BirdingNZ.net

I am travelling to South Island next Wednesday for 2-3 weeks and would appreciate help for the following species locations.

Cape Barren Goose
Little Owl
Yellowhead
Plus, any other South Island specialities

Cheers, Grahame

hi i know where some owls are in rangiora..north of chch..

and some one i know has some cape barren goose on his land..

Little Owl can be spotted on fence posts at dusk out along Schoolhouse or Postmans Roads in Kaikoura.

Cape barren geese are relatively reliable at St Anne’s Lagoon near Cheviot.

There’s also a good spot out near Kowhai bush in Kaikoura for little Owl, (those roads mentioned above by Jesse) they’re usually just hanging out on fence posts or in big trees hunting on Dusk.

For yellow head it’s a bit more difficult, there are birds up the Hawdon Valley in inland canterbury, but they’re difficult to find and involves crossing rivers etc. the most easily accessible ones I know of are either up near Kiosk Creek in the Eglinton Valley, or from the ‘The Whisp’ end of the Catlins River Walk.

For the Catlins Walk you walk in across the river and up a bit of a rise, before dropping back down and crossing a small creek. In the space of about 1km we had 3-4 pairs of yellowhead calling and viewable from that point onwards.

Ulva Island is also one of the best spots for yellowhead and little owl at the Christchurch botanic gardens. Other specialties are King shags in the Marlborough sounds, Rock wren at Homer tunnel or Otira valley (and of course kea) and Black stilt in the Mackenzie basin or Ashley river estuary.

Thank you all so much for your help.

David, I would appreciate fuller directions for the Catlin walk spot for Yellowhead.

Cheers,

Grahame

Hi Grahame,

If you drive into the Catlins as far as Owaka , then head up the Owaka Valley Road then onto Chloris Pass Road, and Follow it around past the Catlins road Turnoff, and you’ll eventually see a car park on the right. Park here and follow the track over the river, and then up a slight rise, down the other side and anywhere from there onwards you should hear/see Yellowhead.

https://goo.gl/maps/dF3KAnLRzBx Is where you want to park. And this is the walk I was mentioning with some more directions etc https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/otago/places/catlins-conservation-park/things-to-do/catlins-river-wisp-loop-track

I definitely suggest heading from the Whisp end rather than the other end as you’re traveling a much shorter distance to get into the Yellowhead habitat. We walked approximately 1.5kms and saw 4-5 pairs. So pretty good going really!

Hope this helps,
David

David, that is so helpful of you. I take it the Wisp end is the North-West end

Cheers,

Grahame

There are Cirl Buntings around Blenheim, I think near the sewage farm. Can anybody give me good directions for them please.
Cheers,
Grahame