Tara iti hui.

 It was great to attend another annual Department of Conservation (DOC) Tara iti (NZ Fairy Tern) hui in Wellsford today and hear more about the ongoing work and planned projects to protect this endangered endemic species.

One of the projects that captured my imagination was by Cara who plans to trial this motorised falcon to drive Australasian hawks (kahu) away from Tara iti nesting habitats.

Another idea that Cara is researching is to supplementary feed Kahu and their young to discourage them from taking other species. This research could be a game changer for our shell bank areas that are often patrolled by Kahu looking for easy prey. That easy prey is our nesting dotterel including their eggs and chicks. 

I will be following Caras projects closely.

Dripping with Rails !

 I do remember in the early days when I first set out to watch banded rail, I was always unlucky. Following a search at a wetland reserve and still no success someone commented that I should have seen them as the place was 'dripping with rails'.

Gradually my luck changed, or I became more observant, and I began to see them more often in coastal wetland habitats.

 I regularly watch them at Wenderhom Regional Park providing the tide in the estuary is just right to enable them to feed. Today was ideal and these photos show one rail busy feed as the tide recedes.

This banded rail launches itself at a crab

Another tasty crab is caught

The crab is dipped in a pool probably to remove sand

The crab still alive is swallowed whole.

Keeping the Shell Banks safe for Birds

Hauraki School students have once again volunteered to help keep an important shell bank in Shoal estuary safe for birds by searching for and removing rubbish.

It was great to be asked again by Hauraki school to attend and talk to their students ahead of their shell bank clean up. I also brought along my scope in the hope that we might see some of the birds that visit the area. That would prove difficult as due to a low tide to enable access to the shell bank the birds would be a long way out today. 

170 students and their parent helpers and teachers arrived ready to search for rubbish on the shell bank.  Due to recent high tides there was not much large rubbish to be found but the student with their very keen eyes still found plenty of small pieces that could be dangerous to birds that feed in the estuary.

The student from Hauraki school searching for rubbish on the shell bank.

These are just a few of the shorebirds that live and visit Shoal Bay estuary

A Big Thankyou to the students at Hauraki School that took part today including their teachers and many parent helpers. Thanks also to Theo our local Community Ranger for supplying gloves and rubbish bags. 

Another excellent team effort to Keep the Shell Banks Safe for Birds

Northward

Dawn and Dusk at Waitangi.

They are back again. This time just one Cape Barren goose near the Ruakaka estuary campsite.

Last May there were three. The seem quite confiding flying in to feed on the grassy slopes above the estuary edge.

Reef Herons - Critically Threatened

 Following a recent survey between December 2024 and February 2025, Reef Heron numbers in the Auckland region appear to be critically low.

This information was revealed last evening during our Auckland Regional Birds NZ meeting. I was rather dismayed to hear that only 10 nests were located and only a few reef heron observed.

I have always enjoyed watching these birds when I have come across them. I have observed them on Motuihe Island, Mangawhai estuary, Huia in the Waitakeres and also in the middle of the Shoal estuary.

45 SIPOS

 Another stunning clear blue-sky day to visit the Mahurangi Regional Reserve and a quick count of the birds on Sullivans beach and the grass reserve at high tide showed 45 Variable Oystercatchers (VOCS), two New Zealand dotterel and about 20 mallard ducks.

Some of the 45 Variable oystercatchers roosting around early afternoon.

This is a regular site for roosting VOCs and occasionally a pair of NZ dotterel although their is very little room for the dotterel to breed on the beach with high tides.

Pukorokoro 50th Anniversary

 Pukorokoro Miranda shorebird centre is this year celebrating its 50th Anniversary with a series of events.

Today a beautiful blue-sky day to attend the AGM and a talk by Keith Woodley who with the help of historic photographs and interesting memories illustrated the many events and the people who over the years had contributed to the success of the Pukorokoro/Miranda Naturalist' Trust.

Heavens Above!

The NZ Herald this morning in their article recording the severe storm during the early hours of this morning that the 'Heavens opened' with heavy rain across the Auckland region. 

There was little warning of this ahead of this morning's downpour recorded by the Met Office as shown below with over 50mm of rain over just a few hours.

Sadly, these heavy downpours of rain not only cause flooding to people's homes and livelihoods but cause huge amounts of sediment to flow from inadequately protected development sites across the city into our streams, estuaries and ultimately into the Hauraki Gulf.  

Oceania Seabird Conference

 A full-on week enjoying the Oceania Seabird Conference at Auckland University which was hosted by SPREP (Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environmental Programme). 

The vision of SPREP - 'A resilient Pacific Environment sustaining our livelihoods and natural heritage in harmony with our cultures'.

Three days of excellent lectures from researchers active throughout the Pacific region working on the collection of data and protection of some very challenging Island environments crucial to seabird ecology.

