Autumn on the water in Kaikoura

In 2007 I spent a lot of time out on the water in Kaikoura, collecting data and taking photographs of the male sperm whales that can be seen year not far from South Bay. Upon starting a deep feeding dive sperm whales usually lift their tail flukes out of the water, especially the males, who are bigger than the females and are known for lifting their flukes up particularly high. 

A rare close-up moment. This sperm whale approached our boat before lifting his tail high out of the water, very close to our boat!

Misty sperm whale blow on a cold autumn morning

Seeing a sperm whale fluke is always a magical moment!

Kaikoura isn't just about whales. It's also one of the best places to observe seabirds, such as this Southern Royal Albatross (Diomedea epomophora)

Buller's albatross (Thalassarche bulleri). These birds are beautifully marked, despite having a cross look.

Welcome to my blog

Welcome to my photography blog. My wildlife photography story begins in a small seaside town called Kaikoura in New Zealand. Throughout 2006 and 2007 I had the privelege of taking a small research boat out on the ocean to collect data for my masters project on the sperm whales that feed in the deep waters of the Kaikoura canyon. I became addicted to the marine life of Kaikoura, so after my research I stayed another 2 years to work as a whale watching guide. This is just a small selection of the first photographs I took as a budding wildlife photographer in Kaikoura. The following photos are all from 2006, my first field season and the year in which I encountered my first whales (starting with the sperm whale), orcas, dusky dolphins and a huge variety of oceanic birds. More photos from 2007 will follow shortly.

Wandering albatross (Diomedea exulans)

Sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus) diving into the depths

Sperm whale replenishing its oxygen stores at the surface

Orca (Orcinus orca) passing close to the rocks where a New Zealand fur seal colony can be found

Two male sperm whales diving in synchrony - a rare and magical moment

Dusky dolphin (Lagenorynchus obscurus) - a very acrobatic species

Southern giant petrel (Macronectes giganteus)