Trip Report: New Zealand, August 7-30, 1996

Richard Fairbank, 19 Crown Road, Shoreham-by-Sea, We st Sussex, BN43 6GB, Great Britain; R.J.Fairbank@sussex.ac.uk

Introduction

The following report relates to a visit to New Zealand by Richard Fairbank and Nick Preston. Nick arrived in New Zealand the day before me, having been in Queensland, Australia for the previous two weeks. We used my sister and brother-in-law's house, conveniently located in Titirangi, Auckland as a base and borrowed one of their cars for a nominal charge. We covered much of New Zealand and thought it a brilliant country. So much so that, ignoring birds, it is the only place I have visited where I'd probably prefer to live than in England.

Accommodation/Food

Away from Auckland we usually camped or slept in the car. Exceptions were on Tiritiri Matangi Island where basic accommodation was provided and Stewart Island where we stayed in an equally basic Backpacker's. Both were very moderately priced. It was necessary to take supplies to Tiritiri Matangi Island, but elsewhere snack-type food was readily bought. Most evenings a local fish & chip shop was visited and, almost without exception, these were excellent.

Books and Guides

We found Ian Burfield's report (available from NHBS) very useful, as was Birds of New Zealand -- Locality Guide by S. Chambers (1989) and other information (and a tape of New Zealand birds) lent by Roger and Liz Charlwood who had visited New Zealand 9 months earlier. Bird identifications were based on the Collins Handguide to the Birds of New Zealand which was adequate for most species, though poor on some seabirds. Photocopies of relevant bits of Croon-Helm's Seabirds and Shorebirds were also useful. A new field guide to the birds of New Zealand has been published recently and looks good. My sister obtained a complete set of (free) AA road maps before our arrival which were very useful. She also booked our visit to Tiritiri Matangi Island.

Timing

August, being mid-winter, is not an ideal time to visit. A few seabirds are more regular at this time of year but others move out of New Zealand waters. Some of the endemic species are harder to find in winter, and we failed to see Rock Wren, not helped by the sites we had for them being under snow. Attempts to look for Great Spotted Kiwi near Punakaiki were also thwarted by the access road being flooded, although apart from this we were generally lucky with the weather, in particular by leaving the west coast of South Island ahead of blizzards which closed some of the roads we had used a few days earlier.

Length of visit

Due to the time of year (less daylight, likelihood of poor weather, birds not so vocal etc.) we allowed longer in New Zealand than perhaps one would have done in summer. This was to maximise the chance of seeing most of the endemic species, and we planned a north-south itinerary that allowed time to look for birds on our return north that we might have missed travelling south. In the event, and with the possible exception of White-flippered Penguin, we saw no new birds after leaving Stewart Island. An alternative we had considered while planning the trip was to fit in a short visit to New Caledonia (for Kagu), but the cost of flights from Auckland exceeded £400 return which was rather off-putting. In hindsight this might have been a better option, although we both hope to visit New Caledonia fairly soon.

Costs

The trip cost £1450. This was split approximately £950 for flights and insurance and £500 spent while in New Zealand. The latter included £77 for the Wellington-Picton car ferries and £43 for the Kaikoura whale watch trip. The exchange rate was approximately £1=NZ$2.

Native (re-)introductions and our attitude to them

The inability of many native species to cope with predators (in particular possums) introduced by early European settlers has devastated many of their populations. To ensure their survival the Department of Conservation is reintroducing native species onto small, predator-fee, offshore islands. Visitors are allowed on a few of them (Tiritiri Matangi being the most accessible), and as these are often the only places these species can be seen we had no qualms about counting them. We had hoped to visit Kapiti Island which is also home to similar introductions to those on Tiri, although some have been established for longer. This was not possible as no access to the island was allowed in August because it was being blitzed with rat poison.

Diary:

7 August 1996: Auckland/Mangere Treatment Works

I arrived in Auckland early afternoon, after 28 hours of flying (via Sydney) and was met at the airport by Nick. We spent a couple of hours at nearby Mangere Treatment Works before going to my sister's house in Titirangi. The tide was rising while we were at Mangere, and our visit culminated with a flock of 80 Wrybills roosting on a small island in one of the pools which gave good views from the road.

33 species were recorded, the other highlights being our first Paradise Shelduck, Australian Shoveller, South Island Pied Oystercatchers, Red-billed Gulls, and 30 rather distant Royal Spoonbills.

8 August 1996: Tiritiri Matangi Island

After a quick breakfast, accompanied by the ubiquitous Grey Fantail, we packed the supplies bought by my sister and drove to Gulf Harbour Marina, Whangaparaoa to get the excursion boat to Tiritiri Matangi Island. Most of the 20 or so visitors were going across for a day trip. The journey on a fast boat took approx. 30 minutes but the speed of the boat made birding difficult, and only an Australian Gannet and a probable White-fronted Tern were seen. Tiritiri is a truly magical place, and we were overwhelmed with birdsong on our arrival. The island is about 2.5 kms long and 1 km wide with replanted natural forest in valleys on the southwestern side. We were met just above the jetty by 3 Takahes and had seen several Saddlebacks, Tuis and Bellbirds on the short walk to the accommodation. This is very adequate 'bird observatory' standard with a communal kitchen. We spent all day walking round the island, and at dusk Little Blue Penguins appeared offshore (having seen 3 in burrows earlier), and after dark 3 Grey-faced Petrels were s een around their nesting area. Walking round to nearly 1 a.m. (by which time we were both finding it hard to stay awake) for Little Spotted Kiwi resulted in 4 being heard, one of which was very close, though frustratingly not close enough.

A total of 40 species were recorded (15 of which were new for me) of which Takahes were the most impressive (a total of 7 being seen). Other highlights were New Zealand Dotterel, Red-crowned Parakeet, Whitehead, New Zealand Robin and Stitchbird.

9 August 1996: Tiritiri Matangi Island

Another most enjoyable day on Tiri. Again 40 species were recorded, and again Little Spotted Kiwi was only heard, although by evening it was raining, and we only heard one twice in nearly 2 hours. Two new birds were seen: Fluttering Shearwater and Morepork. Other highlights included 45 Little Blue Penguins (bird of the day), 38 Saddlebacks, 11 Stitchbirds, 13 Whiteheads and 3 Takahes.

