14-21.10.02 saw Lise, Grace (1 year) and I birding in NZ. Flew into
Wellington and spent first two nights at Paraparaumu. Highlight was a
Wrybill at Waikanae Scientific Estuary Reserve (15.10.02) with a couple of
Black Stilt hybrids. Spent the next two nights at Kapiti Island at the lodge
run by John Barrett. The usual ferry service was weathered out but
fortunately the helicopter island hop was relatively inexpensive although
the pram meant two trips! Grace did not mind the adventure. Fantastic
experience with good home cooking, tame birds and Little Spotted Kiwi. Saw a
total of 5 Little Spottd Kiwi over two nights mostly feeding in the gardens
in the immediate vicinity of the lodge. Many highlights included Kaka,
Stitchbird, Takahe and Brown Teal, numerous Red-crowned Kakariki and the
like. Grace learnt to say kaka, everybird including the wekas then became
kaka.
The ferry across Cook Strait was fairly quiet for pelagics but Flesh-footed
Shearwater, Great-winged Petrel, Shy Albatross and numerous Fairy Prions
were amongst birds seen. A Swamp Harrier was seen migrating between the
islands having a pretty tough time heading into a southerly. Interesting to
watch it harriering over a windswept ocean.
Now on the South Island, headed to French Pass,accessed by possibly the
windiest road on earth. Rough conditions cancelled our daytrip to the
Chetwode Islands but we went exploring the pass and then the Trios. King
Shags were the highlight here. The worlds rarest cormorant endemic to the
Marlborough Sounds. Local operator Danny Boulton has a definite soft spot
for these birds and we enjoyed some good views of birds coming into their
nesting stations. He was very careful to avoid getting to close and
disturbing these skittish birds.
Leaving French Pass, headed south via Havelock towards Kaikoura. A quick
detour down Blind Loop Road just south of Seddon produced the hoped for male
Cirl Bunting clinging to a fence wire. Kaikoura was a very pleasant
surprise. Weather was balmy and warm with the spectacular Seaward Kaikoura
Range capped in snow providing a postcard experience. Managed one pelagic on
Oceanwings early in the morning. Highlights were a Diving-petrel, Salvin's
Albatross, 30-40 Westland Petrels, incredible numbers of Hutton's
Shearwaters and 4 Wandering Albatross.
The drive to Christchurch airport was punctuated with a stop at a nesting
colony of Black-billed Gulls with a couple of Black-fronted Terns thrown in
for good measure. The total bird list for this trip was 80 species.
Have fun
Dion
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