Advice please for a part-birding trip without a car

[geert108]

First of all, I'm not a native speaker, so I apologize for my poor English now.

Second, as a "part-birding" trip, I'd like to go to traditional tourist attractions like Qweenstown, Mt. Cook, Milford Sound and so on. But I'm not sure whether eBird checklists there are suitable for a tourist without a car, rather than for a fully-equipped birder.
Time of the trip is about late Jan. - early Feb. and it's a long solo trip visiting Wellington - Kaikoura - Tekapo - Queenstown - Dunedin - Stewart -Auckland. I'd like to ask for some questions about specific birds / birding spots.

- Kea: Looks like it appears at both the Milford Sound and Mt. Cook tours for tourists so I wonder if Arthur Pass is necessary (I give up Rockwren currently).
- Black Stilt: Glentanner is inaccessible without a car. eBird shows that it sometimes appears at SE bay of Lake Tekapo but is there any better place?
- Wrybill: All the spots in South Island are all inaccessible and it's not common in Wellington Pauatahanui and Waikanae right? I have only 2 days in Auckland (only 1 full day in 13 Feb. and it's for Tiritiri currently) so I need to consider whether I should go to Ambury.
- Pelagic: I've decided 2 pelagic in Kaikoura and Stewart while I find birds kinda similar in the two trips, is that true? Hauraki Gulf pelagic is also attracting but I wonder if there's one on 13 Feb. Seems like Tiritiri is also similar with Zealandia (is that true?) except Kokako and I love pelagic birds so I'm OK to give up Tiritiri.
- Penguins: I've attended Elm's tour about Royal Albatross Center (dreaming place) and Yellow-eyed penguins but I wonder the success rate of Yellow-eyed since I'm not sure which eBird hotspot it is. And Stewart pelagic seems to include all 3 species.
- Shags: A total mess. Seems like King Shag is available at Wellington-Picton ferry and Foveaux Shag at Bluff-Stewart one. But I wonder if there's other special shags.
- Stewart Kiwi: I'd like to find birds by myself instead of a guided tour. Am I able to go to Ulva Island by myself in the night or I have to attend a guided tour?
- Little Spotted Kiwi & Morepork: Similar to the above question, am I able to find them by myself in Zealandia/Tiritiri in daytime instead of a night guided tour?

I don't know if any other birds is neglected so please feel free to introduce me!

[Nick Allen]

- Kea: Looks like it appears at both the Milford Sound and Mt. Cook tours for tourists so I wonder if Arthur Pass is necessary (I give up Rockwren currently).

Most buses stop at Monkey Creek (between Te Anau and Milford) for photos and the presence of people often attracts Kea. Sometimes there are Blue Duck on the Hollyford River just across the road from the carpark, though not sure if the photo stop will be enough time to really look for them. I've found them a bit hit and miss at Aoraki Mt Cook township. If going to the West Coast they often seem to visit Franz Josef township, especially at the ends of the day.

There are Rock Wrens just past the Harris Saddle on the Routeburn Track - about 5 hours walking from the Routeburn Shelter, one way. Track buses run from Queenstown and the forest has small numbers of Yellowhead and Yellow-crowned Parakeets. Reasonable chance of Kea at or near Routeburn Falls Hut. Would probably need to stay at Routeburn Falls or Routeburn Flats Hut and that would need booking - you may have left it a bit late to book though. Likely about a 3 hours walk each way from Arthur's Pass township to the area of the Otira Valley past the footbridge where Rock Wrens are regular.

- Black Stilt: Glentanner is inaccessible without a car. eBird shows that it sometimes appears at SE bay of Lake Tekapo but is there any better place?

Glentanner has a bus stop. From the internet at least Great Sights stops there. It would probably be worth emailing/ringing the visitor centre there to see if other transport providers (Intercity or Tekapo Shuttles) also stop there. They are often at that bay in the SE corner of Lake Tekapo, but Glentanner is more reliable. They are also often in the area where Lake McGregor empties into Lake Tekapo. A pretty long walk from Tekapo township, but doable.

- Wrybill: All the spots in South Island are all inaccessible and it's not common in Wellington Pauatahanui and Waikanae right? I have only 2 days in Auckland (only 1 full day in 13 Feb. and it's for Tiritiri currently) so I need to consider whether I should go to Ambury.

Ambury at high tide is a good bet, with a bus getting close to the farm park.

Near Christchurch there is a regular bus to Pegasus Town, then a 5km walk to Waikuku along the Tutaipatu Trail and there are often birds in the Ashley Estuary, though not as certain or in the same numbers as at Ambury. There are often Wrybills at Glentanner in January, especially earlier in the month.

- Stewart Kiwi: I'd like to find birds by myself instead of a guided tour. Am I able to go to Ulva Island by myself in the night or I have to attend a guided tour?

You can't stay overnight on Ulva. If you are persistent enough there is a reasonable chance of seeing Southern Kiwi around Halfmoon Bay/Oban township, places like Traill Park, or maybe Ringaringa Golf Course. If you have time and like walking you can go to the area around Masons Bay (or you can fly onto the beach there) and probably have more chance, staying overnight at Masons Bay Hut. Occasionally Kiwi are seen in the daytime on Ulva (and elsewhere on Stewart I) - the ends of the day give the best chance.

