South Island Queries

[paradoxdinokipi]

Hi, I'm heading off to the South Island very soon (depart at six am on the 12th) for two weeks[I'll be visiting Crch then Kaikoura, then ~4 days at AP, Okarito, Rakiura, Dunedin] , and I have a few specific queries about birding there.

Firstly tides, what would be the best time to try for the resident Kaki and vagrant Sanderling at Ashley, would it be presumably high-tide? or are they easier they find when it's out low? Simillar thing for the shorbs on Lake Ellesmere, (does it even have tides??). Also I assume cirl-bunting would be "out of season" in Kaikoura during this time?

After searching up about the Kaki, it seems an hour or two post or pre high/low tide would be best?

Seasonality of the secretive marsh-birds is another thing I want to ask about, eBird records for Marsh-Crake and Bittern all seem to still be around the south, Dunedin/Invercargill, would they still be there/visible by late April?

How reliable are Hoiho at Curio Bay?-(And if not any reliable places to find them without doing a tour? [No tour, because I don't believe I'd have the time]) Also Fairy Penguin status in Dunedin, would it be safe to assume that any Eudyptula, seen around Fouveaux and Dunedin would be of the Australian sp? (Especially any that exhibit the group coming ashore behaviour)
And the taxonomic status of the southern shags, https://avianhybrids.wordpress.com/2023/01/04/blue-eyed-shags-colonized-southern-ocean-islands-in-two-waves , is this paper the most up to date? If so I think I'd probably lump Foveaux & Otago Shag if I do see both, but I've also heard that one of the pairs are closer to the Chathams sp. than the other.

Any and all help/tips would be appreciated very much : D

[lloydesler]

You will see Foveaux shags at Bluff and Stewart Island without difficulty. Also Otago shags at the old wharf in Oamaru, in Otago Harbour and around Otago Peninsula. Yellow-eyed penguins are not doing well at Curio Bay. Possibility on Stewart Island.

[Cardinal15]

I saw just less than a month ago around forty-fifty little penguins at the albatross centre. The average at the time though was 20. Not quite sure now how it is .

[Samsperdy]

Hi,
If your looking for little owl in Hagley Park it’s a case of luck. However, there are some places in-which you’ll see them more often than others. My favourite spot to look for them is behind the Waipapa Hospital in the gardens. There seems to be a pair that I see 70% of the time when I go look for it. I would also suggest looking for them in the evening but I’ve seen them during different parts of the day aswell.
Goodluck,
Sam

[paradoxdinokipi]

I saw just less than a month ago around forty-fifty little penguins at the albatross centre. The average at the time though was 20. Not quite sure now how it is .

Fairy penguins? If so, were they with the tour or could you find them on your own?

Hi,
If your looking for little owl in Hagley Park it’s a case of luck. However, there are some places in-which you’ll see them more often than others. My favourite spot to look for them is behind the Waipapa Hospital in the gardens. There seems to be a pair that I see 70% of the time when I go look for it. I would also suggest looking for them in the evening but I’ve seen them during different parts of the day aswell.
Goodluck,
Sam

Thanks for the tips on the little-owl!

[Byrd]

Marsh Crake - try Styx Mill in Chch (just along the road from Willowbank) - there's a thread about them on this forum.

Otago Little Penguins can be seen at Oamaru if you're there at night. In Dunedin if you visit Penguin Place you might be able to see them in their nest boxes (and might be able to see wild Yellow-eyed Penguins coming ashore there too). The colony at the Albatross Centre is down the hill from the car-park, you can visit there in the evening by yourself.

For Yellow-eyed Penguins try Katiki Point just south of the Moeraki Boulders.

For Otago Shags, if you are driving between Chch and Dunedin then stop at Oamaru and see them at the colony on the wharf in the harbour. Otherwise they breed on the hill on the other side of the albatross colony in Dunedin - you can see them from either the land tour or from a boat tour, or you can watch them fly past from the cliff at the car park.

Foveaux Shags can be seen in the bay off Oban, also around the wharf if you're lucky at Bluff.

At Arthurs Pass, if you're looking for Rock Wren, scan the ridges for Chamois too. I've seen them there from time to time.

[Davidthomas]

Other place to see Foveaux shags is Awarua bay. They’re often on the pilings of the power pylons beside the bridge as you cross Awarua bay itself towards Tiwai point.

[paradoxdinokipi]

Marsh Crake - try Styx Mill in Chch (just along the road from Willowbank) - there's a thread about them on this forum.