10 August 1996: Tiritiri Matangi Island and Pollen Island

After a quick last look around Tiri we paid our bill, being joined in the shop by a Takahe! We returned to Gulf Marina on a boat which had been chartered to bring a walking club over. The fast crossing produced poor views of 100 Fluttering Shearwaters. We drove back to Titirangi stopping off at Pollen Island (in south Waitemata Harbour, west Auckland) to look for Fernbird. This is a very reliable site for this sometimes tricky species, and we saw one with little trouble and heard at least one other. The only disadvantage with this site is that it involves plodding through mangroves to reach it. We had another very pleasant night in Titirangi preparing for the main part of the trip.

35 species were recorded, the highlights being the Tiri specialities and Fernbird.

11 August 1996: Island Block Road, Miranda and Rotorua

We left Auckland soon after dawn and drove for an hour or so south to Island Block Road just off route 1 near Meremere. The extreme western part of the road is an excellent site for Australian Bittern, and walking along the southwestern bank of the river that is crossed by the road we saw 3 with ease. We then drove on to Miranda and saw a reasonable selection of waders, the best being 7 Double-banded Plovers, 4 New Zealand Dotterel and 140 Wrybills. Other more notable birds included 3 Royal Spoonbills, a Cattle Egret, 2 introduced Eastern Rosellas, and our first good look at White-fronted Terns. With the tide falling we decided to cut short our visit at Miranda and drive to Rotorua in the hope of seeing New Zealand Little Grebe before dark (and thus save half a day on the itinerary). The drive was fairly uninteresting and took 2-3 hours, but we arrived with an hour of light left. The point north of the Polynesian pools complex gave excellent views of 6 New Zealand Little Grebes, 1500 New Zealand Scaup and our first Black-billed Gulls (which we may have overlooked previously). After an excellent fish & chips we drove to Pureora Forest Park. We initially had difficulty finding Plains Road, our best Kokako site, but did so eventually. It was clearly too cold to sleep in the car, and we put our tent up in record time.

47 species were recorded, the New Zealand Dotterel being best.

12 August 1996: Pureora Forest Park and the Manganuioteao River

We awoke at dawn and almost immediately heard a Kokako calling nearby. We hurried into the forest and were soon rewarded with reasonable views of it coming in to investigate our tape recording. The rest of the morning was spent walking along Plains road and at the Observation tower. Notable birds included 3 excellent Riflemen, 8 Tomtits, 4 Kakas (though in silhouette only) and 2 non-introduced Whiteheads. We then drove to the Manganuiateao River northwest of Raetihi. Stopping to scan from the road along a 5 km stretch of river beyond Orautoha we found 3 pairs of Blue Duck which were excellent. This was after a false start when, at the first view of the river, I spotted two distant birds tucked up asleep under a river bank which looked 'good'. They turned out to be Mallard, but our disappointment was short lived when a pair of Blue Duck suddenly appeared on the rocks below us -- presumably having drifted downstream while we were studying the Mallard intently! We left this area late afternoon, and on the drive back to Raetihi I ticked a California Quail running across the road while Nick dozed in the passenger seat. Just before dark we drove past the still smoking Mount Ruapehu, unfortunately with the top covered in cloud, and continued south towards Wellington, spending the night in the car near Plimmerton.

31 species were recorded with Rifleman and Blue Duck vying for 'bird of the day'.

13 August 1996: Cook Strait and Kaikoura

We were up at dawn and drove into Wellington to catch the 8 a.m. ferry to Picton. The crossing, on the Arahura, produced our first Cape Petrels, Fairy Prions and a Royal Albatross, with Common Diving Petrels and Hutton's Shearwaters very common in Queen Charlotte Sound. A brief stop at Lake Elterwater produced nothing of note, and we soon continued on to Kaikoura where the rest of the day was spent. The terns around the Fur Seal colony were good, and a few seabirds were seen rather distantly. That evening we contacted the skipper of the M.V. Virgo who was happy for us to join him when he checked his nets the following morning, provided it wasn't too rough. With a feeling of anticipation, and some anxiety given the rising wind, we slept in the car by the Fur Seal colony.

33 species were recorded, the 100 Cape Petrels being the highlight of the day.

14 August 1996: Kaikoura (including 7 hour trip on M.V. Virgo)

We met Gary and his crewman on the quay before dawn and were soon off, squeezed into the deckhouse. It was cold and there was a heavy swell, while reports on the radio suggested worse weather further south. Gary did not appear to be at all concerned, exhibiting a calmness I did not feel! After a couple of hours of bouncing around and seeing very little we arrived at his first net. Up until this point in my life seabirds had been rather mythical birds one glimpsed from headlands if lucky and couldn't really identify, while pelagic trips involved hours of boredom and a few Bonxies. The next 3 hours challenged this conception completely, not that my identification of seabirds has improved very much, and I still prefer to be on dry land! As the nets were drawn in and fish gutted, a mass of birds surrounded the boat and descended on the innards as they were thrown overboard. We estimated at least 2000 Cape Petrels, 20 Royal, 3 Wandering, 30 Shy, 2 Buller's and 15 Black-browed Albatrosses, 20 Grey Petrels and 15 Westland Black Petrels were round the boat, some almost close enough to touch (and readily photographed with a standard lens). It was a magical experience, and we were sorry when the final net had been reset, and we turned for home, although the return journey was just as memorable with a small pod of dolphins riding the bow wave inches from where we were sitting for 20 minutes. Two hours seawatching was a distinct anticlimax after the Virgo, and we departed Kaikoura towards Arthur's Pass, getting as far as Waipara before dark. We drove on to Arthur's Pass camping by the Hawden Shelter.

A very memorable day despite only 29 species being recorded. Wandering Albatross was the bird of the day.

15 August 1996: Arthur's Pass and Punakaiki

A couple of hours wandering up the Hawden Valley at first light produced very little, so after packing the tent up we drove up to Arthur's Pass. By this time it had started to snow, and a brief look at a river where Blue Duck had been seen the previous November was soon called off. We saw 4 Keas but little else and decided to go on to Punakaiki. As we descended, the snow became rain, and the weather started to brighten up a bit. We went first to Bullock Creek to suss out where to look for Great Spotted Kiwis that evening, but after 2-3 kms the road into the site was seriously flooded. A walk back along the road looking for Weka was unsuccessful, although it did produce our first New Zealand Brown Creeper, until we returned to the car to find a Weka crouched under it! This bird and another then gave amazing views. After a brief look at the pancake rocks at Punakaiki, where Westland Black Petrels were obvious gathering offshore, we waited by the road south of Punakaiki River to witness the petrels returning to their burrows. We saw at least 1000, though observations were interrupted on occasion when we retreated into the car to avoid particularly heavy showers. Birds still seemed to be coming in after dark, but with the rain becoming more persistent we drove south, sleeping in the car just south of Ross.

