Trip Report New Zealand 2004

Simon Plat, Maaike Poppinga
Dates: 24-02-2003 till 13-03-2003
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Tiritiri Matangi

Location: This small island is situated in the Hauraki Gulf north of Auckland and can be reached by Kawau Kat Cruises ferry from Auckland and Gulf Harbour. Gulf Harbour is in Manly, about 1,5 hours drive north of Auckland. It is possible to do daytrips and overnight stays are accommodated by the supporters of Tiritiri Matangi Inc (see their website).

Map (taken from the Supporters of Tiritiri Matangi website):

Costs: the ferry is NZ $ 80,- return for two persons. Entrance to the island is free of charge. Guided walks can best be booked in advance and are very cheap. The bunkhouse costs NZ $ 40,- for two dorm beds.

Date(s): 25 and 26-11-2004

Notes: Visiting Tiri is a must.. It is a beautiful island and supports some of the rarest birds in the world. The volunteers do a great job in restoring the forest and maintaining the great tracks. The Wattle Track is the best for birds, especially Kokako but it is advised to check out the whole island, including the east coast. To have a change in finding Little Spotted Kiwi and Brown Teal it is best to stay overnight.

Highlights: Little Spotted Kiwi (V - heard only), Buller's Shearwater (12), Brown Teal (3), Takahe (V), Red-fronted Parakeet (XX), Whitehead (XX), Stitchbird (XX), Kokako (1), Saddleback (XX)

Pics:

The bunkhouse at Tiritiri Matangi offers a place to sleep and has a shared kitchen to cook your own food. Don't forget to bring your own food. For species like Little Spotted Kiwi it is essential to stay a night. Make sure to make an early reservation.
A scene at the east coast of the island. Although the east coast trail is not the best birding trail, it is highly advisable to walk this trail due to its great scenery.
Saddleback One of the first birds to encounter on arrival might as well be the noisy Saddleback. We found our first before the ship docked.
Stitchbird is among the succesful introductions on Tiri with good populations, although apparently they need to be fed. Stitchbird
Takahe
Also the Tahake is doing well on Tiri. These birds are very tame and don't bother visitors.

Whitehead

 Find the Whitehead. These charming birds are common on Tiri (introduced) and can also still be found on the mainland (only North Island), for instance Pureora Forest.

Bird List:

Column 1: E= endemic species; Eb=endemic breeding species
Column 2: E=Endangered; Nt=Near-threatened; V=Vulnerable
int=(re)introduced to the island

E V Apteryx owenii Little Spotted Kiwi Kleine Grijze Kiwi (int)
V
    Eudyptula minor Little Penguin Dwergpinguïn
X
Eb V Puffinus bulleri Buller's Shearwater Bullers Pijlstormvogel
12
    Puffinus carneipes Flesh-footed Shearwater Australische Grote Pijlstormvogel
1
Eb   Puffinus gavia Fluttering Shearwater Vlinderpijlstormvogel
CC
    Pelecanoides urinatrix Common Diving-Petrel Alkstormvogeltje
2
    Morus serrator Australian Gannet Pacifische Jan-van-gent
CC
    Phalacrocorax carbo Great Cormorant Aalscholver
V
    Phalacrocorax melanoleucos Little Pied Cormorant Kleine Bonte Aalscholver
1
    Phalacrocorax sulcirostris Little Black Cormorant Zwarte Aalscholver
V
    Phalacrocorax varius Pied Cormorant Bonte Aalscholver
V
    Egretta novaehollandiae White-faced Heron Witwangreiger
V
E V Anas aucklandica Brown Teal Aucklandtaling
3
    Anas gracilis Grey Teal Grijze Taling
V
E   Tadorna variegata Paradise Shelduck Paradijscasarca
2
    Circus approximans Swamp Harrier Moeraskiekendief
V
E E Porphyrio mantelli Takahe Takahe (int)
V
    Porphyrio porphyrio Purple Swamphen Purperkoet
XX
    Porzana tabuensis Spotless Crake Pacifisch Porseleinhoen
1
E   Haematopus unicolor Variable Oystercatcher Nieuwzeelandse Zwarte Scholekster
V
    Vanellus miles Masked Lapwing Maskerkievit
2
    Stercorarius parasiticus Parasitic Jaeger Kleine Jager
2
    Larus dominicanus Kelp Gull Kelpmeeuw
XX
E   Larus scopulinus Red-billed Gull Roodsnavelmeeuw
XX
    Sterna caspia Caspian Tern Reuzenstern
V
    Sterna striata White-fronted Tern Tara-stern
XX
    Cyanoramphus novaezelandiae Red-fronted Parakeet Roodvoorhoofdkarakiri (int)
XX
    Todirhamphus sanctus Sacred Kingfisher Heilige IJsvogel
V
    Hirundo neoxena Welcome Swallow Welkomzwaluw
XX
E   Petroica australis New Zealand Robin Nieuwzeelandvliegenvanger (int)
V
E   Petroica macrocephala Tomtit Maori-vliegenvanger (int)
1
    Rhipidura fuliginosa Grey Fantail Grijze Waaierstaart
V
E   Gerygone igata Grey Gerygone Maori-mangrovezanger
V
E   Mohoua albicilla Whitehead Popokatea (int)
XX
    Zosterops lateralis Silvereye Grijsrugbrilvogel
XX
E   Anthornis melanura New Zealand Bellbird Maori-belhoningvogel
XX
E V Notiomystis cincta Stitchbird Geelbandhoningeter (int)
XX
E   Prosthemadera novaeseelandiae Tui Toei
XX
E E Callaeas cinerea Kokako Kokako (int)
1
E Nt Philesturnus carunculatus Saddleback Zadelrugspreeuw (int)
XX

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