Trip Report: New Zealand and Chatham Islands Nov 19-Dec 14, 2005

---

Ross Silcock, NZ Land & Pelagic Bird Tours

---

This is a report on the 2005 version of my biennial NZ tour. This year there were 6 participants, myself, and a driver from Nature Quest New Zealand, for a total of 8 in the group. For the Chatham Islands, myself and 3 others, including one of the main trip participants, made up the group.

We saw a total of 162 species (for taxonomy, see Trip List, below), 13 of which were seen only on the Chatham Islands. On the main NZ islands, North, South, and Stewart, we found 149 species, missing only a few difficult endemics, none of which we tried for: Okarito Brown Kiwi (Rowi), Orange-fronted (Malherbe’s) Parakeet, and Kakapo. Our migrant shorebird list was poor, owing to a very low high tide at Miranda that did not force shorebirds onto the “Stilt Ponds” for easier viewing. Species we therefore missed included Red-necked Stint and Curlew Sandpiper. Shorebirding in NZ is time-consuming and does not lend itself well to time-constrained group travel, except for Miranda. Other species which we failed to see and could be considered misses were Black-browed Albatross, Great Egret (we didn’t go to the West Coast), and Rook. Species heard only were Little and Great Spotted Kiwis and Long-tailed Cuckoo.


Itinerary

Nov 19: Auckland Airport, Puketutu Island, Cascades Kauri Park, Muriwai Beach, Lake Kereta, Trounson Kauri Park. Overnight Kauri Coast Holiday Park.
Nov 20: Teal Bay, Ormiston Road Pond near Waipu, Waipu Estuary, Matakana Road near Warkworth. Overnight Warkworth.
Nov 21: Pelagic trip to Hauraki Gulf, including Mokohinau Islands. Overnight Warkworth.
Nov 22: Tiritiri Matangi Island. Overnight on island.
Nov 23: Tiritiri Matangi Island, Miranda. Overnight Miranda Hot Springs Holiday Park.
Nov 24: Whitianga, pelagic trip beyond Red Mercury. Overnight Whitianga.
Nov 25: Whitianga, Otanewainuku, Rotorua. Overnight Rotorua.
Nov 26: Whakamaru Dam, Pureora Forest Park, Waihi area Lake Taupo, Manganuioteao River, Kemp’s Pole near Wanganui. Overnight Wanganui.
Nov 27: Virginia Lake at Wanganui, Rangitikei River at Bulls, Manawatu Estuary, Cook Strait Ferry. Overnight Picton.
Nov 28: Queen Charlotte Sound (The Sisters, Ship Cove, Motuara Island), Waihopai Valley Road near Blenheim, Kaikoura. Overnight Kaikoura.
Nov 29: Oceanwings pelagic, Kaikoura Cemetary area. Overnight Kaikoura.
Nov 30: Hurunui River, Bromley Oxidation Ponds and Avon-Heathcote Estuary at Christchurch, Lake Pearson, Arthur’s Pass Village, Arthur’s Pass. Overnight Bealey.
Dec 1: Mt. St. Johns near Tekapo, Lake McGregor, Lake Poaka, Ohau Delta, Ruataniwha Wetland. Overnight Twizel.
Dec 2: Glentanner area, Ruataniwha Wetland, Omarama area, Queenstown. Overnight Queenstown.
Dec 3: Mt Aspiring Nat. Park (Sylvan Lake Trail, Routeburn Track Trailhead, Double Barrel Track), Mistletoe Lake at Te Anau Downs. Overnight Te Anau Downs.
Dec 4: Homer Tunnel area, Milford Sound, Te Anau Downs Station, Mistletoe Lake. Overnight Te Anau Downs.
Dec 5: Otahu Flats, Tuatapere area (Saddle Creek), Te Waewae Bay, Riverton Estuary, Southland Museum, Oban. Overnight Stewart Island.
Dec 6: Pelagic trip northeast of Oban, Whero Rock, Bench Island, Ulva Island, Kiwi trip to Ocean Beach. Overnight Stewart Island.
Dec 7: Oban, Sinclair Wetlands, Otago Peninsula (Monarch boat cruise, Nature’s Wonders). Overnight Dunedin.
Dec 8: Travel to Wellington. Overnight Wellington.
Dec 9: Travel to Chatham Island. Overnight Waitangi.
Dec 10: Chatham Island (Awatotara, Hapupu, Kaingaroa, Matarakau). Overnight Waitangi.
Dec 11: Chatham Island (Rangaika). Overnight Waitangi.
Dec 12: Chatham Islands pelagic (Star Keys, South East, Pyramid, Little Mangere, Big Mangere, Pitt Island (Caravan Bush), Pitt Strait, off The Horns until after dark, Owenga). Overnight Waitangi.
Dec 13: Chatham Island (Waitangi West, Patterson Point, Hapupu).
Dec 14: Travel to Wellington, Auckland, LA.


