Wednesday 29 March 2017

Wild Bird Wednesday 244 - Australasian Gannet or Tākapu (Part 1)

I have noticed that many of my bird posts are of single or small groups of birds.  It occurred to me that this sometimes misses the point of how wonderful large groups of birds can look.

So, this week, here are some large groups of birds - or maybe here is a large group of birds.

These are Australasian Gannet or Tākapu to give them their Māori name. There seems to be some variation across the web as to the scientific name of this species - so I will go with the one used on the Birds Australia web site - Morus serrator.

These pictures were taken at Muriwai, on the North Island of New Zealand.  You can see adult birds, and well developed younger birds and at least one smaller chick in these pictures.








As ever, to join in with WBW just click on the blue button below.

I have received a couple of negative emails (not as comments on my blog) in the past month, and while I don't mind feedback, it would remind anybody who reads this that I am a full time husband and Dad, full time worker and only a part time blogger and an amateur photographer , so I can't always stay 100% up to date with the blog, or produce show stopping pictures at will! - much as I would like to. SM



35 comments:

  1. Hello Stewart! I agree with Chris above. WOW! It would be amazing to see all these gannets.
    Thanks for hosting. I hope you ignore the nasty emails or comments. Have a happy day and week ahead!

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  2. Beautiful birds! By the time you get to the last photo it's almost like a "Where's Waldo?".

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  3. FABULOUS images Stewart. MAny thanks for posting and thee remind me of being on Great Saltee Island a few years ago.

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  4. Hello Stewart!:) These are amazing images. So many beautiful Gannets all in one place must be a fabulous sight. Thank you for introducing me to the Australasian Gannet, and thank you for hosting.

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  5. NEGATIVE EMAILS

    What's with these twits!

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  6. I have a large group of birds this week too. But certainly not as impressive as yours. Fabulous! Good grief. Somebody is tracking you down to complain. I can't imagine why. You put so much effort into your posts. That's shameful. You should just tell those fools to email all the people who put up a boring and blurry photo everyday just to hook up to a meme.

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  7. Look at the beautiful Gannets, they are superb.

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  8. These are wonderful ...I love seeing big groups of birds, although I'm not sure I've ever seen that many at once ....they're beautiful birds too! Thanks for this and hosting as always. And I think I've told you before how much I appreciate all you do all while your family is young and you still have a job to do (work, that four-letter word I've almost forgotten). Anyway, just Block those negative commenters as fast as you can. Nobody needs to put up with that kind of garbage.

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  9. Always an enjoyable experience to see large collections of a single species. Super images Stewart.

    Keep up the good work and ignore the trash comments.

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  10. Lovely pictures of this beautiful bird!

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  11. I love Gannets, all of them. They were the main reason why I first visited Scotland. Wonderful images.

    Sad to hear that you receive negative emails. Don´t let them get at you. You do a wonderful job with all of it. So, keep at it! I´m not done with my Australian species yet. So, you need to be here. :)

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  12. I haven't posted on WBW yet because my kids came back from Thailand and we are enjoying some family time ... Yes, Family Time ... so how dare I??? I should let everything that is important to me go so I can keep somebody happy that I have never met and thinks they have the right to complain about how I do things? Really, Stewart, I think it is safe to say, you can ignore them ... we love what you do and how you do it and if you are comfortable with what you do then they simply don't matter. You know what is important and what isn't ... stay the way you are. Sounds like you may have some "you know who" fans following your blog ... fear not, the pressure is still on:)

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  13. Wow!! That is a LOT of Gannets. What a wonderful sight!

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  14. They are such pretty birds and wow you have a lot there in one gathering. Cheers Diane

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  15. You do a fine job. Thank you for providing this meme!

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  16. What an assembly! How do they find their way back to their special spot?

    I second all the others who have commented here to the fine job you do.

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  17. That's quite a collection of birds..good pics,,Why would anyone send negative comments to you?? We are all individuals and I'm sure our blogs reflect that, as they should..You should ignore them and they should get over themselves..

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  18. I'm so sorry you received negative emails. I don't always comment, but I do so appreciate your photography whenever you are able to share it. Your photos always brighten my days. :)

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  19. Now that's a flock. And yet another beautiful example of what nature has to offer for our aesthetic enjoyment. That's how I feel about many of the photo blogs. It's not about being professional but sharing what we experience with others.
    Salute to Wild Bird Wednesday.

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  20. So last week I was the first to post and this week I am the last ... Oh well, can't win them all. Love your Australasian Gannet (they couldn't have come up with an easier name?) and I see many white fluffy babies and 1 dark not so fluffy baby. They are beautiful birds ... striking may be a better description. Love your post of many. I have been living with crowds of birds (Seagulls) for a while and beautiful they are and noisy they are even more ... but you can't fight nature and don't know anyone (but you know who) who wants to. Have a great week :)

    Andrea @ From the Sol

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  21. They do look good in large groups also. Great photos Stewart. Where's Waldo?

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  22. Personally, I think your photos ALWAYS stop the show!

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  23. Last two pictures are awesome. Good job.

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  24. Wow!!! That's a lot of birds in one place!!! We're getting close to our visit to your part of the world...so looking forward to it! Wish we were going to be in Melbourne...then the trip would be complete!!!

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  25. Your evocative images of the Gannets make me realise that it's about time I made a return visit to Bempton Cliffs, Stewart. Thank you.

    I'm sorry to hear that you've been bothered by some of the strange people that seem hell-bent on upsetting people over t'interweb. Just take consolation in the fact that you are a far better person than they are!

    In my reply to your kind message on my blog (thank you), I hazarded a guess at which two garden birds we have in common.

    Best wishes - - - Richard

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  26. My gosh that was awful about the negative feedback. - Really the nerve of some people.

    Anyway I loved your photos here today. Such a pretty bird & so many of them.

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  27. These guys are beauties, Stewart and so many!!!...:)JP

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  28. I saw colonies of these gorgeous birds last year and ended up with the same problem--focusing on their detailed beauty and almost ignoring the 'bigger picture'!

    Your photos are awesome and you need to ignore those that don't appreciate them. There are always those trolls who want to stir up things, so just consider the source.

    Thanks for hosting this great meme.

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  29. Wow! What an amazing sight.

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  30. That is a lot of gannets. Nice shots!

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  31. Hello Stewart,
    Fantastic pictures.
    So great to see so many of these birds to each other.

    Best regards,
    Marco

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  32. Hello and greetings from -Westcoast of Norway!

    You got a wonderful blog and its very nice to se birds from Australia!

    Looking forward to see more from wildlife at your place


    Greetings Anita

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