Otago Little Penguins can be seen at Oamaru if you're there at night. In Dunedin if you visit Penguin Place you might be able to see them in their nest boxes (and might be able to see wild Yellow-eyed Penguins coming ashore there too). The colony at the Albatross Centre is down the hill from the car-park, you can visit there in the evening by yourself.

For Yellow-eyed Penguins try Katiki Point just south of the Moeraki Boulders.

For Otago Shags, if you are driving between Chch and Dunedin then stop at Oamaru and see them at the colony on the wharf in the harbour. Otherwise they breed on the hill on the other side of the albatross colony in Dunedin - you can see them from either the land tour or from a boat tour, or you can watch them fly past from the cliff at the car park.

Foveaux Shags can be seen in the bay off Oban, also around the wharf if you're lucky at Bluff.

At Arthurs Pass, if you're looking for Rock Wren, scan the ridges for Chamois too. I've seen them there from time to time.

Oh yeah, I'd read about it but assumed there was some seasonality involved with them, considering your visit was later in the winter, as well as the lack of any recent eBird sightings, but it seems it was discovered late March, so probably worth a shot, thanks for that.-(Also bittern?! That's super cool)

Didn't know Penguin Place offered individual tours, so thanks a lot for that, the website claims that it's 'rare' to see no Hoiho, any comment on this claim? Still seems like a neat place so think I'll do that and skip out on the Fairy Penguin tour and Curio Bay. (I assume sealions are reliable at Tairoa Head and Rakiura?) Also any real diagnostic ways to distinguish 'our' penguins from the Australian sp./ssp.? Think the only differences I've remembered hearing is there behaviour coming ashore any maybe hue?

Not too sure on adding Omaura and the other places to the trip, as the current plan is to take another flight to Invercargill from Chrch., drive to Dunedin and fly out, (just bit too long of a drive for my dad), but thanks for the tips anyhow. (Pretty sure I've been there as a kid although, on my first and so far only visit to the South Island, with my only recollections of said trip, being I think the boulders and definitely remembering seeing the penguin colony in a big outside amphitheater).

Oh yeah I've read that you've seen them there on the Temple Track, may try for them there, also how accessible was it walking around at Arthur's Pass? I assume you just talk the walking tracks to get to most spots, at least up to it seems around the Temple Basin Track on Google Maps? If so would one just walk along the highway to get to Otira and Pegleg Creek? Also Google Maps doesn't actually show Pegleg Creek on non-satellite view, but I assume it's the small creek that the highway goes over just a bit after the Otira Valley track? And if so would one stakeout under/on the sides of the highway bridge for Whio?


Also I'd like to know more about Awarua Bay, apparently a Terek just got reported on the Eastern End yesterday, how accessible is it to get there (not sure how far down I'm meant to go and also about road conditions), as well as tide times for the eastern end (I assume high?). As Terek is arguably one of the best sandpiper NZ gets.

[Byrd]

Marsh Crake - try Styx Mill in Chch (just along the road from Willowbank) - there's a thread about them on this forum.

Otago Little Penguins can be seen at Oamaru if you're there at night. In Dunedin if you visit Penguin Place you might be able to see them in their nest boxes (and might be able to see wild Yellow-eyed Penguins coming ashore there too). The colony at the Albatross Centre is down the hill from the car-park, you can visit there in the evening by yourself.

For Yellow-eyed Penguins try Katiki Point just south of the Moeraki Boulders.

For Otago Shags, if you are driving between Chch and Dunedin then stop at Oamaru and see them at the colony on the wharf in the harbour. Otherwise they breed on the hill on the other side of the albatross colony in Dunedin - you can see them from either the land tour or from a boat tour, or you can watch them fly past from the cliff at the car park.

Foveaux Shags can be seen in the bay off Oban, also around the wharf if you're lucky at Bluff.

At Arthurs Pass, if you're looking for Rock Wren, scan the ridges for Chamois too. I've seen them there from time to time.

Oh yeah, I'd read about it but assumed there was some seasonality involved with them, considering your visit was later in the winter, as well as the lack of any recent eBird sightings, but it seems it was discovered late March, so probably worth a shot, thanks for that.-(Also bittern?! That's super cool)

Didn't know Penguin Place offered individual tours, so thanks a lot for that, the website claims that it's 'rare' to see no Hoiho, any comment on this claim? Still seems like a neat place so think I'll do that and skip out on the Fairy Penguin tour and Curio Bay. (I assume sealions are reliable at Tairoa Head and Rakiura?) Also any real diagnostic ways to distinguish 'our' penguins from the Australian sp./ssp.? Think the only differences I've remembered hearing is there behaviour coming ashore any maybe hue?