Daily Journal

Nov 19:
This was a long first day. We left Copthorne Anzac Hotel in Auckland at 5.30am, picked up Stu on Symonds St, then Jim and Barb at the airport. Went to nearby Puketutu Island for Spotted Dove, waterfowl, and a few shorebirds, as well as Royal Spoonbill. Tide was out, so birds rather scattered and distant. Next stop was Cascades Kauri Park, always reliable for Sulphur-crested Cockatoo and some pretty large kauri trees, as well as a couple of endemics, Tui and Grey Gerygone. The Muriwai Beach Gannet Colony was our next stop; always interesting and the beautiful beach and rocky cliff scenery is a bonus. Lake Kereta was a peaceful and attractive stop as usual, with an extra bonus an Australasian Bittern flying in and perching in reeds in full scope view! No Australasian Little Grebes though, although we worked hard on a distant juvenile NZ Grebe! We arrived at Kauri Coast Holiday Park around 5pm, and we were served outside a very nice evening meal, a traditional NZ roast dinner. Another big bonus was the 3 (!) Shining Cuckoos in small tree feeding on caterpillars in full view just as dinner started. At dusk, just before leaving for Trounson Kauri Forest and a try for North Island Brown Kiwi, a Morepork starting calling close by from a large eucalyptus tree. I figured out roughly where it might be and lo and behold put my flashlight right on it!! Everyone got great views. The kiwi trip was not too good initially, the forest was very quiet, only 2-3 kiwi being heard. After the guided tour, Sav Saville’s group, Jim, Stu, and I stayed and at about 1 am got great looks at a big female. We slept well that night!

Nov 20:
After a leisurely 9 am departure, we drove over to Teal Bay, where we found about 30 Brown Teal loafing in their usual spot. Had pleasant lunch there with locals and departed for our back-up Australasian Little Grebe spot on Ormiston Road near Waipu; found the hoped-for 2 adults with a juvenile, along with a NZ Grebe. Next stop was Waipu Estuary, where we carefully counted 5 different Fairy Terns. A few other shorebirds were present also, notably 8 NZ (Red-breasted) Plovers. I was a bit worried about the group being a bit tired with the big pelagic coming up the next day, but they came to life at dinner when I mentioned that Kookaburras might be found nearby! We motored out in the fading light to the Matakana Road and Anderson Road area and lo and behold found TWO Kookaburras messing around in a large eucalyptus grove. Unbelievable. We couldn’t confirm nesting, but the two birds spent most of the time together fairly high up in the trees.

Nov 21:
This was the day of the pelagic into the outer Hauraki Gulf. Skipper Brett (“Mr NZSP”) Rathe showed his stuff on “Assassin”; we (our group plus Sav’s) were out from 8am to 8.30pm, plowing around the outer Hauraki Gulf finding everything from whales to a very early Grey Ternlet at the Mokohinaus and finally the big prize that made the tough day worthwhile: a single NZ Storm-Petrel that flew across our final chumming location (and final pilchards) at about 4 pm. Brett wasn't about to have his reputation tarnished. But the price was high for some of the group, who were tired and a bit beaten up by the long boat ride. They were good sailors though, with no sea-sickness at all. The single Grey Ternlet on Maori Rock at the Mokohinaus was a major bonus- only about a month and a half early!! We found all the specialties: lots of Cook's Petrels and several Little Shearwaters close to the boat, Black Petrels with many Flesh-footed Shearwaters at the boat, but strangely only 2 Buller’s Shearwaters (on the way in). We had a few Pterodromas that we thought might be Pycroft’s, but it’s a tough call in the Hauraki Gulf, owing to the numbers of Cook’s there and variation among them; however there are indeed Pycroft’s out there (see Whitianga pelagic Nov 24)!