Only 27 species were recorded, possibly due to poor weather, but 3 were new. Weka was clearly the highlight.

16 August 1996: Glaciers and Munroe's Beach

Up at dawn, we drove down the Westland Coast with stops at the southern end of Okarito Lagoon, Franz Josef and Fox Glaciers and Lake Paringa. All were pleasant, without producing many birds. The last two hours of the day were spent at Munroe's Beach where 3 Fiordland Crested Penguins were undoubtedly the highlight of the day. Despite the time of year, sandflies were a problem at Munroe's Beach, particularly as we'd not thought to take any repellent with us. We then drove past the town of Haast and started to climb towards Haast Pass, stopping in a layby near Okuru Forest to sleep in the car.

36 species recorded of which only one was new, and few of the others were particularly significant.

17 August 1996: Haast Pass and Lake Benmore

After a cold night we quickly drove up to Haast Pass and spent a very enjoyable two hours on the bridle track walking on an amazing carpet of moss through absolutely stunning woodland. Best birds were an amazing 27 Riflemen and 6 Yellowheads, as well as 2 Kakas, 3 Yellow-crowned Parakeets, 10 Tomtits and 2 New Zealand Brown Creepers. We then drove fairly steadily to Wanaka (for supplies) and over the spectacular Lindis Pass to Twizel. Taking a road east just before Twizel led us past the Power Stations and on to the northwest end of Lake Benmore adjacent to the braided river complex. We watched until dark seeing 5 Black Stilts, 1 Pied Stilt and 1 hybrid, as well as 20 Double-banded Plovers. Birds were generally rather distant, but two Black Stilts did give close views enabling us to be confident of their identification. We were expecting Black Stilts to be much harder to pick out but were pleased this was not the case. Perhaps this is a good time of year to find Black Stilts, with most Pied Stilts and hybrids not having returned from their northern migration?

34 species were recorded of which 3 were new. This was one of the best days of the trip, the 27 Riflemen the inevitable highlight. After much debate we decided not to stay at Lake Benmore that night and drove on south towards Te Anau, putting up the tent in a layby near The Key at 2 a.m.

18 August 1996: Eglington Valley and Milford Sound

A cold night and up at dawn, we drove through Te Anau and out towards Milford Sound, stopping at the Mirror Lakes (rather unimpressive) and Homer Tunnel (rather scary). Few birds were seen although Keas gave good views, especially at the Homer Tunnel where one landed on the car as soon as we stopped and needed to be discouraged from shredding the window seals. Homer Tunnel was covered in snow (up to a foot in places), and any idea of seeing Rock Wren hopping round the boulders nearby were immediately dashed. We continued down to Milford Sound where a Great White Egret was present, and after deciding not to go on a very touristy and rather expensive boat trip on the sound we returned through the Homer Tunnel to Lake Gunn. Here we had a pleasant walk through excellent woodland before putting up the tent. Few birds were evident at Lake Gunn, possibly due to the cold, although 3 Riflemen were seen.

Just 21 species recorded, the lowest daily total of the trip, and also the first day with no new birds, though Rifleman was again a worthy highlight.

19 August 1996: Milford Sound and Eglington Valley

We returned to Milford Sound but soon left after stops at Homer Tunnel (nothing), Lake Gunn (7 Riflemen) and Knobb's Flat (4 Riflemen). The woodland was superb but appeared to have very low bird densities. We left this area and bought some supplies in Te Anau before driving to Invercargill. I was lucky enough to see a New Zealand Falcon as it shot across in front of the car between The Key and Mossburn. Unfortunately it could not be relocated, and as the light soon faded we continued on our way. After a visit to another excellent Fish & Chip Shop in Invercargill we ended up sleeping in the car at Bluff. While enquiring in the local pub about boats to Stewart Island Nick was told if we'd been a couple of days earlier we could have got a lift on a week's trip in someone's brother's boat to a couple of the Sub-antarctic Islands. Even I, not liking boats, would have jumped at the chance. It was noticeably warmer but rather breezy.

25 species were recorded including, sadly, the last Riflemen of the trip.

20 August 1996: Foveaux Strait, Halfmoon Bay and Ocean Beach

We left the car at Bluff and caught the local supply boat, the Marine Maid, which sailed for Stewart Island that morning. This was a rather slow vessel which enabled reasonable views of seabirds to be obtained, or would have had there been many on the crossing. As it was, it extended a period of boredom from one hour to over two! Halfmoon Bay on Stewart Island was very reminiscent of Hugh Town on St. Mary's and we soon settled in Anne's Place, a cheap backpacker's just out of town. This was to prove to be an excellent base for the next couple of days. The weather had worsened, with the wind picking up and squally showers, and we were concerned as to whether the evening Kiwi trip to Ocean Beach would go ahead. A visit to Acker's Point (just under an hours walk from Anne's Place) produced good views of Weka, but the rough seas made our hearts sink. Fortunately the wind eased during the rest of the afternoon, and the rain held off to enable the trip to go ahead. Nick, four others and I left in Philip Smith's boat just before dark. The trip started well with Philip telling us he'd only failed to see Kiwi once in 6 years of taking visitors, and that he'd seen 11 Kiwi's on his previous visit a week before, although this was tempered by also being told that the weather had been much better then and that Kiwis were much harder to see in bad weather like today's! This did nothing to ease the tension, although 35 Little Blue and 1 Yellow-eyed Penguin from the boat took our minds of Kiwis for a while. We landed at The Neck and after waiting 15 minutes for it to get dark set off across a narrow isthmus to Ocean Beach. Being shown Kiwi tracks, Kiwi 'runs', Kiwi droppings, and places where Kiwi's beaks had probed the sand did not ease the tension as we walked further down the beach without seeing an actual Kiwi. Hopes sank further when Philip told us he 'would have expected to see one by now and had seen several by this time on his last trip'. With the end of the beach fast approaching and me thinking it's going to be 2 dips in 6 years at this rate, Philip spotted a Kiwi blundering behind some maram grass. What an amazing bird. It then gave excellent views for 10 minutes, and another was seen on the walk back down the beach. The whole experience, amazing as it was, was over far too quickly, and I could happily have stayed all night.

A memorable day, 32 species recorded including 3 new ones and the bird of the trip.

