Hauraki Gulf......NZ Common Dolphins

So other than art and photography, I love animals (and books and travelling) and something that is so amazing about New Zealand, other than the geographical aspect of it - and the fact it is the world's only natural playground with so many things to do in one place - it has some wonderful animals of all kind.

I thought I would share some pictures of (New Zealand) Common Dolphins taken in the Hauraki Gulf, Auckland , they are just beautiful, so playful and just elegant.  I've watched them feeding and playing around the boat.  I could watch them for hours.....just perfect......

 

About 3 weeks ago just off Takapuna and Browns Bay (North Shore, Auckland) a rare Southern Right Whale came into the Bay and gave birth. Here are a couple of pictures.  She was still spotted around the Hauraki Gulf a week later with the calf.

 

 

Also, on the 24th August along the Northland coast, Tutukaka Harbour, a pod of Orca were spotted having breakfast.

The Orca around New Zealand are the only ones in the world that eat Stingrays.  They are often seen around the Coromandel as well and especially in Stingray Bay - if you go there early in the mornings (6.30am) in a kayak you can see loads of stingray sunning themselves in the shallows and if you are lucky enough to be there at the right time, you can watch the Orca come in and take the stingray.  I'm hoping to be heading out that way again now the Spring is here, so I'll have my camera ready and my fingers crossed.  Just beautiful.

In October I'm all set to do a Marine Mammal Medic course, which once passed will enable me to put myself on to the National Database and be called up for any strandings that are discovered around the two islands.  PRICELESS.