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Birds of New Zealand 2014 Little Pied Shag with wings spread © JCDFNew Zealand Birds
North Island & South Island Birding 2014

This article describes and offers field photographs of birds observed in New Zealand in September & October 2014.

As indicated in the text below some of these birds are found only on North Island, some others on South Island, and some only on Stewart Island or at sea off the coast of New Zealand.

These New Zealand bird photographs are by no means a compelte catalog of the country's birds (see the book references and birding tour suggestions at the end of this article) and our photos are not salon images but rather pictures made to document the birds we were fortunate to observe during a 2014 New Zealand visit.

InspectAPedia tolerates no conflicts of interest. We have no relationship with advertisers, products, or services discussed at this website.

- Daniel Friedman, Publisher/Editor/Author - See WHO ARE WE?

Bird List: Observations on South Island, New Zealand 2014

 

Albatrosses, Mollymawks, Shearwaters, Petrels

Buller's Mollymawk, Buller's Albatross, off Stewart Island NZ (C) D Friedman J Church

Buller's Mollymawk / Buller's Albatross, Northern Buller's Albatross (Toroa) Thalassarche bulleri bulleri off Stewart Island, NZ, Latitude 47.0.0 South.

[Click to enlarge any image]


 

Northern Giant Petrel (C) D Friedman J Church Northern Giant Petrel Macronectes halli (C) J Church D Friedman

Northern Giant Petrel (Panguruguru) Macronectes halli, off Stewart Island NZ


 

Salvin's Mollymawk, off Stewart Island (C) J Church D Friedman Salvin's Mollymawk (C) DF JC

Salvin's Mollymawk (C) JC DF Salvin's Albatross (C) D Friedman J Church

Salvin's Mollymawk (Toroa) Thalassarche salvini, off Stewart Island NZ, critically endangered species


 

Cape Petrel, Stewart Island NZ (C) D Friedman J Church Snare's Cape Petrel (C) DF JC

Snare's Cape Petrel / Cape Pigeon / Pintado Petrel Daption capense australae, off Stewart Island NZ. At above left is probably the Cape Petrel Daption capense capense, an Antarctic Cape Petrel that visits New Zealand in winters, while at above right is most likely the New Zealand subspecies Daption capense australae. Below, Cape Petrel afloat off of Stewart Island.

Cape Petrel off Stewart Island (C) J Church D Friedman


 

Sooty Shearwater, Muttonbird, Puffinus griseus, off Stewart Island (C) D Friedman J Church Sooty Shearwater muttonbird (C) DF JC Sooty Shearwater (C) D Friedman J Churh

Sooty Shearwater (Titi, Hakekeke), Muttonbird Puffinus griseus, off Stewart Island

Sooty Shearwater (C) D Friedman J Church Sooty Shearwater (C) D Friedman J Church


 

Southern Royal Albatross, Diomedea epomophora (C) J Church D Friedman Southern Royal Albatross (C) D Friedman J Church off Stewart Island New Zealand Southern Royal Albatross (C) D Friedman J Church off Stewart Island New Zealand

Southern Royal Albatross (Toroa) Diomedeaepomophora, off Stewart Island, New Zealand (above). The third photo below compares the Southern Royal Albatross (foreground) with the smaller White-capped Albatross.

Southern Royal Albatross (C) D Friedman J Church off Stewart Island New Zealand Southern Royal Albatross - Toroa - off Stewart Island New Zealand (C) D Friedman J Church

Southern Royal Albatross swimming with White-Capped Albatrosses (C) D Friedman J Church  off Stewart Island New Zealand


 

White-capped albatross off Stewart Island (C) J Church White-capped Mollymawk (C) D Friedman J Church

White-capped Mollymawk (White-capped Albatross) Thalassarche cauta steadi, off Stewart Island, New Zealand.

White-capped Albatross in flight (C) D Friedman J Church

Below, White-capped Albatross in flight. The gray back separates this from all other mollymawks outside the Shy group.

White-capped Albatross (Mollymawk) Thalassarche cauta steadi, off Stewart Island New Zealand (C) D Friedman J Church White-capped Albatross (Mollymawk) Thalassarche cauta steadi, off Stewart Island New Zealand (C) D Friedman J Church

White-capped Mollymawk in flight (C) J Church D Friedman White capped Albatross (C) D Friedman J Church White capped Albatross (C) D Friedman J Church

White capped Albatross (C) D Friedman J Churchv White-capped Albatross, off Stewart Island NZ (C) D Friedman J Church

Below you can see the tri-fold procedure by which the White-capped Albatross (Mollymawk) folds its huge wings.

White capped albatross folding its wings (C) D Friedman J Church White capped albatross folding its wings (C) D Friedman J Church


Ducks, Geese, & Swans

[no photo]

Australian Coot Fulica atra, Christchurch park, Canterburn NZ.


 

Australasian Shoveler, Birds of New Zealand 2014 © JCDF

Australasian Shoveler (Kuruwhengi) Anas rhynchotis, Travis Reserve Wetlands, Christchurch.