Nov 22:
Went to Gulf Harbor for 8.45 am departure by Rueben’s Water Taxi for obligatory visit to amazing Tiritiri Matangi Island. Tiri great as usual; each biennial visit surprises me as to the amount of growth in the planted bush. We saw all the specialties including a long, close look at Te Koha Waiata, one of the Kokako stars! Stitchbirds were very plentiful. We stayed out until 12.30 am trying to see a kiwi with no luck, although 6 were heard. One male called from only about 30 ft away, but in long grass, and because of the strong wind we couldn't hear which direction it was going and were unable to intercept it. The bunks in the bunkhouse were all full with us, researchers, and volunteers. I slept on the kitchen table in my sleeping bag (only fell off once) and Mark slept outside near the compost heap, and said he heard a kiwi snuffling around. I don't think anyone showered in the unisex facilities, so we were a ripe lot. The usual fun overnight experience at Tiri!

Nov 23
We wanted to see Spotless Crake well at Wharf Pond, and our wait was rewarded with great looks at a pair with 2 fuzzy chicks; the Brown Teal family there also was anticlimactic after the crakes and the “real” Teal Bay Brown Teal! We returned to the mainland at 9.30 am and drove down Highway 1 to Pokeno and over to Miranda. A large crowd with impressive optics was present waiting for the 1.30 pm high tide, we suspected mainly because of a reported Ruff. The high tide was disappointingly low, though, and few shorebirds were pushed off the outer shell banks into the Stilt Pools (no Ruff). No Wrybills were visible at Taramaire, so we were a bit nervous, especially me, contemplating poking around on South Island riverbeds looking for almost invisible little grey birds! I checked with the always-helpful Keith Woodley and he told us that the Wrybills are being seen about an hour before or after high tide. Went back to Taramaire and indeed there they were, along with a bonus Little Tern. Went happily to the Miranda Hot Springs Holiday Park and got into the hot pool- great relaxer. We had "NZ Best Fish and Chips" at Kaiaua Fisheries Restaurant for dinner. Outstanding. Miranda was overall a bit disappointing this year in variety, probably due to the low high tide, but it’s still a great place. We’re hoping for a couple of new shorebird species at Manawatu Estuary.

Nov 24
Because we already had bittern and Spotless Crake on our list, we didn’t have to visit Whangamarino. We went over to the Limeworks in hopes of a Banded Rail and found a couple working along the ditch to the south of the entrance gate. Bonus! After breakfast at Thames we drove uneventfully to Whitianga, where we met Skipper Andy Kerr at the marina with his beautiful new boat. Departed in tandem with second similar boat with Sav’s bunch aboard. Had a great afternoon and evening aboard the smooth and fast boat. Had many Pycroft's and a few Little Shearwaters fairly quickly. Made it out to "The Hook", at about 200 m line, but best action was around the shelf break at 100-200m. Pycroft's appeared darker and longer-tailed to me, with consistently extensive hood and little or no white above eye. Also seemed to be less excitable fliers than Cook's; possibly had 2 such birds in Hauraki Gulf (as discussed with Sav). A Northern Giant-Petrel was a bonus. After a tour around the inner islands for Reef Heron, successful due to John's sharp eyes, we had a great dinner at the local Indian Restaurant.

Nov 25
This was a rather leisurely day; we drove from Whitianga to Rotorua with a stop for lunch at Otanewainuku Forest. There was a nice shelter and loo amongst nice bush with a few interesting birds, but the slow drive from the highway makes it a questionable candidate for future stops. The usual suspects were at Lake Rotorua including NZ Scaup and NZ Grebe. Most of the afternoon was free, followed by a very nice buffet dinner at the Kingsgate Hotel, near our motel. We agreed that Rotorua is a bit too touristy and might stay at Taupo next time.