21 August 1996: Halfmoon Bay and Ulva Island

A wet day with quite strong winds. We persuaded a boatman to take us to Ulva Island, possibly against his better judgement, and boarding his boat was quite entertaining. It took no time to get there, and being landed on the sheltered side of the island presented no problem. We arranged to be picked up 4 hours later and slowly wandered around this idyllic island. The more notable birds were 6 Wekas, 6 Kakas, both Red and Yellow-crowned Parakeets, and 35 New Zealand Brown Creepers. We returned to Anne's place to dry out and did little during the remainder of the day. We heard on the radio of heavy snowfalls in the Alps, and that several of the passes (including the Lindis Pass) were closed.

28 species recorded, the 6 Kakas being the highlight.

22 August 1996: Foveaux Strait and Nugget Point

As the Foveaux Strait crossing was so poor we booked a return on the mid-day sailing of the fast (1 hour) Southern Express catamaran. We walked to Acker's Point again that morning before collecting our bags. Typically there appeared to be many more birds in the Foveaux Strait, but viewing was not easy from the fast moving catamaran, although we did identify 8 Buller's Albatrosses. Once back in Bluff we quickly drove to Nugget Point, very much a race against the setting sun, arriving with half an hour of light left and just in time to see 1 Yellow-eyed Penguin waddle up the beach. Leaving Nugget Point we came across a French couple who had skidded their camper van into a ditch. We gave them a lift into Kaka Point, the nearest town, and got them assistance at the Fish & Chip Shop. In conversation, one told us he was a medical student doing national service on New Caledonia. Had he seen Kagu I asked optimistically and was completely gripped to be told he'd seen them walking round a picnic area in the Blue River Reserve there. Both Nick and I wished then we'd included a few days on New Caledonia on our itinerary. We drove on to Dunedin and the Otago Peninsular, sleeping in the car near Cape Saunders.

38 species seen but little of interest other than those mentioned above, the Yellow-eyed Penguin being the highlight of the day.

23 August 1996: Otago Peninsular and Katiki Point

Up at dawn, we drove down a muddy track towards the coast south of Cape Saunders and seawatched for a couple of hours seeing a few albatrosses. Returning up the muddy road was more difficult but we managed it, just, and then continued on to the Royal Albatross colony at Taiaroa Head. This is fenced off and access only allowed on an organised 'tour'. This included a tour of the information centre and a compulsory 25 minute video with only 15 minutes in the hide. We did not really fancy this, and having had amazing views off Kaikoura from the Virgo we decided to watch from outside. Here we witnessing a big passage of over 500 Spotted Shags moving south in less than an hour. Leaving Otago we drove north to Katiki Point, stopping to look at the nearby Moeraki Boulders first. We had been sitting in the hide at Katiki for over an hour, somewhat disappointed to see only 2 rather distant Yellow-eyed Penguins, when the lady in charge invited us into the fenced off area. Here we had excellent views of 17 individuals on the beach and walking up to their nest sites. A fine spectacle. We left as the light was going and continued north to Oamaru where, after obtaining directions from a garage, we were too late for the nightly Little Blue Penguin spectacle, seeing just one by the side of the road. We decided to revisit Lake Benmore, and drove inland west towards Omarama before finding a suitable picnic area to put up the tent.

38 species seen including some excellent seabirds, the highlight being the 17 Yellow-eyed Penguins.

24 August 1996: Lake Benmore

Up at dawn we drove on to Omarama and then north to Lake Benmore, stopping almost immediately as a seemingly pure Black Stilt flew over the road just north of Omarama. At Lake Benmore we tried to drive to the braided river by taking a track to the north of the power stations, but without a four-wheel drive it was impossible, and despite walking some distance we never managed to approach the area we were hoping to reach. We eventually returned to the area which we had visited a week earlier. There were generally fewer birds to be seen and at a greater distance than we had remembered. Rather disappointedly we continued on to Lake Tekapo where a brief look at the southern end of the lake was unproductive. With the light fading we drove northeast towards Christchurch, camping in a layby just south of Ashburton.

33 species seen, the highlights being 10 Double-banded Plovers and 3 Black Stilts.

25 August 1996: Banks Peninsular and Kaikoura

After a slightly disturbed night, being right next to the main north-south road, we packed up the tent and drove northeast to Kaituna Lagoons at the extreme eastern end of Lake Ellesmere. A Great White Egret was the only bird of note and we soon continued onto the Banks Peninsular. This was very spectacular with a steep climb before dropping down to Akaroa Harbour. Being a Sunday it seemed to be full of day-trippers and was very busy. We drove as far round the eastern side of the harbour as we could and then continued walking for a mile or so towards the southern end of French Bay, eventually being halted by a private keep out sign. On the walk back we had rather distant views of 5 White-flippered Penguins out in the harbour and on returning to the car decided to try and drive to the coast at the end of Lighthouse Road in the hope of a seawatch. We drove out of Akaroa, but the road was incredibly steep, and when it changed to dirt we decided it probably wasn't sensible to continue. Returning we continued north to Kaikoura and arrived with an hour or so of light left, having had a brief stop in Christchurch (a very clean city and pleasantly quiet on a Sunday). The M.V. Virgo's winch was being repaired, dashing our hopes of another seabird trip the following day, and we decided to try the Whalewatch boat instead, returning to our 'usual' car-park to sleep in the car.

35 species seen, the highlight being a flock of 75 Black-fronted Terns roosting at Kaikoura.

26 August 1996: Kaikoura (including Whalewatch trip)

We arrived at the Whalewatch Office in Kaikoura as it opened and got places on the morning trip. When feeding at this time of year Humpback Whales are solitary and seem to spend 2-3 minutes on the surface and then dive for up to 20 minutes, often travelling some distance underwater. Because of this the Whalewatch boat, a fast catamaran called the Wawahia, is guided onto a whale by two zodiac teams with sonar equipment. With only a couple of minutes to reach the whale before it dives it is necessary for all passengers to remain strapped into their seats, and this makes birding very difficult. We saw 2 Humpback Whales but the views and the whole commercialised experience was a big disappointment, and not a patch on our previous encounters with Whales (Southern Rights in Argentina and South Africa). Birds were a disappointment too, with many fewer seen than from the M.V. Virgo, although to give them their due the Whalewatch crowd did circle some Royal Albatrosses on the return (even if they did identify them as Wandering)! In the afternoon we drove inland a short way to Mount Fyfee Forest but few birds were seen, a flock of 4 Brown Creepers in the scrub above the car park being the most notable. Seawatching produced little, and at dusk we drove to Lake Elterwater where we put up the tent in a rather noisy lay-by.

33 species seen with 4 Royal Albatrosses from the Whalewatch boat being the highlight.

