CLAUDINE BURGESS

DEFINE AND SHINE by CLAUDINE BURGESS

Credit: Photography by Claudine Burgess

TO HELP AND SUPPORT WILDLIFE FROM EXTINCTION, IT STARTS IN OUR BACKYARD!

A call came for a request to take some photos for a client on Kangaroo Island, a photographer’s paradise which lies off the mainland of South Australia, southwest of Adelaide.

With this opportunity, I decided very quickly to stay a bit longer on the Island and booked my accommodation at Penneshaw Beach Stay Motel at Penneshaw. The port where you arrive after a 45 min trip on the ferry from Cape Jervis on the mainland.

I felt very welcomed by the owners, Michael and Yannis, who bought the Motel in 2019, near Hog Bay Beach within walking distance to shops, eateries, and the Penneshaw Hotel in this friendly town.

With some time up my sleeve that Monday afternoon in October, I went on a safari boat trip.

It was a rewarding trip, viewing the stunning coastline from the sea and seeing the brown fur sea lions sunbathing, playing in the water, and Dolphins swimming alongside the boat, and as the guide said, there is always one in the pod that will be cheeky. The picture below tells the story; it made sure being photographed.

Dolphin

Photography by Claudine Burgess

A photographer’s luck came my way while looking through my tele lens and observing the hills covered with stunning blooming flowers that blended in among the orange-coloured rocks, occupied by Black-faced Cormorant birds resting and trees along the Cliffs. There it was a sitting on a branch on the lookout a White-bellied Sea Eagle! Today sadly, an endangered bird in today’s world.

It’s essential when you are visiting the Island; you plan your days. There is so much to see! Seals are one of my favourite animals – and my number one on my list, staying a few days longer.

I was very much and focused on Visiting Seal Bay, where the Australian sea lions, these beautiful creatures are frolicking bask on the white - Light grey sand near the rocks.

It’s quite an encounter getting up close with a colony of Australian sea lions on their home ground they have occupied on this stretch of coastline for thousands and thousands of years.

Kangaroo Island is the third Largest Colony of these animals; my guide told me they have around 800 while guiding me very carefully around the beach.

It was a time of year that Bulls are very protective of a pregnant female called Cow. After giving birth to her pup, the bull will ensure she will get pregnant again straight away.

They are very territorial, and sometimes a bull will protect several females, his harem. Their breeding season is abnormal, which varies between a 5month breeding cycle and a 17-18 month a seasonal breeding cycle. Compared to the other seals on the Island, the Long-nosed seal / New Zealand Fur Seal, they have a 12-month reproductive cycle.

It was a wonderful experience being so close, and some of these Bulls, who is a dark chocolate brown, and have a yellow mane, can weigh up to a staggering 400 kg, where the females are smaller and are silver or fawn with a cream underbelly.

When you visit in the winter months, they are often seen more in the untouched dunes than on the beach as they don’t have a huge fur coat to keep them warm. The only time they will find them very close to the centre. My guide, she told the story they found one on a freezing day in the toilet areas.

White Bellied Sea Eagle

Photography by Claudine Burgess

Sea Lions Together

Photography by Claudine Burgess

Watching them coming in and out of the sea using their flippers was adorable, especially the young ones and calling out to find their mum. They cannot always find their mum because she might be gone fishing, and mostly she is away for over three days.

Upon return, she will be exhausted, and all she will do is plopping herself on the beach to have a rest till she gains again her energy to go back and hunt.

They love, and a favourite outsider of their diet menu of fish, squid, octopus, is the Southern Lobster. Unfortunately, these beautiful Mammals are on the endangered list; and are only around Western Australia and Southern Australia coastlines and Islands.

Their most giant Predator is the Great White shark, and on my day of the visit, there was one in the neighbourhood, my guide told me. Another treat is that Seals can interact with fishing boats that use trawl or gillnet gear and getting tangled in it that can lead to drowning. At least a law came into place in 1972 that stopped the further killing of Australian Sealions, who once got hunted for oil and food.

It was a fabulous day, and it was so informative, and there is so much more to do to save these mammals from vanishing from the earth.

Another place to see more sea lions is at Admiral Arch. It was a very emotional trip driving through the Flinders Chase National Park that still showcases the bushfire’s devastation last summer 2019 - 20 that burned 211,000 hectares on the Island and lost thousands of wildlife.

Kangaroo Island

Photography by Claudine Burgess

Easily I could have spent a full day at this unique place, Admirals Arch, where the Fur Seals will entertain you for hours!

I tremendously enjoyed my time on the Island; it’s a magical place where Nature showcases its beautiful creations over thousands of years, where the wildlife is free, and the people are so kind and welcoming.

I took a massive message of realization home after spending a week on this Island with its treasures to visit, like the remarkable rocks, the lighthouses that are standing proud, the pristine beaches, and incredible history.

It’s a place to go back too; there is so much more to explore; it isn’t a small Island, and it taught me a lesson; to help and support wildlife from extinction, it starts in our backyard!

Pup Sea Lion

Photography by Claudine Burgess

To visit Kangaroo Island - www.tourkangarooisland.com.au

There are many accommodations around the Island, but my stay at the Penneshaw Beach Stay exceeded my expectations - www.penneshawbeachstay.

Photo Copyright: Define and Shine - Claudine Burgess Photography Facebook: @claudineburgessphotography Instagram: Claudineburgess www.defineandshine.com.au

A happy Christmas enjoys your time with your beloved ones, treasure the moments, and take lots of photos!