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See this triplist in printable PDF format with media only on page 1.
A South Island Saddleback with a pollen dusting as it feeds on native flax (Photo by guide Dan Lane)
This was a trip through a great country: one that has wonderful scenery, a sensible culture, and many natural wonders to behold. We were lucky to see it from bottom to top, and the weather we had was ridiculously mild! From our start at Invercargill, we visited the breathtaking Fiordland National Park, spending extra time to see the sneaky South Island (or Rock) Wren, which we managed on our second visit. From there, we crossed to Stewart Island, the “third island” of the main islands, and had two opportunities to see kiwis on the beach. On the first, despite missing kiwi (only the 4th time in recent memory, according to Captain Phillip!), we still had an amazing view of the night sky! The second visit paid off with a gawky bird trundling around the edge of the beach. Whew! We also had our first of many boat trips on the rather tame waters around Stewart Island where we saw mollymawks, as smaller albatrosses are called, among other seabirds. Albatrosses were a popular bunch of birds on the tour, and we ended up seeing five or six (depending on how you cut the Royal Albatross up): Southern and Northern Royal, Wandering, Salvin’s, White-capped, and Black-browed. Ever so graceful, they really are impressive! But other groups of birds also endeared themselves to us--the penguins were high on this list! Kris was enamored by all, and the Yellow-eyed Penguin, or Hoiho, which has experienced an alarming population decline, was another particular favorite.
Back on the South Island, we stopped to see the critically endangered Black Stilt, and saw it well! The curious Wrybill also showed well on the braided rivers of the east side island. A stop at Lake Wanaka gave us nearly eye-to-eye views of the fancy Great Crested Grebes as they nested, which we much appreciated. Passing to the wetter Westland, we had the opportunity to spend a few hours with Ian, our kiwi whisperer, who produced a memorable experience with our sighting of Okarito Kiwi (or Rowi). From there, we crossed the “continental divide” at Arthur’s Pass and stayed in a lovely lodge there where we were able to listen to yet another Kiwi (Great Spotted), and experience the antics of Keas as we ate lunch. Moving northeast to Kaikoura, where some of the easiest pelagic trips in the world are available, we had a lovely time seeing yet more albatrosses, giant-petrels, Cape Petrels, and more! We even got a glimpse of our first Australasian Gannet, although we saw more shortly thereafter at Marlborough Sound.
Crossing to the North Island on the ferry, we headed to the majestic Tongariro National Park, with its eye-catching centerpiece, Ruapehu Volcano. Mark regaled us with stories of his youth there, and we enjoyed the view! On to Lake Taupo, and then to Pureora Forest, where we saw a lovely example of North Island native forest that still rang with the songs of native birds: from the shriek of Long-tailed Cuckoo and the weird musical sounds of Kokako, to the loud announcements of the omnipresent Tui. In addition, we also had our final view of a New Zealand Falcon, one of the more difficult endemics of this trip. During a stop at Miranda, we were able to enjoy the shorebird spectacle there, particularly when thousands of Alaskan Bar-tailed Godwits flushed at the passing of some Parasitic Jaegers and flew over us! Finally, we spent a lovely day on Tiritiri Matangi Island, an “ark” that is effectively saving many of the rarer endemic birds from the exotic predators on the main islands. With any luck, some day some of these can be returned to native forests on the main islands after the predators are successfully controlled. On Tiritiri, we enjoyed the odd Stitchbird, Brown Teal, and got to see the peculiar Kokako well. Paul and Kris had luck with a Takahe, too!
For those who stayed on for the Hauraki extension, we had a lovely day on the water, seeing many tubenoses, cetaceans, and even some noteworthy fish! The star was probably the New Zealand Storm-Petrel, but there were many other sightings that competed: the Bryde’s Whale that surfaced not far away, the two shark species we saw just beside the boat (one even turned its attention from the chum to the shearwaters!), the Mola-mola (or Ocean Sunfish) that lazed about off to port, the raft of feeding frenzy Fluttering Shearwaters and Fairy Prions that amazed us, and the gulls that followed that school of Travelli as they raked through krill!
All in all, it was great fun sharing these memories with you. I hope we’ll have another opportunity to do it again! Until then, keep them binoculars close!
Good birding!
