Polaroid Musings

Saturday, 25 July 2015

Sealing around the Shore

About a month ago I went for a wonder around Red Rocks, are area on the Southern coast of Wellington.

From April/May - Augustish male seals come ashore here.

This bachelor colony represents the rejected males that failed to find females for the breeding season and winter period. Come spring they will head back out and go off to the South Island.

The seals seemed to be huge posers. They liked to keep an eye on the people that were hanging around, when not sleeping, and most people made sure to keep a healthy distance. I sure did as I know they can move very quickly when they want to.

The abnormality of the colony was this little pup. He was the only one this size, the rest were twice and in some cases three times his size. There seems to have a bite on his flipper but otherwise he appeared happy to chill between his uncles and brothers.

This dude popped up just to make sure we weren't doing anything untoward. A bit of a poser I think.

Saturdays Critters

Sunday, 14 June 2015

Bloated Blue Bottles

Last weekend while out discovering the southern coast of Wellington I happened across these blue bottles, presumably washed ashore during the massive swell during the week.

Bluebottles are also known as Portuguese Man of Wars and can inflict a nasty sting with their very long tentacles. While I got very close I made sure I didn't touch as even when on land they can still sting.

It wasn't until I looked at the photos later that I noticed the little green stitches on top of one of the bottles. They were so delicate and almost looked like tiny sutures.