Nov 26
We began with the traditional early start at 5.30 am for Pureora in order to hear “wild” Kokako singing. A brief stop Whakamaru Dam yielded Australasian Coots and Shoveler. The entrance to Pureora is now the west road, as the old east road is closed off. It was very cold at Pureora, so much so that the Kokako at Plains Road sang only intermittently, which was disappointing. We were unable to scare up a Long-tailed Cuckoo or tomtit, probably because of the cold, but had good looks at Kaka and a NZ Falcon tailing a kaka was briefly seen by a few of us. Despite the cold and low bird activity, we hung around until about 10 am, then took Link Road to Highway 32 and promptly ran into the Round Taupo Bike Race! There were no fewer than 11,000 cyclists going our way, which meant we were in the right lane until Waihi village, some 30 miles. Quite a spectacle, but not avian! At Waihi swamp the Fernbirds showed well, as usual. We had lunch there and scoped the variety of waterbirds at the south end of Lake Taupo. Next stop was the Manganuioteao River where we entered at Meyer's Bridge along Pukekaha Rd and found two adults with 3 ducklings. The drive to Wanganui yielded the previously-missed Common Peafowl (which was also prominent later at Kemp’s Pole). At 6.45 pm we headed north along the Wanganui River to Kemp's Pole (25 min drive) and watched the famous conifer roost but no night-herons emerged. We had to return for dinner at 8 pm; an extra 30 min might have helped as there was still quite a bit of light. The best vantage point actually was back towards Wanganui around the first curve, where there was a good view of the roost trees and the river as well for flying birds.

Nov 27
We started at 8.30 am with a major challenge: “searching” for and finding 4 Mute Swans at Virginia Lake. To avoid embarassment we quickly left for the Rangitikei River at Bulls where we hoped to see Black-fronted Dotterel. We had no luck along the north side near the gravel plant, but crossed the Highway 1 bridge, turned right and took the track down under bridge. Went upstream a couple hundred yards and finally located a couple of Black-fronted Dotterels on a gravel island. There were quite a few Double-banded Dotterels present, and we had good looks at Australasian Pipits. Next was the Manawatu Estuary, which was fun to bird, but the tide was pretty far out and we were unable to add any shorebird species. We had lunch at the Laughing Fox at Foxton (nice, but busy) then drove to Wellington and caught the “6.15” ferry, which finally departed at 7 pm! It was a rough crossing but great for birds, with sightings of Shy (Salvin's and White-capped) Albatrosses, Cape Petrels, Sooty Shearwaters, 1000+ Fairy Prions, and two giant-petrels. We ate dinner on the ferry and reached the Beachcomber Motel at Picton around 9.30pm.

Nov 28
As Sam Adams was no longer doing Queen Charlotte Sound boat trips, we left Waikawa Marina with Des and Beryl on their very nice boat “Playmate”. We visited the newly-established Rough-faced Cormorant colony off Arapawa Island at The Sisters. We got closer to the birds than at White Rocks, but left as the birds became skittish. Next was Motuara Island where we finally had good looks at South Island Saddlebacks, which seemed duller, blacker, and less vocal than the North Island Saddlebacks on Tiri. The robins on Motuara are very tame! The pleasant Ship's Cove was next; it was easy to understood why Captain Cook visited three times! Of course we scored the local Wekas (6). The rather quick trip back to Waikawa Bay allowed us to depart Picton about 1 pm and have lunch at the Black Kite stake-out site on Waihopai Valley Rd. Unfortunately we must not have threatened the territoriality of the kites, as we dipped. A consolation was a nice variety of waterfowl at a pond near the junction with Highway 63. We tried Blind Loop Road near Seddon but had no luck with Cirl Bunting, although there were many Yellowhammers there. Continuing on, after a brief stop at Kekerengu, where we didn’t see much, we arrived at Kaikoura at about 4.45 pm. Hislop's (Organic) Restaurant was a nice choice for dinner.

Nov 29
We started in leisurely fashion for the 9 am Oceanwings trip, lucking out by getting Gary Melville as our skipper. There was a large ocean swell of about 3m, but it was great for seabirds, with all the usual suspects. After lunch at Why Not Cafe we spent a couple of hours looking for Cirl Bunting around the cemetery, with unsatisfactory snatches of song heard and a brief look at part of the bird (no, not the throat!) while singing. There were several Dunnock in the area and numerous finches.

