This day we took a Gannet Colony tour out of the town of Napier. A big tractor pulling the wagon and just for fun the guide/driver took us out into the surf to get us just a little wet.
Along the one-way five mile trip on the narrow strip of beach, the guide explained the gannet colony, the geology and lay of the rock formations and cliffs we were seeing.
Just before the Gannets came into view, we got lucky and saw this immature Blue Penguin.
The official government sign.
We were allowed to get close to the colony and the Gannets didn't mind. They just went about their business. Much noise and clicking of beaks. Yeah, smelled like the back of the hen house.
Lots of chicks everywhere
These Gannets are in the Booby family. These birds are plunge divers and spectacular fishers, plunging into the ocean at high speed.
They were flying in from all directions, crash landing. When taking off, would run into the wind on their own Gannet made runway.
Wonder what he's looking at?
He's looking at you.
Those white spots are Gannets. This colony was separate and way below, down very steep cliffs from the colony we visited.
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