Nankeen Night Heron Upokongaro

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Oscar Thomas
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Re: Nankeen Night Heron Upokongaro

Postby Oscar Thomas » Sun Jun 10, 2018 7:56 pm

The bird returned to above the carport yesterday after a five-week absence, so it looks like I chose the right time to go looking for them. Thanks to Paul and Grahame for the ride, and to the cafe lady for pointing it out to us. A stunningly nice bird to be number 200 on my New Zealand list.

nank.jpg
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zarkov
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Re: Nankeen Night Heron Upokongaro

Postby zarkov » Mon Jun 11, 2018 4:40 pm

Terrific pic, well done.
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RussCannings
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Re: Nankeen Night Heron Upokongaro

Postby RussCannings » Tue Jun 12, 2018 6:47 am

Awesome stuff Oscar and good on Paul and Grahame for the assist!

Russ C
Morrinsville, NZ
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CMKMStephens
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Re: Nankeen Night Heron Upokongaro

Postby CMKMStephens » Tue Jun 12, 2018 10:51 am

I think that excellent photo is already world famous in New Zealand...or facebook. Co worker at work mentioned it.
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David Riddell
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Re: Nankeen Night Heron Upokongaro

Postby David Riddell » Fri Aug 17, 2018 7:30 am

Annette and I dropped by yesterday evening. The cafe was closed, but we went to the pub next door, bought a couple of beers and got chatting to the publican, who let us go out the back to his yard (there was an outside table in front that we were hoping to sit at, but that's not part of the pub apparently). From there we were able to look up into the famous tree by the carport - couldn't see any sign of the bird, but we sat quietly as it got darker, and just after 6pm it flew from right up the top of the tree. It hadn't made a peep the whole time, but we could see it very well (at least in silhouette) as it wheeled around and headed up the stream, away from the river. By then it was fairly dark and starting to rain so we bailed, no sign or sound of any other individuals. The publican was interested to hear about it - he hadn't seen it in a couple of years, but says he'll know what to tell people in future if anyone asks.
Paul Gibson
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Location: Whanganui

Re: Nankeen Night Heron Upokongaro

Postby Paul Gibson » Sat May 23, 2020 4:44 pm

We had coffee this afternoon at the cafe at Upokongaro. near Whanganui, and talked to the owner who confirmed that there are five night herons around at present, in the nearby trees. While we were there a bird came out into the open and gave us good views. It was in a plumage I had not seen before, like between immature and adult. The cafe changes ownership next month, after 10 years, so we will find out if the new owner is as friendly to birders as Cheryl has been.

http://www.upics.co.nz

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Alan Tennyson
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Re: Nankeen Night Heron Upokongaro

Postby Alan Tennyson » Sun Jul 12, 2020 8:46 pm

Four flew out from behind the Upokongaro cafe at dusk tonight.
Alan Tennyson
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Re: Nankeen Night Heron Upokongaro

Postby Alan Tennyson » Mon Jul 13, 2020 9:30 pm

I had a chat to the new owner of the cafe this afternoon. She knew of the herons but apparently hadn't seen one. I was able to show her one sitting in a tree. She got out her camera and her friend said that he'd make a posting on Facebook to let 'everyone' know that the 'herons were back'. Anyway, she was very friendly and hopes to see many birders come by, especially if they stop in for tea and cake!
Alan
Davidthomas
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Re: Nankeen Night Heron Upokongaro

Postby Davidthomas » Tue Jul 14, 2020 7:04 am

Good stuff Alan. I think it’s cool that they can see the business benefit of letting birders know when the birds are there but also help us birders actually see the bloody things, cause they’re annoyingly hard to pin down. Long may it last :)
Alan Tennyson
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Re: Nankeen Night Heron Upokongaro

Postby Alan Tennyson » Sat Jul 18, 2020 11:16 pm

Two birds roosting in the large deciduous tree today - cryptic but visible from the main road.

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