Enderby Island hike – East shore

Leaving our lunch spot at Derry Castle Reef we continued our Enderby Island hike by turning south and moving down the eastern shore. Being more sheltered from the wind the vegetation became taller with tussock rising from calf to waist and chest height, dracophyllum and Macquarie Island Cabbage becoming common and the edge of the Southern Rata forest appearing. There is no track and it is a matter of pushing through in the general direction that you are heading.

Macquarie Island Cabbage (Stilbocarpa polaris) amongst the tussock hummocks
Macquarie Island Cabbage (Stilbocarpa polaris) amongst the tussock hummocks

Our main target for this leg of the hike was the Auckland Island Shag colony. Auckland Island Shags are another endemic species that can only be seen by visiting this remote World Heritage site so I was looking forward to seeing them and, hopefully, getting some decent photos. The colony requires a small detour and could be easily missed but fortunately Edin had visited on Christmas Day so guided me straight to it.

Edin heading down toward the shag colony. There were a number of Sea Lion resting spots in the long grass at the top of the cliffs.
Edin heading down toward the shag colony. There were a number of Sea Lion resting spots in the long grass at the top of the cliffs.

The colony consists of birds nesting on the cliffs which are rather inaccessible for photography. Fortunately there were opportunities on birds flying to and from the nest as well as birds perched on rocks more accessible for photography. The Auckland Island Shag is one of 6 pink-footed shag species endemic to New Zealand and is only found in the Auckland Island group. Campbell Island and the Bounty Islands have similar endemic shags.

Looking down at the nesting birds on the cliffs
Looking down at the nesting birds on the cliffs
Auckland Island Shags. This image was created with 2 images using the focus stacking techniques I have described previously.
Auckland Island Shags. This image was created with 2 images using the focus stacking technique I have described previously.
Auckland Island Shag juvenile
Auckland Island Shag juvenile
Allopreening Auckland Island Shags
Allopreening Auckland Island Shags in breeding plumage showing the distinctive magenta-pink eye ring and red facial skin
Brown Skua resting on a flower strewn lawn near the shag colony
Brown Skua resting on a flower strewn lawn near the shag colony

See New Zealand Birds Online for for information on these birds.

Leaving the shag colony we headed around the bay passing numerous Sea Lions, Yellow-eyed Penguins, Skuas and a Giant Petrel chick on a nest before cutting inland and heading toward the Southern Rata forest which will be the subject of next week’s post.

Sea Lion resting amid the tussock and Stilbocarpa. Shag colony on the cliffs at top right.
Sea Lion resting amid the tussock and Stilbocarpa. Shag colony on the cliffs at top right.
Edin heads in toward the Southern Rata forest
Edin heads in toward the Southern Rata forest
Flowering Southern Rata
Flowering Southern Rata
Enderby Island showing some of the places we will visit over the next few blog posts
Enderby Island showing the eastern region covered  in this blog post

Photos with Nikon D810 and Nikon 200-400mm f4 VR lens or Nikon D3s and Nikon 24-120mm f4 VR lens

 

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