[Click to enlarge any image]


 

Black swans, hwy to Akaroa (C) DFJC Black swans & Cygnet: Birds of New Zealand 2014 © JCDF

Black swans Cygnus atratus, Lake Ellesmere flats; Black swan pair with cygnets, Travis Reserve, widespread: Inland lakes, Otago peninsula, also Lake Rotorua (below). Common Australian introduction to New Zealand.

Black Swan, Lake Rotorua, New Zealand (C) DF JC


 

Blue Duck, Hymenolaimus malacorhynchos or in Maori Whio, en4routh to Milford Sound (C) D Friedman J Church Blue Duck, Hymenolaimus malacorhynchos or in Maori Whio, en4routh to Milford Sound (C) D Friedman J Church

Blue Duck (Whio) Hymenolaimus malacorhynchos, enroute to Milford Sound. The second duck in this breeding pair at above left illustrates how the duck resembles a gray river rock when feeding with its head below water.


 

 

Canada Geese, Birds of New Zealand 2014 © JCDF Canada Geese, Birds of New Zealand 2014 © JCDF

Canada Goose Branta canadensis Travis Reserve & Lake Ellesmere Flats, South Island, New Zealand, common North American introduction to New Zealand.


 

Grey ducks, Milford Sound, New Zealand (C) D Friedman J Church

Grey Duck  (Parera) Anas superciliosa. Above, Grey Ducks at Milford Sound.


 

Grey Teal duck, Travis Reserve, Canterbury New Zealand (C) Church Friedman

Grey Teal (Tete) Anas gracilis, Travis Reserve, Canterbury.


 

Grelag geese with goslings, Lake Rotorua New Zealand (C) DF JC Lake Ellesmere flats NZ (C) DFJC

Greylag / Feral Goose Anser anser Lake Rotorua (above left), Males, Lake Ellesmere flats (above right). Common European introduction into New Zealand.


 

Grey Duck & Mallard, Birds of New Zealand 2014 © JCDF Mallard & Grey duck, Birds of New Zealand 2014 © JCDF

Mallard Anas platyrhynchos / Grey Duck (Parera) Anas superciliosa. Original New Zealand Grey Duck very rare now: mostly hybred with introduced Mallard. Shown at Travis Reserve (above) & U. Canterbury campus (below).

Famale Mallard duck, U. Canterbury (C) JC DF Mallard / Grey duck hybrid with ducklings (C) JC DF


 

Mystery Duck Christchurch NZ (C) JCDF 2014 Mallard chicks, variation, Christchurh NZ (C) JCDF

Unusual Mallard / Grey Duck variations, U. Canterbury campus streams.

Mallard, white chested variation, U Canterbury campus, Christchurch New Zealand birds (C) Friedman Church Mallard Grey Duck Var (C) Friedman Church

Grey Duck Mallard cross with ducklings, distinct markings, Christchurch Botannical Gardens, New Zealand (C) J Church

Above: Grey Duck - Mallard with markings more in the Grey Duck direction, with ducklings, Christchurch Botannical Gardens, Canterbury NZ


 

Paradise Shelduck, Travis Reserve, Canterbury New Zealand (C) Church Friedman Paradise Shelduck Akaroa (C) DFJC

Paradise Shelduck (Putangitangi) Tadorna variegata, Travis Reserve (above left), Christchurch city park, male at Ellesmere Lake Flats (above right). Below at Travis Reserve male Paradise Shelducks squabbling while a female keeps score.

Paradise Shelducks fighting at Travis Reserve (C) Church Friedman Paradise Shelduck, Travis Reserve, Canterbury NZ (C) Friedman Church

Paradise Shelduck with ducklings, Christchurch Botannical Gardens, New Zealand (C) Church

Above: Paradise Shelduck female with ducklings, Christchurch Botannical Gardens, Canterbury NZ


 

Scaup birds, Lake Rotorua, New Zealand (C) DF JC

Scaup, New Zealand (Papango), Aythya novaeseelandiae (uncommon, endemic), observed on North Island at Lake Rotorua.
[Click to enlarge any image]

Scaup on Lake Rotorua New Zealand (C) Church Friedman


 

Eagles, Hawks, and Allies

[Click to enlarge any image]

Swamp harrier New Zealand (C) DF JC 2014 Swamp Harrier, Akaroa New Zealand (C) DFJC

Australasian Harrier (Kahu) aka Swamp Harrier, Circus approximans, Travis Reserve; road to Hanmer Springs; also close up on Summit Road above Akaroa, frequent in early AM or late PM.


 

Gannets, Boobies, Shags and Allies

[No Photo]

Black Shag / Great Cormorant / Large Black Shagh (Kawau tuawhenua) Phalacrocorax carbo at Lake Lyndon and at Travis Reserve, Christchurch NZ.


