Catlins birding
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- Joined: Fri Jul 03, 2009 3:46 pm
- Location: Balclutha
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Catlins birding
Just back from 3 days in the Catlins. Birding highlights were 2 Grey-tailed Tattlers at Cabbage Point (a single bird was seen on a couple of occasions in December), and a Sulphur-crested Cockatoo at the head of Catlins Lake, on Wednesday. On Thursday I walked the Catlins River Track (in both directions). At least 7 parties of Yellowhead heard (and occasionally seen) on the upstream leg, all upriver of the halfway mark at Franks Stream. In similar locations on the return, plus cracking views of 2 males about 1km downstream of Franks Stream. A handful of Yellow-crowned Kakariki heard & glimpsed, 1 falcon each way, 3 Rifleman and lots of Tomtits & Brown Creeper. No cuckoos of either variety. The only Shining Cuckoo on the entire trip was a bird calling at Papatowai on Friday morning. Nugget Point on Friday afternoon was relatively quiet, though a few Shy Mollymawks, a mob of Sooty Shearwaters with a few Cape Petrel and Fluttering Shearwaters were feeding about 1.5km offshore. Also 2 N Giant Petrels, and a very brief glimpse of a Subantarctic Skua at close range. Full details on eBird.