCE-1
• FE 100-400mm F4.5-5.6 GM OSS
• 400.0 mm
• ƒ/11
• 1/200 sec
• ISO 640

Royal Penguins preening each other. On Macquarie Island their colony runs to 160,000 pairs.

• ILCE-1
• FE 100-400mm F4.5-5.6 GM OSS
• 400.0 mm
• ƒ/10
• 1/320 sec
• ISO 1600

 

[Sdawes]

Great set of images

 

[Deleted Member 5003]

.Nice images ziggy.....

 

[FowlersFreeTime]

Those Penguins!

 

[Danny]

Very nicely done. Never done those trips so far. A couple of mates have mentioned it a few times, so maybe next time I will.

Danny.

 

[Gaz]

OMG. Stunning trip. lol… 16000 images… a different viewfinder to each eye!

 

[Ziggy]

Very nicely done. Never done those trips so far. A couple of mates have mentioned it a few times, so maybe next time I will.

Danny.

Both Heritage Expeditions and Ponant do shorter versions that take in Macquarie and Campbell Islands - both gems.

 

[Ziggy]

Here's a few more.

I was taken with the Light-mantled Sooty Albatross - the only albatross to fly close to the ship. As you stood on an upper deck they'd match their pace and height roughly to yours. And they fly in pairs: Mr and Ms.
On land the Southern Royal Albatross was a treat. You'd feel the swish of their wings as they flew a couple of metres above you.

• ILCE-1
• FE 400mm F2.8 GM OSS
• 400.0 mm
• ƒ/6.3
• 1/3200 sec
• ISO 3200

• ILCE-1
• FE 400mm F2.8 GM OSS + 1.4X Teleconverter
• 560.0 mm
• ƒ/6.3
• 1/3200 sec
• ISO 800

• ILCE-1
• FE 400mm F2.8 GM OSS + 1.4X Teleconverter
• 560.0 mm
• ƒ/6.3
• 1/3200 sec
• ISO 320

• ILCE-1
• FE 400mm F2.8 GM OSS + 1.4X Teleconverter
• 560.0 mm
• ƒ/6.3
• 1/3200 sec
• ISO 1600