 |
 |
 |
 |
 
Wednesday 25th of October 2017 and my Guide called me when I was on the way down in the elevator. I stepped out and I spotted a guy with a binocular. - Are you calling me? We were soon on the way to Gulf Harbour where we will take the 360 Discovery ferry to Tiritiri Matangi Island. Tiritiri Matangi Island is also called Tiri as it is way shorter and easier to say. The 360 Discovery ferry departs from Auckland at 09:00 but we will join the ferry in Gulf Harbour at 09:50. My Guide have planned to have a look for a few birds at the Shakespeare Regional Park just outside Gulf Harbour. Same as on Tawharanui Regional Park. The Peninsula is blocked by a 1 meter high wall. The birds on New Zealand, many of them by now extinct don't have any enemies. The only predator they know of is the bird of prey. So they look up but they are not afraid of any mammals as there is no mammals on New Zealand. At least not until the Maui arrived here 800 years ago bringing dogs and the Europeans arrived 200 years ago bringing rats, cats etc. These animals ate all the birds as they were just standing there not afraid as they didn't had any enemies, pretty much like the whales. Anyway, now New Zealand are full of the birds enemies and they have to block the peninsulas and the birds can live there as they have done for thousands of year without having to be attacked by “intoduced” predators. We hope to see the Banded rail in the Shakespeare Regional Park, or more correct, at the area just before entering the Shakespeare Regional Park, one of the few places where this very shy bird might be seen. So I hope  we're get lucky today.
 We can see the peninsula when we stop to buy lunch
 We buy lunch at the bakery and MAX in the Mini Mart
We stop at a bakery to buy our lunch. No Pepsi MAX but there was a Superette next door and they had MAX We continued to the Shakespeare Regional Park. We walked through the gate and we spotted a whole lot of birds, but none of the birds we wanted to see. So we got in to the car and we drove back 100 meters or so and we turned in to Bruce Harvey Drive. We drove through some kind of wet land area on the road leading down to the beach.
We spotted 3 Banded rails almost immediately, a mother and two babies. But darn, they were quick to disappear. There were Black-winged Stilts with babies all over the area. The Black-winged Stilts are very protective of their areas when they have babies so they chase away the Banded rails. So they stay under the bushes.  Black-winged Stilt
Called Pied Stilt on New Zealand
 Black-winged Stilt - Baby
Called Pied Stilt on New Zealand
 Black-winged Stilt - Baby
Called Pied Stilt on New Zealand
 Black-winged Stilt
Called Pied Stilt on New Zealand
We never saw the Banded Rail again and we left the area. We drove towards Gulf Harbour and the ferry to the Tiritiri Matangi Island and we stopped on the beach to see if we could find any interesting birds. We came up with ZIP. There was a sign saying that dogs was not allowed due to the Kiwi birds that might come out in the night. We went to check out a pond on the way to the ferry but there was nothing worth taking pictures of so we drove down to the marina. We saw a lot of people looking out on the beach and we spotted 3 dolphins swimming just next to the beach. I have never seen Dolphins so close to shore before. We had 20 minutes before the ferry departure so we parked the ca rand we went over to check out the Dolphins. Looks like most of the passengers are bird watchers. My Guide told me that the Tiritiri Matangi Island is a very popular place for bird watchers as there are many very rare and almost extinct birds on the island. How many will I see today? With my luck I don't keep my hopes high. We stepped on board and I was soon meeting the American couple that had been with us on the night tour looking for Kiwi birds yesterday.  We stop to look for birds at the beach on the way to the ferry
 We can see down town Auckland form the marina in Gulf Harbour
 Dolphins very close to the beach
 Gulf harbour ferry
 Gulf harbour ferry
 The ferry arrives from Auckland to pick us up
 The ferry arrives from Auckland to pick us up
 The ferry arrives from Auckland to pick us up
 The ferry arrives from Auckland to pick us up
 Leaving Gulf Harbour behind
Well, what to say? Me and my Guide had expected to be able to spot a lot of seabirds on the way to Tiritiri Matangi Island but we came up with nothing during the 25 minutes ferry trip. Well, we  will hopefully see a lot of birds on the island.