 

Little Pied Shag, Flat Top Hill, South Island, New Zeland (C) JCDF Little Pied Shag, Flat Top Hill, S. Island, New Zealand (C) DF JC Little Pied Shag, Lake Ellesmere flats,  New Zealand (C) DFJC

Little Shag (Kawaupaka) Phalacrocorax melanoleucos. Some texts refer to this bird as Little Pied Shag (distinct from Pied Shag (larger) and from Little Black Shag (all black, lead gray bill)). Above, at the Banks Peninsula, Flat Top Hill, also seen at Lake Ellesmere flats (flying), South Island, New Zealand.

Below, Little Shags at Motutara Point, Lake Rotorua, North Island, in three colour phases from black to pied. Below these we incude a Little Shag juvenile. [Click to enlarge any image]

Little Shag, Lake Rotorua New Zealand (C) Church Friedman Little Shag, semi pied phase, Lake Rotorua New Zealand (C) Church Friedman Little Shag, Pied phase, Lake Rotorua New Zealand (C) Friedman Church

All black (probably) Little Shag, Lake Rotorura New Zealanbd (C) DF JC

Little Shag, Juvenile (above), Motutara Point, Lake Rotorua, North Island, New Zealand.


 

Little Black Shag, Lochmara Soune docks, Picton NZ (C) JC DF

Little Black Shag Phalacrocorax sulcirostris, Picton Docks.


 

[no photo]

Pied Shag (Karuhiruhi) Phalacrocorax varius, NE coast of South Island, NZ, from Kiwi coastal train.


 

Spotted Shags nesting, Pilots Beach, Otago Peninsula, South Island, New Zealand (C) DF JC Spotted shag nests, Otego Peninsula, New Zealand (C) JC DF

Spotted Shag (Parekareka) Stictocarbo punctatus, nesting, Pilots Beach, cliffs of Otego Peninsula. Below: adult (below left) and juvenile (below right) Spotted Shag on Stewart Island.

Spotted Shags, Stewart Island, New Zealand (C) J Church D Friedman Spotted Shag, juvenile, Stewart Island, NZ (C) D Friedman J Church


 

Stewart Island Shags at Shag Point (C) J Church D Friedman Stewart Island Shag (C) J Church D Friedman

Stewart Island Shag (Mapua) / Stewart Cormorant, Bronze Shag Leucocarbo chalconotus, Stewart Island Shags facing the wind at Shag Point, east coast of South Island South of Omaru, North of Dunedin.


 

Grebes

Great Crested Grebe, Bendigo Point, South Island, New Zeland (C) DF JC Great Crested Grebe, Bendigo Point, South Island New Zeland (C) DFJC

Australasian / Great Crested Grebe (Puteketeke) Podiceps cristatus, Bendigo Point north of Cromwell, also Otira Gorge, Arthur's Pass, Lake Lyndon and at Pearson Lake.

Great Crested Grebe Australasian Grebe Puteketeke Podicaps cristatus, Bendigo Point, New Zealand (C) JC DF


 

Herons, Ibis, and Spoonbills

 

[no photo]

Cattle egret Bublcus ibis, highway to Banks Peninsula.


 

White Faced Heron, Taylor's istake, Birds of New Zealand 2014 © JCDF White faced heron, Lake Ellesmere flats, New Zealand (C) DFJC

White-faced heron Ardea novaehollandiae, Taylor’s Mistake, Christchurch and Akaroa bay, Banks Peninsula.

Little pied shag, Lake Ellesmere flats, New Zealand (C) DFJC White faced heron, North Island, Tairua (C) Daniel Friedman

Above left does not look like an adult White Faced Heron. Possibly a juvenile. Check the back feathers. In Akaroa NZ. Above right, White Faced Heron at Tairua, North Island, New Zealand. Below, White faced herons at Franz Josef glacier area, Westland NZ.

White faced herons, Franz Josef Glacier, Westland New Zealand (C) J Church D Friedman


 

Kingfishers and Rollers

Akaroa birds NZ (C) DFJC Akaroa birds (C) DFJC

Sacred Kingfisher (Kotare) Halcyon sancta, Akaroa bay, Banks Peninsula, Christchurch, Canterbury, New Zealand.


 

Kiwis

Stewart Island Brown Kiwi (C) D Friedman J Church Kiwi tracks of the Stewart Island Brown Kiwi, Stewart Island (C) D Friedman J Church

Stewart Island Brown Kiwi (Tokoeka, Tokoweka) Apateryx australis, endemic, Stewart Island night walk. At below right: Kiwi snacks.

Brown Kiwi on Stewart Island (C) Daniel Friedman Jennifer Church Kiwi food (C) DF JC


 

Owls

Morepork (ruru) Ninox novaeseelaniae novaeseelandiae (heard, not seen, Kiwi Tour).


 

Partridges, Quails, Pheasants

California Quail, Lochmara, Marlboro Sound, Picton New Zealand (C) J Church D Friedman

California Quail Callipepla californica, common North American introduction, Marlboro Sound, at Lochmara.