27 August 1996: Lake Elterwater and Cook Strait

Up at dawn we were soon checking a large flock of Chaffinches and Yellowhammers hoping for a Cirl Bunting, but to no avail.. Wildfowl on the lake included 14 Australian Shoveller and 15 New Zealand Scaup. We drove on to Picton hoping to cross to Wellington a day early but as we'd made an advance booking we would have lost the associated discount. As the extra cost was almost as much as a day return for a foot passenger, we chose to do this and had two crossings on the Aratika. These were particularly excellent when passing close to, or crossing the wake of, a fishing boat, some of which were trailing long 'tails' of albatrosses. A total of 126 albatrosses were seen on the crossings including 14 Royals and 1 Buller's. When we returned to Picton it was late afternoon, and after the usual fish & chips we drove a few kms along Queen Charlotte Drive, in low clouds, before finding a suitable place to camp.

40 species seen with Royal Albatrosses again the highlight.

28 August 1996: Cook Strait and drive north

We boarded the Aratika again for the morning sailing to Wellington, this time with the car, but very many fewer birds were in evidence, and only a few distant trawlers were seen. Once in Wellington we started driving north, stopping briefly opposite Kapiti Island where a movement of Hutton's Shearwaters was evident in the freshening wind. We continued driving north, seeing little and in deteriorating weather. We reached Waiouru late afternoon and took the Iron Road to Turangi. Any hopes of seeing Mount Ruapehu in the fading light were dashed as we were engulfed in a blizzard, although the volcano's presence was obvious from the very strong sulphur smell. We continued driving, after a food stop, and arriving at Miranda very late, we slept in the car.

Just 22 species were seen, the highlight being 18 Shy Albatrosses from the Aratika.

29 August 1996: Miranda and Island Block Road

Early morning at Miranda watching waders, including their first Eastern Curlews of the season. Only 3 Wrybills and no Double-banded Plover were found, most having moved south to the breeding grounds (we must have passed the Wrybills on our way north). After a brief stop at Island Block Road, where the river was in flood, and an abortive look for Spotless Crake near the Upper Mangatawhii Reservoir (not having a tape didn't help) we returned to Auckland somewhat exhausted late afternoon.

49 species were recorded with 7 New Zealand Dotterel at Miranda being the highlight.

30 August 1996: Departure

I caught an early morning flight to Sydney on 30th while Nick returned, with my sister and her young daughter, on a more civilised flight at mid-day. Due to my having a 7 hour wait in Sydney I arrived in England just an hour ahead of them. I saw 9 species from Sydney Airport, where it rained heavily most of the time, Black-winged Kite and Magpie Lark being the highlights.

Species List

(* re-introduced endemic, + other introduction) All dates relate to August 1996.

