A rare wildlife photography encounter in the Marlborough Sounds
I have just returned from a couple of incredible days in Picton, where I joined two wildlife tours through the Marlborough Sounds. As I captured so many images, I’ve decided to share them by species. To begin with, here is one of the rare birds I have photographed there, the black morph fantail (Pīwakawaka).
A rare black morph fantail sighting
The black morph fantail is extremely rare in New Zealand. In fact, it makes up only around 5% of the fantail population in the South Island. It is even less common in the North Island. Therefore, spotting one in the wild is always a special experience.
This sighting took place on Motuara Island, a protected wildlife sanctuary in the Marlborough Sounds. The island is home to many native and endangered bird species. As a result, it is a fantastic location for wildlife photography.
Interestingly, our guide mentioned she had not seen a black morph fantail there before. However, she had heard reports of one in the area. Because of this, I felt incredibly lucky to witness it myself.
The challenge of photographing a Pīwakawaka
As soon as I saw the black morph fantail, I felt a sense of urgency. These birds move quickly and rarely stay still. Therefore, I had to react fast to capture the moment.
At the same time, I needed to remain completely still. If I moved, I risked scaring the bird away. In addition, I was already quite close, which made it harder to frame the shot properly.
The conditions also made things more difficult. The dense bush created very low light. Meanwhile, the bird moved rapidly between branches. Because of this, many of my images were not as sharp as I would have liked.
Even so, I am genuinely happy with what I captured. After all, wildlife photography is often unpredictable. Moments like this do not last long, so capturing them at all feels like a success.
Photographing birds at a natural water source
These images were taken near a small pool of water. Notably, this is the only freshwater source on Motuara Island. Because of this, it attracts a wide range of birdlife.
Instead of chasing the birds, I chose to sit quietly and wait. Eventually, the birds came to me. This approach often leads to more natural behaviour and better photographic opportunities.
However, capturing sharp images was still challenging. Even at close range, the combination of movement and low light made every shot difficult.
Low light wildlife photography on Motuara Island
Throughout my time on Motuara Island, I was shooting in low light. Therefore, both my camera settings and technique were pushed to their limits.
Low light wildlife photography is something I will explore in more detail in a future post. For now, I am simply grateful for the opportunity to photograph such a rare bird.
Ultimately, seeing a black morph fantail on Motuara Island was a highlight of the trip. It is a moment I will not forget anytime soon.
All the images in this post were taken using my Lumix G9II and Panasonic Leica 100-400 lens. If you have any questions or feedback, feel free to contact me through my website, or follow along on Facebook or Instagram.