We get off the ferry and all passengers have to wait for some information meeting before we're allowed to continue up on the island. It is a meeting about how we have to behave on the island so it will be a lot of DO's and DON'Ts before we can go to look for the birds. As soon as we had got the information my Guide and I started to walk up towards the top of the island where they have an old light house and a visitor centre. We stop at the first pond. There were many children on the ferry and there are two options. Walk on the path or on the gravel road. So we waited for the children and they choose the path so we took the gravel road. Map of Tiritiri Matangi Island from the New Zealand's Department of Conservation can be found HERE. New Zealand's Department of Conservation are the government agency charged with conserving New Zealand’s natural and historic heritage.  Going bird watching on New Zealand? I have been to a few places but so far New Zealand is outstanding regarding information on the internet. There are two organizations that are sticking  out so far when it comes to information about birds and wildlife/ outdoor living.
Bird information, bird song and maps. Yes, there are excellent trekking maps online so you can plan, or go back after the trek to see where you have been, excellent. I have not been disappointed. • New Zealand Birds Online nzbirdsonline.org.nz • New Zealand's Department of Conservation www.doc.govt.nz Click on “Nature” or just hoover with the mouse over the “Nature” Many other places I have been to have excellent maps on site, but trying to find them online  rendering nothing but disappointments. The New Zealand's Department of Conservation is the ONE STOP ONLY for everything regarding outdoor activities on New Zealand.
New Zealand Birds Online, there is everything you ever wish to know about the birds on New Zealand. Nothing less than fantastic. Click HERE to down load Checklist of the birds of NZ from New Zealand Birds Online web page nzbirdsonline.org.nz One of the best web pages I have ever seen when it comes to birding. All the information you can ever ask for and a ONE STOP for all your needs before going bird watching on New Zealand. Range maps, sounds, information and bird lists, everything you need.   Arriving to Tiritiri Matangi Island
 Arriving to Tiritiri Matangi Island
 Arriving to Tiritiri Matangi Island
 Arriving to Tiritiri Matangi Island
 Arriving to Tiritiri Matangi Island
 Arriving to Tiritiri Matangi Island
 Arriving to Tiritiri Matangi Island
 We get the DO's and DON'Ts before we can go look for birds on Tiritiri Matangi Island
 Tui
Tui singing for us
We see a Tui on the way up the hill, and I managed to get a video of the Tui while singing for us next to the gravel road, Wharf Road and we went on to the Wattle Track going through the forest/ bushes to the lighthouse and visitor center. We have not been walking for long before we see a North Island Robin sitting in the bushes watching our step. The bird is sitting watching if your feet uncovers some insects on the ground. Then we are soon spotting the almost extinct North Island kōkako. When we walked up the hill my Guide gave me some special instructions. - When I tell you let go of everything you do IMMEDIATELY!!!! Then I have seen the EXTREMELY rare North Island kōkako and we might get some pictures.   North Island Robin
 North Island Robin
  North Island kōkako
 North Island kōkako
 Tui
 Tui
 Tui
Tui
 We were extremely lucky and we spotted a pair of the North Island kōkako not long after we had got on the Wattle Track. We left the track to go down 20 meters or so below the Wattle track. There were a small tray we filled with water. We sat down on the bench and we had a Tui and a Stitchbird coming for a swim. We left the Wattle track and we walked up the service road to the Wharf Road. We spotted two Saddlebacks and two Red-crowned parakeets on the service road. Of course, I never got a picture of the Red-crowned Parakket. Well, I got one, but when I took the photo the bird hide the head behind a flower so it turned out to nothing but sh**.  We can see the lighthouse form the service road
 Red-crowned Parakeet
I'm extremely lucky with my pictures today!
  I'm extremely lucky with my pictures today!