  1. Brown Kiwi [Apteryx australis]: 2 feeding on Ocean Beach after dusk on 20th were the highlight of the trip.
  2. * Little Spotted Kiwi [Apteryx oweni]: heard on Tiritiri Matangi Island on nights of 8th and 9th.
  3. Yellow-eyed Penguin [Megadyptes antipodes]: 1 on Stewart Island (on way to Ocean Beach) on 20th, 1 at Nugget Point on 22nd and 17 at Katiki Point on 23rd.
  4. Little Blue Penguin [Eudyptula minor]: up to 45 daily on Tiritiri Matangi Island, 3 in Wellington Harbour on 13th, 36 on Stewart Island on 20th and 1 at Oamaru on 22nd.
  5. White-flippered Penguin [Eudyptula minor albosignata]: 5 rather distantly off the eastern side of Akaroa Harbour (south of Akaroa) on 25th.
  6. Fiordland Crested Penguin [Eudyptes pachyrhynchus]: 3 on Munroe's Beach on 16th, appeared in the breakers and quickly walked up the beach into the rocks at the foot of the cliffs.
  7. New Zealand Little Grebe [Podiceps rufopectus]: 6 on Lake Rotorua, north of the Polynesian pools, on 11th.
  8. Wandering Albatross [Diomedea exulans]: 3, including an immature from the M.V. Virgo off Kaikoura on 14th.
  9. Royal Albatross [Diomedea epomophora]: 1 in Cook Strait on 13th, 21 from the M.V. Virgo off Kaikoura on 14th, 13 at Taiaroa Head on 23rd, 5 from the Whalewatch boat off Kaikoura on 26th and 14 in Cook Strait on 27th.
  10. Black-browed Albatross [Diomedea melanophris]: 10 in Cook Strait on 13th, 17 from the M.V. Virgo off Kaikoura on 14th, 1 in Foveaux Strait on 22nd, 14 off Otago Peninsular on 23rd, 2 from Whalewatch boat off Kaikoura on 26th, 13 in Cook Strait on 27th and 1 on 28th.
  11. Buller's Albatross [Diomedea bulleri]: 2 from the M.V. Virgo off Kaikoura on 14th, 8 in Foveaux Strait on 22nd, 2 in Cook Strait on 27th and 1 on 28th.
  12. Shy Albatross [Diomedea cauta]: 4 in Cook Strait on 13th, 30 from the M.V. Virgo off Kaikoura on 14th, 1 off Munroe's Beach on 16th 1 in Foveaux Strait on 20th, 48 in Cook Strait on 27th and 18 on 28th.
    albatross sp. [Diomedea sp.]: distant unidentified albatrosses were noted on several occasions, including 50 in Cook Strait on 27th.
  13. Southern Giant Petrel [Macronectes giganteus]: 15 in Cook Strait on 13th, 45 from the M.V. Virgo off Kaikoura on 14th, 1 in Foveaux Strait on 23rd, 1 off Kaikoura on 25th, 8 from Whalewatch boat off Kaikoura on 26th, 35 in Cook Strait on 27th and 1 on 28th. These were somewhat variable but none appeared to have any reddish colour on their bills.
  14. Antarctic Fulmar [Fulmaris glacialoides]: 1 from the M.V. Virgo off Kaikoura on 14th.
  15. Cape Petrel [Daption capense]: 100 in Cook Strait on 13th, 2000+ from the M.V. Virgo and 20 off Kaikoura on 14th, 3 in Foveaux Strait on 20th and 11 on 23rd, 100 from Whalewatch boat off Kaikoura on 26th and 70 in Cook Strait on 27th.
  16. Fairy Prion [Pachyptila turtur]: 100 in Cook Strait on 13th, 7 from the M.V. Virgo off Kaikoura on 14th, 350 in Cook Strait on 27th and 3 on 28th.
  17. Grey-faced Petrel [Pterodroma macroptera]: 3 returning to burrows on Tiritiri Matangi Island on evening of 8th and 5 on 9th.
  18. Grey Petrel [Procellaria cinerea]: 20 from the M.V. Virgo off Kaikoura on 14th.
  19. Westland Black Petrel [Procellaria westlandica]: 15 from the M.V. Virgo off Kaikoura on 14th, 1000+ returning inland at dusk at Punakaiki, 1 from Whalewatch boat off Kaikoura on 26th and 4 in Cook Strait on 27th.
  20. Fluttering Shearwater [Puffinus gavia]: 5 past Tiritiri Matangi Island on 9th and 100 on 10th.
  21. Hutton's Shearwater [Puffinus huttoni]: 250 in Cook Strait on 13th, 100 from the M.V. Virgo and 8 off Kaikoura on 14th, 1 off Kaikoura on 25th, 25 from Whalewatch boat off Kaikoura on 26th, 300 in Cook Strait on 27th and 550 on 28th.
  22. Common Diving Petrel [Pelacanoides urinatrix]: 500 in Cook Strait on 13th, 11 from the M.V. Virgo off Kaikoura on 14th, 5 in Foveaux Strait on 20th and 2 on 22nd, 1 from Whalewatch boat off Kaikoura on 26th, 45 in Cook Strait on 27th and 75 on 28th.
  23. Australian Gannet [Sula serrator]: 4-9 daily off Tiritiri Matangi Island, 10-20 in Cook Strait, 4-5 off Kaikoura and 2-3 in Foveaux Strait.
  24. Cormorant [Phalacrocorax carbo]: 1 or 2 seen on 10 dates and 20 on Lake Benmore on 24th.
  25. Pied Cormorant [Phalacrocorax varius]: 2 to 15 recorded on 13 dates and 20 in Queen Charlotte Sound on 26th and 100 there on 27th.
  26. Little Black Cormorant [Phalacrocorax sulcirostris]: 2 at Island Block Road and 4 at Rotorua on 11th, 2 in Halfmoon Bay on 22nd and 1 at Miranda on 29th.
  27. Little Pied Cormorant[Phalacrocorax melanoleucos]: 1-4 recorded on 13 dates and 40 on Otago Peninsular on 23rd.
  28. Stewart Island Shag [Leucocarbo carunculatus]: 46 in Foveaux Strait/Stewart Island on 20th, 1 on 21st and 7 on 22nd, 510 on Otago Peninsular (including 500 moving south off Taiaroa Head) and 2 at Kapiti Point on 23rd. Of these, the following were black phase: 2 on 20th, 1 on 22nd, 200 at Taiaroa Head and 1 at Kapiti Point on 23rd.
  29. Spotted Shag [Stictocarbo punctatus]: 1-40 recorded on 9 dates in Wellington Harbour and around South Island coast and 695 on Otago Peninsular on 23rd.
  30. White-faced Heron [ Ardea novaehollandiae]: 1-10 recorded on 12 dates and 20 on Otago Peninsular on 23rd.
  31. Great White Egret [Egretta alba]: 1 in Milford Sound on 18-19th and 1 in NE corner of Lake Ellesmere on 25th.
  32. Cattle Egret [Bubulcus ibis]: 1 at Miranda on 11th and 29th and 3 in fields inland of Kaikoura on 26th.
  33. Australian Bittern [Botaurus poiciloptilus]: 3 at Island Block Road on 11th and 1 there on 29th.
  34. Royal Spoonbill [Platalea regia]: 30 roosting in trees at Mangere Treatment Works on 7th and 3 at Miranda on 11th and 29th.
  35. (+ Mute Swan [Cygnus olor]: 1 probable, seen badly in a ditch at dusk from the car south of Kaikoura on 14th.)
  36. + Black Swan [Cygnus atratus]: 1-28 seen on 7 dates, 119 on lakes in Westland (including 89 on Moeraki) on 16th and 100 on Lake Ellesmere on 25th.
  37. + Canada Goose [Branta canadensis]: 150 on Lake Elterwater on 13th and 100 there on 27th, 2 at Lake Benmore on 24th and 250 on Lake Ellesmere on 25th.
  38. (+ Cape Barren Goose [Cereopsis novaehollandiae]: 2 rather close to farm buildings in fields north of Christchurch on 25th.)
  39. Paradise Shelduck [Tadorna variegata]: 1-30 seen on 18 dates and 75 in Lake Benmore area on 17th.
