After four weeks in Australia, we were to spend three weeks visiting both North and South Islands of New Zealand. Three weeks is the bare minimum to give the main birding areas justice!
Books & information
There are not many field guides to New Zealand birds. We used:
(1) 'The Hand Guide to the Birds of New Zealand' by Hugh Robertson & Barrie Heather (OUP). A good field guide with a useful short chapter on where to find birds; and
(2) 'Field Guide to New Zealand Seabirds' by Brian Parkinson (New Holland). A photographic guide that, despite having just one photo per species, has useful, up to date information and a handy checklist of species and locality guide.
For birding sites we used 'Birds of New Zealand - Locality Guide' by Stuart Chambers. While being a locality guide, it also has an entry for each species that gives field identification information as well as localities. At the end of the book there is a 65 page listing of sites (which gives directions for each site). All of these books are available in the UK.
Tapes or CDs
Tapes are available as a set - 'New Zealand Bird Song' in 7 volumes by Leslie McPherson - but they work out as quite expensive. An alternative is to check out the samples on
http://bigjude.com/BIRDSONG/ - NZ bird songs. The site has a reasonable variety of clips.
Maps
We bought the Kiwi Pathfinder 'New Zealand Travellers Road Atlas' on arrival. It is a comprehensive road atlas covering both islands and is very useful.
Travel practicalities
A good alternative to finding accommodation is to hire a campervan (basically a small RV). Britz, Maui, Pacific Horizon, Tui, Kea and Cruise New Zealand are among the main operators.
Useful web sites & email links
www.dolphinwatchmarlborough.co.nz. Dolphin Encounter, Marlborough Sound. The business has just been taken over by a young American couple, Dan & Amy Engelhaupt. They run an early morning birdwatcher's trip that takes in Motuara Island and White Rocks (where King Shags breed) three mornings a week. Their freephone number within NZ is 0800 MOTUARA, otherwise it is (03) 573 8040
www.oceanwings.co.nz/ Oceanwings, Kaikoura. A pelagic trip with Oceanwings is a 'must' - you get incredible views of seabirds at close range. Email
info@dolphin.co.nz, telephone: (03) 319-6777 or, freephone in NZ 0800 733 365
http://www.nzbirds.com/Aves.html - NZ bird taxonomy
http://www.penguin.net.nz/ - Penguin Net, NZ. Information, including sites
http://www.coastline-tours.co.nz/penguinexpress.htm Penguin Express Tours, Oamaru
Brown Kiwi
We saw North Island Brown Kiwi on a night time guided walk at Trounson Kauri Park, in North Island, to the north of Dargaville. The walks go from the Kauri Coast Top Ten Holiday Park, Trounson Park Road, Kaihu, Dargaville, tel: (09) 439 0621. It has motel and self-catering units as well as campsites and powered sites. They generally rate the chances of seeing a Kiwi as 80%, though at the time we were there Kiwis had been seen for at least five nights running! I don't remember how much it cost but it was quite inexpensive.
On Stewart Island, trips to see Brown Kiwis (Tokoeka) are operated by Philip Smith of Bravo Adventure Cruises, email
philldismith@xtra.co.nz, tel (03) 219 1144. They generally go every other night but sometimes they are fully booked by groups or postponed due to the weather. I think the cost is NZ$60.
To complicate things, the New Zealanders have split the Brown Kiwi into four species! See taxonomy web site below.
The Trip
Saturday 9th November
We arrived in Christchurch early in the afternoon after our flight from Hobart via Sydney. We picked up our rental motor home from the Maui depot close to the airport. After a full briefing from the Maui representative we were up and rolling. Since we'd had such a long day after a 4.00 am start from Hobart we just headed to the nearest supermarket to stock up and then to a motor park in Christchurch for the night.
Sunday 10th November
The day started warm but very windy. On our way across to Lake Tekapo we stopped off at Harty Creek, by Lake Ellesmere, just south of Christchurch. Here we saw our first endemic, New Zealand Scaup. The area was buzzing with introduced passerines, including Blackbird, Song Thrush, Goldfinch and Yellowhammer - so it felt a bit like Europe! Other birds here were Great Cormorant, Pied Cormorant, Mute Swan, Grey Teal, Mallard, Australian Shoveler, Swamp Harrier, Dunnock, Australasian Magpie, European Starling, House Sparrow, Chaffinch, European Greenfinch and Lesser Redpoll. We then drove inland to Lake Tekapo. On the way we saw White-faced Heron, our first South Island Oystercatchers and Masked Lapwing. We spent the night at a caravan park at Lake Tekapo, where it was beautiful but very cold. We could have done with thermals overnight!
Monday 11th November
We awoke to discover that snow had fallen overnight in the mountains, so there was an extra sprinkling of white on the mountaintops. Our objective was to find Black Stilt and other birds of the braided river systems of South Island. At our first stop, the Mount Cook Viewpoint at Lake Pukaki (mountain not visible!), we stumbled over our first Black-billed Gull in the car park! Our first attempt for Black Stilt was at the Tasman River Delta, Lake Pukaki. We had no luck but did find the endemic Paradise Shelduck, more New Zealand Scaup and several White-headed (Pied) Stilts. We tried a few more suitable spots but without luck. In a last try, we drove down to the Ohau River, just south-east of Twizel. After much diligent searching for the Stilts we managed to find one definite Black Stilt with the White-headed Stilts. Paradise Shelduck and New Zealand Scaup were easy to see along the drive down to the river (the Scaup being plentiful). On our journey from Lake Pukaki to Oamaru, we saw a good number of species, the best of which was our first Black-fronted Terns. Other birds included Great Crested Grebe, Little Pied Cormorant, Black Swan, Paradise Shelduck, Australian Shoveler, Swamp Harrier, Black-billed Gull, Welcome Swallow, Australasian Pipit and Australasian Magpie.
We checked in at the Top 10 Motor Park at Oamaru, on the east coast, and by luck came across Bruce Daniell who runs the Penguin Express Tours. We 'signed up' with him and left on the bus barely half an hour after arriving. The first port of call was the Yellow-eyed Penguin colony. Here we saw one bird coming ashore. We also saw our first Stewart Island and Spotted Shags offshore, an Australian Gannet, several Kelp Gulls, an Arctic Skua harassing the terns and several Dusky Dolphins. By now it was very cold. We chose the optional guided tour of the rookery. Our guide, Jim, is very enthusiastic and devoted to the Penguins. He showed us two females close up on their nests. One raised her body (because she was too hot!) and showed us two chicks underneath. It was magical!