 

Peacock (C) DF JC

Peacock / Indian Peafowl, Common Peafowl, Peahen (Pikake, Pikao) Pavo cristatus, near Taupo and at Riverstone Kitchen restaurant, Omaru NZ (above).



Parrots

New Zealand Kaka, Stewart Island, New Zealand (C) D Friedman J Church New Zealand Kaka, Stewart Island, New Zealand (C) D Friedman J Church New Zealand Kaka (C) D Friedman J Church

New Zealand Kaka Nestor meridonalis, on Stewart Island & Ulva Island, New Zealand.


 

Kea Nestor notabilis mountain parrot, Arthurs Pass, South Island New Zealand (C) D Friedman J Church Kea Nestor notabilis in Arthurs Pass New Zealand (C) D Friedman J Church

Kea Nestor notabilis, Arthurs Pass, South Island, New Zealand

Kea preening in Arthurs Pass New Zealand (C) D Friedman J Church


 

Red Crowned Parakeet, Lochmara, Marlboro Sound, New Zealand (C) Church Friedman Red Crowned Parakeet, Ulva Island, NZ (C) DF JC

Red-Crowned Parakeet (Kakariki) / New Zealand Parakeet Cyanoramphus novaezelandiae, Lochmara (caged, breeding program, above left), Lochmara, Marlboro Sound, Stewart Island & Ulva Island (above right).


 

Penguins

[Click to enlarge any image]

Little blue penguin, white flippered, Pohatu penguin colony, Akaroa NZ (C) JCDF Blue penguin, Akaroa NZ (C) DFJC

Blue Penguin (Korora) Eudyptula minor, and White-flipper sub-species, Flea Bay of Banks Peninsula, Pohatu penguin colony. Below: raft of blue penguins swimming off of Stewart Island.

Raft of blue penguins off Stewart Island (C) J Church D Friedman

 

Rock hopping little Blue Penguin night-video

Our white-flippered little blue penguin movie provided just below was filmed by telephoto lens at 20x at nightfall near Akaroa, New Zealand. This blue penguin rock hopping video is hosted at YouTube. Visitors to this blue penguin colony wear camouflage clothing and keep a considerable distance from the penguins themselves so as not to disturb the animals. Though you hear some of the humans chattering in the background that noise was nowhere near the penguins themselves.

This blue penguin film clip shows the little blues as they hop up the steep rock face at Flea Bay on the Banks Peninsula, near Akaroa, New Zealand.

The penguins begin to come ashore at nightfall and are nesting in this protected area. The blue penguins found here are a white-flippered sub species of blue penguin that have been under protection for more than a decade. Recently this blue penguin colony's population has been increasing at about 5-7% a year from its low of an estimated 800 and presently stands at about 1200.


 

[No Photo]

Fiordland Crested Penguin at Milford Sound


 

Yellow-eyed Penguin Stewart Island (C) D Friedman J Church Yellow-eyed penguin (C) DF JC Yellow Penguin, enroute to Ulva Island, New Zealand (C) DF JC

Yellow-eyed Penguin (Hoiho) Megadyptes antipodes, Stewart Island. Above right, Yellow-eyed penguin swimming off Ulva Island.


 

Pigeons and Doves

New Zealand pigeon (C) DFJC 2014 New Zealand Pigeon, Tauranga New Zealand (C) Daniel Friedman Jennifer Church

New Zealand Pigeon (Kereru, Kukupa, Parea) Hemiphaga novaeseelandiae, Akaroa, Banks Peninsula (above left) & again at above right another New Zealand pigeon at Tauranga, North Island, New Zealand.


 

New Zealand pigeon, Woodend Beach, Canterbury NZ (C) DF JC

Rock (Feral) Pigeon Columbia livia, common European introduction, at Woodend Beach, Canterbury NZ.


 

Rails and Cranes

Pukeko, Birds of New Zealand 2014 © JCDF Pukeko, Travis Wetlands, Christchurch New Zealand (C) DFJC

Pukeko (Purple Swamphen) Porphyrio porphyrio, Travis Reserve Wetlands, Christchurch, New Zealand, ubiquitous.

Pukeko, Travis Reserve, Canterbury New Zealand (C) Church Friedman


 

Stewart Island Weka (C) D Friedman J Church Male Stewart Island Weka feeding Weka Chicks, Ulva Island (C) D Friedman J Church

Stewart Island Weka (Maori hen)  Gallirallus australis scotti, female (above left) on Ulva Island. Above right, male Weka using clucks and a tidbit to entice his chicks into deeper grass further from the photographer. Below, one of the two Weka chicks.

Stewart Island Weka chick (C) D Friedman J Church


 

Songbirds

[Click to enlarge any image]

Australian Magpie, Akaroa, New Zealand (C) DFJC

Australian Magpie Gymnorhina tibicen, road to Travis Reserve, Christchurch, road to Hanmer Springs, Canterbury, ubiquitous.


