Didnt get these photos from the storm lashed rolling deck of a fishing trawler in sub-antarctic waters - but standing on solid dry land at the Northern Royal Albatross colony, Taiaroa Heads Dunedin New Zealand (worlds only mainland colony). There is a viewing platform at the cliff top looking out to sea - when the wind conditions are right the albatross come in from the sea, and fly below the cliff top past the viewing platform then circle back right over the platform to get height to reach the colony on the headland.
Also good spot for seeing dolphins, fur seals, sea lions, pengiuns, various species of cormorant and other seabirds such as Bullers and Whitecapped Mollymawk and Giant Petrel.
Magnificent, lucky you. Always love to watch albatross soar so effortlessly. Great pics Thanks WD.
Dale Huonville, Tasmania
Lucky you and it looks like they had been quite close to you!
Samford Valley Qld.
Great Pics WD. Haven't seen one of these or any Albatross for that matter. Reflex is right, it does look like it got fairly close to you.
Thanks dwatsonbb, reflex and devster.
Yes some birds came in close - this one flew right overhead and is as shot and not cropped - gives idea how close. Wonderful to get such close views from land within 20ks of a city, of these birds that normally breed on inaccessible islands. At a distance its hard to get a sense how long their wings are - but right overhead the 3.5m windspan looks huge.
Magic set of images WD. Great detail and love #3.
2nd last shot is amazing. 3.5 metres... does that make it larger than a wedgie?
Ryu
Canberra
Aiming for DSLR-quality shots with a bridge camera
By well over a metre HB!
"The Wedge-tailed Eagle has long wings (wingspan 2.3 m)".
Samford Valley Qld.
Nice shots, i would love to experience that!
Aren't the Royal/ Wandering Albatrosses wings the longest of any bird?
Great pics WD,
Looks like you had an excellent experience with them.
Shorty......Canon gear
Canberra
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rawshorty/
Wow, I'd never known that, I'd always assumed albertrosses would be the same size as Silver Gulls. Clearly, I'm very mistaken!
Ryu
Canberra
Aiming for DSLR-quality shots with a bridge camera
I believe the Wandering Albatross has the largest wingspan of any bird in the world.
Took this from the web "The wandering albatross, the world's largest living bird, has a wingspan of 3.5 meters, and the giant, extinct South American condor, Argentavis magnificens, was right around 6 "
Thank you WhistlingDuck. An ex-sailor's best friend.