Incoming Bar-tailed Godwits at Manukapua
Wrybill and Red-necked Stint at Manukapua
Monday Sept 27 with high tide of 3.4m, sunny day, 10-15 knot westerly blowing.
Kaka at Maungatautari Southern Enclosure
Taken near entrance, feeding in puakou. (August 2010)
Kaka feeding in lichen
Probably taking tiny spiders and beetles from in amongst lichen. Taken at Maungatautari (Aug2010)
Kereru foraging on early flowering kowhai along the east coast of Tiri.
Tui feeding on Puakou
Feeding on Five Finger (Pseudopanax arboreus), on Tiri.
Hihi female on Puriri flower
Pelagic out of Whangaroa Harbour (Far North)
7.30am - we came out of the harbour entrance through thick fog that wreathed the coastline.
Sunrise across the sea
Fluttering Shearwaters fishing
Part of a flock of 1200+ Fluttering Shearwaters, seen just east of Stephenson Island.
Coastal islands
Looking south towards the Cavalli Islands
White-capped Albatross
First Albie of the day, but not the last !
Fairy Prion
First Wandering Albatross
Note the state of moult on the wings.
Wandering Albatross - wingspan !
A wingspan of about 3m !
Wandering Alb resting on the sea.
Cape Petrel
One of only two we saw all day.
Second Wandering Albatross drops in.
This one followed us most of the rest of the day.
Blue Nose for dinner !
Caught at about 280m - it was delicious eating.
Campbell (Black-browed) Albatross
In full makeup !
Campbell Albatross face on !
What a beauty !
Grey-faced Petrel
They were afternoon birds - coming inshore later in the day.
Rainbow showers over the coast near Whangaroa
On the way back in over a lumpy sea.
Chestnut Teal at Mangere in May
Seen Sat 15th May with Grey Teal
Shoveler in smart breeding plumage
Male and female Shoveller at Mangere canal off Island Rd
Stilts and Godwits
A tiny portion of the large flock of SIPO, Pied Stilts and Godwits that were on the shellbanks at Mangere May 2010
Spoonbills at Mangere
About 188 spoonbills there today in this main flock and a smaller group on the middle shellbank.
Godwits and Stilts
A small portion of the Godwit and Pied Stilt flocks on the middle shellbank
Spoonbills and Stilts
Spoonbills, Pied Stilts, Godwits, White-faced Herons etc
Spoonbills carrying sticks
This is maybe a courting behaviour, like the Pipits, showing off their potential nest making skills.
Godwits and stilts in shellbank pools
Spot the Kingfisher !
Kingfisher at Mangere
There were lots around today ... 12++
Spoonbills again
I'm a bit keen on Spoonbills, so lots of photos !
Spoonbill with an itch
8-)
Spoonbills being social Spoonbills
Down at the water's edge and out of the wind.
Mataia Saltmarsh, Kaipara Harbour
Beautiful and precious wetland habitat !
Two Cattle Egrets plus a Little Egret, Mataia coastal Kaipara Harbour
Not 100% sure of ID, but think these are two Cattle Egrets and one Little Egret, seen from the mangrove fringe at Mataia on 29.4.2010. They are perched with White-faced Herons and the black blog in the sea is a Black Swan feeding there.
Egrets at Mataia
Another shot showing the fine black bill and longer neck of the Little Egret vs the squat stance and thick yellow bill of the Cattle Egret.
Egrets at Mataia 2
A little closer, a little more detail for comparison, left to right, White-faced Heron, Little Egret?, Cattle Egret ...
Bittern at Mataia near the Kaipara
This Australasian Bittern, (Botaurus poiciloptilus) was flushed by myself and Shane Hood from a small fresh water pool surrounded by toitoi on 29.4.2010
Pied Stilts in the air with Caspian Terns
Mataia saltmarsh 29.4.2010
Mataia Saltmarsh 2
South Island Pied Oystercatchers at Shelley Beach, South Kaipara
These were part of a group of about 400 SIPO roosting on the high tide.
White-fronted Terns at Shelley Beach
And these were part of a group of 40+ roosting nearby.
