Getting ready to fly . . . . .

These Australasian gannets at the small Gannet Colony at Waimaru Reserve, Pelorus Sound, are getting ready to depart for the winter. Some of the chicks are still in their baby plumage but stretching and flapping their wings, in preparation for the flight. I've blipped an image of the rock that the colony is established on previously, here.  I love the detail around the eyes of these birds, and their colouring, so am showing a close-up of them this time. Do go Large if you can. There are another two in Extras; on of a chick 'practising', and a scenic one of the environment. Which one would you have blipped?

We had a wonderful day's paddle, with the winds finally relenting enough for us to paddle right across Beatrix Bay to the Piripaua gut - we climbed to the top to see the great view across Forsyth Island and out to the Chetwode Islands. Such a treat of a day. The nor-wester did get up again in the afternoon, but we missed the worst of it.