Flying encounter with orca on Kāpiti Coast beach for drone operator

Tuesday, 14 November 2017

Orca feasting on rays off Te Horo Beach, on the Kāpiti Coast.

Drone footage has been captured of two orca feasting on stingrays off Te Horo Beach.

Paraparaumu Beach tiler Jayven Moore uploaded his film to Facebook on Tuesday, to the delight of viewers.

The chance encounter came as Moore and a friend went for a four-wheel-drive cruise up Te Horo Beach 'for something to do' several weekends ago.

The two orca feeding on a stingray, as captured by Jayven Moore's drone.

'We were on our way back and came across about four or five people on the beach looking out to the water. Then we spotted the dorsal fins, so decided to put up the drone.'

**READ MORE:

The two orca off Te Horo Beach earlier this month.

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* Watch NZ Defence Force and locals step up to save orca 'Lucy'**

Te Horo Beach resident Deborah Read with her horses Bo, left, and Charlotte, after their encounter with hundreds of stingrays the same weekend as Moore took his drone footage.

Moore, who at that stage had had his drone for only a week, flew it over the orca for about eight minutes, and was rapt with the footage it captured.

'I almost wasn't going to bother, but I'm glad I did. It was pretty amazing.'

That same weekend Te Horo resident Deborah Read reported she had been riding her horse at the beach when they encountered a large group of stingrays – a favourite food of orca – in the shallow waters.

Read believed the stingrays had sought sanctuary from the orca that had been sighted in the area.