The Red-footed Booby at the Muriwai Gannet colony has been reliably resident and predictable in returning to its perch at the end of a day fishing. It seems in good health and looks in a little better condition than when we first saw it. Our efforts to photograph it in flight have been frustrated as each visit it bombs straight in to the perch and then spends its time precisely preening plumage in preparation for the next day’s fishing expedition. The contortions as it transfers oil from the Preen gland to its bill then head then body and wings are quite incredible and the range of movement in its neck is amazing. It looks quite shaggy, with looser plumage compared to the sleek gannets, and I suspect that this is a reflection of its normally warmer northern habitat and gives me some concern at how it will cope as our weather cools. Hopefully it will follow the Gannets toward Australia and then head further north. I am not sure how it would cope with a cold southerly blast. It remains a beautiful subject with its facial colours and feather textures so I hope you enjoy this series of photos.
All photos with Nikon D500 and Nikon 300mm f4 PF lens
Kinsa Hays
26 Mar 2017Hi Tony,
Your beautiful photography and subjects is for me a light shining into the dark news from around the world. Love that bird’s rainbow head colouring. And the contortions made me smile too. Sort of like a cat doing a makeover.
cheers
Kinsa
tony
26 Mar 2017Thanks, Kinsa. Glad you enjoyed the pictures. Consciously focusing on the good things is a good distraction from the less desirable things in the world.