Nov 30
To start our attack on the “real” South Island, we headed from Kaikoura to Bealey. The first stop was at the Hurunui River where we found nesting Black-fronted Terns and Black-billed Gulls. I decided to include a swoop through Christchurch to see the Bromley Oxidation Ponds and the Heathcote-Avon Estuary. We arrived in Christchurch at about 10.45 am and checked both but did not add any new species. The tide was out (yet another low tide!) at the estuary, but although we found a few godwit there were no new shorebirds. We continued on up to Bealey and Arthur’s Pass Village. We found Rifleman and Pipipi easily on the trail behind the loo, with a bonus flyover Kea. Up at the pass we had close-up looks at another Kea, and coming back stopped at the Mt Rolleston overlook and had a tomtit. After dinner at the Bealey Hotel we went up to the Bridal Veil Falls area for Great Spotted Kiwi. Conditions were perfect, with no wind and some actual warmth; we heard the first male call at 9.30 pm and another around 10.30 pm. We had no luck spotting a kiwi, and possibly should have stayed out longer as the conditions were unusually good for Arthur’s Pass! We got back to Bealey around midnight.

Dec 01
Today we made the long drive from Bealey to Twizel. First stop was Tekapo, where we ascended Mt. St. John in hopes of seeing Chukar. After unsuccessfully looking at the slopes visible from the summit parking lot we followed a tip by a local and checked out the south side of the hill about 1-2 s-curves from the top. Barb saw a head, and Stu and I went down the hill and each flushed 2 birds at about the same time. Not everyone saw them however, but, as predicted by Gerry, we came across one right beside the road on our way down (we had to pay our dues, I guess!) Next was Lake McGregor where we saw 5 Great Crested Grebes undergoing aggressive displays, including an underwater torpedo attack by one bird on another! The extensive wetland area at the west edge of Lake Tekapo adjacent to Lake McGregor was drying up, so we dipped on Black Stilt. Despite trying Lake Poaka and the Ohau Delta we still were Black Stiltless. We dipped on Marsh Crake as well, so were quite disappointed with Twizel so far. But there’s always tomorrow!

Dec 02
In order to rectify the misses of the previous afternoon, we started early at 6.15 am and headed up towards Glentanner, stopping a bit before that spot at the end of the very low Lake Pukaki, where, lo and behold, 24 Black Stilts were feeding in a single shallow pool! There were about 5 black adults and the rest were juveniles with mottled breasts, along with only one Pied Stilt. Amazing! Now on a roll, we returned to Ruataniwha Wetland and taped out a cooperative Marsh Crake from under green overhanging leaves near the river. A great double before breakfast!! We departed for Queenstown, arriving about 1.30 pm. On the way I spotted a Little Owl sitting on a fence post beside a large macrocarpa wind-break just north of Tarras. We turned around, but only Barb and Lynea saw the owl as it had moved back a bit into the trees, then disappeared. Despite a major effort, we couldn't refind it. The afternoon was free, so the group broke up into shoppers and sightseers. Stu, Barb, and I decided to walk UP One Mile Track to the gondola; this turned out to be quite a trek (for Barb and I- Stu disappeared far ahead of us!) Jim was much the wiser- he took the gondola UP, and walked One Mile Track DOWN!

Dec 03
Today was to be Yellowhead day; the rapidly-declining South Island endemic is getting difficult to find in its natural habitat, with Haast Pass and the Sylvan Lake area the only easily accessible locations. We left Queenstown at 7.30 am and finally reached the boundary of Mt. Aspiring National Park near Sylvan Lake. I was not too hopeful, as it was drizzling. We tried first at Double Barrel Track with no luck. No calls were heard and the bush was very quiet. A walk back down to the Routeburn Track tailhead area also yielded no birds, so we went to the Sylvan Lake Track. We walked in fairly quickly to the sign, where we had found a pair in 2003. Although I heard a few brief calls, we couldn’t locate the birds, but finally heard calls close by and found 2 birds that were finally seen by all. There were quite a few other birds in the area (parakeet, pipipi, fantail, tomtit). We left Queenstown at about 12.30 pm and drove rapidly to Te Anau Downs. A short pre-dinner walk along Mistletoe Track across the road from the motel found many redpolls, a tomtit, and our first Tuis (birds that is) for a few days.

