Birding locations

[Wrybill]

Hi there, I'm new to birding, and am living at Otaki Beach Does anyone know good places nearby to look for Tomtit or Robin?

Thanks

[Oscar Thomas]

Welcome to the BirdingNZ forum. Otaki Beach is a great place to live if you're into birdwatching and as a resource I recommend using https://ebird.org/explore to look for specific species you are interested in. For tomtit it looks like there are locally common in the Tararua Ranges as well as on Kapiti Island. North Island robin is a little more tricky as they aren't really thought to be present in the Tararuas. The eBird records are sporadic, or historical, or sometimes probably even misidentified. Kapiti Island or Zealandia Ecosanctuary in Wellington is your best bet for seeing them, and you get to see a whole range of other cool birds as well.

[ledzep]

Oscar is right about the Robin, you are only going to find them in Zealandia or on Kapiti or Mana Island. For mainland areas you'd need to be up in Rotorua or Pureora regions of the North Island. Tomtits are around but uncommon. Quite a good spot near you is to walk the Mangaoe track between Waikanae (Reikorangi) and Te Horo. I've seen them in several locations along that route and in fairly open places. I've seen them up Mt Wainui area (Whareroa Farm), the Himatangi track behind Waikanae. If you get to Upper Hutt, I have seen and heard Tomtit in the Keith George memorial Park near Silverstream, and also at the end of Tawhai St in Stokes Valley they can be quite near the start of the track (50 - 100 metres in). They are up in the hills behind Days Bay/Eastbourne, but seem to be few and far between. There aren't any Tomtit in Zealandia (the Robin's chased them out).

[SomesBirder]

Is Butterfly Creek not reliable for Tomtit any more?

[Cardinal15]

I have seen Robin in the Ohope Scenic Reserve. There is a walk at the bottom of the hill and it was on that track that I saw a couple.
I have also seen tomtit at the Red Hut Bridge near Turangi if that is any help.

[ledzep]

I haven't seen any actually at Butterfly Creek, but they are certainly in the hills around and often there are lots of people at Butterfly Creek when I've been there. I was trying to find places near the Otaki area for Wrybill - the Mangaone walkway both north entry carpark area and the open picnic area near the stream in the middle of the walk have been good spots for me in the past. I like Tomtits but see them quite infrequently in the Wellington area.

[Wrybill]

Thanks for your help, I saw a Tomtit at Hemi Matenga Memorial Park.