Late last week I went out on a whale watching cruise around Phillip Island - which is about an hour and 40 minutes from Melbourne. Its a popular holiday destination, but also has some good wildlife.
Most of the people on the cruise were very much concentrated on the whales, and I was one of the few that got excited when we encountered some albatross.
I'm pretty certain that all of these pictures are of Shy Albatross (Thalassarche cauta), but I am more than happy to stand corrected. I just get happy seeing Albatross, the identification and taxonomy of which seems rather more challenging than for some birds. Shy Albatross have a wingspan of over 2 meters and weigh in at just over 4kg.
I love the pictures why the huge skies - these are birds of the wide oceans and empty skies. Its not always all about filling the frame.
Most of the people on the cruise were very much concentrated on the whales, and I was one of the few that got excited when we encountered some albatross.
I'm pretty certain that all of these pictures are of Shy Albatross (Thalassarche cauta), but I am more than happy to stand corrected. I just get happy seeing Albatross, the identification and taxonomy of which seems rather more challenging than for some birds. Shy Albatross have a wingspan of over 2 meters and weigh in at just over 4kg.
I love the pictures why the huge skies - these are birds of the wide oceans and empty skies. Its not always all about filling the frame.
As ever, to join in with WBW click on the blue button. Cheers, SM.
Love these photos of what is a beautiful bird. They are so big and your photos are perfectly framed. Well done. Take care Diane
ReplyDeleteI must be fun to soar.
ReplyDeleteHari OM
ReplyDeleteAn iconic bird if ever there was one! I love that first one, where the bird is looking right down the lens... YAM xx
Any encounter with an albatross is a memorable day, Stewart. I remember my first one like it was yesterday.
ReplyDeleteIt beautiful to see it in habitat. All of your images of the bird are very sharp nonetheless.
ReplyDeleteVery majestic fliers! Nice shots!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful flight shots of an amazing sighting. I have been on many tourist cruises and hikes where I'm the only one who gets super excited about the birds .... I need to sign myself up for an on-purpose bird vacation.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful. I’ve never seen one before. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteImpressive birds and wide skies. What a relaxing trip!
ReplyDeleteWow - awesome!
ReplyDeleteDitto with you Stewart! I'd be more excited to see the albatross. And what a great sighting. Thanks for sharing with us. It's my first. Thanks for hosting this meme. I'm trying to get back into bird photography (difficult when you sit indoors for most of the day) So thanks again for the motivation which this meme provides. Jo
ReplyDeleteBeautiful!
ReplyDeleteNice action shots! When I first saw your title, I thought that the albatross was just camera-shy. :)
ReplyDeleteStewart, what a great capture of the Albatross. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteGreat action shots Stewart..Impressive wing span..I haven't been to the beach for awhile and haven't seen the Albatross for a number of years..Nice refresher..Thanks for sharing...
ReplyDeleteMy mind flings back to 6th grade when I hear the word albatross...what literary work was it...an albatross across his back, or was it around his throat?
ReplyDeleteExcellent shots! Thanks for sharing this famous bird.
ReplyDeleteI am supposed to be heading to the beach this weekend...can't wait to see some shore birds like this!...:)JP
ReplyDeleteBeautiful birds and beautiful photos Stewart.
ReplyDeleteI love watching them use those huge wings to soar about.
Amazing birds spending days and weeks and months flying over open water.
ReplyDelete