We then went to the Little Penguin rookery nearer to the town. By now it was freezing so we were forced into buying gloves in the adjoining shop! We had good views of the Penguins coming ashore but it was much more 'touristy' and crowded than our low-key visit to the Little Penguin colony in Tasmania. We didn't get back to our motor park till around 11 pm (having not eaten since lunch time!).
It had been quite a day - we had experienced most kinds of weather, namely sun, wind, rain, sleet and snow! The locals were saying it had been the coldest spring for 50 years - no consolation for us!
Tuesday 12th November
We headed for Dunedin. On the way we saw our first Red-billed Gulls and White-fronted Terns. At Dunedin, we were hoping to see Northern Royal Albatrosses at Tairoa Head. Unfortunately the nesting area was closed until the birds had settled in to the colony so it was potluck whether we might see a bird in flight. Just after we got the there the weather deteriorated and rain and wind set in, though only for short periods. We did manage to get a brief view of a Northern Royal in flight (as we sat in the van!) and saw a Variable Oystercatcher and several Red-billed Gulls in the car park. Spotted Shags were plentiful on the cliff ledges. Offshore there was a large movement of Sooty Shearwaters. On the way back, between Tairoa Head and Portobello Bay, we saw Little Pied Cormorant, White-faced Heron, Royal Spoonbill and Variable Oystercatcher. We spent the night at a motor park in Dunedin.
Wednesday 13th November
To break our journey to Invercargill we spent much of the morning at Sinclair Wetlands, a private reserve, near Berwick, just south-west of Dunedin. This is a well-known spot for Fernbird. After a long chat and cup of tea with the reserve's manager, we set off down the main walking trail through the reserve. We slowly covered the part that was good for the endemic Fernbird but to no avail. Just after turning back we heard and saw our first Grey Warbler (or Gerygone) and then out popped a Fernbird! He sat on top of a clump of grass and sang briefly before disappearing. On the way back we saw another one in flight. There were also several water birds in the area, including White-faced Heron, Paradise Shelduck, Australian Shoveler and New Zealand Scaup. Swamp Harriers were common. Other birds included Welcome Swallow, Australasian Pipit and Silver-eye.
We spent the night in Invercargill, at the southern end of South Island.
Thursday 14th November
We were due to catch the early ferry from Bluff to Oban, Stewart Island. We left our van in secure parking and headed across the choppy waters of the Foveaux Straits. A number of passengers were ill! We didn't manage to see any seabirds on the way.
At Oban, Diane Smith, whose cottage we had rented for the night, met us. In the garden of the cottage we saw our first Tuis - wonderful, noisy, charismatic birds. After settling in we booked a water taxi to Ulva Island, where we spent a few hours, in delightful weather. It was wonderful for native birds. Wekas met us as we got off the water taxi (and accosted us as we had our lunch) and the forest had New Zealand Pigeon, Kaka, Yellow-crowned and Red-crowned Parakeets, Grey Warbler, Pipipi (Brown Creeper), Tomtit, Stewart Island Robin (a race of NZ Robin), Tui and Bellbird. Most of them were very tame. The only significant miss was Saddleback. Other birds were Pied Cormorant, Spotted Shag, Variable Oystercatcher, Kelp and Red-billed Gulls and Grey Fantail. A Little Penguin swam in Golden Bay.
In the evening we found New Zealand Pigeon, Kaka and Tui in Oban. We had been put on the waiting list for an evening Brown Kiwi trip but no trip went out that night.
Friday 15th November
Since the weather was still good we opted to walk from Oban out to Ackers Point. Apart from the usual Bronze and Spotted Shags, Variable Oystercatchers and Kelp and Red-billed Gulls, we saw 2 Little Penguins and 2 Fiordland Crested Penguins on the water (the latter loafing for several minutes, so we got good views through the scope of one of the world's rarest penguins). At the Point we saw a very distant Mollymawk, probably White-capped or Salvin's and some White-fronted Terns. On the way back we found New Zealand Pigeon, Kaka, Grey Fantail, Grey Gerygone, Silver-eye and Tui.
We caught the mid-afternoon ferry back to Bluff. Seabirds were better on the return trip. Battling the spray at the back of the ferry I saw at least 10 Shy Mollymawks, including some definite Salvin's, 2 Sooty Shearwaters, 3 Common Diving Petrels, 1 superb 'Snares' Cape Petrel that followed the boat for some 20 minutes and 4 White-fronted Terns.
After picking up the van at Bluff we headed north for Te Anau, where we were to spend the next two nights.
Saturday 16th November
This was our one opportunity to go to Milford Sound so we headed up the Eglinton Valley, making a few stops on the way. At Mirror Lakes we found 4 NZ Scaup and along the Nature Walk at Lake Gunn we saw our only Rifleman of the trip. The only other birds seen at Lake Gunn were Grey Fantail, Grey Gerygone and Chaffinch. Unfortunately by this point the weather was deteriorating - it was cold and wet. As we headed up to the Homer Tunnel we encountered light snow.
Just before the Tunnel entrance we pulled into the safe parking area where 4 Keas were ambling around - one flew onto the roof of the van! The drive through the Tunnel in the van was an interesting experience, to say the least. It's not a long tunnel but it's so dark that your headlights don't seem to make much difference. Anyway, we made it unscathed, both times!
It was like a different world at Milford Sound - the sun was shining and there was no rain. We had booked a 90-minute cruise on the Sound. It was a great scenic experience - in our view one of the finest scenic attractions in the world. On the cruise we saw 3 more Fiordland Crested Penguins on the rocks, plus a couple of NZ Fur Seals and several Common Bottle-nosed Dolphins. The only other birds were Variable Oystercatchers.
On the way back we ran into rain again. We gave up any chance of looking for Rock Wrens. Along the valley we saw Paradise Shelduck, New Zealand Scaup and Swamp Harrier.
Sunday 17th November
This day was taken up mainly by the journey from Te Anau to Wanaka. It was mostly cold and rainy again. We saw few birds apart from a White-faced Heron, a few Paradise Shelducks and Swamp Harriers, South Island Oystercatchers, Masked Lapwings and Australian Magpies.
Monday 18th November
Most of the day was again taken up travelling. As we left Wanaka we saw several NZ Scaup and Black-billed Gulls by the lakefront. Before arriving at Haast Pass, we stopped off at Davis Flat, to look for Yellowheads. Here we saw just a couple of Paradise Shelducks and a Tui. At the Haast Pass we stopped to look for Yellowheads, since this was probably our only realistic chance for them on this trip. I parked the van and walked across to the entrance of the track on the east side of the road. Within seconds I could hear Yellowheads calling and managed to locate one on a tree, quite near to the ground, very shortly afterwards - unbelievably quickly! I heard at least two other birds. There were also a few NZ Pigeons, Grey Gerygones and Bellbirds in the area.