 

Bell Bird, Christchurch NZ (C) Daniel Friedman at InspectApedia.com Bellbird Akaroa NZ (C) DFJC

Bellbird (Korimako, Makomako) Anthornis melanura, (above at Christchurch) singing at dawn, outside kitchen window, and many other places around Canterbury. Very musical catbird-like song(s). Common endemic native Passerine.

Bellbird, New Zealand (C) DF JC

Above, Bellbird Pakihi Walk, Westland National Park, Tai Poutini, New Zealand.


 

bird, Arthurs Pass, South Island New Zealand (C) D Friedman J Church bird, Arthurs Pass NZ (C) DF JC

Brown creeper (Pipipi) in Arthurs Pass, South Island, New Zealand.


 

Common Chaffinch, Birds of New Zealand 2014 © JCDF European Greenfinch, Canterubury New Zealand (C) Church Friedman

Common Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs, downtown Christchurch, widespread. Above right, female Chaffinch, U. Canterbury campus, Christchurch NZ. European-introduced Passerine. Below, a Chaffinch at Franz Josef glacier area, Westland NZ.

Chaffinch, Franz Josef Glacier, Westland NZ (C) J Church D Friedman Common Chaffinch, New Zealand (C) Jennifer Church Daniel Friedman


 

Dunnock, Christchurch U. Canterbury campus (C) Church Friedman Dunnock Bird, Canterbury New Zealand (C) Friedman Church

Dunnock Prunella modularis, U. Canterbury Campus, Christchurch New Zealand (above) & on walk above Akaroa, Banks Peninsula, Christchurch


 

Eurasian Blackbird, Birds of New Zealand 2014 © JCDF Eurasian blackbird, Lake Takapo, South Island, New Zealand (C) DF JC

Eurasian Blackbird Turdus merula, near University of Canterbury campus, Christchurch.

Female Eurasian Blackbird, U Waikato Campus, Hamilton New Zealand (C) Church Friedmab Eurasian blackbird digging up garden mulch (C) DF JC

Female Eurasian Blackbird, (above left) University of Waikato campus, Hamilton, New Zealand. Above right, Christchurch NZ the Blackbird is constantly rearranging the mulch in landscape beds.

Below: an albino Eurasian Blackbird observed at Te Anau, Southland NZ

Albino Eurasian Blackbird, Southland NZ (C) D FriedmanJ Church


 

Lake Ellesmere Flats, South Island NZ (C) DJFC Lark or Eurasian Skylark Alauda arensis, Otira Gorge, South Island NZ (C) DF JC

Eurasian Skylark Alauda arvensis, Lake Ellesmere flats, also seen rising from field on drive to Hanmer Springs, and Otira Gorge roadside lake Lyndon (above right).


 

European Goldfinch, Birds of New Zealand 2014 © JCDF European Goldfinch, Travis Reserve, Cantrbury New Zealand (C) Friedman Church

European Goldfinch Carduelis carduelis, Montana Street, near University of Canterbury campus, Christchurch, Travis Reserve, Canterbury. Abundant European introduction.


 

European Greenfinch, U. Canterbury Campus, Christchurch New Zealand birds (C) J Church D Friedman European Greenfinch, New Zealand birds (C) D Friedman J Church

European Greenfinch Carduelis chloris, University of Canterbury campus, Christchurch.


 

Fantail bird, UC Campus stream, Christchurch New Zealand (C) J Church D Friedman Fangail bird, UC Campus stream, Christchurch NZ (C) DFJC Fantail, Akaroa New Zealand (C) DF JC

Fantail (Piwakawaka) Rhipidura fuliginosa, Christchurch U. Canterbury Campus stream, highway to Akaroa, & walks above Akaroa (above right).


 

Bird, Rotorua New Zealand (C) Church Friedman bird, Pakihi Walk, Westland National Park, New Zealand (C) D Friedman J Church bird, Pakihi walk, Westland National Park (C) D Friedman J Church

Grey Warbler (Rirorio) Gerygone igata, Lake Oeakei, Korako Thermal Park (above left) at Rotorua New Zealand. Center and above right at Pakihi Walk, Westland National Park, Tai Poutini, New Zealand.


 

Myna birds near Tauranga New Zealand (C) Daniel Friedman

Myna Acridotheres tristis, highway between Hamilton & Tauranga, North Island, New Zealand. Asian introduction found only on North Island. In cut grass verge between highways and farmland.


 

Pipit, Taupo New Zealand (C) Church Friedman Pipit on highway pullout South of Taupo, New Zealand (C) J Church D Friedman

New Zealand Pipit (Pihoihoi) Anthus novaeseelandiae, on gravel lookout along highway South of Taupo.


 

Bendigo Point New Zealand (C) DFJC

Redpoll Carduelis flammea, Bendigo point north of Cromwell. Common European introduced Passerine.