  40. + Mallard [Anas platyrhynchos]: 2-75 seen on 12 dates.
  41. Pacific Black Duck [Anas superciliosa]: 2-60 seen on 9 dates.
  42. Grey Teal [Anas gibberifrons]: 2 at Mangere Treatment Works on 2nd, 3 at Miranda on 3rd and 4 on 29th, 12 at Lake Elterwater on 13th and 100 there on 27th and 40 on Lake Benmore on 17th and 10 there on 24th.
  43. * Brown Teal [Anas aucklandica]: 3 at Tiritiri Matangi Island on 8th, 2 on 9th and 1 on 10th. Four birds were seen, 1 was resident, but often hard to see, on the small pool near the landing, 2 were seen feeding near the lighthouse after dark one night and 1 was seen on the reservoir.
  44. Australian Shoveller [Anas rhynchotis]: 12 at Mangere Treatment Works on 7th, 2 at Miranda on 11th and 14 at Lake Elterwater on 27th.
  45. Blue Duck [Hymenolaimus malacorhynchos]: 3 pairs on the Manganuiateao River, northwest of Raetihi on 12th. The river is readily visible at 5 points along the 5 km stretch of river beyond Orautoha and scanning from the road produced different pairs at 3 of them.
  46. New Zealand Scaup [Aythya novaeseelandiae]: 1500 on Rotorua Lake on 11th, 40 at Lake Elterwater on 13th and 15 on 27th, 40 on lakes in Westland on 16th, 30 at Lake Benmore on 17th and 50 there on 24th and 10 in Fiordland on 18th.
  47. Swamp Harrier [Circus approximans]: seen every day with an average of 6 each day and a maximum of 25 on 19th.
  48. New Zealand Falcon [Falco novaeseelandiae]: One shot across in front of the car between The Key and Mossburn on 19th. It appeared to land in an isolated line of trees but if it remained there Nick, who had failed to get onto it, was unable to flush it out.
  49. ?+ Brown Quail [Coturnix ypsilophorus]: 2 on Tiritiri Matangi Island on 8th, 6 on 9th and 2 on 10th.
  50. + California Quail [Lophortyx californica]: One ran across in front of the car near Raetihi on 12th. Nick was asleep and missed it, though he'd seen them before in USA. I hadn't and was surprised how small it was.
  51. + Pheasant [Phasianus colchicus]: 1 seen badly at Island Block Road on 11th and 2 on 29th.
  52. Weka [Gallirallus australis]: 2 on flooded Bullock Creek Road at Punakaiki on 15th (the first being found under the car)! 1 on walk to Acker's Point on 20th and 6 on Ulva Island on 21st. Most gave absurdly close views.
  53. Purple Swamphen or Pukeko [Porphyrio melanotus]: Very common on North Island, less so on South Island. Recorded on 13 dates with maximum of 40 on Tiritiri Matangi Island on 8th and 42 in various places on 11th.
  54. * Takahe [Notornis mantelli]: 8 individuals seen on Tiritiri Matangi Island, including one in the shop! Football sized and very tame, seeing 3 near the Landing on our arrival on Tiri was amazing.
  55. Coot [Fulica atra]: 1 at Lake Elterwater on 13th.
  56. South Island Pied Oystercatcher or SIPO [Haematopus finschi]: Recorded on 12 dates with 1500 at Miranda on 11th having fallen to 500 on 29th.
  57. Variable Oystercatcher {Haematopus unicolor]: Despite being recorded on 13 dates, much less numerous than SIPO with peaks of 10 at Miranda on 11th and 7 there on 29th.
  58. Pied Stilt [Himantopus leucocephalus]: 200 at Mangere Treatment Works on 7th, 3 at Pollen Island on 10th, 300 at Miranda on 11th and 250 there on 29th, 1 at Lake Benmore on 17th and 15 there on 24th with 7 others seen in South Island.
    Pied/Black Stilt hybrid: 1 bird at Miranda on 11th with blackish on the underparts was assumed to be a hybrid while a dark slate bird with a whitish lower breast and belly at Lake Benmore on 17th certainly was.
  59. Black Stilt [Himantopus novaezealandiae]: 5 at Lake Benmore on 17th and 2 there and 1 north of Omarama on 24th. All appeared to be pure. Hybrids are thought more likely to migrate with Pied Stilts making the austral winter an easier time to get to grips with pure Black Stilts?
  60. Masked Plover [Vanellus miles]: recorded on 19 dates, often from the car, with peaks of 75 on 16th and 19th.
  61. New Zealand Dotterel [Charadrius obscurus]: 2 on a small islet near the Landing at Tiritiri Matangi on 8th, 4 at Miranda on 11th and 7 there on 29th.
  62. Double-banded Plover [Charadrius bicinctus]: 7 at Miranda on 11th, 20 at Lake Benmore on 17th and 10 on 24th and 2 on the beach at Kaikoura on 26th.
  63. Wrybill [Anarhynchus frontalis]: 80 at Mangere Treatment Works on 7th, 140 at Miranda on 11th and just 3 there on 29th.
  64. Eastern Curlew [Numenius madagascariensis]: 4 at Miranda on 29th.
  65. Bar-tailed Godwit [Limosa lapponica]: 2 at Mangere Treatment Works on 7th, 4 at Pollen Island on 10th, 100 at Miranda on 11th and 250 on 29th.
  66. Turnstone [Arenaria interpres]: 3 at Miranda on 29th.
  67. Knot [Calidris canutus]: 9 at Miranda on 11th and 250 on 29th.
  68. Brown Skua [Stercorcrius lonnbergi]: 8 in Foveaux Strait on 20th, 1 there on 22nd and 2 off Cape Saunders on 23rd.
  69. Kelp Gull [Larus dominicanus]: seen daily with peaks of 250 on 13th and 14th and 500 on 27th.
  70. Red-billed Gull [Larus sopulinus]: seen on 16 dates with peaks of 2500 around Bank's Peninsular on 25th and 1000 at Kaikoura on 26th.
  71. Black-billed Gull [Larus bulleri]: 30 at Rotorua on 11th, 3 in Wellington Harbour and 2 at Kaikoura on 13th, 10 at Lake Benmore on 17th, 50 near Te Anau on 18th, 1000 in fields near The Key on 19th, 2 at Lake Pukaki on 24th and 10 at Miranda on 29th. Others were probably overlooked.
  72. Caspian Tern [Hydroprogne caspia]: 1-5 recorded on 10 dates and 12 at Miranda on 29th.
  73. White-fronted Tern [Sterna striata]: recorded on 15 dates with 120 at Kaikoura on 14th and 100 there on 25/26th.
  74. Black-fronted Tern [Chlidonias albostriatus]: 4 at Kaikoura on 13th, 2 on 14th, 75 on 25th and 6 on 26th, 3 east of Arthur's Pass on 15th, 1 at Munroe's Beach on 16th, 125 at Lake Benmore on 17th and 20 on 24th and 2 near Te Anau on 19th. A very smart tern, quite different from Whiskered from which it has been considered conspecific.
  75. New Zealand Pigeon [Hemiphaga novaeseelandiae]: 1-6 recorded on 12 dates (37 in total). Many were seen while travelling. Perhaps surprisingly only 2 were seen on Tiritiri Matangi Island.
  76. + Feral Rock Dove [Columbia livia]: 10 noted on 7th, 13th and 23rd. Undoubtably ignored elsewhere.
  77. + Spotted Dove [Streptopelia chinensis]: 1 at Mangere Treatment Works on 7th.
  78. + 'Barbary' Dove [Streptopelia roseogrisea]: 2 in North Auckland on 8th.