After clearing the Pass we stopped down in the valley at Thunder Creek Falls, a spectacular waterfall, though not out of the ordinary in NZ terms. As I was walking back up the road to take a photo a Long-tailed Cuckoo shot across the road and into the tree on the other side. I didn't have my binoculars with me but it couldn't have been easier to identify! A Tomtit and Grey Gerygone were near the Falls.
Along west coast Highway 6, we stopped at Knight's Point Viewpoint, where several hundred Sooty Shearwaters were passing offshore.
We spent the night at a caravan park at Fox Glacier.
Tuesday 19th November
First thing we visited Lake Mattheson, a scenic spot that gives good views of Mount Cook and the Southern Alps. Here we bumped into Woody and Betsy who had been staying at Kingfisher Park in Northern Queensland at the same time as us, a few weeks earlier! Birds here were White-faced Heron, Paradise Shelduck, New Zealand Scaup, Purple Swamphen, Tomtit and Grey Gerygone. Fox Glacier was worth seeing though there were few birds apart from some Tomtits and Grey Warblers (and certainly no Rock Wrens) - ditto for Franz Josef Glacier.
For lunch, we stopped by Lake Mapourika, where we found NZ Scaup and a few native passerines - Tomtit, Bellbird and Tui.
We spent the night at Greymouth, in a caravan park just behind the beach, where there were glorious views at sunset.
Wednesday 20th November
Today we crossed over to Kaikoura, on the east coast of South Island, since we had pre-booked an Oceanwings pelagic for the next day. We spent most of the day travelling, though we did see Paradise Shelduck, Swamp Harrier, Purple Swamphen, South Island Oystercatcher, White-headed Stilt, Masked Lapwing, Kelp Gull, Black-fronted Tern and Tui. Late afternoon we checked in at a motor park at Kaikoura. In the town we learnt that no dolphin or pelagic trips had gone out for four days due to adverse weather so the omens weren't good. We cheered ourselves up by having perhaps the best fish and chips meal we had ever had!
Thursday 21st November
The winds had eased overnight so maybe it was looking good for the trip. A New Zealand Robin in the grounds of the caravan park (69 Beach Road Holiday Park) was perhaps a good omen. On checking with Oceanwings, we heard that the pelagic was on - and what a trip it was!
Just after leaving the harbour at South Bay we encountered the first Hutton's Shearwaters - we were to see many more. When we got a couple of miles or so offshore our skipper our skipper put out the chum. Almost immediately seabirds surrounded us. There were dozens of Cape Petrels, almost touching the boat, squabbling and fighting. A couple of Northern Giant Petrels were early visitors, accompanied by Gibson's Albatrosses. Then came other Albatrosses, Mollymawks and Petrels. In all we saw several Northern and 2 Southern Royal Albatrosses, 11 Gibson's and 2 Antipodean Albatrosses, 1 Campbell Island Mollymawk, 2 Black-browed Mollymawks (including a juvenile), 4 NZ White-capped and 15 Salvin's Mollymawks, 8 Northern Giant Petrels, many Westland Black Petrels, several White-chinned Petrels, many Cape Petrels (including at least 2 of the Snares subspecies) and Hutton's Shearwaters and a few Short-tailed Shearwaters. Non-avian 'goodies' were a large Mako Shark attracted to the chum, 2 NZ Fur Seals and, a real treat, 6 Hector's Dolphin's (one of the world's rarest). Our skipper felt it was the best trip for some time. It was a shame we couldn't have gone out again! I've been on a few pelagics now, in the North Atlantic and East Pacific but never have I got so close to so many wonderful seabirds. I can't recommend it highly enough.
Late morning we scanned the beach at South Bay and at last found one of the birds that had so far eluded us - 3 confiding Banded Dotterels. A Variable Oystercatcher was also here.
At our lunch stop, south-west of Raukatara, we were intrigued to find Red-billed Gulls and White-fronted Terns nesting on rocks only yards offshore. Between Kaikoura and Picton we saw the usual Paradise Shelducks and Swamp Harriers.
We spent the night at Picton.
Friday 22nd November
We had pre-booked the 8.30 am birdwatcher's cruise along Marlborough Sound with Dolphin Watch Picton. When we woke there was heavy rain. A call to the Dolphin Watch office produced the bad news that the trip was cancelled. Conditions looked more promising in the afternoon so we went out on the standard afternoon cruise. Unfortunately we had much less chance of King Shag on the trip, since it didn't go out to their nesting rocks. We didn't manage to see one in the Sound but did see many Fluttering Shearwaters (giving us a good chance to compare them with the Hutton's Shearwaters of the day before), a Little Penguin, 15+ Australian Gannets, Weka (2 on a beach), an Arctic Skua, Kelp Gull, Red-billed Gull and White-fronted Tern. We stopped at Motorua Island, where we saw several NZ Pigeons, NZ Robins and Bellbirds but unfortunately no Saddlebacks. Mammal sighting were 2 NZ Fur Seals and 6+ Dusky Dolphins.
Saturday 23rd November
We crossed to Wellington, in North Island, on the Lynx, the fast ferry. Conditions were so fine that we saw just one Salvin's Mollymawk, a Northern Giant Petrel, a few Fluttering and Hutton's Shearwaters, 2 Cape Petrels and 6+ White-fronted Terns.
After landing we headed for Ohakune in south-central North Island, where we were to stay the night. On the way we saw Paradise Shelduck, Swamp Harrier, Wild Turkey, Purple Swamphen, New Zealand Pigeon, Australasian Magpie and Rook. At Ohakune, a Morepork was calling in trees behind us after dark.
Sunday 24th November
Today our main target was to find Blue Duck in the Tongariro area. From our researches and information given to us before we left home, we thought it would be worth checking the Manganuiateao River in the direction of Orautoha and Ruatiti. After leaving the main road north of Ruatiti we took a gamble that the minor road would have a tarmac surface. Fortunately it did. We searched various spots along the river until the tarmac ended, without success. Turning back we checked another spot, just over 15 kms from the main road, and struck lucky - a Blue Duck perched on a rock in the river. It gave good views through the scope for several minutes, standing, preening and swimming. It was really good fortune to find such an elusive species without too much difficulty. Two NZ Pigeons were also in the area.
We then paid a short visit to Tongariro National Park, where we saw the volcanoes. Later Lake Rotopounamu produced Dunnock (singing - it sounded a bit different to UK birds), Grey Fantail, Tomtit and Grey Gerygone but no Whiteheads.
Lake Taupo had a number of water birds - Little Black, Great and Little Pied Cormorants, Black Swan, Grey Teal and Mallard. Common Mynas were becoming increasingly common in the area. After skirting Lake Taupo we arrived at Rotorua, where we spent two nights at the Holden Bay Top 10 Holiday Park.
