14/08/07: I finally found a Sigma APO 500mm f/4.5 EX HSM in my price range on Ebay. I've sold almost all my other lenses and anything else that wasn't bolted down so I could afford it.
I intend on completing a full review of this lens, which is the only real option between the Canon 400mm f/5.6 lenses and the awesome (but hideously expensive) Canon super telephotos!

22/07/07: A trip to Tekapo presented some interesting opportunities, hoar frost in the morning, a half frozen Lake McGregor, but the Grebes on Lake Alexandrina kept me wanting a longer lens (as always!)

Finally the New Zealand Pigeon gallery is up!

16/07/07: A cold winter's morning in Queenstown provided some entertainment when I found my favourite little bird photography spot had frozen over! So I had to go searching for other options.

Check out the new Chaffinch gallery and the new additions to New Zealand Scaup gallery.

10/06/07: I participated in a wader count with the New Zealand Ornithological Society at Hoopers and Papanui Inlets. I was encouraged to find out that I know alot more about birds than I thought!

A couple of new galleries are up, Barbary Dove and Welcome Swallow.

4/06/07: I spent Queen's Birthday weekend photographing at Lake McGregor near Tekapo. It was a rather frustrating and cold experience.

Check out the new Little Shag gallery and new additions to the Crested Grebe and New Zealand Falcon galleries.

30/05/07: Australasian gannet gallery is finally up - check it out!

The judges didn't like my entries in the Otago Wildlife Competition, but then I was surprised by most of their choices!

22/05/07: Hawksbury lagoon rocks!
Our trip to Waikouaiti this morning was great, still the best place to photography birds that I've found. The good thing about my lack of birding experience is that I keep making discovering new species - this morning I saw caspian terns and a white heron for the first time.

19/05/07: I took a trip out to Hooper's Inlet this morning and found my way around to the Arthur's Beach Wildlife Management area. It was low tide and possible to walk almost anywhere in the inlet. Unfortunately I found most birdlife to be very timid. Even when lying down and crawling painfully slowly through the mud towards them.

14/05/07: I've entered two photos into the Otago Wildlife Photography Competition - "Spoonbill Family" and "Crested Grebe Portrait". I'm interested to see if anything becomes of them.

All the bird galleries now have information about each bird species.

13/05/07: I made a trip to Hawksbury Lagoon this morning and was treated to a wonderful display of wildlife. It is the best place I have ever been for photographing birds. I saw and photographed my first Royal Spoonbills. (Mental note: always wear waders!)

07/05/07: This afternoon I called in at Hawksbury Lagoon in Waikouaiti. It has a number of well established walkways though the middle, which mean many possible angles from which to photograph. Without binoculars I saw, australasian shoveler, paradise shelduck, pied stilts, mallard, black swans, feral geese and white faced heron.

24/04/07: This year I've decided to enter a few photography competitions. The first one on my list is the Otago Wildlife Photography Competition held by the Otago museum each year. I haven't got high expectations, but who knows!

21/04/07: My search to find a flat has led to quite a stroke of luck. I'll be house sitting out on the peninsula for six months, much closer to good photography spots.

17/04/07: On my return to New Zealand I was greeted by the good news that my silvereye photo has just been licensed to become one of the new New Zealand Post 50 cent stamps! It'll be exciting to see it in circulation.

04/03/07: There are now links to a further 12 bird galleries on the main bird gallery page! I have not finished the information for all of them, but there are a lot of photos up!

(All the links on this page should now work correctly, but may still link to unfinished pages)

15/02/07: I have been putting together a new portfolio gallery. I am not entirely happy with it at the moment - it's quite a mixture of subjects, but I'm sure I will be able to fill it with some more spectacular photos this year.

01/01/07: I've been busy writing a tutorial series on photography (specifically wildlife photography) which will be posted in parts, but probably not for quite a while. I have also written some equipment reviews and been working on some more of the bird galleries.

20/01/07: I've been in Bardoneccia, Italy photographing the New Zealand team competing at the World University Games. You can see some of the photos I took in the uni games gallery and read some of Elke's first hand account via her blog page.

06/01/07: I had the amazing opportunity to take some photos at the FIS World Cup slalom and GS events in Adelboden. I was inside the fences, just meters from the athletes. It was great practice before my time in Italy with the New Zealand University Team.