White-winged black tern- Upper Rangitata

White-winged black tern - Upper Rangitata

A stunning sight- in full breeding plumage. Pair sighted feeding on riffle next to Rangitata-Forest Creek Confluence.

Pinky the scaup

Photographed 15/7/11 at Westlake-Halswell- Christchurch a scaup with a distinctive pink bill- is it a partial albino, or possible result of hybridization ?.In 30 years of birding I have never seen a scaup that looks like this with such a pronounced pink bill-

Second gull-billed tern at Lake Ellesmere-

Selwyn River mouth today ( 7/7/2011) - note different cap from birdb photographed on 5/7/2011 nearby at Wolfes Road

top birding spot- Wolfes road

Hi all- map shows a top birding site. Some big puddles on Wolfes road at moment but ok with a standard wheel if care taken. Park near hut (DOC access sign) and walk straight down to wood hut and out onto a peninsula- quite a few terns and black-billed gulls are at this site at the moment. Bittern are a possibility on the ponds with reeds. One of my favourite birding spots at Lake Ellesmere.

map courtesy of MapToaster/Geosystems-Chch.

Click on map to enlarge

Mystery tern

Gull billed tern

Tern photos-Little tern at Wolfes Road- Lake ellesmere today

the smallest tern species recorded from NZ waters

Rgds
Peter

Christchurch's Cathedral square- in memory of "the Birdman"

Does anyone remember the blind man who used to feed the large flocks of red-billed gulls in Cathedral Square ?- who passed away in 1988- at the time quite an identity of our inner city scene. Also were there any articles about him and does anyone know his name ?
Keen for any details- langlands@xtra.co.nz

Thanks
Peter

Morepork found dead in Christchurch Botanic gardens

Morepork found by Luke Martin - thanks for photo Luke which shows characteristics of a morepork- a very unusual record for urban Christchurch .

Profile

Peter Langlands
Based in Christchurch New Zealand I am a professional independent ornithologist who loves exploring my regions wild spaces. I have been birding in Canterbury since 1980 and have added five new bird species to NZ checklist. I am actively involved in conservation advocacy and protection of important habitats for birds throughout Canterbury. I also do research and have recently completed the National database of bittern records in New Zealand for the Department of Conservation and have completed three years of monitoring of the breeding success of wrybills- an endangered and iconic bird that breeds in the Canterbury Region. I can provide detailed location information or customised bird watching information packages complete with maps and GPS information. Guided trips by arrangement are also available. I am linked in with a wide range of birdwatchers and Ornithologists throughout New Zealand. I am also trained in SLR- technical bird photography. Bird photography tours are also available. E:Langlands@xtra.co.nz Cell- 0274 501 916


Photo credit to Dave Hansford-
Origin Natural History Media

Mute swans

In addition to endangered native species Peacock Springs also breeds mute swans.

Wetlands at Peacock Springs

There is some outstanding wetland habitat around the wader aviaries at peacock springs- (wild) black-billed gulls have breed at

this site.

Orange-fronted parakeet

Peacock Springs plays a vital role in the captive breeding program for orange-fronted parakeet

Emma- wildlife ranger at Peacock springs addressing OSNZ group at black stilt avairy

Peacock Springs- brown teal avaries

Crystal clear spring water flows past many of the avaries-

a real benefit of the site.

Shore plovers

Several pairs of shore plover are held at Peacock Springs- attempts are being made to re-establish wild populations of shore plover on islands around NZ. This is our second most endangered wading bird.

OSNZ field trip to Peacock Springs May 2011

Peacock Springs is one of the main captive rearing sites for Brown teal- Pateke - in New Zealand with birds reared for release into locations in Fiordland and Northland

correction -

wood duck is at Horseshoe Lake not Bottle Lake - a Freudian slip- there were lots of bottles drifting around there !

