Wellington City biodiversity

[ledzep]

The tulips are at their best in the Botanic Gardens at the moment, with Bellbirds nearby. Photo taken on my phone, Bellbird less than a metre away. It was very vocal.

[Jan]

That bellbird is in a Fuschia bush.

[CMKMStephens]

Geoff conducting a Little Blue Penguin / kororā census on Matiu / Somes Island.

DSC_3525 - Copy.JPG (309.37 KiB) Viewed 1393 times

[Angus Fordham]

When I was walking along the waterfront last night at about 7.54pm I saw this Korora - Little blue penguin swimming slowly around in the water at Whairepo lagoon. It was almost just going with the flow of the water. There also happened to be a single Tara - White Fronted Tern flying around, diving once while I was observing both birds.

Little Blue Penguin - Korora.1.JPG (258.39 KiB) Viewed 1300 times

[Finn Davey]

Went out to finally search for the Pacific Reef Heron today.

After over 3 hours of searching around the beach and rockpools of Island Bay, we finally came across the bird.
First time seeing this species, very special

reef heron wtm.jpg (220 KiB) Viewed 1152 times

[Colin Miskelly]

Black morph fantail

There was an almost tailless juvenile black fantail in Prince of Wales Park (Mt Cook, Wellington) today. It had apparently lost its tail after fledging (i.e. its tail was shorter than a fledgling's).

Ngā mihi
Colin & Kate

[Colin Miskelly]

A different black morph fantail was in Prince of Wales Park (250 m from previous sighting) on 8 March. This time an adult with a full tail.

For those who know the site (in Mt Cook, Wellington) the bird seen on 3 March was along the walkway between Bell Rd and Dorking St, and the bird seen on 8 March was along the stream above the 'watercourse' and bridge.

Colin & Kate

[Davidthomas]

I had a black morph in the mixed broadleaf forest in Porirua park Porirua while doing GWRC Tier 1/2 bird counts back in January. Looked to be an adult.

Some really nice bush in there with large conifers and mixed broadleaf species.

[ledzep]

A pair of parakeets in the trees by the changing sheds at the sports field beside Lady Norwood Rose Gardens, Botanic Gardens, about 4.45 pm Fri night. Kaka calling, NZ Pigeon flying over and a Bellbird also heard in my 2 minute walk through the botanic gardens to Tinakori Road. I recall Parakeets hanging around in trees in autumn last year or year before, same area round the playing fields. There is usually Rosella's in that area too.

[Colin Miskelly]

The juvenile black morph fantail with a short tail was in our backyard today (Hargreaves St, Mt Cook, Wellington). Its tail is about 2/3 full length, and noticeably longer than when we saw it on 3 March (400 m away)

This is the first time we have had one on our property, though have seen at least three black fantails in Prince of Wales Park nearby

Ngā mihi
Colin & Kate