Dec 04
This turned out to be one of the most amazing day’s birding I’ve experienced in NZ, certainly on land! It was ominously drizzly to start, as we made our way to Homer Tunnel, hoping that the wrens would show despite the conditions. Stu and I were first on the nature trail and immediately a wren flew off to the right. I took to the boulders to try to round it up while the group waited on the trail. No sooner had I disappeared from sight than a wren hopped and bobbed across a large rock right in front of them!! Not a leader-only bird, but a group-only bird!! We went on down to Milford Sound and rebooked our earlier 12.20 pm trip for 9.55 am with Mitre Peak Cruises. This was a great choice: an excellent boat, knowledgeable skipper (Graham Sutherland), and uncrowded. We picked up 4 Fiordland Crested-Penguins in the usual breeding area, although most had left according to the skipper. Knowing we were birdwatchers, he went out into the ocean a bit, but no seabirds were visible. It was interesting to go out past the mouth of the sound and see where the Alpine Fault makes landfall; the spot is marked by a U-shaped valley north of the sound along the coast. Quite an awe-inspiring experience. The skipper mentioned to me that he had a farmer friend with falcons nesting in his back yard- of course I was very skeptical, especially when he said that you drive to his house, walk about a hundred yards through the grass, and that's where they're nesting! Anyway, being desperate for a falcon, I asked if we could visit, and when we got back to the dock, he called his friend, Peter Chartres, manager of Te Anau Downs Station and got permission to see the falcons. We arrived at the house, met Peter, and walked out to a rocky creek lined with willows just behind his house. Nothing happened, and he said that just over there (about 50 ft!) behind that log, is the nest, on the ground. I'm thinking- sure, I wonder what really is nesting there? Then, one of the most amazing experiences I've had birding, a female NZ Falcon jumps up onto the log, obviously having been on the nest! As I stand there with my mouth open, the bird flew up into a tree, started cackling, and then dive-bombed us a few times. The male arrived, and the pair continued to dive-bomb us. We got great looks and some photos and left. An unbelievable and unexpected experience. Being only about 2 pm, and having cleaned up on the Fiordland specialties, we had a few free hours at the beautiful Te Anau Downs Hotel!!

Dec 05
Today we travelled from Te Anau Downs to Invercargill via Tuatapere. There were no Little Owls at Otahu Flats School House- the field has been disked up. However we saw one that we were able to scope on an old building and in macrocarpas behind the building at a dairy farm just before Saddle Creek, which is 7-8 km south of Tuatapere and a bit north of Fishing Camp Rd. Next stop was at beautiful Te Waewae Bay, where we spotted 5-10 Hector's Dolphins lolling around just outside the surf. Very cool mammals! The estuary at Riverton was birdy, although we could only find godwits, turnstones, spoonbills, and 1400 or so Black-billed Gulls. Although access is not too convenient, this estuary would be worth exploring next time; it’s only a short ride to the Invercargill airport. The 8-seater flight over to Oban was very smooth, in contrast to the nick-name “15 minutes of terror” sometimes attached to this short hop across Foveaux Strait. Oban as usual was an interesting spot. Kiwi had been seen on the rugby field recently, so we spent some time up there after dark, but had no luck (never even heard a call). My borrowed flashlight (cost me a Grand Marnier!!) was weak, too.

Dec 06
This was Phillip Smith day, with a morning pelagic, afternoon visit to Ulva Island, and evening kiwi trip. The pelagic was a bit disappointing, with rather few birds around except for Sooty Shearwaters and Shy (mostly White-capped) Albatrosses. We did have 4 Southern Royal Albatrosses. Rough weather the previous day had kept the fishermen ashore, so bait for chum was scarce. I lucked out and was able to buy the store’s supply of squid, which lasted surprisingly long and made good chum. Best birds were 2 Mottled Petrels, both seen fairly well, the second harassed by a Kelp Gull as it left Bench Island. Bench had only 2 Yellow-eyed Penguins, but we got fair looks at them. Ulva Island was its usual productive self, enhanced this year by very cooperative and vocal Yellowheads on Boulder Trail where it goes up steps to a ridge. This spot has a nice piece of southern podocarp forest. Stu had a South Island Saddleback too. The kiwi trip in the evening was a fantastic experience, as I’ve come to expect from Phillip Smith- he is on a par with Brett Rathe for persistency! There were 13 on the trip, and we saw 3 different kiwi very well, all in the bush, including 2 in full view no further than 10 yards away. One even sneaked up behind me on the trail (I was last in line) and stopped about 3 feet away! The group was amazed to see these awesome birds so well. Strangely, we didn’t even make it out onto the main “kiwi beach”, as the trail was guarded by a defiant Hooker’s Sea Lion which charged us each time we made a move to walk out onto the beach. We got back early- only 12.45am!!

