Bottlenose dolphins are common in the Sounds and love to ride our bow wave!

18 March 2013

WILDLIFE! WILDLIFE! WILDLIFE!

The Queen Charlotte Sound has been chocca with wildlife lately!  Orca, Bottlenose and Hector’s Dolphins, NZ Fur Seals, Krill and fish and feeding sea birds for miles!

We have been both fortunate and unfortunate to have the Orca frequenting the sounds as well. Fortunate in the sense we get to spend time with these incredibly beautiful and awe inspiring marine mammals, unfortunate in the sense when they left the sounds they chased the Bottlenose Dolphins all the way into Wellington harbor!  Never fear however,  they weren't gone for long and we were back to spectacular swims in calm waters and sunny weather before we knew it.

The swimming tours have been fantastic with the younger dolphins showing off all of their aerial prowess, huge leaps and giant splashes entertaining both swimmers and viewers. On our regular encounters with the Hector’s Dolphins, we have recorded 3 new calves this season which is really encouraging for the sounds population. 

As for the Motuara Island and Dolphin Cruise, this  just gets better and better every day. Sunny, dry weather has contributed to record amounts of Parakeet and Saddlebacks spending time at the photography hot spot, the watering hole. Bellbird’s have been entertaining all who visit  with their constant chiming and beautiful melodies. The Kiwi project has taken full swing with the 24th Rowi being released last week.

If your heading down towards Picton swing on in and have a chat. Who knows what else our amazing backyard might reveal in the next month!

 

Here is some footage taken by a natural filmaker last week: http://www.3news.co.nz/Dolphins-use-human-shields-against-orcas/tabid/1216/articleID/290164/Default.aspx

Enjoy :)

 

 

 

 A very close encounter with the beautiful Dusky Dolphins.
 A very close encounter with the beautiful Dusky Dolphins.
  A new born Bell Bird shows off its new feathers.
  A new born Bell Bird shows off its new feathers.
  Wild Bottlenose Dolphins swimming past the boat.
  Wild Bottlenose Dolphins swimming past the boat.

 

  A very happy group of swimmers after an amazing swim with the Bottlenose Dolphins.
  A very happy group of swimmers after an amazing swim with the Bottlenose Dolphins.
 Spending some time around the boats.
 Spending some time around the boats.
  A juvenile NZ Falcon on the lookout for a meal. 
 
  A juvenile NZ Falcon on the lookout for a meal. 
 

 

  A female Orca swimming past with an 8ft Thresher shark in her mouth.
  A female Orca swimming past with an 8ft Thresher shark in her mouth.
  Amazing group of Dusky Dolphins.
  Amazing group of Dusky Dolphins.
  Relocating Rowi kiwi.
  Relocating Rowi kiwi.

The Marlborough Sounds are an incredible place and we at Dolphin Watch Ecotours are always proud to show it off to our guests.

More soon...

 

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