Australian wood duck at Bottle Lake

Bird ( a male) sighted today at Bottle Lake in Christchurch- likely to be the same bird sighted in January at Bromley Oxidation Ponds- A vagrant from Australia likely to have come across the Tasman during the gale force nor westers in Late Dec 2010

Marsh crake

Most raupo beds around Lake Ellesmere have marsh crakes in them- visit at dusk for the best chance of sighting this elusive dweller of the reed beds

Glossy Ibis

Bird recently sighted at the Bexley wetlands-

Over looked birding site- Ellesmere

Hi all the area between the LII and the lower Selwyn Huts is a good birding site at times, especially when Ellesmere is at lower levels- a spot not often visited and well worth checking out for rarities.

Last of the Buller's shearwaters migrating north now

Bullers shearwaters breed on the Poor Knight Islands and migrate south to feed, with flocks of up tp 150 sighted off Bank's Peninsula before heading northwards into the Northern Pacific to waters off Japan and Alaska- an epic migration. Small group sighted off Kaikoura last week on the Albatross encounter offshore pelagic trip.

Record count of reef herons on Kaikoura Peninsula

On Sunday 16 April I surveyed Kaikoura Peninsula and was stoked to see 8 reef herons including two juvenile birds. Good to see that they are breeding successfully in the region. Good light and a great day for photography -before the southerly storm arrived !

Late April- exciting time for bird watching on East coast

As we move into a change in the seasons late April is a prime time to see migrant birds along our coasts as the last few seabird and wader species pass through on their northward migrations. After the recent southerly storm Kaikoura is a top option at present

Kaikoura’s little blue penguins

Throughout the year little blue penguins can be sighted in the waters around Kaikoura Peninsula. These are the smallest of the penguin species and weight a kilogram and stand 25 centimetres tall. The birds also have a distinct blue colouration. Little blues are found throughout New Zealand and each region has a slightly different (sub-species). In Kaikoura the Northern little blue is the main type sighted. Although Southern little blues also occur occasionally. A bird tagged in Oamaru was recently found breeding at Kaikoura.
A small colony of about 15 pairs of little blues breed on Kaikoura Peninsula. The birds come ashore at night from August to January (the birds breeding season). By day time little blues feed around the reefs on the end of Kaikoura Peninsula. Boaties and kayakers should keep an eye out, especially just offshore from South Bay and also between the Seal Colony and New Wharf, in the waters just offshore from Armers Beach. Occasionally the odd bird will come ashore during the daytime such as this bird photographed on the reef platform at the Seal Colony Car Park.
Little blues from other regions also move into Kaikoura's rich waters in the autumn and winter with influxes of Canterbury’s’ own version of little blue penguin called the white-flippered penguin occurring. Little blues breed around New Zealand often in areas close to people such as harbour breakwaters and in some cases under people’s batches! The birds noisily braying calls can be heard at night and for such as small penguin they can make a lot of noise. Blue penguins locally have benefited from nest boxes set up in South Bay.

Long tailed skua off Kaikoura

Sighted at daybreak 17 nautical miles off Kaikoura Peninsula. thanks to Gary and Albatross Encounter for the opportunity . My first in over 30 years of birding in the South Island- very elegant bird- initially looked like a tern-
Cheers
Peter

sooty shearwaters are migrating along Kaikoura's coastline

thousands of sooty shearwaters are migrating along Kaikoura's coastline at the moment- quite a spectacle according to Albatross Encounter skipper Gary Melville

White-winged black tern

Juvenile sighted on beach at Taumutu yesterday- other rarities are likely- a top spot to keep an eye on at present.

Lake Ellesmere's outlet

Hi all- Ellesmere is open to sea at moment at Taumutu- a lot of bird activity. Sighted a juvenile white-winged black tern yesterday. Well worth a look if anyone is after a good birding spot at the moment. the lake is only open to the sea for a few days each year- quite a sight.

West Lake Halswell

A suburban birding option - situated in Halswell, WestLake is a set of two artificially created lakes- originally the site of a gravel pit. A wide range of birds can be sighted at the lakes, which have refuge islands on them for birds to roost and breed. As WestLake is situated on the flyway beechen Ellesmere and the estuary- it would be a spot worth keeping on eye on for oddities. I have sighted royal spoonbill roosting on islands. To my knowledge crested grebe have not been sighted but are a possibility. Both the lakes take 15 minutes to walk around. They also have a healthy population of short-finned eels and possibly rudd and perch. Note the smaller lake is not shown on the topo image.

