Mellow evening light at Allandale

After a busy day in town (Barrington Mall, Ballantyne's, Photo Warehouse) we decided to take the scenic route home via Mum and Dad's in Charteris Bay, passing the beach side suburb of New Brighton, then hooking our way back through the tunnel to Lyttelton and then around the harbour.

The light was so delightful, and as this most gorgeous of winter day's slowly moved towards sunset we decided to stop in at the Allandale Reserve at the head of the harbour. Tide was on its way in, but that didn't stop numerous kingfishers dive bombing the shallows, keen to get some crabs before the incoming tide gave the crustaceans an escape route. Unfortunately this was perhaps the only time I've left home without the 70-200 for a while, so I was unable to get any usable shots of their dazzling green plumage shimmer in the late evening sun as they went hunting.

What I did see however was another native feeding on a more static staple. This kereru, pictured top right, was engorging itself on the sweet leaves of this tree lucerne on the shoreline. With such a stunning backdrop, I just had to capture the pigeon as he got his last meal of the day onboard.