Self driving birding tour three weeks in February

[miscatonic]

I thought it would be best to ask the experts.

Me and my wife are planning a three weeks self driving trip starting the 18th of February. It will mostly be birding, but I guess we will pass hobbiton and some other stuff as well...

The plan is to start from Auckland, drive and fly home from Queenstown.

I have never seen any bird from New Zealand and my "The Field Guide to the Birds of New Zealand" will take a while to arrive.

What should I not miss in my too short effort to see as much as possible? Any tips?

/Kai, Sweden

[lloydesler]

My brochure Birds and Native Mammals of New Zealand is widely used by schools, and tour groups use it as a tick list for patrons interested in getting a snapshot of our birdlife. All the land and freshwater birds plus seals and bats. They are $4 plus postage. Much cheaper option than finding a book which is only used for a week or two, takes up very little room, and printed on folding card. email esler@southnet.co.nz

[Michael Szabo]

Definitely book to visit Tiritiri Matangi Island near Auckland where many interesting native bird species are quite easy to see that are usually hard to see elsewhere.

There is also a good site for wading birds at Miranda about an hour south of Auckland on the Firth of Thames coast.

Wellington is usually quite a good place to see New Zealand Falcons, either at the Otari-Wilton's Bush Reserve or the 'Zealandia Ecosanctuary'.

It is also worth booking a seabird-watching trip while you are in NZ if you can to see albatrosses and various other cool seabirds. 'Albatross Encounter' in Kaikoura does 3 hour trips during the 'tourist' season.

Good luck.

[miscatonic]

Thanks for the tips Michael, I will try to fit those places in to the itinerary.
Esler: sorry, already bought the book.