Monday 25th November
A walk along the lakeshore by the town produced a good variety of birds - our first New Zealand Dabchicks (a pair with two young), Little Black, Great and Little Pied Cormorants, New Zealand Scaup, Purple Swamphen, White-headed Stilt, Kelp Gull, Red-billed Gull (found here though primarily a coastal species), Black-billed Gull, Grey Gerygone and Common Myna. In the afternoon we visited Blue Lake, just south of town. A few Grey Fantails, Tomtits, Grey Gerygones, Silver-eyes and Bellbirds were here but no Whiteheads.
We spent the evening at the NZ Arts and Crafts Institute in Rotorua, a cultural experience of traditions, rituals and lifestyle of the Maori people. It was one of the highlights of the trip and highly recommended.
Tuesday 26th November
We went on a boat trip to Mokoia Island, in the middle of Lake Rotorua, hoping to find Saddlebacks and Stitchbirds. Unfortunately, the skipper of the boat told us that most of the Stitchbirds had been removed, as their relocation hadn't proved to be a success. A strenuous hike up to the top of the island did however produce 11 Saddlebacks, some giving ridiculously close views. We also saw Little Black and Little Pied Cormorants, Black Swan, New Zealand Scaup, Kelp, Red-billed and Black-billed Gulls, Welcome Swallow, Grey Fantail, New Zealand Robin, Grey Gerygone, Silver-eye and Tui.
Early afternoon we drove to our next port of call, Miranda, on the Firth of Thames, south-east of Auckland.
Wednesday 27th November
Miranda is perhaps the shorebird capital of New Zealand, so we had high hopes of catching up with some target species. We started at Kaiaua and worked our way back down towards Miranda. At a roost north of Taramaire Creek there were two NZ Dotterels among the Bar-tailed Godwits and Red Knots. Just by Taramaire Creek we were lucky to find a single Wrybill on the beach - it gave good views of its curved bill. Other birds in the area were Pied and Little Pied Cormorants, White-faced Heron, Black Swan, Swamp Harrier, Purple Swamphen, South Island (Pied) and Variable Oystercatchers, White-headed Stilt, Masked Lapwing, Black-tailed and Bar-tailed Godwits, Red Knot, Kelp Gull and Caspian and White-fronted Terns.
In the afternoon we made our way along the Firth of Thames and past Auckland. On the way we saw Eastern Rosellas on a lamppost along Hwy 1 near Auckland and a Sacred Kingfisher at Kawakawa Bay. As we arrived at a caravan park near Orewa the heavens opened up and it rained steadily for several hours. The omens didn't look good for our trip to Tiritiri Matangi Island the next morning!
Thursday 28th November
An early morning call to Fuller's (the ferry operator) confirmed that the trip was on. The journey over to Tiritiri from Gulf Harbour was quite quick but on both legs we saw a total of 24 Little Penguins, 2 Arctic and 2 Pomarine Skuas.
Our five hours on the island were wonderful. We had wisely pre-booked a guided walk - this turned out to be very good because Bruce, our guide, was able to locate a number of native species (mainly along the Kawerau Track), including Takahe, NZ Pigeon, Red-fronted Parakeet, NZ Robin, Grey Warbler, Whitehead (at last!), Tui, Stitchbird (quite common, especially at feeders) and Saddleback. We heard a Kokako calling but just glimpsed a shape crashing through the treetops. We also saw a few Little Penguins (including 2 in a nest box), Purple Swamphen, Grey Fantail, Grey Gerygone, Silver-eye and Bellbird. While we were having our lunch near the small shop, a Takahe was wandering around nearby. At one point it went under the picnic tables!
One of the rangers recommended we return to the wharf via the Wattle Track, since there was a pair of Kokakos along it and a chance of Spotless Crake on a pool just above the wharf, so that is what we did. The advice was good because not only did we find two Kokakos bouncing about in the trees above us but we also had prolonged views of an obliging Spotless Crake! As we were waiting for the ferry, a Sacred Kingfisher was making forays nearby. It had been a wonderful visit.
On our return to Gulf Harbour we pointed the van north for the long drive to Trounson Park, in the north-west of North Island, where we had decided to spend our last two nights on the road. We arrived at the Trounson Top 10 Holiday Park at 7.30 in the evening. It proved to be an idyllic spot, with a stream running behind it. Tuis were plentiful and a Morepork was calling after dark.
Friday 29th November
First thing we booked a guided walk in the Kauri forest for that evening. Brown Kiwis had been seen on the last four evenings so we had some grounds for optimism. We didn't do much birding during the day. We visited the great Kauri tree, Tane Mohuta, and impressive it was. Late morning we took the local road to Omamari town and beach. This was an interesting choice because we saw no less than three introduced species - Ring-necked Pheasant, Wild Turkey and California Quail - along the tarmac section. On a pool further down there was a pair of NZ Dabchicks. Other birds were Paradise Shelduck, Grey Teal, Swamp Harrier, Purple Swamphen, White-headed Stilt (on the beach), Sacred Kingfisher and Australasian Pipit.
Having spent the early evening keeping an eye on the weather, we were pleased to see that the weather was fine for our walk. So at 8.30 pm we and eight others were taken by minivan to Trounson Park for our evening walk. In the early stages of the walk we could hear the odd Kiwi moving around in the forest but couldn't see any. We even heard a distant male calling. There were many other nocturnal creatures of interest in the forest, including carnivorous Kauri Snails, eels, Wetas (a huge cricket/grasshopper-like insect) and forest trout. At around 10 pm, just as we were becoming resigned to missing out on Kiwi, our guide found a large female, tramping around on the forest floor. We saw her well in red light for a few minutes - sheer magic! It was a wonderful way to finish off the New Zealand leg of our trip.
Saturday 30th November
We left Trounson Top 10 Holiday Park and headed towards Auckland. We made a small detour to Waipu Cove Nature Reserve on the eastern side of the Island. Here we had great views of NZ Dotterels - one came within a few feet. After a bit of searching I finally managed to locate the bird we'd come here for - a Fairy Tern, flying past. There were also lots of Variable Oystercatchers of different colour phases. We also saw Little Pied Cormorant, White-faced Heron, Bar-tailed Godwit, Ruddy Turnstone, Kelp and Red-billed Gulls and Caspian and White-fronted Terns.
Late afternoon we reached the Maui depot near Auckland Airport where we said a reluctant goodbye to our trusty van and then checked in at a hotel nearby. Next stop, the next day, was Fiji (where we were to change planes for Honolulu). The New Zealand leg of our trip was indeed memorable - wonderful scenery and birds, as well as warm and welcoming people. However, from an outsider's perspective, birding in NZ can be both frustrating and exhilarating. You can go for hours without finding many, if any, native birds yet when you do find them it's really worthwhile.
