10,000 Birds

JULY 30, 2014

Volunteering provides a very different experience to tourism though. In Hawaii I stood on a beach as albatrosses fledged and Tiger Sharks prowled for the less successful ones. In California I smelt the breath a Blue Whale as it passed feet beneath my boat. This Laysan Albatross died from ingested plastic.

Uganda 160

Uganda Sharks Africa New Zealand 160

10,000 Birds

APRIL 2, 2012

This may be the most awesome pelagic you’ll ever experience… For me it was the publication in 1984 of Peter Harrison’s ground-breaking identification guide to ‘ Seabirds ’ that opened up the off-shore world of pelagic birding right on Cape Town’s door step.

Albatross 177

Albatross Penguins Dolphins Whales 177

10,000 Birds

MAY 1, 2013

I had my first swim with Inshore Bottlenose Dolphins in Northland’s Bay of Islands back in 2000, and it was a tripy experience. Yes, the same Kaikoura I keep banging on about that is a great place to see albatrosses. So if you are after a unique dolphin experience you could do worse than this New Zealand speciality.

Dolphins 154

Dolphins Sharks New Zealand Albatross 154

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 7, 2011

Sadly the great gannet colonies during the July to October period to protect the birds, but if you head up to Boundary Stream you’ll find a good mix of lowland and mountain forest where active management is keeping forest birds going. At sea there are also New Zealand Sea Lions and Southern Right Whales.

New Zealand 157

New Zealand Penguins Sanctuary Birds 157