Friday 2 November 2007

Gawking at gannets


Lawrence Rocks, SE of Portland, host a colony of Australian gannets (Morus serrator) and a handful of Cape gannets (Morus capensis) that appreciate the views on this side of the Indian Ocean. When the Rocks real estate became too crowded, a group of gannets relocated to the mainland at Point Danger. The breakaway colony is now a low key tourist attraction.

The platform gives an excellent view of the small colony


A pair of Maremma dogs guard the birds


When the pups arrived, they were 'rescued' by a visitor who thought they'd been dumped


Gannet-dotted Lawrence Rocks are remnants of the rim of an extinct volcano


Cape Bridgewater is a good location for watching the birds


But the photos would be better with an SLR rather than a point and shoot