--Dan
KEYS FOR THIS LIST
One of the following keys may be shown in brackets for individual species as appropriate: * = heard only, I = introduced, E = endemic, N = nesting, a = austral migrant, b = boreal migrant
Apterygidae (Kiwis)
SOUTHERN BROWN KIWI (STEWART ISLAND) (Apteryx australis lawryi) [E]
That's Mount Cook, or Aoraki, New Zealand's highest peak. These braided rivers are the breeding home of some very endangered shorebirds: Wrybill and Black Stilts, for starters! (Photo by guide Dan Lane)
OKARITO BROWN KIWI (Apteryx rowi) [E] GREAT SPOTTED KIWI (Apteryx haastii) [E*]
Anatidae (Ducks, Geese, and Waterfowl)
CANADA GOOSE (Branta canadensis) [I]
CAPE BARREN GOOSE (Cereopsis novaehollandiae) [I]
BLACK SWAN (Cygnus atratus)
PARADISE SHELDUCK (Tadorna variegata) [E]
BLUE DUCK (Hymenolaimus malacorhynchos) [E]
MALLARD (Anas platyrhynchos) [I]
The elegant New Zealand Dotterel (Photo by guide Dan Lane)
PACIFIC BLACK DUCK (Anas superciliosa) AUSTRALIAN SHOVELER (Anas rhynchotis)
GRAY TEAL (Anas gracilis)
BROWN TEAL (Anas chlorotis) [E]
NEW ZEALAND SCAUP (Aythya novaeseelandiae) [E]
Odontophoridae (New World Quail)
CALIFORNIA QUAIL (Callipepla californica) [I]
Phasianidae (Pheasants, Grouse, and Allies)
BROWN QUAIL (Synoicus ypsilophorus) [I]
RING-NECKED PHEASANT (Phasianus colchicus) [I]
Of the two widespread parakeets, Red-crowned is the rarer, but it is easy to see on the offshore island reserves. (Photo by guide Dan Lane)
WILD TURKEY (Meleagris gallopavo) [I] Podicipedidae (Grebes)
NEW ZEALAND GREBE (Poliocephalus rufopectus) [E]
GREAT CRESTED GREBE (Podiceps cristatus)
Spheniscidae (Penguins)
YELLOW-EYED PENGUIN (Megadyptes antipodes) [E]
LITTLE PENGUIN (Eudyptula minor)
FIORDLAND PENGUIN (Eudyptes pachyrhynchus) [E]
Diomedeidae (Albatrosses)
WHITE-CAPPED ALBATROSS (Thalassarche cauta cauta)
SALVIN'S ALBATROSS (Thalassarche salvini) [E]
BLACK-BROWED ALBATROSS (BLACK-BROWED) (Thalassarche melanophris melanophris)
ROYAL ALBATROSS (SOUTHERN) (Diomedea epomophora epomophora)
ROYAL ALBATROSS (NORTHERN) (Diomedea epomophora sanfordi) [E]
WANDERING ALBATROSS (Diomedea exulans)
Procellariidae (Shearwaters and Petrels)
NORTHERN GIANT-PETREL (Macronectes halli)
CAPE PETREL (Daption capense)
Weka, photographed by participant Paul Goldschmidt
COOK'S PETREL (Pterodroma cookii) [E] FAIRY PRION (Pachyptila turtur)
WHITE-CHINNED PETREL (Procellaria aequinoctialis)
PARKINSON'S PETREL (Procellaria parkinsoni) [E]
WESTLAND PETREL (Procellaria westlandica) [E]
FLESH-FOOTED SHEARWATER (Ardenna carneipes)
BULLER'S SHEARWATER (Ardenna bulleri) [E]
SOOTY SHEARWATER (Ardenna grisea)
The striking New Zealand Kaka, photographed by participant Paul Goldschmidt
HUTTON'S SHEARWATER (Puffinus huttoni) [E] FLUTTERING SHEARWATER (Puffinus gavia) [E]
LITTLE SHEARWATER (TASMAN) (Puffinus assimilis assimilis)
Pelecanoididae (Diving-Petrels)
COMMON DIVING-PETREL (Pelecanoides urinatrix)
Hydrobatidae (Storm-Petrels)
WHITE-FACED STORM-PETREL (Pelagodroma marina)
NEW ZEALAND STORM-PETREL (Fregetta maoriana) [E]
Sulidae (Boobies and Gannets)
AUSTRALASIAN GANNET (Morus serrator)
Phalacrocoracidae (Cormorants and Shags)
GREAT CORMORANT (Phalacrocorax carbo)
Our local guide, Mark Ayer, and a local Kea, keeping a close eye on the food... (Photo by guide Dan Lane)
PIED CORMORANT (Phalacrocorax varius) NEW ZEALAND KING SHAG (Phalacrocorax carunculatus) [E]
STEWART ISLAND SHAG (Phalacrocorax chalconotus) [E]