Bitterns pushed into drains around Lake Ellesmere-

Bitterns pushed into drains around lake Ellesmere- with high lake levels bitterns are now concentrated around drains flowing into the lake. Any sightings are welcomed for the regional database- Please contact me- Peter Langlands- langlands@xtra.co.nz

Armers Beach- a top birdwatching spot at Kaikoura Peninsula

A top spot for a wide range of sea and shorebirds- a huge species diversity within a small space- perhaps one of the top ten sites for species diversity within such a small space in the South Island. Beach best walked along at mid tide. Use broad walk at high tide, adjoining beach, to minimise disturbance to roosting shorebirds.

Asiatic whimbrel- note white rump

Asiatic Whimbrel sighted at Ashley Estuary

White-fronted terns- succesful breeding season

I sighted a flock of 60 white-fronted terns at Monck's bay yesterday along with 8 juveniles. Good to see a sign of successful breeding of this species which is highly vulnerable to breeding failure due to disturbance on our coastline. Rock stacks and islets on Banks Peninsula are likely to offer breeding sites where birds can escape disturbance.

McCormacks Bay

A top spot for birdwatching at the Avon-Heathcote estuary- rarities such as chestnut teal have been sighted here in the last year. A spot worth keeping an eye on with the recent sighting of an unusual gull. At high tide large flocks of birds are on the islands. Reef heron and other rare birds have also been sighted on the rocky barrier.

Unusual gull sighted at Avon-Heathcote estuary

hi all, a unusual gull was sighted last week possibly a Franklin's or Laughing ( or red-billed with an oiled head ?) at McCormacks Bay- Avon-Heathcote Estuary. A birding hotspot within the Avon-Heathcote region.

Source information below -

"Hi Jan ( Walker)

My brother Gareth said he saw a strange looking seagull with a bright red
bill and a black head at McCormacks bay on the way home Wednesday night and
when I showed him a photo of a Franklins Gull he said that it looked a lot
like that. Or possibly a Laughing Gull. This was on Wednesday and I went
to look but saw no sign of it today, anywhere. He is a bit of a
twitcher,and would probably know a gull from a Caspian Tern. Is this worth
broadcasting wider, as I know there are very few recorded sightings of
Franklins/Laughing Gulls in NZ?"

Cheers
Kieran Rowe

Wainono Lagoon- an overlooked birding location-

Situated on the coast east of Waimate and about 30 minutes south of Timaru- Wainono Lagoon is a top birding location in South Canterbury and well worth a look when travelling through with two access points off State Highway One. The lagoon has good walking access on the spit that separates it from the sea. There are often some good edges for waders on the northern arm. Mudflats on the southern shoreline are certainly worth a look. Also a wide range of coastal seabirds have been sighted just offshore and often larger numbers of skuas and terns are in the region over the summer. A brown booby has even been sighted ! Stewart island Shags are sighted on occasions. many rarities have been sighted although to my knowledge there is no regular monitoring of the bird populations at this location.

Australian wood duck sighted at Bromley Oxidation Pond

Hi all- as predicted the drained ( experimental) pond at Bromley- see earlier posting for location map, has turned up an Australian wood duck ( mid-Jan).

Shore based birdwatching in Kaikoura

Shore based birdwatching in Kaikoura

Peter Langlands


Kaikoura is a great base for birdwatching, with alpine environments right next to the ocean, the diversity of birds is amongst one of the highest in the New Zealand region. While much of Kaikoura’s bird life is viewed offshore, on trips of a world Class standard ( “Oceanwings” ) there are still some great land-based bird watching opportunities.

Black oystercatchers are only found in New Zealand and can be viewed from the roadside along much of the Kaikoura Coastline. With their bright red-bills and loud pipping calls they are easily noticed.

The Australasian Gannet can be seen flying close inshore throughout the year. These elegant birds dive, from quite some height, with an almighty splash into the water in pursuit of fish. The gannets visit Kaikoura from colonies in the North Island and within the Marlborough Sounds.