 

Silvereye Bird Christchurch NZ (C) Daniel Friedman at InspectApedia.com Silvereye bird, Canterbury NZ (C) Church Friedman

Silvereye (Tauhou, pihipihi) Zosterops lateralis, University of Canterbury Campus, Christchurch NZ, at Franz Josef (below), ubiquitous. Native Passerine.

Silvereye Tauhou Zosterops lateralis, Franz Josef Alpine, NZ (C) DF JC


 

Starling, Lake Rotorua New Zealand (C) Church Friedman

Starling Sturnus vulgaris, Akaroa harbor, Lake Rotorua.


 

House sparrow Passer domesticus, immature female?, Hamner Springs. Abundant European-introduced Passerine.


 

Song Thrush, Birds of New Zealand 2014 © JCDF Song Thrush, Lake Tekapo, South Island, New Zealand (C) DF JC

Song thrush Turdus philomelos, University of Canterbury campus, Christchurch & Lake Tekapo.


 

Stewart Island Robin on Ulva Island (C) J Church D Friedman South Island Robin Toutouwai Petroica australis (C) J Church D Friedman South Island Robin / Stewart Island Robin on Ulva Island (C) J Church D Friedman

South Island Robin / Stewart Island Robin (Toutouwai / Kakariwai) Petroica australis,On Ulva Island.


 

South Island Saddleback (C) J Church D Friedman

South Island Saddleback / Jackbird (Tieke) Philesturnus carunculatus , on Ulva Island, shyly turns its back to the camera. Probably immature in the "second pre-basic moult into adult plumage". (Schofield 2013)


 

Tomtit, ngriungiru, Pakihi Walk, Westland National Park, New Zealand (C) J Church D Friedman Tomtit, Fran Josef Glacier area, Westland NZ (C) D Friedman J Church'

Tomtit (Ngirungiru) Petroica macrocephala macrocephala, Pakihi Walk, Westland National Park, Tai Poutini, New Zealand & at Franz Josef Glacier area, Westland. The New Zealand Tomtit is an Australasian robin in the Petrocidae family endemic to New Zealand. The South Island species is shown here.


 

Tui bird singing, University of Waikato campus, Hamilton New Zealand (C) Church Friedman Tui bird, University Waikato, Hamilton New Zealand (C) Friedman Church Tui, Lochmara, Picton New Zealand (C) JC DF

Tui, Prosthemadera novaeseelandiae, University of Waikato campus, Hamilton, New Zealand (North Island) & above right at Lochmara, Marlboro Sound, Picton NZ. Native Passerine.

Tui Prosthemaera novaeseelandiae at Routeburn Track, Southland NZ (C) D Friedman J Church

Above: a Tui singing in the rain near the Routeburn Track, Southland NZ

For a discussion of paintings of Tui birds by a New Zealander as well as discussion of conservation of artwork (of a bird painting), see ARTWORK MOLD CONTAMINATION


 

Yellowhammer, Sandfly Bay, Otego Peninsula, South Island, New Zealand (C) Daniel Friedman Jennifer Church

Yellowhammer Emberiza citrinella Sumner, rural road Lake Ellesmere, Otego Peninsula Sandfly Bay (above)


 

[no photo]

Welcome swallow Hirundo tahitica, cliffs around Sumner


 

Waders, Gulls, Skuas & Terns

Banded Dotterell, Travis Reserve, Canterbury NZ (C) Church Banded Dotterel Charadrius bicinctus bicintus or Pohowera or double banded plover at Otira Gorge, South Island New Zealand  (C) DF JC

Banded Dotterel / double-banded plover ( Pohowera, Tuturiwhatu)  Charadrius bicinctus bicinctus, pebble beach, ocean side of Lake Ellesmere spit (above left) and at Otira Gorge roadside lake Lyndon (above right).


 

Black fronted Tern, Waimairi Beach (C) DFJC

Black Fronted Tern ? Waimairi Beach, flying.


 

Pied Stilt, Birds of New Zealand 2014 © JCDF

Pied Stilt (Poaka) Himantopus himantopus, Travis Reserve, Christchurch.


 

Masked Lapwing, Birds of New Zealand 2014 © JCDF Masked lapwing, hwy 75 Akaroa NZ (C) DJFJC

Spur Winged Plover / Masked Lapwing  Vanellus miles, Travis Reserve; another Masked Lapwing at Hilltop enroute to Akaroa

Masked Lapwings with chick, Travis Reserve, Canterbury New Zealand (C) Church Friedman Masked lapwing hiding chick under wing (C) Friedman Church

Above, Masked Lapwings hiding their chick under wing (leftmost bird in photo at above right) as an Australasian Harrier was swooping overhead at Travis Reserve, Canterbury, New Zealand. "Little chick? What little chick? There's no little Lapwing chick here. You must be mistaken!"


