Just a quick post today as I am scheduled to head out of Auckland with Heritage Expeditions and a huge storm is imminent. The plan is to explore the Hauraki Gulf, one of my favourite places. The weather is doubtless going to require significant adaptation of our expedition itinerary but with a bit of luck we will have have some great opportunities.

Highlights for me will be the seabirds and hopefully a chance to photograph New Zealand Storm Petrel and Cook’s Petrel with the Nikon Z9. All my previous seabird photography in the Hauraki Gulf has been with the Nikon D500 which is an excellent camera for the job but I am interested to test the subject and eye tracking of the Z9 on smaller pelagic birds. I have found it excellent on albatross and petrel/shearwater size birds but haven’t yet had a chance with smaller birds like the Storm Petrels.

Check my Hauraki Gulf Master Post to see previous images and hopefully I will have some new ones to share shortly