Our NZ trip list was 105, of which 55 were lifers. We had seen all of the endemic passerines apart from Rock Wren. Of the other endemics we had missed only Great Spotted and Lesser Spotted Kiwis (perhaps also, subject to taxonomy decisions, a few other 'Brown Kiwi' species), King Shag, NZ Falcon and Brown Teal.
Some thoughts for potential visitors
If you're going to visit both islands then I suggest the following 'must visit 'places (if possible):
(1) Tiritiri Matangi Island - a wonderful place to see native birds. Probably one of the few places with reasonable chance of seeing Kokako (and certainly Takahe);
(2) Rotorua - excellent for Maori culture and has some good birds in the area (NZ Dabchick, Saddleback on Mokoia Island);
(3) Tongariro National Park area - good for Blue Duck as well as scenery;
(4) Marlborough Sound - see 'Useful web sites & email links' above. Good area for wineries;
(5) Kaikoura - see 'Useful web sites & email links' above;
(6) Oamaru - both Little (Blue) and Yellow-eyed Penguin colonies
(7) Stewart Island - a wonderful haven, with plenty of native birds;
(8) Milford Sound & Fiordland - awesome scenery and the only realistic chance of Rock Wren by the Homer Tunnel.
New Zealand's weather can be unpredictable in Spring (and even in Summer). If you are going in October or November, it may be wise to go to North Island first to give the South Island a chance to warm up more. We were unlucky in that Spring 2002 seems to have been one of the coldest for many years in South Island!
Robert Grimmond
Kent, UK
kay.rob@btinternet.com
Trip List
In this list (which follows Clements's 'Birds of the World, A Checklist'), endemic species are shown in italics
Brown Kiwi 29/11 1 Trounson Park, North Island
Fiordland Crested Penguin 15/11 2 between Oban & Acker's Point, Stewart Island; 16/11 3 Milford Sound, Fiordland National Park, South Island
Yellow-eyed Penguin 11/11 3+ Oamaru, South Island (Penguin Tours)
Little Penguin 11/11 50+ Oamaru, South Island (Penguin Tours); 14/11 1 Golden Bay, Stewart Island; 15/11 2 between Oban & Acker's Point, Stewart Island; 22/11 1 Marlborough Sound, South Island (Dolphin Watch Cruise); 28/11 24 from Gulf Harbour to Tiritiri Matangi Ferry, North Island & 3 Tiritiri Matangi, North Island
New Zealand Grebe 25/11 2+ Lake Rotorua, North Island; 29/11 2 Omamari Road, North Island
Great Crested Grebe 11/11 few between Lake Pukaki & Oamaru, South Island
Wandering Albatross 21/11 13 (2 Antipodean & 11 Gibson's) Kaikoura Pelagic, South Island
Royal Albatross 12/11 1 Northern Royal Tairoa Head, Dunedin, South Island; 21/11 2 Southern Royal & several Northern Royal Kaikoura Pelagic, South Island
Black-browed Mollymawk 21/11 3 (2 Black-browed & 1 Campbell Island) Kaikoura Pelagic, South Island
Shy Mollymawk 15/11 10+ from the Oban to Bluff Ferry, South Island; 21/11 19 (4 White-capped & 15 Salvin's) Kaikoura Pelagic, South Island; 23/11 1 Salvin's from the Picton to Wellington Ferry
Hall's Giant Petrel 21/11 8 Kaikoura Pelagic, South Island; 23/11 1 from Picton to Wellington Ferry
Cape Petrel 15/11 1 Snares Cape Petrel from Oban to Bluff Ferry, South Island; 21/11 many (including at least 2 Southern Cape Petrels) Kaikoura Pelagic, South Island; 23/11 2 from Picton to Wellington Ferry
White-chinned Petrel 21/11 several Kaikoura Pelagic, South Island
Westland Petrel 21/11 common Kaikoura Pelagic, South Island
Sooty Shearwater 12/11 several hundred (probably thousands) off Tairoa Head, Dunedin, South Island; 15/11 2 from Oban to Bluff Ferry, South Island; 18/11 100+ Knight's Point Viewpoint, SH6, South Island
Short-tailed Shearwater 1 21/11 Kaikoura Pelagic, South Island
Hutton's Shearwater 21/11 common Kaikoura Pelagic, South Island; 23/11 1+ from Picton to Wellington Ferry
Fluttering Shearwater 22/11 common Marlborough Sound, South Island (Dolphin Watch Cruise); 23/11 several from Picton to Wellington Ferry
Common Diving-Petrel 15/11 3 from Oban to Bluff Ferry, South Island
Australian Gannet 11/11 1 off Oamaru, South Island; 22/11 15+ Dolphin Watch Cruise, Marlborough Sound, South Island
Little Black Cormorant 24/11 3+ Lake Taupo, North Island; 25/11 several Lake Rotorua, North Island; 26/11 common Mokoia Island, Lake Rotorua, North Island
Great Cormorant 10/11 several Harty Creek, Lake Ellesmere, Christchurch, South Island; 11/11 few between Lake Pukaki & Oamaru, South Island; 24/11 1 Lake Taupo, North Island; 25/11 several Lake Rotorua, North Island
Pied Cormorant 10/11 few Harty Creek, Lake Ellesmere, Christchurch, South Island; 14/11 1 Ulva Island, off Stewart Island; 22/11 1 Dolphin Watch Cruise, Marlborough Sound, South Island; 23/11 2 from Picton to Wellington Ferry; 27/11 1 Miranda area, Firth of Thames, North Island; 28/11 2 Gulf Harbour-Tiritiri Matangi Ferry, North Island
Bronze (Stewart Island) Shag 11/11 few Oamaru, South Island; 12/11 several Tairoa Head, Dunedin, South Island; 15/11 1 between Oban & Acker's Point, Stewart Island
Spotted Shag 11/11 few Oamaru, South Island; 12/11 common at sea and on cliff nests, Tairoa Head, Dunedin, South Island; 14/11 1 Ulva Island, off Stewart Island; 15/11 2 Oban to Acker's Point, Stewart Island; 22/11 common Dolphin Watch Cruise, Marlborough Sound, South Island