 

Gulls NZ (C) DFJC Kelp Gull, Waimarini Beach, Christchurch (C) JCDF

Black Backed Gull / Kelp Gull (Karoro) Larus dominicanus Ellesmere Lake Flats; also seen at Port Hills, above right, Waimairi Beach, Christchurch, New Zealand

Kelp Gull, Waimairi Beach New Zealand (C) DF JC

Below we compare the footprints of the South Island Pied Oyster Catcher (top of the photo) with those of the Black Backed Gull (tracks at the bottom of the photo) - at Woodend Beach, Canterbury New Zealand.

Bird track comparison: South Island Pied Oyster Catcher vs Kelp Gull, Woodend Beach, Canterbury New Zealand (C) DF JC


 

Black Billed Gull, Larus bulleri or tarapuka, at Lake Wanaka, Westland New Zealand (C) D Friedman J Church Black Billed Gull, Larus bulleri or tarapuka, at Lake Wanaka, Westland New Zealand (C) D Friedman J Church

Black Billed Gull (Tarapuka), Larus bulleri, critically endangered unique gull, Lake Wanaka, Westland New Zealand. Below, additional views of the Black Billed Gull in flight and eye and bill details..

Black Billed Gull, Larus bulleri or tarapuka, at Lake Wanaka, Westland New Zealand (C) D Friedman J Church Black Billed Gull, Larus bulleri or tarapuka, at Lake Wanaka, Westland New Zealand (C) D Friedman J Church


 

[No Photo]

Black-Fronted Tern


 

Red billed gull, Akaroa New Zealand (C) DF JC Red-billed Gull, Akaroa NZ (C) D Friedman J Church

Red-billed Gull (Tarapunga) Larus novachollandiae, widespread. These Red-billed Gull photos are from Akaroa, Banks Peninsula, Christchurch.

Below at left are an immature Red-Billed Gull showing its bill and legs not quite so red in colour and at right in the same photo, an adult model Red-billed Gull supervising the event.

Red-billed Gull, Akaroa NZ (C) D Friedman J Church Red billed & Black Backed Kelp Gull posing at Akaroa NZ (C) J Church D Friedman

At above right a Red-billed Gull and a Black-backed or Kelp Gull pose on the Akaroa dock to encourage comparison of their size and personality. Notice that the younger bird also lacks the very red eye ring.

 


 

South Island Pied Oyster Catcher, Waimairi Beach, Otego Peninsula, New Zealan (C) J Church D Friedman South Island Pied Oyster Catcher, Waimairi Beach, Otego Peninsula, New Zealan (C) J Church D Friedman

South Island Pied Oystercatcher (Torea) Haematopus ostralegus Waimairi Beach, Otego Peninsula.

South Island Oyster Catcher, Waimairi Beach (C) DJFC Pied oyster catcher, Woodend Beach, Canterbury New Zealand (C) DF JC

Above left, South Island Pied Oyster Catcher: Waimairi Beach, flying, above right, Pied Oyster Catchers at Woodend Beach, Canterbury NZ.

Below, tracks of the South Island Pied Oyster Catcher at Woodend beach.

South Island Pied Oyster Catcher tracks, Woodend Beach, Canterbury New Zealand (C) DF JC


 

Gull, Tae Waewae Bay, Southlands NZ (C) DF JC Gull, Tae Waewae Bay, Southlands NZ (C) DF JC

Ruddy Turnstone, Arenaria interpres, a common migrant at Te Waewae Bay, Southlands NZ.


 

Brown Skua, aka Southern Skua or Antarctic Skua off Stewart Island NZ (C) J Church D Friedman Brown Skua, aka Southern Skua or Antarctic Skua off Stewart Island NZ (C) J Church D Friedman Brown Skua, aka Southern Skua or Antarctic Skua off Stewart Island NZ (C) J Church D Friedman

Southern Skua, Antarctic Skua, Brown Skua, (Hakoakoa) Catharacta antartica lonnbergi, off Stewart Island.


 

 

Variable Oystercatcher, Sandfly Bay, Otego Peninsula, S. Island, New Zealand (C) DFJC Variable Oystercatcher, Sandfly Bay, Otego Peninsula, S. Island, New Zealand (C) DF JC

Variable Oystercatcher (Torea, Toreapango) Haematopus unicolor, Hotwater Beach, North Island (above left), and on South Island at Otego Peninsula, Sandfly Bay and other beaches. Below the Oystercatcher and a red billed gull stomp around the beach at Sandfly Bay while a sea lion sleeps.

Variable Oystercatcher walking in front of a sea lion, Sandfly Bay, Otego Peninsual, S. Island, New Zealand (C) JC DF Variable Oyster Catchers at Bruce's Bay, Westland NZ (C) J Church D Friedman

Above right, Variable Oystercatchers in Bruces Bay, Westland NZ.


 

White-fronted Tern, off Stewart Island New Zealand (C) DFJC Black Fronted Tern, Waimairi Beach, Christchurch NZ (C) DFJC

White Fronted Tern (Larapioe) Sterna albostriata, above left, off Stewart Island & above right, spit on ocean edge of Lake Ellesmere. Below, White-fronted terns facing the wind on Shag Point, east coast of South Island between Dunedin & Christchurch NZ.