Over the summer months vast flocks of Hutton’s Shearwater, a speceis which only breeds in the Kaikoura Region, can be seen wheeling around in vast flocks close inshore, often with the elegant white-fronted terns flying above.

White -fronted terns breed over the summer months, on rocks along the coastline, to the north and south of Kaikoura and are very gracefully birds, which have the alternative name of “sea-swallow”.

Kaikoura Peninsula is a real focal point for the birdwatcher, with a short amount of time, with a wide range of oceanic seabirds, coastal seabirds and wading birds encountered in a very small space.

Armer’s Beach on the north side of the peninsula has a wide range of wading birds which feed in the rock pools. Turnstones can often be seen over the summer months. Remarkably these birds, not much larger than a starling, breed in Siberia and migrate to New Zealand outside their breeding season. A remarkable trans-equatorial migration ! Turnstones are easily spotted with their bright orange legs and have a flute like call. Armer’s Beach is the sort of place that anything could turn up at, being situated on a peninsula, with a wide range of migratory birds calling in for a rest. An exciting spot for the travelling birdwatcher to chill out also.

At the eastern end of Armer’s Beach is the “Seal Colony car park”. By walking up from the car park to the top of the peninsula you get sweeping views of the coastline, and is a good birdwatching spot, overlooking Kean Point, where a wide range of seabirds fly past. Often smaller albatross can be seen gliding in the breeze just a few hundred metres offshore ( Shy Albatross are one of the most commonly sighted speceis here). I have seen over 40 types of seabirds from the top of Kaikoura Peninsula, and like Armer’s Beach, it is a spot where anything could turn up! Large black coloured birds, called a giant petrels are often sighted, as are shy and Salvin’s albatross. At times large flocks of the endemic spotted shags can be seen flying in large “V” formations as the birds fly from their feeding grounds to roosting sites further down the coastline.

So make the most of your time at Kaikoura and visit these locations, all within 15 minutes of the centre of the town. While offshore birdwatching is a rewarding experience, why not balance it out with some land-based birding, and experience the satisfaction of finding some rare and endemic birds, to New Zealand, yourself and at your own pace.

Arctic Skua- the falcon of the southern ocean

Often seen chasing white-fronted terns at the Ashburton River Mouth

Ashburton River Mouth ( Hakatere)

A top birding spot over the summer- a wide range of seabirds and waders have been sighted here over the years including many rarities. There is often also a spectacular flock of spotted shags roosting here.
Two options are to scope out from the Hakatere huts on the north side- there is a low sea cliff here giving some elevation. The rivers' delta into a small lagoon is best accessed from the south side ( although the river can be crossed when less than 10 cumecs from the Hakatere Huts). Being on a coastal network it is one of those spots that has a high turn over of birds. Arctic skuas are often sighted just offshore over the summer.

Ashburton River Mouth

Greenpark Sands

Large flocks of wrybills and banded dotterels ( pictured) have been at the Greenpark Sands since the large floods that occurred on our braided rivers. There is also an assortment of rare Arctic waders there at the moment.

Bromley "Oxidation" Pond

Sighted 10 banded dotterels and five wrybills yesterday. A large area with a wide diversity of birds at the moment and a potential rarity spot.

Five top wader watching spots -Ashley Rivermouth - southern section

Hi- the following locations all have good potential for waders and other water birds over the summer for birders in Canterbury.
Click on map to enlarge and view map details

South Brighton Spit tip

Best visited a couple of hours either side of high tide.

Wader locations - western Bromley Oxidation Pond

Pond is mainly dried up - some residual puddles. Small stuff such as banded dotterels and wrybills have turned up in the last few days- so there is hope that rare waders may make an appearance here.
Note - Pond is best surveyed from the road side with a scope. park well to the left and watch out for fast moving traffic !

Wader locations

Charlesworth Reserve- a walkway on the northern and western edges allows access away from the road

Greenpark sands

Greenpark sands- by far and away the best location for sighting a wide diversity of birds over the summer