Photo: Muriwai Beach Gannet Colony New Zealand

As the water crashes against the coastline of Muriwai Beach on the North Island of New Zealand, the Gannet Colony gathers atop the cliffs.

Atop the cliffs at Muriwai Beach on the North Island of New Zealand, at least 2,400 Gannets return to this colony on a yearly basis. They flock together and come here to breed and nest while the waves crash against the coastline below and the clouds linger above bringing in a mixture of weather.

What looks like small white specks dotted across the landscape, they are in fact the Gannet Colony that finds Muriwai Beach the location of choice. Here they can soar above the water and dive at great speeds to catch their daily food but stay close to their colony especially when the young birds are born.

Visitors to Muriwai Beach on the North Island of New Zealand can experience this natural phenomenon at its best from March to August yearly. This is the prime time of the year when the Gannet Colony gathers and they soar above the rough water in the strong winds or land on the beach below to see what type of food has washed ashore. ... continue below the picture...

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There are three locations around New Zealand that tourists can view a gannet colony, one of them being Muriwai Beach and the other two being Cape Kidnappers and Farewell Spit. The first two are on the North Island of New Zealand and the last being on the South Island. The Muriwai Beach Gannet Colony was established around the 1900 which took over the area from white terns who once used these cliffs as their nesting grounds.

Gannet Colony, Morus serrator, at Muriwai Beach, Muriwai, near Auckland, Waitakere, West Coast, North Island, New Zealand.