White fronted terns at Shag Point (C) J Church D Friedman



 

New Zealand Bird Book Recommendations

Birds of New Zealand, Paul Scofield, Brent Stephenson, (2013) ISBN 978-0-300-19682-5

Birds of New Zealand, Paul Scofield, Brent Stephenson, (2013) ISBN 978-0-300-19682-5, shown at above left, is the most complete, most-current bird guide to New Zealand and is our top recommendation for completeness, illustrations, accuracy.

Birds of New Zealand, Hugh Robertson, Barrie Heather, Derek Onley (Illustrator), (1999), ISBN ?, Penguin Books

Birds of New Zealand, Hugh Robertson, Barrie Heather, Derek Onley (Illustrator), (1999), ISBN ?, Penguin Books, shown at above right is an older (1999) New Zealand bird guide that is available both as a compelete book and as a smaller, easy-to-carry illustrations-only bird guide handy for use in the field. This book includes helpful text about where to see birds in New Zealand.

New Zealand Birding Tour Recommendations

Our most-rewarding birding tour advice for New Zealand was provided by Sav Saville who provided detailed advice about travel, lodging, birding tours, a pelagic tour, and about which birds might be observced where in New Zealand. Matt's contact information is just below.

Ian "Sav" Saville & Brent Stephenson, Wrybill Birding Tours, NZ: For advance work in organizing a birding trip in New Zealand as well as for personally guided tours throughout the country, contact
Sav Saville, Wrybill Birding Tours, NZ
Email: info@wrubill-tours.com or sav@wrybill-tours.com
Website: wrybill-tours.com,
Tel: +64-6-356-3303
Cell: +64-276-803-740

Aurora Charters Ty Jenkinson Pelagic Bird Tours, Stewart Island New Zealand (C) D Friedman Ty Jenkinson

For a superb pelagic tour based on Stewart Island contact the experts just below. The boat captain for a successful pelagic tour is
Ty Jenkinson, Aurora Charters. Onboard providing essential bird identification and information was Matt Jones. Their contact information is in the business cards just below.

Matt Jones Birdwatching Tours, Stewart Island New Zealand (C) D Friedman Matt Jones

Also contact Matt Jones through Wrybill Birding Tours (information above) or by Email to matt@mattjoneswildlifeimages.com, Website: mattjoneswildlifeimages.com

[Click to enlarge any image]

Milford Sound: Milford Sound Nature Cruise (2.5 hours on water). Driving to Milford Sound be sure to leave time for stops enroute and if you're lucky, make the visit in rainy weather so as to appreciate the thousand or so waterfalls cascading down near-vertical cliffs from tremendous heights.

Kiwi Tours on Stewart Island: Call Phillip Smith (03 219 1144) about status of a night-time guided Kiwi walk. (Be quiet; keep distant, use no flash cameras).

Ulva Island: A superb and easy walking tour of Ulva Island is easily made from Stewart Island's Golden Bay dock, a ten minute walk from Halfmoon Bay. Take a water taxi to Ulva: Peter Cox (03 219 1013 or 027 631 1929).

Sav's advice: Walk over the hill to Golden Bay, then 5 minutes to Ulva. Just roam around the tracks, covering all the ground slowly for Weka, Red and Yellow-crowned Parakeet, Kaka, SI Saddleback, SI Robin, Yellowhead, Brown Creeper, etc.

Comments & Identification pending

Yellowhead (Mohua) Mohoua ochrocephalam, Otira Gorge, South Island New Zealand (C) DF JC

Unidentified yellow bird, Lyndon lake at entry to Otira Gorge, South Island NZ

Large bird track (C) DF JC

Moa Tracks ? No. That would be a bit remarkable. But above left is a large bird track,unidentified (probably a large gull), observed along the beach at Moana Roa Preserve between Hamilton & Tauranga.

Moa tracks, hillside in New Zealand, Horn, Peter L. (1989)

As the Upland Moa Megalapteryx didinus (South Island) and its fellow Moa species are extinct and as they had still larger feet, this photo above is certainly the impression of a different bird. Searching for information on "Moa Tracks" finds an interesting article by Peter Horn who explains that today we can still find Moa Tracks (pathways) in some New Zealand countryside (photo, above right). The Moa image at left is quoted from Wikipedia.

Horn explains (excerpt):

The presumed moa tracks are frequently crossed by sheep tracks (Figs 1 and 3), so were certainly formed before extensive sheep grazing modified the ground surface.

Tracks ranged in width from 40 to 90 cm; those formed by sheep, pigs or goats are seldom even 40 cm wide. While the tracks of ungulates are narrow relative to body width, and deep, the presumed moa tracks appear wide and only slightly dished.
- Horn, P.F. (1989) [The explanation continues and offers additional detail.] 

Moa restoration image, Wikipedia 10.10.14 op cit


...

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