Rodney Campbell's Blog

Montague’s famous fur seals are a year-round feature. Viewed from the boat around the northern edge of the island, these animals peak in number around late winter and spring, with counts of more than 1000 regularly spotted.

Marine mammals feature as the most frequently seen wildlife, other than birds, on and around Montague. A rich East Australian current brings nutrients, fish and squid to the waters immediately around the island. The Island is home to NSW’s largest colony of fur seals, as well as thousands of penguins.

Three on One

NIKON D750 + 28.0-300.0 mm f/3.5-5.6 @ 300 mm, 1/640 sec at f/5.6, ISO 450

Note: These photographs (especially the wider shots) look much better when larger. To see larger versions in an inline overlay slideshow gallery viewer click any of the images.

We were unfortunately leaving the island today. Just after midday we’d packed and boarded the boat to head back to the mainland. Before leaving however we had a tour around the island on the boat which was fantastic to see and photograph the abundant wildlife from just off the shore.

NIKON D750 + 28.0-300.0 mm f/3.5-5.6 @ 250 mm, 1/250 sec at f/8, ISO 800

Two species of fur seals are year-round inhabitants. The more numerous Australian fur seal (Arctocephalus pusillus doriferus) is distinctive for its behaviour of sitting in tightly-packed groups on the rocks, often partly on top of neighbouring seals. There are also New Zealand Fur Seals (Arctocephalus fosteri).

Sleepyheads

NIKON D750 + 28.0-300.0 mm f/3.5-5.6 @ 250 mm, 1/250 sec at f/8, ISO 220

Another marvellous row of cormorants perched nicely in line for me, silhouetted against the sky.

Two heads and better than …

NIKON D750 + 28.0-300.0 mm f/3.5-5.6 @ 300 mm, 1/320 sec at f/8, ISO 160

and what about two rows – birds and mammals apparently living in harmony.

Seals and Cormorants

NIKON D750 + 28.0-300.0 mm f/3.5-5.6 @ 300 mm, 1/320 sec at f/8, ISO 250

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