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.