Wellington City biodiversity

[Colin Miskelly]

The southerly is too strong for the falcon pair to perch in their usual place on top of the carillon, and so they a clinging to the north face.

Ngā mihi
Colin

[Michael Szabo]

The Capital Kiwi Project reports that last week Pita, one of 15 monitored Kiwi-Nui released at Makara earlier this year, was located just off The Skyline Walkway within sight of the city!
Story and photos on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/capitalkiwi/po ... 2YraG7Zfdl

[SomesBirder]

This morning I saw what might have been a Black-billed Gull at Lowry Bay, Eastbourne. I did not have my camera with me at the time, so these record shots that I took with my phone were the best that I got of it.

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[ledzep]

That looks like a Black-Billed Gull to me. Unusual to see them round Wellington harbour. I have seen them in Pāuatahanui inlet and up at Foxton Beach, and Masterton lake. Good sighting.

[Wrybill]

Yup, Black-billed gull/Tarapuka

[Wrybill]

That looks like a Black-Billed Gull to me. Unusual to see them round Wellington harbour. I have seen them in Pāuatahanui inlet and up at Foxton Beach, and Masterton lake. Good sighting.

I've seen them often around the harbour, and sometimes near Island Bay, not common but widespread.

[Michael Szabo]

Yes, this is a notable record. I've only seen them in Island Bay during the late summer/autumn period when they migrate from the South Island to the Lake Wairarapa area. Presumably this is a bird that spent winter in the Lake Wairarapa area that's making its way back over to the South Island.

[ledzep]

NZ Falcon calling whilst circling high in the sky above Central Park, Wellington (bottom of Brooklyn hill area) around 11 am today. Disturbing a flock of about 12 feral pigeons that were flying in circles well below.

[ledzep]

After the sports field opposite Lady Norwood rose gardens in Wellington botanic gardens being desolate for so long, today at 4.45 pm there was a flock of 40+ Yellowhammers, plus a handful of Chaffinch's and Sparrows. I have never seen a large flock of Yellowhammers on this sports field before. No binoculars so I couldn't check for Cirl Bunting. This morning there were two female Mallards, each with 6 or 7 ducklings in tow, on the same sports field. Usually quite a high mortality rate for the ducklings in this habitat.

[ledzep]

6 Spotted Shags on Wellington wharf area where helicopter pad is, Tuesday lunchtime.