Listen to the Saddleback
Own recording from when we walked to the lighthouse on Tiritiri Matangi Island
 Saddlebacks or Tieke
 Saddlebacks or Tieke
We reach the visitor centre at the lighthouse and we have our lunch. The sandwiches we had bought earlier in the morning tasted very good and, of course, the MAX was not bad. When we were ready we walked around the lighthouse. A beautiful view. We saw a Chaffinch but I never got any photo. But there was a Tui, coloured orange from the flower so I thought I had seen a new bird. But I was soon to discover that it was a Tui We start walking back towards the ferry. We went in to some bushes and we're lucky to see the Whitehead. My Guide is using a “squeeser” and this makes a sound that is general for all small birds. I asked him where he got it. This was handy little thing. So I will order this on internet when I'm back at my hotel. I call it the “Bird Squeezer” but the official name turned out to be Audubon Bird caller. Can come in handy during my birding tours.  Tui
First I thought it was a new bird, but it is a Tui coloured orange by the flower
 Tui
First I thought it was a new bird, but it is a Tui coloured orange by the flower
 Whitehead or Pōpokotea
 Looking for the Whitehead
 Leaving the lighthouse area - View from the Wattle Track
 Whitehead or Pōpokotea
 Whitehead or Pōpokotea
 New Zealand Bellbird
 New Zealand Bellbird
 Stitchbird or Hihi
 Stitchbird or Hihi
 Stitchbird or Hihi
We had to be at the ferry at 15:10 for check-in and we started to walk back towards the ferry. We would stop at the pond to see if we could get any luck with the Red-crowned Parakeet. We passed another New Zealand pigeon. Jeez, that is a big bird and someone said it was the biggest pigeon in the world. I don't know, but it is very big. We have had a gorgeous day here on Tiritiri Matangi Island, seen all the birds, but I miss a picture of the Red-crowned Parakeet.  Walking the Wattle Track towards the ferry
  Leaving Tiritiri Matangi Island behind
We never saw any Red-crowned Parakeet at the pond and we left for the ferry after 10 minutes or so. The jetty was full of people when we came down to the water front. We met the couple from yesterday and we talked about the good ol' times while watching Kingfishers and a Variable Oystercatcher. So I have seen a lot of new birds today, very good. 15 thirty and we left Tiritiri Matangi Island behind. We will make one stop to try our luck with the Banded Rail before we return to Auckland. We saw 2 Eastern Rosellas as soon as we came in to the area. We also spotted the Banded Rail again. We drove by the place where we had seen the bird this morning. I saw something moving under the bushes and I went out of the car. I got a good sight of the bird, but no pictures. The place was full of the Black-winged Stilt just as when we were here in the morning. We spotted the Eastern Rosella and when we were chasing the bird for some pictures we also spotted the very beautiful bird Chaffinch. We were not very lucky with the Chaffinch, well, not very lucky with the Eastern Rosella. But I got a picture of the Eastern Rosella so I can put it on my list over birds I have seen on New Zealand.  Back to look for the Banded Rail
 Black-winged Stilt
Called Pied Stilt on New Zealand
 Black-winged Stilt
Called Pied Stilt on New Zealand
 Black-winged Stilt
Called Pied Stilt on New Zealand
 Black-winged Stilt
Called Pied Stilt on New Zealand
 The beautiful Common Chaffinch - Not good enough picture for my bird list
 Eastern Rosella
 Eastern Rosella
 Eastern Rosella
To see the map in a full window click HERE
What a day we have had! This is what makes it worth flying around the world. Walking in beautiful areas and we have seen many beautiful and rare birds. My Guide wanted to go on for a few hours more, but it is alos my holiday. And my alarm will go off again early tomorrow morning for departure to Miranda. Miranda and Kaiaua, a fantastic area for shorebirds and we're hoping to see the very rare Wrybill and the New Zealand Dotterel and many many more birds. But now I want to go back to my room in Auckland. We have been on the go for soon 12 hours.
 On the way back to Auckland
 On the way back to Auckland
 On the way back to Auckland
 On the way back to Auckland
Back in my room and I had my evening tea while looking at the pictures I had taken today. Off to bed and my alarm will go off early tomorrow morning. You want to know about Mirand but you don't want to go through the trouble flying to New Zealand? Click HERE to find out what we see in the Miranda and Kaiaua area.
    
  You are visitor no.
To www.aladdin.st since December 2005
Visitors from different countries since 26th of September 2011
|
chance of a couple of endemic seabirds---Fluttering shearwater, and Bullers shearwater.
Marunong ka mag-tagalog? Walang problema! Magpunta sa kabilang pahina pindutin ang “NEXT” button sa itaas
Faites vous parlez le français? Pas de problème! Pour arriver à la page suivante faites s'il vous plaît un déclic le bouton “Next” ci-dessus!
Haga usted dice el español? No hay problema! Ver la siguiente página sólo hacer clic el botón “Next” encima!
Farla parla l'italiano? Non problemi! Per vedere la prossima pagina lo scatto per favore giusto Il bottone “Next” sopra
Sprechen sie Deutsch! Kein problem! Wenn Sie die folgende Seite sehen wollen gerade klicken der Knopf “Next” oben!
คุณพูดภาษาไทยได้ไหม ไม่มีปัญหา ถ้าคุณต้องการไปหน้าถัดไป ให้กดปุ่ม “Next” ข้างบนนี้
Вы говорите по-русски? Просто нажмите синюю кнопку "Next" с левой стороны и Вы моментально переместитесь на следующую страницу!
E ni Svenskar och inte förstår Engelska så ska ni skämmas. J och Björn, med det menar jag inte att alla mina stavfel ska ältas varje gång vi träffas.
Well, the flag of Skåne, just a BONUS flag.
 |
||||
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
 |
||||