It was excellent to meetup with New Zealand friends and engage with many Pacific Island visitors too.

 Due to the extreme weather front arriving today the field trips including a pelagic from Tutukaka marina and visits to Tawharanui sanctuary and Motuora Island had to be cancelled.

Dotterel Forum 2025

 Today was the 10th Auckland Dotterel Forum and this year it was held at a new venue the Mangere Mountain Education Centre hosted by Auckland Council. Each year the Forum gathers together a group of people (Dotterel Minders) who are dedicated to the care and protection of the Northern New Zealand Dotterel species.

Landcare researcher shows cat aversion research to protect nesting sites

Great talks today from a variety of contributors. It's always interesting to hear success stories but we are also reminded of the ongoing lack of action on the damage and disturbance from cats, dogs and development to the breeding success of this species...

Te Muri Parore fish - Late Post

 The tides were good to explore the Te Muri Reserve. Or so I thought but after climbing over the hill from Sullivans bay I realised that the tide was turning and coming in fast.

So rather than cross the river I found a shady spot to observe any fish moving upstream with the tide. The water was incredibly clear and soon several good sized parore fish were observed feeding on vegetation along the nearside of the river just below where I was sitting. 

 More to follow.......

Muriwai - before the Gannets leave.

Over to the West coast of Auckland today to the Muriwai gannet colony. The newly fledged young gannets are about to launch from the high cliffs of the gannet nesting colony for their first migration.

 more to follow.................................

Pukorokoro/Miranda catchups

 It's always good to catch up with people at the Robert Findlay Reserve and at the Pukorokoro/Miranda Shorebird Centre on the Thames estuary.

 Today was extra special as I was able to meet up with my friend Claire from Perth WA and share with her the Pukorokoro shorebird environment. Claire is a Marine Ecologist whose specialty is the Australian Fairy Tern. Her work now includes assisting the New Zealand Scientific Advisory group for research into the Tara Iti, the New Zealand Fairy Tern. I have enjoyed many visits to WA to catch up with the Australian Fairy Tern work by Claire and her colleagues which aligns with my voluntary work with Fairy Tern projects in New Zealand

 Claire was enjoying seeing large numbers of shorebirds including South Island pied oystercatchers, Bar-tailed Godwit. Pacific Golden plovers and our New Zealand endemic the Wrybill a small, unusual bird with a bent to the right bill.

Today recent arrivals to NZ from the UK Shona and James were also visiting the Shorebird Centre and by chance Shona and Claire are linked to conservation projects in Australia. I wish them good luck for their future time in NZ and hope to catch up with them in Auckland some time.

It was good to chat to Natalie at the hides about Conservation. Natalie is the present President of Birds New Zealand.

The weather was great the birds were great and the company excellent. Altogether a very enjoyable day.

Mermaid Pool

 Exploring the Motutara Reserve looking for the mermaid pools. There are many so called mermaid pools around New Zealand and they are well worth the effort to seek them out. 

We have visited this area on many occasions but somehow missed the mermaid pools hidden away at the far end of the Motutara reserve. It's an enjoyable walk with first a climb over the 60 metre  hill to the Trig point. From there we enjoyed fantastic ocean views including the Poor Knights islands and in the opposite direction the Whananaki estuary below the Reserve. 

On this occasion we were rewarded after a hot but beautiful walk and then enjoyed a well-deserved refreshing swim at the small, secluded bay below. On this occasion the sea temperatures were the warmest I have experienced in the North and this may be why a Manta Ray was recently observed on this coastline.

Meadow Argus

 Cicadas, bee's, paper wasps, small blue butterflies and moths and very occasionally birds fly into the front porch. I'm always rescuing them especially the bees because by morning they are really sluggish due to the overnight temperatures. However, they soon recover and using the sun re-calibrate and are off again on purposeful flight. 

 Today it was a rare migrant butterfly, a Meadow Argus (Junonia villida calybe). It was not in perfect condition but still looked beautiful.

 It's an Australian butterfly found all around the Australian continent including the Sydney suburbs. 

Apparently, it's a rare migrant to New Zealand but in late 1886 thousands made their way across the Tasman Sea to this country.

Jutland Reserve Marsden Re-development.

 A stunning day to observe 200 bar-tailed godwits roosting in the estuary this morning and a reminder of how sensitive this Shoal Bay estuary environment is.

Today was a joint walk around the Marsden development area with the local environment group (RTH). We were joined by a representative from the Councils Healthy Waters department to share learning ahead of another intensive development, that could impact on this Significant Ecological Area.

My concerns follow the impacts of previous developments around the estuary edge that have either not followed sediment control guidelines or that the guidelines themselves have been totally inadequate to deal with current impact of climate, namely heavy rainfall events.

I hope that with early involvement in this project that members of the local environment group (RTH) will have the chance to monitor the methodology and any risk factors that could jeopardize this vulnerable cliff edge and risk sediment flow into the marine environment below.