- Little Spotted Kiwi & Morepork: Similar to the above question, am I able to find them by myself in Zealandia/Tiritiri in daytime instead of a night guided tour?

LS Kiwi no, Morepork unlikely but possible. Morepork is quite a widespread species in NZ.

[geert108]

- Kea: Looks like it appears at both the Milford Sound and Mt. Cook tours for tourists so I wonder if Arthur Pass is necessary (I give up Rockwren currently).

Most buses stop at Monkey Creek (between Te Anau and Milford) for photos and the presence of people often attracts Kea. Sometimes there are Blue Duck on the Hollyford River just across the road from the carpark, though not sure if the photo stop will be enough time to really look for them. I've found them a bit hit and miss at Aoraki Mt Cook township. If going to the West Coast they often seem to visit Franz Josef township, especially at the ends of the day.

There are Rock Wrens just past the Harris Saddle on the Routeburn Track - about 5 hours walking from the Routeburn Shelter, one way. Track buses run from Queenstown and the forest has small numbers of Yellowhead and Yellow-crowned Parakeets. Reasonable chance of Kea at or near Routeburn Falls Hut. Would probably need to stay at Routeburn Falls or Routeburn Flats Hut and that would need booking - you may have left it a bit late to book though. Likely about a 3 hours walk each way from Arthur's Pass township to the area of the Otira Valley past the footbridge where Rock Wrens are regular.

- Black Stilt: Glentanner is inaccessible without a car. eBird shows that it sometimes appears at SE bay of Lake Tekapo but is there any better place?

Glentanner has a bus stop. From the internet at least Great Sights stops there. It would probably be worth emailing/ringing the visitor centre there to see if other transport providers (Intercity or Tekapo Shuttles) also stop there. They are often at that bay in the SE corner of Lake Tekapo, but Glentanner is more reliable. They are also often in the area where Lake McGregor empties into Lake Tekapo. A pretty long walk from Tekapo township, but doable.

- Wrybill: All the spots in South Island are all inaccessible and it's not common in Wellington Pauatahanui and Waikanae right? I have only 2 days in Auckland (only 1 full day in 13 Feb. and it's for Tiritiri currently) so I need to consider whether I should go to Ambury.

Ambury at high tide is a good bet, with a bus getting close to the farm park.

Near Christchurch there is a regular bus to Pegasus Town, then a 5km walk to Waikuku along the Tutaipatu Trail and there are often birds in the Ashley Estuary, though not as certain or in the same numbers as at Ambury. There are often Wrybills at Glentanner in January, especially earlier in the month.

- Stewart Kiwi: I'd like to find birds by myself instead of a guided tour. Am I able to go to Ulva Island by myself in the night or I have to attend a guided tour?

You can't stay overnight on Ulva. If you are persistent enough there is a reasonable chance of seeing Southern Kiwi around Halfmoon Bay/Oban township, places like Traill Park, or maybe Ringaringa Golf Course. If you have time and like walking you can go to the area around Masons Bay (or you can fly onto the beach there) and probably have more chance, staying overnight at Masons Bay Hut. Occasionally Kiwi are seen in the daytime on Ulva (and elsewhere on Stewart I) - the ends of the day give the best chance.

- Little Spotted Kiwi & Morepork: Similar to the above question, am I able to find them by myself in Zealandia/Tiritiri in daytime instead of a night guided tour?

LS Kiwi no, Morepork unlikely but possible. Morepork is quite a widespread species in NZ.

Hi Nick Allen,

Thank you very much for your patient and detailed reply! So glad to see it.

Rockwren and blue duck seems to be very tricky even if I could come to the right spot and those right spots themselves are triky too, so I still decide to give up.

Seems like Glentanner & Lake McGregor are still worth a try. I'm going to fully take your advice and send a email given that I'm not able to find Great Sights coach service.

For nocturnal birds, I'm going to a night guide tour in Zealandia.

Thanks for your detailed reply again!

[RichardLitt]

> - Little Spotted Kiwi & Morepork: Similar to the above question, am I able to find them by myself in Zealandia/Tiritiri in daytime instead of a night guided tour?

I've had luck hearing them on the border of the park at George Denton playground. It is not as good a chance as the night tour, however.

[geert108]

> - Little Spotted Kiwi & Morepork: Similar to the above question, am I able to find them by myself in Zealandia/Tiritiri in daytime instead of a night guided tour?

I've had luck hearing them on the border of the park at George Denton playground. It is not as good a chance as the night tour, however.

I think I'll not satisfied by just hearing them. But overall thanks for your advice!

[RussCannings]

For Black Stilt be on the lookout for them anywhere in the Mackenzie Basin (ie Tekapo/Twizel/Mt Cook area) as they can turn up nearly anywhere including ephemeral patches of water in paddocks etc. Very much worth checking ebird daily for recent sightings.

[geert108]

For Black Stilt be on the lookout for them anywhere in the Mackenzie Basin (ie Tekapo/Twizel/Mt Cook area) as they can turn up nearly anywhere including ephemeral patches of water in paddocks etc. Very much worth checking ebird daily for recent sightings.

Thanks for your advice about Black Stilt! Now I have more confidence to find it.

[geert108]

Btw what about Auckland Whale Watching tour for a glance at common birds in Hauraki Gulf such as Black Petrel?