Spoonbills near Shelley Beach on the Kaipara
96 Spoonbills were perched on the rocks and a large fallen pine tree. More than I've ever seen there in the past. Last high tally was 70+, usually around 40+, so this is a good number !
Spoonbills near Shelley Beach, South Kaipara
Perching space was at a premium around high tide (9.30am+ 26 April 20101)
Spoonbills at Waipu Estuary - April 2010
Whangarei Heads in background
Spoonbills at Unahi on Rangaunu Harbour near Kaitaia
These Spoonbills were roosting and feeding on the low tide mud at Unahi opposite the wharf.
Reef Heron at Parengarenga Harbour
This Reef Heron was up near the little camping ground at Paua in the centre of the harbour, flew to the sandspit then flew back to this spot and fished off the rocks nearby.
Banded Dotterel on 90-mile Beach near Te Paki - there were about a dozen on the beach that day
Lots of bandits scattered up the beach.
Pipit Courtship Behaviour 1
We observed this Pipit for about 10 mins tossing tiny stalks about and finally figured out (when a female appeared) this was most likely courtship behaviour.
Pipit Courtship Behaviour 2
This took place on 90-mile Beach at the very top, just below Scotts Point.
Pipit Courtship Behaviour 3
Pipit Courtship Behaviour 4
The object of his desires - female Pipit arrives on the scene and they fly off over the back dune together
Australasian Harrier - 90 Mile beach - 22 April 2010
This beauty was feeding on a calf or pig skin on the beach and was keen to stay put. A juvenile Harrier from the dark brown eyes and decreasing white patch on the nape visible in other pix.
Australiasian Harrier on 90-Mile Beach
To help Harrier conservation, go to www.wingspan.co.nz for the Wingspan Birds of Prey Trust.
Kahu at lunch !
Autumn red flowering Eucalypt fringed with Tui song !
Does anyone know what Eucalypt species this is please ?
Male Scaup at Western Springs
Worked hard to get both bright yellow eyes showing (April 2010)
Male Scaup portrait
I liked this shot of him looking up with his eye on a possible food source. April 2010
Female Scaup at Western Springs
Golden eyes, brown plumage. Paired with male above. April 2010.
Coot portrait from Western Springs
Again, worked hard at getting both eyes front on and happy with this result - and those big webbed feet too ! April 2010.
Eels en masse at Western Springs - not a bird I know !!
So many eels !! They were being hand fed bread and the ducks were getting quite annoyed that eels en masse were impenetrable !
Australasian Harrier April 2010
A new advocate in the battle to give these birds full protection - her name is Fran. She is beautiful isn't she ! Wingspan Birds of Prey Trust, April 2010
Atareta - NZ Falcon
Atareta pauses during her flight display at Wingspan Birds of Prey Trust, Rotorua. Raptor Training Course, April 2010.
Reef Herons at Maketu BOP March 2010
Tui at Tiri 2009
Banded WFT
Does anyone know who and where banding of WFTs occurrs in NZ ? This WFT on the right is carrying a silver band. Photo taken at Manukapua on the Kaipara Harbour on 24th November
White-fronted Terns at Manukapua
Godwit and Knot flock roosting
Godwit and Knot flock Manukapua
The flock rises to move nearer the tide edge
Mystery Wader at Manukapua 20/11/2009
Going back for more pix asap !
Mystery wader standing
Consensus seems to be that it's most likely a White-rumped Sandpiper, but it disappeared and wasn't seen again.
Mystery wader in flight
White-faced Heron Chicks
These chicks were in a nest fairly low in a pohutakawa tree, in a garden at Kaimaumau in the Far North. The nest was perhaps 7-8m up in the tree. The chicks followed our every move as we moved beneath the tree to get a different angle. This photo was taken in September 2009.
Reef Heron in flight, Aitutaki
Note dark feathers in primaries and scattered throughout plumage
NZ Storm Petrel foraging
Hauraki Gulf, Feb 11
Grey Ternlet, Mokohinau Islets, Hauraki Gulf
Maori Rocks, Hauraki Gulf Feb 2009
Buller's Shearwater
Hauraki Gulf February 2009