North Island sightings

[Brent Stephenson]

Hi all,

Most of the way through an excellent North Island leg of a 21-day tour and thought I should just post some sighting info…

Day one 4 Nov – Ruawai we had two distant 'white blobs' on branches on the opposite side of the river from the main Ruawai boat ramp. If looking at the boat ramp they were at 10 o'clock in the distance, and I suspect they were probably pelicans. It was really blowing a gale when we were there. Sav will be there with another group tomorrow so will check the area. We had great views of two adult kiwi and a chick at Trounson Kauri Park that night.

Day two 5 Nov – Pair of Aust little grebes on the pond at Ormiston Road, Waipu. There was also at least one dabchick on the pond. Pair of fairy terns at Waipu Estuary and another pair at Mangawhai Heads. 9 Australian pelicans seen at the latter.

Day three 6 Nov – Excellent pelagic out on the Hauraki Gulf with a full crew. Had great views of at least 5 NZ storm-petrels and possibly more at one chumming location inside the Mokohinaus. Great views of diving gannets and feeding common dolphins and massive numbers of fluttering shearwaters streaming to the NE. All the usual suspects, inc grey-faced petrels (out past the Mokohinaus), a couple of little shearwaters which just didn't show well, but no grey ternlets seen. At least two white-capped albatross seen.

Day four 7 Nov – Excellent time on Tiritiri Matangi with great views of kokako, spotless crake, fernbird, and takahe (a little tricky as they are breeding at present) plus all the usual tiri specialties. Managed excellent prolonged views of two little spotted kiwi on the ridge track despite wet conditions.

Day five 8 Nov – Miranda found two curlew sandpipers, about 10+ Pacific golden plover, 5 sharpies and the marsh sand (the latter two on the Stilt Pond). Also excellent views of buff-banded rail (third sighting for the trip) at the Stilt Pond.

Day six 9 Nov – Whitianga pelagic in the afternoon with good numbers of Pycroft petrels seen coming in towards the Mercury Islands in the late afternoon. Northern giant petrel (1), Cape petrel (1), Salvin's albatross (1), and white-capped albatross (1) extras to the usuals, but also very good views of 4-5 little shearwaters during the afternoon, and a nice mako shark visited.

Day seven 10 Nov – Finally got bittern at Whangamarino (after none the day before), and two falcon around Pureora (one carrying prey). Yellow-crowned parakeets tricky, but kaka prolific, and found a peripatus on request also! Very cool critter! No long-tailed cuckoo calling surprisingly considering it was a lovely day.

Day eight 11 Nov – Again no long-tailed cuckoo calling at Boundary Stream, and falcon only glimpsed there. Checked Anderson Park in Taradale but NO plumed whistling ducks seen! Checked all the ponds and water there but to no avail, shining cuckoo was a consolation though! Another falcon seen near Titiokura on the way back to Turangi.

Full account with photos on my blog - http://www.B1RDER.blogspot.com

Cheers,

[Dacelo]

Finally made it to Napier to look for the plumed whistling duck on 6th November, despite an extensive search they were not seen. However the next day they were in the exact spot mentioned in previous emails. They were quite tame and approachable. A quick visit to Westshore waders seen: saw 8 godwit, 3 banded plover and 1 black-fronted plover.
Duncan Cape

[Olwen]

Great pictures on your blog!

[Brent Stephenson]

Thanks Olwen! Glad you found them Duncan...seems they are probably still around then and we were unlucky on the day. I bet Sav sees them when he gets there on his tour in a few days!

Cheers,