Tag: animals

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New Zealand fur seal

A seal lounging on a rock surround by the ocean in the background.

Kekeno (New Zealand fur seals) are common along the coastline. This seal was photographed at the Katiki Point breeding colony in Otago region of the South Island. Here mothers and young pups are often seen in the rocky pools. Having been to many seal colonies around the country it isn’t easy to photograph them. Most of them on land are asleep and rarely on their own. You also can’t get close to them for your safety and their well-being. This one was wide eyed and watching us as we walked by.

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Seal at Ohau Point Fur Seal colony

A large fur seal resting on a rock, surrounded by a natural coastal environment.

I nearly called this photo Side Eye Seal. To me this fur seal looks like it is giving me the side eye. A facial expression where someone looks at someone else, in a disapproving or suspicious way, often out of the corners of their eyes. It gained popularity as a popular internet meme Side Eyeing Chloe on social media a few of years ago. This was one fur seal of an estimated 2,000 living in this colony. Ohau Point is on the east coast of New Zealand’s South Island, just north of Kaikōura. There is a small carpark directly on State Highway 1. It was raining when we stopped on a drive down to Christchurch. The seals didn’t seem to mind. I took dozens of photos of seals and their baby pups. This one stood out as my favourite for its funny side eye expression.

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Squirrel in Jubilee Gardens

Squirrel sitting on the grass eating, surrounded by grey pigeon birds.


Sitting in Jubilee Gardens people watching and eating an over priced ice cream, I saw this squirrel. There was a group of people feeding the birds and a young boy who got very close to this squirrel. Since living in New Zealand where we don’t have squirrels they catch my eye much more these days. This particular squirrel sat very still for a couple of minutes as the birds around them moved about searching for food. I got lucky that in this capture it looks like the pigeons are all looking towards the squirrel. I nearly didn’t share this photograph as the large metal poll in the background is distracting and the squirrel isn’t that big in the frame. Not every photograph I take is my best work.

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Seals at Kaikōura Seal Colony

Walking back to my car at Point Keen Viewpoint, I was disappointed to not see any seals. I’d been looking around the coastline for about half an hour that morning and didn’t see a single one. Then as I was about to leave, I heard some loud grunts. Asleep on the boardwalk in the shade were two very large seals. These are southern fur seals. Keeping my distance and zooming with the camera lens rather than getting close, I was able to capture this photograph. Just as the seal opened his big eyes. Clear communication from the seal that I was standing close enough.