SPOTTED SHAG (Phalacrocorax punctatus) [E]
LITTLE PIED CORMORANT (Phalacrocorax melanoleucos)
Ardeidae (Herons, Egrets, and Bitterns)
GREAT EGRET (AUSTRALASIAN) (Ardea alba modesta)
WHITE-FACED HERON (Egretta novaehollandiae)
PACIFIC REEF-HERON (Egretta sacra)
Threskiornithidae (Ibises and Spoonbills)
GLOSSY IBIS (Plegadis falcinellus)
ROYAL SPOONBILL (Platalea regia)
Accipitridae (Hawks, Eagles, and Kites)
SWAMP HARRIER (Circus approximans)
Rallidae (Rails, Gallinules, and Coots)
WEKA (Gallirallus australis) [E]
BAILLON'S CRAKE (AUSTRALASIAN) (Porzana pusilla affinis) [*]
SPOTLESS CRAKE (Porzana tabuensis) [*]
Fairy Prion (Photo by guide Dan Lane)
SOUTH ISLAND TAKAHE (Porphyrio hochstetteri) [E] AUSTRALASIAN SWAMPHEN (Porphyrio melanotus)
EURASIAN COOT (Fulica atra)
Recurvirostridae (Stilts and Avocets)
PIED STILT (Himantopus leucocephalus)
BLACK STILT (Himantopus novaezelandiae) [E]
Haematopodidae (Oystercatchers)
SOUTH ISLAND OYSTERCATCHER (Haematopus finschi) [E]
VARIABLE OYSTERCATCHER (Haematopus unicolor) [E]
Charadriidae (Plovers and Lapwings)
MASKED LAPWING (BLACK-SHOULDERED) (Vanellus miles novaehollandiae)
Marlborough Sound (Photo by guide Dan Lane)
RED-BREASTED DOTTEREL (Charadrius obscurus) [E] DOUBLE-BANDED PLOVER (Charadrius bicinctus) [E]
WRYBILL (Anarhynchus frontalis) [E]
Scolopacidae (Sandpipers and Allies)
BAR-TAILED GODWIT (Limosa lapponica)
RUDDY TURNSTONE (Arenaria interpres)
RED KNOT (Calidris canutus)
SHARP-TAILED SANDPIPER (Calidris acuminata)
RED-NECKED STINT (Calidris ruficollis)
Stercorariidae (Skuas and Jaegers)
A small portion of a flock of Bar-tailed Godwits (Photo by guide Dan Lane)
BROWN SKUA (SUBANTARCTIC) (Stercorarius antarcticus lonnbergi) PARASITIC JAEGER (Stercorarius parasiticus)
Laridae (Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers)
BLACK-BILLED GULL (Chroicocephalus bulleri) [E]
RED-BILLED GULL (Chroicocephalus scopulinus) [E]
KELP GULL (Larus dominicanus)
CASPIAN TERN (Hydroprogne caspia)
BLACK-FRONTED TERN (Chlidonias albostriatus) [E]
WHITE-FRONTED TERN (Sterna striata)
Columbidae (Pigeons and Doves)
Hmmm...can Keas read? (Photo by guide Dan Lane)
ROCK PIGEON (Columba livia) [I] AFRICAN COLLARED-DOVE (Streptopelia roseogrisea) [I]
SPOTTED DOVE (Streptopelia chinensis) [I]
NEW ZEALAND PIGEON (Hemiphaga novaeseelandiae) [E]
Cuculidae (Cuckoos)
SHINING BRONZE-CUCKOO (Chrysococcyx lucidus)
LONG-TAILED KOEL (Eudynamys taitensis) [E]
Strigidae (Owls)
SOUTHERN BOOBOOK (MOREPORK) (Ninox novaeseelandiae novaeseelandiae)
Alcedinidae (Kingfishers)
SACRED KINGFISHER (Todiramphus sanctus)
Falconidae (Falcons and Caracaras)
NEW ZEALAND FALCON (Falco novaeseelandiae) [E]
Strigopidae (New Zealand Parrots)
KEA (Nestor notabilis) [E]
NEW ZEALAND KAKA (Nestor meridionalis) [E]
Psittaculidae (Old World Parrots)
RED-CROWNED PARAKEET (Cyanoramphus novaezelandiae novaezelandiae)
YELLOW-CROWNED PARAKEET (Cyanoramphus auriceps) [E]
MALHERBE'S PARAKEET (Cyanoramphus malherbi) [E]
EASTERN ROSELLA (Platycercus eximius) [I]
Acanthisittidae (New Zealand Wrens)
RIFLEMAN (Acanthisitta chloris) [E]
SOUTH ISLAND WREN (Xenicus gilviventris) [E]
Meliphagidae (Honeyeaters)
TUI (Prosthemadera novaeseelandiae) [E]
NEW ZEALAND BELLBIRD (Anthornis melanura) [E]
Acanthizidae (Thornbills and Allies)
The New Zealand Storm-Petrel was thought to be extinct until rediscovered a little over a decade ago. Now, the breeding areas are known and conservation measures are underway to make sure the species will increase in numbers. We had fine views on the extension pelagic. (Photo by guide Dan Lane)
