Trip Report New Zealand 2004

Simon Plat, Maaike Poppinga
Dates: 24-02-2003 till 13-03-2003
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Stewart Island

Location: Stewart Island is the southern most 'real' island. It can be reached by plane and by boat from Bluff. Bluff is about 3 hours drive from Dunedin, the boat takes another hour to get to Oban.

Costs: NZ $ 45,- p.p. one way for the boat.

Date(s): 08 and 09-12-2004

Notes: In terms of birding Stewart Island is not a must, but it is the best spot to actually see a Kiwi (we were not that lucky). Apart from that the small Ulva Island has good birding to offer and is one of the best places to find Weka and Yellowhead (reintroduced). Ulva Island can be reached by water taxi.

Highlights: Buller's Albatross (1 seen from Ackers Point, about 4 km walk from Oban), Weka (6 Ulva Island), Red-fronted Parakeet (X Ulva Island), New Zealand Kaka (X), Rifleman (3 Ulva Island), New Zealand Fernbird (2 Awarua wetlands near Bluff), Pipipi (V Ulva Island), Yellowhead (1 Ulva Island), Saddleback (V Ulva Island)

Pics:

The charming small town of Oban, with Tui and Bellbird being common and Kaka also around.
One of the famous Ulva Island Weka's, maybe even the same bird that is filmed by David Attenborough? Weka
Visiting Ulva Island is not only great for birds but also for the beautiful native vegetation. The trail system is very good and in a few hours you can cross the entire island.
This Kaka allowed close approach on Ulva Island. Kaka
Stewart Island Robin Another very confiding bird is this Stewart Island Robin, again colour ringed. This bird has no problem walking around and on your feet.

Bird List:

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

    Eudyptula minor Little Penguin Dwergpinguïn
X
Eb V Thalassarche bulleri Buller's Albatross Bullers Albatross
2
  Nt Thalassarche cauta NZ White-headed Albatross Witkapalbatros
2
  V Thalassarche salvini Salvin's Allbatross Salvinsalbatross
3
    Thalassarche salvini/cauta Shy Allbatross spp  
V
    Daption capense Cape Petrel Kaapse Stormvogel
V
    Puffinus griseus Sooty Shearwater Grauwe Pijlstormvogel
C
    Pelecanoides urinatrix Common Diving-Petrel Alkstormvogeltje
V
E V Phalacrocorax chalconotus Bronzed/Stewart Island Shag Stewart Island Aalscholver
X
    Phalacrocorax melanoleucos Little Pied Cormorant Kleine Bonte Aalscholver
V
E   Phalacrocorax punctatus Spotted Shag Gevlekte Aalscholver
V
    Egretta novaehollandiae White-faced Heron Witwangreiger
V
    Platalea regia Royal Spoonbill Koningslepelaar
V
E   Tadorna variegata Paradise Shelduck Paradijscasarca
X
    Circus approximans Swamp Harrier Moeraskiekendief
V
E V Gallirallus australis Weka Weka
6
    Porphyrio porphyrio Purple Swamphen Purperkoet
V
E   Haematopus finschi South Island Oystercatcher Nieuwzeelandse Bonte Scholekster
V
E   Haematopus unicolor Variable Oystercatcher Nieuwzeelandse Zwarte Scholekster
V
    Himantopus leucocephalus White-headed Stilt Witkopsteltkluut
V
Eb   Charadrius bicinctus Double-banded Plover Dubbelbandplevier
V
    Vanellus miles Masked Lapwing Maskerkievit
V
    Limosa limosa Black-tailed Godwit Grutto
X
E V Larus bulleri Black-billed Gull Zwartsnavelmeeuw
V
    Larus dominicanus Kelp Gull Kelpmeeuw
XX
E   Larus scopulinus Red-billed Gull Roodsnavelmeeuw
X
    Sterna caspia Caspian Tern Reuzenstern
V
    Sterna striata White-fronted Tern Tara-stern
XX
E Nt Hemiphaga novaeseelandiae New Zealand Pigeon Nieuwzeelandse Duif
V
    Cyanoramphus novaezelandiae Red-fronted Parakeet Roodvoorhoofdkarakiri
X
E V Nestor meridionalis New Zealand Kaka Kaka
X
    Todirhamphus sanctus Sacred Kingfisher Heilige IJsvogel
1
E   Acanthisitta chloris Rifleman Geweervogel
2
    Hirundo neoxena Welcome Swallow Welkomzwaluw
V
E   Megalurus punctatus New Zealand Fernbird Varengrasvogel
2
E   Petroica australis New Zealand Robin Nieuwzeelandvliegenvanger
2
E   Petroica macrocephala Tomtit Maori-vliegenvanger
3
E   Gerygone igata Grey Gerygone Maori-mangrovezanger
V
E   Mohoua novaeseelandiae Pipipi Finschia
X
E V Mohoua ochrocephala Yellowhead Mohua
1
    Zosterops lateralis Silvereye Grijsrugbrilvogel
V
E   Anthornis melanura New Zealand Bellbird Maori-belhoningvogel
X
E   Prosthemadera novaeseelandiae Tui Toei
X
E Nt Philesturnus carunculatus Saddleback Zadelrugspreeuw
V

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