Chukor assistance please

General birdwatching discussion, help with bird identification, and all other things relating to wild birds and birding in NZ that don't fit in one of the other forums.
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simon.fordham
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Chukor assistance please

Postby simon.fordham » Mon Apr 14, 2014 8:23 pm

My wife and I are flying into Dunedin on Wednesday and heading up to the Twizel area for 3 days. Can anyone give some tips for seeing chukor please. I recall that Mount John is a good place for these. Are there any specific spots worth checking out, particularly places where they have been seen recently?

Thanks
Simon
Ian Southey
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Re: Chukor assistance please

Postby Ian Southey » Mon Apr 14, 2014 9:42 pm

Could be anywhere. Glass the faces with rock and scrub. Sometimes easy, sometimes not.

Ian
Byrd
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Re: Chukor assistance please

Postby Byrd » Mon Apr 14, 2014 9:53 pm

I found sitting on a slope early morning (before people start arriving) and just waiting was quite good. Listen out for their calls too.
phil hammond
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Re: Chukor assistance please

Postby phil hammond » Tue Apr 15, 2014 9:26 am

Hi Simon

I've seen them on each of my last 5 visits to Mt John, but although they are reputedly elsewhere, Ive never seen them anywhere else

We have seen them right down at the foot of the mountain 100m or so before the entry gates, right at the top, and from the van window whilst driving up. It is a narrow winding road driving up to the summit and the driver definitely needs to focus ahead, so if you are driving Morag is likely to see them first

Rocky areas with scrub for cover not too far away seems best.

good luck
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simon.fordham
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Re: Chukor assistance please

Postby simon.fordham » Mon Apr 21, 2014 8:07 am

Thank you Phil, Ian & Byrd

As it turned out, this was an easy tick. We arrived about 4.00 PM. Expecting a somewhat remote and quiet location, the road up Mount John was quite busy. Unbeknownst to us, there is a popular public carpark at the top with stunning views. We had no joy on the drive up but soon heard birds from the carpark (the end furthest from the entrance). We had a scope with us and soon saw five birds amongst the rocks a couple of hundred metres away. Soon after, a noisy flock of ~15 birds showed alongside the ridge on the other side of the Mount John Walkway, less than 100 metres away.

Cheers
Simon
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imogen
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Re: Chukor assistance please

Postby imogen » Mon Dec 30, 2019 7:56 pm

Can someone give me precise directions to Mount John. Last time I was here I drove the wrong mountain and would prefer not to do that again.
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Davidthomas
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Re: Chukor assistance please

Postby Davidthomas » Mon Dec 30, 2019 9:28 pm

Hi Imogen, you want to drive up towards the Mount John Observatory. And then stop at the red X, from here the Chukor are often on the faces facing the main southern alps range. They’re very difficult to see with the naked eye, and I suggest binoculars and scopes are useful, plus listening out for their call.

Otherwise I have seen them from walking the summit circle track on the faces of the hill that face Lake Tekapo.

Early in the morning is definitely the way to go, as they’re more active and there are less people. The red circled areas are areas I have seen Chukar in, or know would be suitable.
90FA7376-CE56-42D3-B808-A1868BAE6494.jpeg
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andrewcrossland
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Re: Chukor assistance please

Postby andrewcrossland » Tue Dec 31, 2019 12:01 am

I saw 1 at the yellow X on the map below around noon on 24 Dec, FYI.

Chukor1.JPG
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Neil Fitzgerald
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Re: Chukor assistance please

Postby Neil Fitzgerald » Wed Jan 01, 2020 10:25 pm

Best view I had years ago was beside the road to Lake Alexandrina, near Lake McGregor, further along Godley Peaks Rd past the observatory. Could be worth a look if Mt John doesn't provide.

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