Not too sure on adding Omaura and the other places to the trip, as the current plan is to take another flight to Invercargill from Chrch., drive to Dunedin and fly out, (just bit too long of a drive for my dad), but thanks for the tips anyhow. (Pretty sure I've been there as a kid although, on my first and so far only visit to the South Island, with my only recollections of said trip, being I think the boulders and definitely remembering seeing the penguin colony in a big outside amphitheater).

Oh yeah I've read that you've seen them there on the Temple Track, may try for them there, also how accessible was it walking around at Arthur's Pass? I assume you just talk the walking tracks to get to most spots, at least up to it seems around the Temple Basin Track on Google Maps? If so would one just walk along the highway to get to Otira and Pegleg Creek? Also Google Maps doesn't actually show Pegleg Creek on non-satellite view, but I assume it's the small creek that the highway goes over just a bit after the Otira Valley track? And if so would one stakeout under/on the sides of the highway bridge for Whio?


Also I'd like to know more about Awarua Bay, apparently a Terek just got reported on the Eastern End yesterday, how accessible is it to get there (not sure how far down I'm meant to go and also about road conditions), as well as tide times for the eastern end (I assume high?). As Terek is arguably one of the best sandpiper NZ gets.

Bittern have been reported at Styx Mill but you'd have to be extremely lucky to see one there. I think Harts Creek (at Ellesmere) would be your most likely option.

Penguin Place has set tour-times (at this time of year their website says once-daily at 3.45pm), so you just book for that tour time. It doesn't say anything about minimum group size. If you're not travelling by road to Dunedin this might be your best choice for Yellow-eyed Penguin. https://penguinplace.co.nz
/tours/

The boat trip in the harbour is good too, although I suspect you'll be doing the albatross boat in Kaikoura? For sealions Hoopers Inlet would be your best bet.

I've seen Chamois on the Temple Basin track (very steep) but also just on the ridges above the Otira Gorge. Pegleg Creek is the little creek running into the Otira River under the bridge as you say. I don't know if there are still any Blue Duck there though - usually I would see them on the Otira itself not up the creek.

There are several walking tracks through the forest around Arthurs Pass Village (good for Riflemen, Brown Creeper, Tomtits, Robins, etc). You can drive to the top of the pass, there is a small parking area at the start of the Otira track,. Alternatively, walk from the village up the Bridal Veil Track to Jacks Hut, cross the road and continue up the Bealey Valley Track, then you can do the lower part of the Dobson Nature Trail (I think the rest of it is closed), and then finish the last part by walking along the road to the start of the Otira Track. All the way to the Dobson Nature Trail is through forest. Or you can just walk along the road the whole way, which is quicker but less interesting.

[paradoxdinokipi]

Bittern have been reported at Styx Mill but you'd have to be extremely lucky to see one there. I think Harts Creek (at Ellesmere) would be your most likely option.

Penguin Place has set tour-times (at this time of year their website says once-daily at 3.45pm), so you just book for that tour time. It doesn't say anything about minimum group size. If you're not travelling by road to Dunedin this might be your best choice for Yellow-eyed Penguin. https://penguinplace.co.nz
/tours/

The boat trip in the harbour is good too, although I suspect you'll be doing the albatross boat in Kaikoura? For sealions Hoopers Inlet would be your best bet.

I've seen Chamois on the Temple Basin track (very steep) but also just on the ridges above the Otira Gorge. Pegleg Creek is the little creek running into the Otira River under the bridge as you say. I don't know if there are still any Blue Duck there though - usually I would see them on the Otira itself not up the creek.

There are several walking tracks through the forest around Arthurs Pass Village (good for Riflemen, Brown Creeper, Tomtits, Robins, etc). You can drive to the top of the pass, there is a small parking area at the start of the Otira track,. Alternatively, walk from the village up the Bridal Veil Track to Jacks Hut, cross the road and continue up the Bealey Valley Track, then you can do the lower part of the Dobson Nature Trail (I think the rest of it is closed), and then finish the last part by walking along the road to the start of the Otira Track. All the way to the Dobson Nature Trail is through forest. Or you can just walk along the road the whole way, which is quicker but less interesting.

Oh yeah that's what I meant by Penguin Place, sorry if i didn't make myself clear, (I meant individual from Monarch Tours, as I'd assumed they were joined or something..)
Yeah, also Hoopers Inlet seems to be a great spot especially Alan's Beach (155 ob.s from there alone on iNat!).
Thank you for all the info on Arthur's Pass aswell.