GRAY GERYGONE (Gerygone igata) [E] Mohouidae (Whiteheads)
WHITEHEAD (Mohoua albicilla) [E]
YELLOWHEAD (Mohoua ochrocephala) [E]
PIPIPI (Mohoua novaeseelandiae) [E]
Callaeidae (Wattlebirds)
NORTH ISLAND KOKAKO (Callaeas wilsoni) [E]
NORTH ISLAND SADDLEBACK (Philesturnus rufusater) [E]
SOUTH ISLAND SADDLEBACK (Philesturnus carunculatus) [E]
Notiomystidae (Stitchbird)
STITCHBIRD (Notiomystis cincta) [E]
Cracticidae (Bellmagpies and Allies)
Red-billed Gull is a common endemic on the tour. (Photo by guide Dan Lane)
AUSTRALIAN MAGPIE (Gymnorhina tibicen) [I] Rhipiduridae (Fantails)
NEW ZEALAND FANTAIL (Rhipidura fuliginosa) [E]
Petroicidae (Australasian Robins)
TOMTIT (Petroica macrocephala) [E]
NEW ZEALAND ROBIN (NORTH ISLAND) (Petroica australis longipes) [E]
NEW ZEALAND ROBIN (SOUTH ISLAND) (Petroica australis australis) [E]
NEW ZEALAND ROBIN (STEWART ISLAND) (Petroica australis rakiura)
Alaudidae (Larks)
SKY LARK (Alauda arvensis) [I]
Hirundinidae (Swallows)
WELCOME SWALLOW (Hirundo neoxena)
Locustellidae (Grassbirds and Allies)
Little Penguins have spooky eyes! (Photo by guide Dan Lane)
FERNBIRD (Megalurus punctatus) [E] Zosteropidae (White-eyes, Yuhinas, and Allies)
SILVER-EYE (Zosterops lateralis)
Turdidae (Thrushes and Allies)
EURASIAN BLACKBIRD (Turdus merula) [I]
SONG THRUSH (Turdus philomelos) [I]
Sturnidae (Starlings)
EUROPEAN STARLING (Sturnus vulgaris) [I]
COMMON MYNA (Acridotheres tristis) [I]
Prunellidae (Accentors)
DUNNOCK (Prunella modularis) [I]
Motacillidae (Wagtails and Pipits)
AUSTRALASIAN PIPIT (Anthus novaeseelandiae)
Emberizidae (Buntings and New World Sparrows)
Brown Teal is a strange endangered endemic duck. It will hang out in shaded waterways (now mostly in predator-free zones) and will enter forest at night to feed on the ground like a kiwi! (Photo by guide Dan Lane)
YELLOWHAMMER (Emberiza citrinella) [I] Fringillidae (Finches, Euphonias, and Allies)
COMMON CHAFFINCH (Fringilla coelebs) [I]
EUROPEAN GREENFINCH (Chloris chloris) [I]
COMMON REDPOLL (Acanthis flammea) [I]
EUROPEAN GOLDFINCH (Carduelis carduelis) [I]
Passeridae (Old World Sparrows)
HOUSE SPARROW (Passer domesticus) [I]
COMMON BRUSHTAIL POSSUM (Trichosurus vulpecula) [I]
EUROPEAN HEDGEHOG (Erinaceus europaeus) [I]
A Southern Royal Albatross investigating the chum (Photo by guide Dan Lane)
OLD WORLD RABBIT (Oryctolagus cuniculus) [I] CAPE HARE (Lepus capensis) [I]
BOTTLENOSE DOLPHIN (Tursiops truncatus)
SHORT-BEAKED COMMON DOLPHIN (Delphinus delphis)
DUSKY DOLPHIN (Lagenorhynchus obscurus)
HECTOR'S DOLPHIN (Cephalorhynchus hectori)
SPERM WHALE (Physeter catodon)
BRYDE'S WHALE (Balaenoptera edeni)
STOAT (SHORT-TAILED WEASEL) (Mustela erminea) [I]
HOOKER'S SEA LION (Phocarctos hookeri)
NEW ZEALAND FUR SEAL (Arctocephalus forsteri)
The following fish were seen on our Hauraki Gulf Extension:
Hammerhead Shark- Wow! Great views of this weird fish!
Mako Shark- After checking online resources, it was clear the shark we saw well from the boat near the end of our outing was a Mako, not a Blue.
Mola-mola (Ocean Sunfish)- Not the best views, but a heck of a cool fish to see!
Travelli- reportedly, these were the fish that were ambushing the krill en masse in that little harbor where we had lunch.
Totals for the tour: 134 bird taxa and 13 mammal taxa