Trip Report New Zealand 2004

Simon Plat, Maaike Poppinga
Dates: 24-02-2003 till 13-03-2003
For more info, comments, questions etc please contact us.
Click on a map to move to that location Move to Kandy Move to Nuwara Eliya Move to Yala NP Move to Bundala Move to Tissamaharama Move to Uda Walawe Move to Sinharaja Move to Bodhinagala Move to Colombo Move to finding the endemics Move to itinerary
Back home Go to trip map Previous Next

Central North Island

Location: Our main purpose to visit these parts of North Island was tourist things like visiting the geothermic parks around Rotorua. We held one big birding trip to Pureora Forest and the Ruatiti domain. Pureora Forest can best be visited from highway 30, Pureora Forest is signposted on the south side of this road. The watchtower is easily found from here. In the morning it is just about 2 hours drive from Rotorua. We visited the Ruatiti domain specific for Blue Duck. The Ruatiti domain can be found along highway 4 (Hamilton - Wanganui). The junction is south of National Park, halfway between Tohunga Junction and Raetihi. Ruatiti is signposted. The best spot for Blue Duck can be found by driving exactly 17 km along this winding road into the valley and stopping at the bridge at 17 km. The river can be scanned from the bridge. Other spots along this river can also be productive. It took us about 3 hours from Pureora to the Blue Duck spot.

Costs: -

Date(s): 30-11-2004

Notes: This day was quite a drive, starting in Rotorua early enough to arrive in Rotorua at dawn, continuing to Ruatiti and back to Taupo. But it is possible in a day with enough time for stopovers to find birds and enjoy the marvellous landscapes (highway 47 from National Park to Turangi is just great!). At the end of the day we did a few extra stopovers near Turangi and the southern shores of Lake Taupo but there was too much wind to find birds. The southern shores of Lake Taupo can be productive under better circumstances (for example for Fernbird).

Highlights: New Zealand Scaup (V), Blue Duck (4, two adults and two charming chicks in Ruatiti), New Zealand Falcon (1 Pureora), Kaka (V Pureora), Long-tailed Koel (2 heard only), Rifleman (1 Pureora), Whitehead (V)

Pics:

Wai-O-Tapu is the famous thermal wonderland, close to Rotorua on North Island. And indeed it is impressive, and consequently a bit crowded.
The Pureora Forest canopy seen from the watchtower. During our visit Kakas were playing around the treetops here.
New Zealand Falcon This New Zealand Falcon sat exposed in a tree for over half an hour, showing well from the carpark to the watchtower in Pureora Forest Park.
The Ruatiti Stream is a good spot to find the strange Blue Duck. The scenery alone makes this trip worth while.
Blue Duck We were treated by a great show of a complete family of Blue Ducks, just at km 17 up the Ruatiti road. All could be seen well from the bridge.

Bird List:

Column 1: E= endemic species; Eb=endemic breeding species
Column 2: Nt=Near-threatened; V=Vulnerable

    Phalacrocorax carbo Great Cormorant Aalscholver
V
    Phalacrocorax melanoleucos Little Pied Cormorant Kleine Bonte Aalscholver
V
    Phalacrocorax sulcirostris Little Black Cormorant Zwarte Aalscholver
V
    Egretta novaehollandiae White-faced Heron Witwangreiger
V
E   Aythya novaeseelandiae New Zealand Scaup Nieuwzeelandse Toppereend
V
E V Hymenolaimus malacorhynchus Blue Duck Blauwe Eend
4
E   Tadorna variegata Paradise Shelduck Paradijscasarca
3
    Circus approximans Swamp Harrier Moeraskiekendief
X
E Nt Falco novaeseelandiae New Zealand Falcon Nieuwzeelandse Valk
1
    Fulica atra Common Coot Meerkoet
V
    Porphyrio porphyrio Purple Swamphen Purperkoet
V
E   Haematopus finschi South Island Oystercatcher Nieuwzeelandse Bonte Scholekster
V
    Himantopus leucocephalus White-headed Stilt Witkopsteltkluut
2
    Vanellus miles Masked Lapwing Maskerkievit
X
    Larus dominicanus Kelp Gull Kelpmeeuw
V
E   Larus scopulinus Red-billed Gull Roodsnavelmeeuw
V
E Nt Hemiphaga novaeseelandiae New Zealand Pigeon Nieuwzeelandse Duif
V
E V Nestor meridionalis New Zealand Kaka Kaka
5
Eb   Eudynamys taitensis Long-tailed Koel Langstaartkoël
2
E   Acanthisitta chloris Rifleman Geweervogel
1
    Hirundo neoxena Welcome Swallow Welkomzwaluw
XX
E   Petroica australis New Zealand Robin Nieuwzeelandvliegenvanger
2
E   Petroica macrocephala Tomtit Maori-vliegenvanger
2
    Rhipidura fuliginosa Grey Fantail Grijze Waaierstaart
X
E   Gerygone igata Grey Gerygone Maori-mangrovezanger
X
E   Mohoua albicilla Whitehead Popokatea
V
    Zosterops lateralis Silvereye Grijsrugbrilvogel
X
E   Anthornis melanura New Zealand Bellbird Maori-belhoningvogel
V
E   Prosthemadera novaeseelandiae Tui Toei
V

Up

Back home Go to trip map Previous Next