Years ago I had some time off work. December is a greeat time for wildlife photographers - babies are being made, prepared for and borne.

So where do you go when you are based in Christchurch and want to photograph the wonders of nature? You can go south to see Yellow Eyed Penguins or Royal Albatross, or noth to Kaikoura to shoot surfers, baby seals and a big ol’ variety of shore and sea birds.

Off to Kaikoura!

Now coffee is great when you’re on the road. Calling into a tourist coffee stop I decided to go for a walk along the beach. I’d heard a bit of controversy about this paticular beach, having a camping area right next to a breeding ground for some rare bird. Well darn me if I didn’t almost walk right onto a nest in the pebbles, containing 3 speckled eggs. I’d just found myself the nest of a Banded Dotterel.

Pretty ignorant of stuff back then, I noticed the little bird a bit bigger than a Sparrow, hanging around me acting funny. I got some great shots of the nest and this cute little guy, putting his wing up, acting injured, trying to lead me away from his nest.

For the next 3 days I was on nest stake out, snapping off hundreds of images as the lone parent stressed about me. He had good reason to be stressing. On the second day I arrived in the morning to find an egg hatched with a dead chick lying next to the nest. It was gone by the afternoon - most likely taken by the Dominican Gulls hovering nearby. On the third day I went to get coffee. Arriving back after about 10 minutes, I found another egg halfway hatched and witnessed the birth of a Banded Dotterel chick.

What an amazing experience. I felt like watching National Geographic.

Unfortunately that was all the time I could spare - back to work for me. I didn’t see the last chick hatch and often wonder if the babies survived, especially with only one parent - who watches them while Dad’s away getting dinner? Something must have happened to the mother, as Dotterels are never far away from their mates for long. There was the constant presence of Dominican Gulls, waiting for their chance at an easy meal. These are the Dotterels biggest enemies alongside cats, dogs and stoats - and of course people.