{"id":19028,"date":"2025-04-20T07:48:00","date_gmt":"2025-04-19T19:48:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.tonywhitehead.com\/wildlight\/?p=19028"},"modified":"2025-04-13T09:54:44","modified_gmt":"2025-04-12T21:54:44","slug":"why-rotorua-is-great-for-bird-photography","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.tonywhitehead.com\/wildlight\/archives\/19028","title":{"rendered":"Why Rotorua is Great for Bird Photography"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n
\"Photo<\/a>
Weweia\/NZ Dabchick juvenile<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

It’s always exciting to travel somewhere new for photography. Last year I was lucky to fulfil a long term dream to photograph puffins (and other northern hemisphere seabirds) in the UK and Svalbard but there is something special about time spent locally. There is no stress or logistics to manage and cost is not an issue. <\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"Waterwings<\/a>
Waterwings – Weweia\/NZ Dabchick juvenile<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Rotorua is my home patch and I love it. I never cease to be amazed by the opportunities a 10 minute drive from home can offer. By way of illustration all these photos were from a single early morning visit lasting a little over an hour. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Photo<\/a>
Weweia\/NZ Dabchick <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

I would usually be happy with one decent photo from a trip but there are so many opportunities that the chance to practice and improve your skills that it is a very productive venue. Not to mention that it is arguably the best place in the country to photograph Weweia\/New Zealand dabchick.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"Photo<\/a>
Weweia\/NZ Dabchick pair<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Dabchick are by no means the only subjects with large populations of shag and Papago\/NZ Scaup too.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"Focus<\/a>
Focus stacked image of Kawau t\u016b\u012b\/Little Back Shag and Kawaupaka\/Little Shag <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n
\"Photo<\/a>
Kawau t\u016b\u012b\/Little Black shag flaring to land<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

I really enjoy the challenge of photographing the Papago\/NZ Scaup as they are pretty little ducks and fly fast.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"Photo<\/a>
Papango\/NZ Scaup on calm water<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Catching them in flight or landing is challenging but rewarding when it works<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"Photo<\/a>
Scaup splashdown<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

There have recently been a small group of T\u0113t\u0113-moroiti\/Grey Teal which is a nice addition to the bird population.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"Trio<\/a>
Trio of T\u0113t\u0113-moroiti\/Grey Teal<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

