Rifleman Days Bay

[ledzep]

Was successful in finding two small groups of Rifleman today in the hills above Days Bay. One up near the top of Kereru Road track (main track up from Williams Park in Days Bay) at about 250 m asl, and the second a short way down the ridge track from the Kereru Road junction towards Hawtree. GPS: 174.918638 -41.286463 and 174.917535 -41.284655. One pair, and the second group at least 3 birds (could have been more). The birds were right at the top of the trees and hard to photograph as they keep fitting around. I was pleased that I heard the second group calling - the calls are so high pitched they are right at the edge of the frequencies my ears can pick up these days.

[Mike Vincent]

We went birding in Butterfly Creek area in February and had a similar experience with Riflemen at the picknick area.

[ledzep]

I haven't seen them in the picnic area but they have been reported there by others. The good news is that the numbers of Rifleman in the area seems to be increasing.

[Michael Szabo]

Nice find, Duncan - good on you for persisting.

[Storkbrain100]

Next time I go to days bay will keep eye out for rifleman

[Michael Szabo]

I found a pair of Rifleman in East Harbour Regional Park (Day's Bay), Wellington, this afternoon, feeding in beech forest near the top of the track. There were plenty of Tui, Kereru, Bellbird and Shining Cuckoos about. Then, when the Tui all started squealing, I looked up and saw a spectacular stoop diving New Zealand Falcon.

[CMKMStephens]

That's the same 'hotspot' area I've found rifleman every time I've gone up from Days Bay. The second time I went all the way to Butterfly Creek, and the Butterfly Creek track was like a dead-zone with no birds of any sort for some reason.

https://imgur.com/a/5ZeeX
https://imgur.com/a/HAQml

[SomesBirder]

It's a bit concerning that you only saw a pair there, Michael; Day's Bay has been known to be a reliable site for riflemen in the Wellington region for a very long time now; I'd hate if the rats and stoats have had a recent population surge there...

-Somes

[Michael Szabo]

The pair I saw repeatedly flew into a nest hole with food, so presumably they were feeding chicks.

[ledzep]

Thanks to Michael's accurate directions, I had good views of the pair yesterday. Hard to spot the hole in the tree, but the pair were visiting at around 10 min intervals with tasty morsels so looks like they are still feeding chicks. Hoping for a population increase.