Little Pied Cormorant 11/11 few between Lake Pukaki & Oamaru, South Island; 12/11 several between Tairoa Head & Portobello Bay, Dunedin, South Island; 21/11 1 by Hwy 1 south-west of Raukatara, South Island; 24/11 3+ Lake Taupo, North Island; 25/11 several Lake Rotorua, North Island; 26/11 few Mokoia Island, Lake Rotorua, North Island; 27/11 3 Miranda area, Firth of Thames, North Island; 30/11 few Waipu Cove Nature Reserve, North Island
White-faced Heron 10/11 3 between Christchurch & Lake Tekapo, South Island; 11/11 few between Lake Pukaki & Oamaru, South Island; 12/11 3 between Tairoa Head & Portobello Bay, Dunedin, South Island; 13/11 1 Sinclair Wetlands, near Berwick, South Island; 17/1 1 between Te Anau & Wanaka, South Island; 19/11 1 Lake Mattheson, near Fox Glacier, South Island; 26/11 1 Miranda, North Island; 27/11 10+ Miranda area, Firth of Thames, North Island; 30/11 2 Waipu Cove Nature Reserve, North Island
Royal Spoonbill 12/11 1 between Tairoa Head & Portobello Bay, Dunedin, South Island
Mute Swan 10/11 1 Harty Creek, Lake Ellesmere, Christchurch, South Island
Black Swan 11/11 several between Lake Pukaki & Oamaru, South Island; 12/11 few between Oamaru & Dunedin, South Island; 13/11 few Sinclair Wetlands, near Berwick, South Island; 24/11 4+ Lake Taupo, North Island; 26/11 common Mokoia Island, Lake Rotorua, North Island; 27/11 3 Miranda area, Firth of Thames, North Island
Canada Goose 13/11 2+ Sinclair Wetlands, near Berwick, South Island
Paradise Shelduck 11/11 2 Tasman River Delta, Lake Pukaki, few Ohau River, SE of Twizel & several between Lake Pukaki & Oamaru, South Island; 12/11 2 between Oamaru & Dunedin, South Island; 13/11 2 Sinclair Wetlands, near Berwick, South Island; 16/11 4 Eglinton Valley, Fiordland National Park, South Island; 17/11 4+ between Te Anau & Wanaka, South Island; 18/11 2 Davis Flat, by Haast River, South Island; 19/11 3+ Lake Mattheson, near Fox Glacier, South Island; 20/11 few between Greymouth & Kaikoura, South Island; 21/11 quite common between Kaikoura & Picton, South Island; 22/11 2 Dolphin Watch Cruise, Marlborough Sound, South Island; 23/11 several between Wellington & Ohakune, North Island; 28/11 several between Orewa & Trounson Park, North Island; 29/11 few Omamari Road, North Island
Blue Duck 24/11 1 on Manganuioteao River, 15.4 kms from Hwy 4, Tongariro-Raethi, North Island
Grey Teal 10/11 1 Harty Creek, Lake Ellesmere, Christchurch, South Island; 24/11 2 Lake Taupo, North Island; 29/11 4+ Omamari Road, North Island
Mallard 10/11 few Harty Creek, Lake Ellesmere, Christchurch, South Island; 11/11 common between Lake Pukaki & Oamaru, South Island; 13/11 common Sinclair Wetlands, near Berwick, South Island; 24/11 several Lake Taupo, North Island
Australian Shoveler 10/11 few Harty Creek, Lake Ellesmere, Christchurch, South Island; 11/11 few between Lake Pukaki & Oamaru, South Island; 13/11 1 Sinclair Wetlands, near Berwick, South Island
New Zealand Scaup 10/11 14 Harty Creek, Lake Ellesmere, Christchurch, South Island; 11/11 60 along canal by Ohau River, SE of Twizel, South Island; 13/11 several Sinclair Wetlands, near Berwick, South Island; 16/11 4 Mirror Lakes, Eglinton Valley, Fiordland National Park, South Island; 18/11 few Lakefront, Wanaka, South Island; 19/11 2 Lake Mattheson, near Fox Glacier, South Island; 19/11 2 Lake Mapourika, South Island; 25/11 common Lake Rotorua, North Island; 26/11 common Mokoia Island, Lake Rotorua, North Island
Swamp Harrier 10/11 1 Harty Creek, Lake Ellesmere, Christchurch, South Island; 1/11 2 between Lake Pukaki & Oamaru, South Island; 13/11 4 Sinclair Wetlands, near Berwick, South Island; 16/11 2 Eglinton Valley, Fiordland National Park, South Island; 17/11 3 between Te Anau & Wanaka, South Island; 19/11 2 SH6, South Island; 20/11 4 between Greymouth & Kaikoura, South Island; 21/11 6+ between Kaikoura & Picton, South Island: 22/11 1 Dolphin Watch Cruise, Marlborough Sound, South Island; 23/11 1 between Wellington & Ohakune, North Island; 27/11 1 Miranda area, Firth of Thames, North Island; 28/11 1 between Orewa & Trounson Park, North Island; 29/11 1 Omamari Road, North Island; 30/11 few Northland, North Island
Wild Turkey 23/11 4 between Wellington & Ohakune, North Island; 29/11 6 Omamari Road, North Island
California Quail 29/11 2 Omamari Road, North Island
Ring-necked Pheasant 29/11 1 Omamari Road, North Island
Weka 14/11 10+ ('Stewart Island Weka') Ulva Island, off Stewart Island; 22/11 2 ('2 (Western Weka') feeding on a beach, Dolphin Watch Cruise, Marlborough Sound, South Island
Spotless Crake 28/11 1 on the dam above the jetty, Tiritiri Matangi, North Island
Purple Swamphen 19/11 1 Lake Mattheson, near Fox Glacier, South Island; 20/11 1 between Greymouth & Kaikoura, South Island; 23/11 2 between Wellington & Ohakune, North Island; 24/11 1 Holden Bay Top 10 Holiday Park, Rotorua, North Island; 25/11 1 on golf course, Lake Rotorua, North Island; 26/11 1 Miranda, North Island; 27/11 few Miranda area, Firth of Thames, North Island; 28/11 2 Tiritiri Matangi, North Island; 29/11 few Omamari Road, North Island
Takahe 28/11 2 Tiritiri Matangi, North Island
South Island Oystercatcher (formerly treated as a race of Pied Oystercatcher) 10/11 few between Christchurch & Lake Tekapo, South Island; 11/11 few between Lake Pukaki & Oamaru, South Island; 17/11 several between Te Anau & Wanaka, South Island; 19/11 few SH6, South Island; 20/11 4 between Greymouth & Kaikoura, South Island; 27/11 several Miranda area, Firth of Thames, North Island