The variety of subjects and conditions offers so many opportunities to practice bird photography. On this morning one of the dabchicks was at rest on calm water backlit by the rising sun. This gave a very low contrast image that I found challenging to process in a way that gave me a result I was happy with. Changing to a black and white version brought focus onto the feather texture and rim lit halo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Weweia\/NZ<\/a>
Weweia\/NZ Dabchick B&W<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Photos with Nikon Z9 and Nikkor Z 800mm f6.3 VR S<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Why Rotorua is Great for Bird Photography. Plentiful birds bring plentiful opportunities in the Bay of Plenty.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":19036,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"Why Rotorua is Great for Bird Photography. Plentiful birds bring plentiful opportunities in the Bay of Plenty. 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Little Pied ShagThe Rotorua lakefront offers plenty of opportunity to photograph birds with a steady population of shags, scaups, gulls and less numerous but regularly seen\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "birds"","block_context":{"text":"birds","link":"https:\/\/www.tonywhitehead.com\/wildlight\/archives\/category\/birds"},"img":{"alt_text":"Welcome Swallow hawking a midge","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.tonywhitehead.com\/wildlight\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/WelcomeSwallow-D5C_4346-web.jpg?fit=960%2C640&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.tonywhitehead.com\/wildlight\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/WelcomeSwallow-D5C_4346-web.jpg?fit=960%2C640&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.tonywhitehead.com\/wildlight\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/WelcomeSwallow-D5C_4346-web.jpg?fit=960%2C640&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.tonywhitehead.com\/wildlight\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/WelcomeSwallow-D5C_4346-web.jpg?fit=960%2C640&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":18528,"url":"https:\/\/www.tonywhitehead.com\/wildlight\/archives\/18528","url_meta":{"origin":19028,"position":1},"title":"Rotorua is a Great Place to Practice Bird Photography","author":"tony","date":"September 15, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"Practicing your bird photography is important to maintaining your skills and Rotorua is a great place to practice bird photography","rel":"","context":"In "Bird Photography"","block_context":{"text":"Bird Photography","link":"https:\/\/www.tonywhitehead.com\/wildlight\/archives\/category\/bird-photography"},"img":{"alt_text":"Photo of a P\u0101pango\/NZ scaup pair in flight","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.tonywhitehead.com\/wildlight\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/NZScaup-20240909-NZ8_2587-NEF-DxO_DeepPRIME-XD2-web.jpg?fit=960%2C640&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.tonywhitehead.com\/wildlight\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/NZScaup-20240909-NZ8_2587-NEF-DxO_DeepPRIME-XD2-web.jpg?fit=960%2C640&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.tonywhitehead.com\/wildlight\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/NZScaup-20240909-NZ8_2587-NEF-DxO_DeepPRIME-XD2-web.jpg?fit=960%2C640&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.tonywhitehead.com\/wildlight\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/NZScaup-20240909-NZ8_2587-NEF-DxO_DeepPRIME-XD2-web.jpg?fit=960%2C640&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":19398,"url":"https:\/\/www.tonywhitehead.com\/wildlight\/archives\/19398","url_meta":{"origin":19028,"position":2},"title":"Rotorua Bird Photography Workshop","author":"tony","date":"September 7, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Rotorua Bird Photography Workshop - inaugural workshop with 8 great photographers","rel":"","context":"In "Bird Photography"","block_context":{"text":"Bird Photography","link":"https:\/\/www.tonywhitehead.com\/wildlight\/archives\/category\/bird-photography"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.tonywhitehead.com\/wildlight\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/MoreporkRuruCricket-20250824-NZ9_8877-DxO_DeepPRIME-XD2s_XD-web.jpg?fit=960%2C640&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.tonywhitehead.com\/wildlight\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/MoreporkRuruCricket-20250824-NZ9_8877-DxO_DeepPRIME-XD2s_XD-web.jpg?fit=960%2C640&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.tonywhitehead.com\/wildlight\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/MoreporkRuruCricket-20250824-NZ9_8877-DxO_DeepPRIME-XD2s_XD-web.jpg?fit=960%2C640&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.tonywhitehead.com\/wildlight\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/MoreporkRuruCricket-20250824-NZ9_8877-DxO_DeepPRIME-XD2s_XD-web.jpg?fit=960%2C640&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":907,"url":"https:\/\/www.tonywhitehead.com\/wildlight\/archives\/907","url_meta":{"origin":19028,"position":3},"title":"Spring is in the Air – Nesting Shags at Sulphur Point, Lake Rotorua.","author":"tony","date":"September 29, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"The colony of Little Shags that nests at Sulphur Point, Lake Rotorua, is a good indicator that spring is well and truly on the way. 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The birds nest in trees on a\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "birds"","block_context":{"text":"birds","link":"https:\/\/www.tonywhitehead.com\/wildlight\/archives\/category\/birds"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":14223,"url":"https:\/\/www.tonywhitehead.com\/wildlight\/archives\/14223","url_meta":{"origin":19028,"position":4},"title":"Birds of a Different Feather","author":"tony","date":"June 20, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"Birds of a Different Feather - aircraft photography at Rotorua Airport","rel":"","context":"In "birds"","block_context":{"text":"birds","link":"https:\/\/www.tonywhitehead.com\/wildlight\/archives\/category\/birds"},"img":{"alt_text":"Photo of a RNZAF Texan 2","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.tonywhitehead.com\/wildlight\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/RNZAFTexan2-D85_6030-web.jpg?fit=960%2C640&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.tonywhitehead.com\/wildlight\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/RNZAFTexan2-D85_6030-web.jpg?fit=960%2C640&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.tonywhitehead.com\/wildlight\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/RNZAFTexan2-D85_6030-web.jpg?fit=960%2C640&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.tonywhitehead.com\/wildlight\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/RNZAFTexan2-D85_6030-web.jpg?fit=960%2C640&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":8988,"url":"https:\/\/www.tonywhitehead.com\/wildlight\/archives\/8988","url_meta":{"origin":19028,"position":5},"title":"Rotorua Marathon 2018","author":"tony","date":"May 6, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"The first Saturday in May is the usual date for the Rotorua Marathon and yesterday saw the running of the Rotorua Marathon 2018, the 54th time the event has taken a lap around Lake Rotorua. 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