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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Andrew Whitehouse" data-source="post: 1369522" data-attributes="member: 3550">Day Ten: 2nd December, Picton to WellingtonPicton is the harbour from where ferries leave to go across the Cook Strait to the North Island.  It's also on the rather lovely Queen Charlotte Sound.  <a href="http://www.naturetours.co.nz/new-zealand/home/" target="_blank">Dolphin Watch Ecotours</a> run various boat trips into the Sound and I went on their 'Best of the Sound' cruise.  I thought this was as enjoyable a boat trip as I did while I was in New Zealand, particularly for the variety of birds and sea mammals.  It also helped that the weather was glorious and sunny.The boat set off just after nine and sped up the Sound.  After a short time seabirds began to appear.  There were a hundred or more Fluttering Shearwaters, most of which were settled on the water.  There were also several Blue Penguins and Australasian Gannets diving into the water and a single Fairy Prion.The most sought after seabird in the area is the very rare King Shag, or Rough-faced Shag if you prefer (and frankly who wouldn't).  I wasn't too sure how good my changes of seeing this species were, because the trip didn't go out to their breeding rocks.  Fortunately, a large group of 31 were found roosting on some rocks on one of the islands and these gave very good views.  Dolphins were also performing wonderfully well with a small group of Dusky Dolphins bowriding in the clear waters and a three Hector's Dolphins appearing for a short time, showing the strange and characteristic rounded dorsal fin.I spent around forty minutes on the island sanctuary of Motuara, which was thick with the sound of Bellbirds.  A very tame New Zealand Robin was by the small pond near the landing and further up I watched an accommodating Kereru perched in a tree.  At Ship Cove, Captain Cook's base in New Zealand, an inquisitive family of Weka were in the picnic area together with a rather more cautious family of Paradise Shelduck.In the afternoon I was back out into the Sound on the Interislander ferry to Wellington.  I didn't see too much until the boat was out into the Cook Strait, which seemed to be absolutely covered with Fairy Prions - several hundred at least.  After about three hours the ferry docked at a breezy Wellington and I was off to the airport to catch a flight to Auckland, where I was going to be spending the rest of my stay.Photies:1. The Interislander comes into Picton2&3. Some views of Queen Charlotte Sound4. A view from Motuara5. Ship Cove</blockquote>

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