Variable Oystercatcher 12/11 1 Tairoa Head, Dunedin & 2 between Tairoa Head & Portobello Bay, Dunedin, South Island; 14/11 2 Ulva Island, off Stewart Island; 15/11 3 between Oban & Acker's Point, Stewart Island; 16/11 2 Milford Sound, Fiordland National Park, South Island; 21/11 1 South Bay, Kaikoura, South Island; 27/11 common Miranda area, Firth of Thames, North Island; 28/11 2 Gulf Harbour, North Island; 30/11 common Waipu Cove Nature Reserve, North Island
White-headed Stilt 11/11 several Tasman River Delta, Lake Pukaki & Ohau River, SE of Twizel & few between Lake Pukaki & Oamaru, South Island; 20/11 1 between Greymouth & Kaikoura, South Island; 25/11 1 Lake Rotorua, North Island; 27/11 30+ on Stilt Ponds, Miranda area, Firth of Thames, North Island; 29/11 2 on beach at end of Omamari Road, North Island
Black Stilt 11/11 1 Ohau River, SE of Twizel, South Island
Masked Lapwing 10/11 several between Christchurch & Lake Tekapo, South Island; 11/11 common between Lake Pukaki & Oamaru, South Island; 13/11 few Sinclair Wetlands, near Berwick, South Island; 17/11 several between Te Anau to Wanaka, South Island; 19/11 few SH6, South Island; 20/11 2 between Greymouth & Kaikoura, South Island; 26/11 3 Miranda, North Island; 27/11 10+ Miranda area, Firth of Thames, North Island
Red-breasted (New Zealand) Dotterel 27/11 2 on beach north of Tamaraire Creek, Miranda area, Firth of Thames, North Island; 30/11 10 Waipu Cove Nature Reserve, North Island
Double-banded Plover 21/11 3 South Bay, Kaikoura, South Island
Wrybill 27/11 1 just north of Taramaire Creek, Miranda area, Firth of Thames, North Island
Black-tailed Godwit 27/11 1+ Miranda area, Firth of Thames, North Island
Bar-tailed Godwit 27/11 common Miranda area, Firth of Thames, North Island; 30/11 common Waipu Cove Nature Reserve, North Island
Ruddy Turnstone 30/11 4 Waipu Cove Nature Reserve, North Island
Red Knot 27/11 common Miranda area, Firth of Thames, North Island
Pomarine Jaeger 28/11 2 from Gulf Harbour-Tiritiri Matangi Ferry, North Island
Parasitic Jaeger 11/11 1 Oamaru, South Island; 22/11 1 on Dolphin Watch Cruise, Marlborough Sound, South Island; 28/11 2 from Gulf Harbour-Tiritiri Matangi Ferry, North Island
Kelp Gull 11/11 several Oamaru, South Island; 12/11 common Tairoa Head, Dunedin, South Island; 14/11 several Ulva Island, off Stewart Island; 15/11 several between Oban & Acker's Point, Stewart Island; several SH6, South Island; 20/11 several between Greymouth & Kaikoura, South Island; 21/11 common Kaikoura Pelagic, South Island; 22/11 common Dolphin Watch Cruise, Marlborough Sound, South Island; 25/11 several Lake Rotorua, North Island; 26/11 several Mokoia Island, Lake Rotorua, North Island; 27/11 several Miranda area, Firth of Thames, North Island; 30/11 few Waipu Cove Nature Reserve, North Island
Red-billed Gull 12/11 common between Oamaru & Dunedin & Tairoa Head, Dunedin, South Island; 14/11 common Ulva Island, off Stewart Island; 15/11 common between Oban & Acker's Point, Stewart Island; 21/11 common Kaikoura Pelagic & several nesting on a rock just offshore from Hwy 1 south-west of Raukatara, South Island; 22/11 several Dolphin Watch Cruise, Marlborough Sound, South Island; 25/1 common Lake Rotorua, North Island; 26/11 common Mokoia Island, Lake Rotorua, North Island; 28/11 several Tiritiri Matangi, North Island; 30/11 several Waipu Cove Nature Reserve, North Island
Black-billed Gull 11/11 1 Mount Cook Viewpoint car park, Lake Pukaki & few between Lake Pukaki & Oamaru, South Island; 18/11 20+ Lakefront, Wanaka, South Island; 25/11 common Lake Rotorua, North Island; 26/11 common Mokoia Island, Lake Rotorua, North Island
Caspian Tern 27/11 2 Miranda area, Firth of Thames, North Island; 28/11 2 Tiritiri Matangi, North Island; 30/11 1 Waipu Cove Nature Reserve, North Island
White-fronted Tern 12/11 few between Oamaru & Dunedin, South Island; 15/11 5 between Oban & Acker's Point, Stewart Island & 4 from Oban to Bluff Ferry, South Island; 21/11 several nesting on a rock just offshore from Hwy 1 south-west of Raukatara, South Island; 22/11 7+ Dolphin Watch Cruise, Marlborough Sound, South Island; 23/11 6 from Picton to Wellington Ferry; 27/11 20+ Miranda area, Firth of Thames, North Island; 30/11 common Waipu Cove Nature Reserve, North Island
Fairy Tern 30/11 1 Waipu Cove Nature Reserve, North Island
Black-fronted Tern 11/11 several between Lake Pukaki & Oamaru, South Island; 20/11 2 between Greymouth & Kaikoura, South Island
New Zealand Pigeon 14/11 3 Ulva Island, off Stewart Island & 1 Oban, Stewart Island; 15/11 1 between Oban & Acker's Point, Stewart Island; 18/11 2 Haast Pass, South Island; 22/11 2 on Motorua Island on Dolphin Watch Cruise, Marlborough Sound, South Island; 23/11 1 between Wellington & Ohakune, North Island; 24/11 2 Tongariro-Raethi, North Island; 28/11 Tiritiri Matangi, North Island; 30/11 1 flying over Hwy 1, Northland, North Island
Kea 16/11 4 in lay by in safe parking area, Homer Tunnel area, Fiordland National Park, South Island
New Zealand Kaka 14/11 3+ Ulva Island, off Stewart Island & 5 Oban, Stewart Island; 15/11 2 between Oban & Acker's Point, Stewart Island
Red-fronted Parakeet 14/11 common Ulva Island, off Stewart Island; 28/11 common Tiritiri Matangi, North Island
Yellow-fronted Parakeet 14/11 1+ Ulva Island, off Stewart Island
Eastern Rosella 27/11 2 along Hwy 1 south of Auckland, North Island; 29/11 2 Trounson Park Top 10 Holiday Park, North Island
Long-tailed Koel 18/11 1 Thunder Creek Falls, Haast River Valley, South Island
Morepork 23/11 1 Top 10 Holiday Park, Ohakune, North Island; 28/11 1 Trounson Park Top 10 Holiday Park, North Island