Dec 07
The return flight from Oban to Invercargill at 8.30 am was again very smooth. En route to Dunedin, I spotted another Little Owl on a telephone wire. We stopped at Sinclair Wetlands and finally taped out a (South Island) Fernbird; its calls were distinctly different from the North Island birds at Lake Taupo. The drive was uneventful otherwise and we arrived at Pacific Park Motel in Dunedin around 2.45 pm. We checked into our rooms and left for the Otago Peninsula at 3.30 pm, arriving at Weller’s Rock at 4.15pm after the long drive out along the harbor. The Monarch Cruise was interesting as usual, with the usual species around Taiaroa Heads, including several Northern Royal Albatrosses. After disembarking, we visited the former Southlight, now Nature’s Wonders, for Yellow-eyed Penguins. The owner-operators have spent a lot of money on a visitor center and run an operation that is a cross between an excellent nature tour and a macho Argo 8-wheeler adventure ride. However the close-up views of Little Blue Penguins and fur seals, and good views of Yellow-eyed Penguins coming ashore and climbing the steep sand dune were worth the effort. Our last dinner together at Pacific Park was fun. We reflected on our excellent trip list that looked to have beaten our 2003 record by one! Made the stop for Red Jungle-Fowl worth while!

Dec 08
Lynea, Gerry, and Neale left for Christchurch with driver Mark at 8 am. Jim left at 9 am for Dunedin airport, and Stu and I at 1.30 pm for Wellington airport and the Chathams, leaving only Barb. Our flight to Wellington was uneventful, but it was a slow rush hour $49 (!) cab ride to the Portland Hotel near downtown in Thorndon. (The shuttle next day cost only $12, so at least we averaged out reasonably).

Dec 09
In true Air Chathams style, the departure time for the Chathams was changed from 2 pm to 11 am, then back to 5.45pm, so we ended up with most of a day in Wellington. I decided to to do the Kiwi Nostalgia Tour (very reflective- went by myself) and visited the Archives on Mulgrave St to see the original Treaty of Waitangi. Very impressive, seeing the actual bits of paper in the protective semi-darkness. Then went to Te Papa Tongarewa National Museum (of course!) and saw an interesting genetics exhibition. Finally found the Government Buildings (I'd been misreading my map) and took the 1-hour tour at 2 pm. We had an excellent and informative Tour Guide. It was an experience for this Kiwi to finally see the NZ Parliament Buildings (including the House of Representatives- now a unicameral) and the not-now-used upper house (where the Queen is welcomed, as she's not allowed into the House of Commons/Representatives!) Later in the afternoon Stu and I took the afore-mentioned shuttle to the airport and waited for our flight- and waited! Dense fog was causing backups, and as well the plane was slow getting in from the Chathams (Chats time!) We (Stu and I, John Geale, and Mark Hauber) finally got away about 9.30 pm and bucked around for about 30 mins until we got above the fog and clouds. Fairly good ride over, but the pilot apparently couldn't find the island or the runway- we motored around in circles for a while and finally landed!! Got picked up by a nice lady named Chris, and were taken to our rooms at the Hotel Chathams where we finally dozed off around 1 am (Chathams time, 45 minutes ahead of NZ!) Great to be back on the Chats!

Dec 10
We had breakfast at 7 am and left on the land-based part of the trip in Tim Gregory-Hunt's nice van (protected by Weka Bars). Drove south first to Awatotara and found Parea as well as 3 parakeets. Nice start. Then the long drive to Kaingaroa, picking up huge boxed lunches as we passed through Waitangi. We found 2 Chatham Oystercatchers along the edge of Te Whaanga Lagoon, but found only one Pitt Shag at Kaingaroa. Stopped briefly at Hapupu for the obligatory look at the dendroglyphs, and then back to Matarakau Point for good looks at more Pitt Shags and about 70 Chatham Shags (20 or so were juveniles). I drove back to Waitangi (the troops were asleep) and we vegged out at our rooms doing laundry, napping, and email. Nice to relax.

Dec 11
Fog cancelled the boat trip for today, so we walked in to the Rangaika Reserve. It’s quite a long walk in, about 3.5km, then another hour through the bush to the other side, which is still an hour from the south coast of Chatham Island. We didn't go to the coast, but it was a great walk. The relatively small piece of good bush was interesting, with 2 Chatham Gerygones, as well as more parakeets and a couple of Parea. We got back to the Hotel around 2.30 and relaxed some more.