Happy New Year

 A Happy New year to All.

Happy Christmas To All

 

Two Estuaries to explore.

Exploring the Ruakaka estuary today. At the edge of the estuary where the sea primrose is prevalent, I watched four banded rails pecking their way along a small inlet. These birds are usually very secretive and not easy to observe but here they seem almost quite confiding. Maybe with the large community campsite nearby they have become used to people. Many variable oyster catchers rounding up and protecting their new seasons offspring while they teach them how to search for food at the water's edge

Banded Rail foraging

Banded rail foraging in Sea Primrose (Samolus repens)

Variable oystercatcher with young

Then onto Whananaki estuary. It's always a must do to climb over the hill of Motutara Reserve to get to the little secluded beach below for a swim after also climbing down from the Trig point above at 63 metres. 

Motutara Reserve Trig point 63 metres high

Interesting number of pied shags roosting on the beach at the water's edge. Normally they are high in the trees on a rocky outcrop. Note the shag in the centre is offering some nesting material as part of courtship behavior.

19 Pied shags roosting at high tide.

 Many of the other birds observed are European varieties which fits with the landscape of a working farm. Sparrows, yellow hammers thrushes and blackbirds.

Photos and more to follow. 

Godwit event Shoal Bay Nov 2024

 Today was the sixth public godwit event at Sandy Bay Reserve on the shore of Shoal estuary. Once again the event  was managed by the local Restoring Takurunga Hauraki group (RTH). They did an excellent job of putting it all together with activities for the children and native plants for sale to help with funds for restoration work.

My role was to update information about the arrival of the bar-tailed godwits to our local estuaries after their 11,500kms flight back from their breeding grounds in Alaska.

The small flock of just under 250 godwits (Kuaka). that visit our estuary appeared right on schedule flying in from feeding at low tide to be nearer a favoured high tide resting shell bank near the reserve that made it easy for us to watch through bird watching scopes.

More to follow................

Te Manaroa Spring eco trail

 We are recently back from exploring the Waikite Valley area. The Te Manaroa spring eco trail although short is just a fascinating place.

Words can't really describe this magnificent spring as it violently discharges thousands of litres of geothermal energy into the Otamakokore stream.

More to follow............

'Pushing up the Daises' - A visit to Waikumete cemetery

 Yesterday was a Bot Soc (Botanical Society) meeting surveying the Waikumete cemetery.

This is an amazing piece of land put aside by Auckland forefathers as a burial area. During October and November, it's rich with a variety of interesting flowering wild plants.

Invasive Aristonia ecklonii

Pukorokoro Miranda Shorebird Coastline

 Excellent talk this morning at the Shorebird centre followed by great birding opportunities before high tide at around 3pm.  It's always good to be back on this beautiful coastline.

Between four to five thousand estimated bar-tailed godwits have arrived. Unlike our local estuaries of Shoal and Ngataringa  red knots also migrate to the Pukorokoro coastline. We think that the lack of bivalves locally is probably the issue for these birds as Food, Food, Food is the motivator for where these birds visit.

Busy with birders at the poaka/stilt hide

A leucistic godwit in the centre.

A red knot feeding near the godwit flock. 

Red knots feeding in front of godwit flock

Photos and more to follow...... 

Frogs & Ducks. What's next?

 A couple of weeks ago it was a Green Golden Bell frog sitting by our garden pond. Today it was the turn of two Mallard ducks to go for a swim. I wonder what's next?

 They seemed quite relaxed swimming around and drinking lots of water too. I so often see this species of duck in the nearby Shoal estuary and wonder how they cope with saline water. 

                                 

This distraction of watching their antics as they swam around our garden pond rather delayed our visit to Wenderholm Regional Reserve with the intention of searching for and watching banded rail. 

Arriving mid-morning with the tide low we were soon rewarded with several sightings. Unlike Shoal and Ngataringa estuary where this species is incredibly cautious due to cats and dog disturbance, they are much easier to study at Wenderholm which has restrictions on these animals.  

I had a chat to the park Ranger who was working with some other people to set up further traps for other predators such as stoats, weasels and rats.

Hello Freddy - You are safe with us!

 This is not a New Zealand endemic species of frog, but it has become a native since its introduction to NZ in 1867.

 This Green Bell frog also called the Green Golden Bell frog in Australia has just appeared sitting happily by our garden pond. It's a welcome addition to our garden wildlife.

Green and Golden Bell Frog September 2024

After the recent 'Goodbye Freddy' comments from a government coalition partner, Conservationists were incensed at the blatant disregard for our rare and endangered wildlife. 

For comparison below is a photo I took as part of a frog research monitoring project of the threatened Archey's Frog. It's an amazing endemic species only found in New Zealand and now limited to very few habitats. We will certainly not find one of these in our garden.

Archey's Frog February 2012