Sacred Kingfisher 27/11 1 Kawakawa Bay, between Miranda & Auckland, North Island; 28/11 3 Tiritiri Matangi, North Island; 29/11 1 Trounson Park Top 10 Holiday Park & 1 Omamari Road, North Island
Rifleman 16/11 1 Nature Walk, Lake Gunn, Fiordland NP, South Island
Welcome Swallow 11/11 common between Lake Pukaki & Oamaru, South Island; 13/11 common Sinclair Wetlands, near Berwick, South Island; 25/11 several Blue Lake, Rotorua, North Island; 26/11 common Mokoia Island, Lake Rotorua, North Island; 28/11 few Tiritiri Matangi, North Island
Australasian Pipit 11/11 few between Lake Pukaki & Oamaru, South Island; 13/11 1 Sinclair Wetlands, near Berwick, South Island; 29/11 1 behind beach at end of Omamari Road, North Island
Dunnock 10/11 few Harty Creek, Lake Ellesmere, Christchurch, South Island; 24/11 1 Lake Rotopounamu, North Island
Eurasian Blackbird 10/11 few Harty Creek, Lake Ellesmere, Christchurch, South Island
Song Thrush few Harty Creek, Lake Ellesmere, Christchurch, South Island
Fernbird 13/11 2 Sinclair Wetlands, near Berwick, South Island
Grey Fantail 14/11 3 Ulva Island, off Stewart Island; 15/11 1 between Oban & Acker's Point, Stewart Island; 16/11 11 Nature Walk, Lake Gunn, Fiordland NP, South Island; 24/11 4+ Lake Rotopounamu & 2 Holden Bay Top 10 Holiday Park, Rotorua, North Island; 25/11 few Blue Lake, Rotorua, North Island; 26/11 common Mokoia Island, Lake Rotorua, North Island; 28/11 2 Tiritiri Matangi, North Island
Tomtit 14/11 3 Ulva Island, off Stewart Island; 18/11 1 Thunder Creek Falls, Haast River Valley, South Island; 19/11 3+ Lake Mattheson, near Fox Glacier, 2 Fox Glacier & 2 Lake Mapourika, South Island; 24/11 1 Lake Rotopounamu, North Island; 25/11 2+ Blue Lake, Rotorua, North Island
New Zealand Robin
Stewart Island Robin: 14/11 2, Ulva Island, off Stewart Island
South Island Robin: 21/11 1 69 Beach Road Holiday Park, Kaikoura, South Island; 22/11 4+ Motorua Island, on Dolphin Watch Cruise, Marlborough Sound, South Island
North Island Robin: 26/11 3 Mokoia Island, Lake Rotorua, North Island; 28/11 2 Tiritiri Matangi, North Island
Whitehead 28/11 several Tiritiri Matangi, North Island
Yellowhead 3+ Haast Pass, South Island
Pipipi (Brown Creeper) 14/11 common Ulva Island, off Stewart Island
Grey Gerygone 13/11 1 Sinclair Wetlands, near Berwick, South Island; 14/11 several Ulva Island, off Stewart Island; 15/11 few between Oban & Acker's Point, Stewart Island; 16/11 2 Nature Walk, Lake Gunn, Fiordland NP, South Island; 18/11 1+ Haast Pass & 1+ Thunder Creek Falls, Haast River Valley, South Island; 19/11 few Lake Mattheson, near Fox Glacier & 1 Fox Glacier, South Island; 24/11 few Lake Rotopounamu, North Island; 25/11 1 Lake Rotorua & common Blue Lake, Rotorua, North Island; 26/11 several Mokoia Island, Lake Rotorua, North Island; 28/11 few Tiritiri Matangi, North Island; 29/11 1 Trounson Park Top 10 Holiday Park, North Island
Silver-eye 13/11 3 Sinclair Wetlands, near Berwick, South Island; 15/11 2 between Oban & Acker's Point, Stewart Island; 21/11 1 69 Beach Road Holiday Park, Kaikoura, South Island; 25/11 few Blue Lake, Rotorua, North Island; 26/11 several Mokoia Island, Lake Rotorua, North Island; 28/11 2 Tiritiri Matangi, North Island
Stitchbird common Tiritiri Matangi, North Island
New Zealand Bellbird 14/11 common Ulva Island, off Stewart Island; 18/11 few Haast Pass, South Island; 19/11 1+ Lake Mapourika, South Island; 22/11 common on Motorua Island on Dolphin Watch Cruise, Marlborough Sound, South Island; 25/11 few Blue Lake, Rotorua, North Island; 28/11 common Tiritiri Matangi, North Island
Tui 14/11 common Oban, Stewart Island & Ulva Island, off Stewart Island; 15/11 common between Oban & Acker's Point, Stewart Island; 18/11 few Makarora & 1+ Davis Flat, by Haast River, South Island; 19/11 2 Lake Mapourika, South Island; 20/11 1 between Greymouth & Kaikoura, South Island; 26/11 common Mokoia Island, Lake Rotorua, North Island; 28/11 common Tiritiri Matangi & few Trounson Park Top 10 Holiday Park, North Island; 29/11 few Trounson Park Top 10 Holiday Park, North Island; 30/11 1 Trounson Park Top 10 Holiday Park & 1 Hwy 12, Northland, North Island
Kokako 28/11 3 Tiritiri Matangi, North Island (1 heard and glimpsed along the Kawerau Trail; the other two seen on the Wattle Track)
Saddleback 26/11 11+ Mokoia Island, Lake Rotorua, North Island; 28/11 common Tiritiri Matangi, North Island
Australasian Magpie 10/11 2 Harty Creek, Lake Ellesmere, Christchurch, South Island; 11/11 common between Lake Pukaki & Oamaru, South Island; 17/11 few between Te Anau & Wanaka, South Island; 23/11 common between Wellington & Ohakune, North Island
Rook 23/11 1 between Wellington & Ohakune, North Island
Common Myna 24/11 common Lake Taupo, North Island; 25/11 several Lake Rotorua, North Island
European Starling 10/11 few Harty Creek, Lake Ellesmere, Christchurch, South Island
House Sparrow 10/11 few Harty Creek, Lake Ellesmere, Christchurch, South Island
Chaffinch 10/11 few Harty Creek, Lake Ellesmere, Christchurch, South Island; 16/11 few Nature Walk, Lake Gunn, Fiordland NP, South Island
European Greenfinch 10/11 few Harty Creek, Lake Ellesmere, Christchurch, South Island
Lesser Redpoll 10/11 few Harty Creek, Lake Ellesmere, Christchurch, South Island
European Goldfinch 10/11 few Harty Creek, Lake Ellesmere, Christchurch, South Island
Yellowhammer 10/11 few Harty Creek, Lake Ellesmere, Christchurch, South Island