  79. Kaka [Nestor meridionalis]: 4 at Pureora at dawn on 12th were only seen in silhouette while 2 at Haast Pass on 17th and 6 at Ulva Island on 21st were excellent.
  80. Kea [Nestor notabilis]: 4 at Arthur's Pass on 15th and 8 in the Homer Tunnel area on 18th. The latter birds included one that landed on the car with designs on its window seals and had to be chased away repeatedly. On one occasion it under-estimated the slipperiness of the bonnet and skidded in a rather undignified manner off onto the snow!
  81. + Eastern Rosella [Platycercus eximius]: 2 at Miranda on 11th, 1 from the car on 12th and 2 near the Upper Mangatawhii Reservoir on 29th.
  82. (+ Crimson Rosella [Platycercus elegans]: a probable from the car near the Upper Mangatawhii Reservoir on 29th.)
  83. Red-crowned Parakeet [Cyanoramphus novaezelandiae]: 6-20 on Tiritiri Matangi Island (where introduced) on 8-10th, 1 at Acker's Point on 20th and 5 on Ulva Island on 21st.
  84. Yellow-crowned Parakeet [Cyanoramphus auriceps]: 3 at Haast Pass on 17th, 5 at Lake Gunn on 19th and 2 on Ulva Island on 21st.
  85. Morepork [Ninox novaeseelandiae]: 1 seen on Tiritiri Matangi Island on 9th with others heard on Tiri on 10th, Pureora on 12th, Hawden Valley on 15th, near Ross on 16/17th, and at Titirangi on 29/30th.
  86. Sacred Kingfisher [Halycon sancta]: 1-4 seen on 9 dates and 35-40 along the foreshore at Miranda on both visits there.
  87. Rifleman [Acanthisitta chloris]: 3 at Pureora on 12th, 4 in Hawden Valley on 15th, 27 along the bridle track at Haast Pass on 27th, 3 at Lake Gunn on 18th and 7 there and 4 at Knobb's Flat on 19th. Amazingly small and thin billed, second only to Kiwi as bird of the trip..
  88. + Sky Lark [Alauda arvensis]: 1-25 seen on 12 dates.
  89. Welcome Swallow [Hirundo tahitica]: 5-50 seen on 6 dates in North Island and 1-10 on 6 dates in South Island, including 2 at Lake Benmore on 17th and 10 on Bank's Peninsular on 25th.
  90. Richard's Pipit [Anthus novaeseelandiae]: 4 between Arthur's Pass and Greymouth on 15th, 1 at Lake Paringa on 16th and 1 near Lake Gunn on 19th.
  91. + Dunnock [Prunella modularis]: 1-4 seen on 9 dates.
  92. + Song Thrush [Turdus philomelos]: 1-20 seen on 17 dates. Commoner than in England!
  93. + Blackbird [Turdus merula]: 1-30 seen on 18 dates and 100 on 16th, many beside the road early in the morning.
  94. Fernbird [Megalurus punctata]: 1 seen and another heard on Pollen Island on 10th.
  95. New Zealand Brown Creeper [Finschia novawseelandiae]: 1 at Punakaiki on 15th, 2 at Haast Pass bridle track on 17th, 35 on Ulva Island on 21st and 4 at Mount Fyfee Forest on 26th.
  96. Whitehead [Mohous albicilla]: 12 on Tiritiri Matangi Island (where introduced) on 8th, 13 there on 9th and 2 at Pureora on 12th.
  97. Yellowhead [Mohous ochrocephala]: 6 at Haast Pass bridle track on 17th.
  98. Grey Warbler [Gerygone igata]: 1-10 recorded on 18 dates (48 seen in total). Maximum count was 10 on Tiritiri Matangi Island on 9th.
  99. Grey Fantail [Rhipidura fuliginosa]: Widespread and common on North Island, e.g. 80 on Tiritiri Matangi on 9th and 20 at Manganuiateao River on 12th. Only 15 seen on South Island including 2 at Halfmoon Bay on 21st.
  100. Tomtit [Petroica macrocephala]: 8 at Pureora on 12th, 4 in Hawden Valley on 15th, 12 mainly from the car on 16th, 10 around Haast Pass on 17th, 3 in Eglington Valley on 18th, 2 on 19th and 6 on Ulva Island on 21st.
  101. New Zealand Robin [Petroica australis]: 1-2 daily on Tiritiri Matangi Island (where introduced), 1 at Pureora on 12th and 3 in Eglington Valley on 18th.
  102. Grey-breasted Silver-eye [Zosterops lateralis]: 1-25 recorded on 15 dates.
  103. * Stitchbird [Notiomystis cincta]: 1male on Tiritiri Matangi Island on 8th, 11 (8 males and 3 females) on 9th and 2 males on 10th. A recent introduction, all but one were colour ringed.
  104. Bellbird [Anthornis melanura]: 20 on Tiritiri Matangi Island on 8th, 29 on 9th, 2 on 10th, 1 at Pureora and 1 at Manganuiateao River on 12th, 2 at Arthur's Pass on 15th, 2 at Okarito on 16th, 3 at Haast Pass bridle track on 17th, 2 in Eglington Valley on 19th, 3 at Halfmoon Bay on 20th, 3 on 21st and 4 on 22nd, 8 in Mount Fyfee Forest on 26th and one heard outside Picton on 28th.
  105. Tui [Prosthemadera novaeseelandiae]: 20 on Tiritiri Matangi Island on 8th, 40 on 9th, 3 on 10th, 1 at Okarito on 16th, 2 at Halfmoon Bay on 20th, 2 on 21st and 4 on 22nd.
  106. + Yellowhammer [Emberiza citrinella]: 1-50 recorded on 14 dates, the largest flock being 50 at Lake Elterwater on 27th.
  107. + Chaffinch [Fringilla coelebs]: 1-200 recorded on 21 dates, the largest flock being 200 at Lake Elterwater on 13th and 27th.
  108. + Greenfinch [Carduelis chloris]: 250 at Mangere Treatment Works on 7th, 2 at Miranda on 11th, 2 at Pureora on 12th, 5 at Lake Benmore on 24th and 1 on Banks Peninsular on 25th.
  109. + Goldfinch [Carduelis carduelis]: 4 at Mangere Treatment Works on 7th, 2 on Tiritiri Matangi Island on 9th, 50 at Island Block Road on 11th, 2 at Pureora and 4 at Manganuiateao River on 12th, 30 at Nugget Point on 22nd, 10 at Lake Benmore on 24th and 10 at Mount Fyfee Forest on 26th.
  110. + Redpoll [Carduelis flammea]: 1-50 recorded on 12 dates, the largest count being 50 at Haast Pass on 17th.
  111. + House Sparrow [Passer domesticus]: 10-500 recorded on 10 dates.
  112. + Starling [Sturnus vulgaris]: 6-520 recorded on 21 dates. The only days this species was not seen were those at Eglington Valley and Milford Sound.
  113. + Common Myna [Acridotheres tristis]: Only seen on North Island with 4-100 recorded on 5 dates.
  114. * Saddleback [Philesturnus carunculatus]: 25 at Tiritiri Matangi Island on 8th, 38 on 9th and 3 on 10th. An amazingly successful introduction, the birds being found in most wooded or scrubby habitats.
  115. Kokako [Callaeas cinerea]: One seen in Pureora Forest, just off Plains Road, early on 12th. It was calling at dawn. We entered the forest (not easy) and it came to investigate a tape playback giving good but somewhat brief views before departing.
  116. + Australian Magpie [Gymnorhina tibicen]: 1-50 recorded on 18 dates.
  117. + Rook [Corvus frugilegus]: 4 at Nugget Point on 22nd and 1 at Miranda on 29th.

Return to trip reports.


This page served by Urs Geiser; ugeiser@xnet.com; October 9, 1997