Dec 12
Despite thick fog again, we decided to go on the big boat trip, combining the around-island tour with the late look for Taiko off the Horns. Tim Gregory-Hunt had had to go 27 miles south of Pyramid during the previous night to pick up a person from a broken-down trawler and didn't get back until 1am. Thus our departure was delayed a little and we left Owenga on his great boat “Tessa B” around 9.30am. The fog limited viewing from the boat, but we did manage to see Broad-billed Prion and a couple of us a Grey-backed Storm-Petrel. We headed for point between the Forty-fours and Star Keys, and then on to Star Keys. We could smell the seals before we could see Round Island in the fog! Tim motored over to the adjacent keys where we saw about 20 giant-petrels sitting around not doing much. Next stop was Rangatira (South East Island), where we picked up Shore Plover, then headed for Pyramid. It was still very foggy, but south of Pyramid there was a large open area where we could see some distance. We decided to chum near a raft of Chatham Albatrosses with limited success, although a White-chinned Petrel came by. We got great looks at a raft of dozens of beautiful Chatham Albatrosses. Stu spotted a puzzling bird sitting on the water with them: a white-headed albatross looking superficially like a Black-browed, but with a limited pale grey collar; close study on the water showed a black bill with yellow upper nail, and no eye-patch. We decided this was a Yellow-nosed Albatross; there has been a pair at the Pyramid in recent years. Unfortunately we were unable to get a look at the underwings, although the bird was seen twice briefly in flight (going away both times). Back north to the Mangeres, where there wasn’t much of interest at Little Mangere other than the ropes and ladders testifying to the bravery of the ornithologists who saved the Black Robin. We backed the boat up to Black Robin Bush on Mangere and had several parakeets flying around, at least one with extensive yellow on forecrown, a presumed Forbes’. No robins showed, though. Further along Mangere we saw several more Forbes’ Parakeets in some rocky outcroppings. Offshore was a raft of giant-petrels that had apparently been feeding on beached pilot whales on a nearby Pitt Island beach. Two were Southerns, based on their green-tipped bills. Tim said that 140 whales had beached themselves there. We went ashore at Flower Pot and were taken to Caravan Bush by a pleasant young Pitt Island lady named Bubbles, who was a nurse and had spent some time in the southeastern USA. Nathan, the resident DOC ranger, met us at Caravan and took us to a Black Robin territory. He clapped and soon appeared a Black Robin, a female called Ponga. Rather an inspiring experience; one of so few of her species, all descended from the famous Old Blue. We watched Ponga for a while and returned to downtown Pitt Island, where Dellie (Delwyn) Lanauze cooked us a great dinner. She's also an artist and was about to have an exhibition in Christchurch. Our final leg took us back onto the boat and over to the Horns to await a possible Taiko. We arrived at the chosen spot about 1 mile southwest of Cape L'Eveque at about 9 pm. Although we watched until dark, about 10pm, no Taiko (or much else) flew by. We then spotlighted, seeing many White-faced Storm-Petrels, until at around 10.45 pm a bird about the size and shape of a Taiko was picked up in the spotlight, but went around the front of the boat and was lost to our view before we could get a handle on its plumage. I’m fairly sure it was indeed a Taiko, given its shape, flight pattern, and the location and time of day, but can’t be totally sure. After all, it might have been a Chatham Petrel!! However our technique worked fairly well for such a long-shot chance. Tim powered us in zero-visibility back to Owenga which we reached about 12.30 am, and we drove back to Waitangi in very thick fog, arriving about 1.15 am after a long but great day.

Dec 13
With not much left to do, we drove to Waitangi West beach, found a few more Chatham Oystercatchers and investigated the interesting Patterson Point. The Point had 2 Arctic Jaegers, a small Chatham Shag colony, and nesting Red-billed Gulls and White-fronted Terns as well as a couple of turnstones. I dropped Mark off at Waitangi, then Stu and I went north and east along Te Whaanga Lagoon and to the ponds at Hapupu looking in vain for shorebirds. We saw a flock of 31 turnstones, but no other scolopacids. The Air Chathams flight to Wellington was cancelled today due to fog at Wellington, but with now 2 planes currently sitting on the tarmac on Chatham, we’re confident at least one will go in the morning!

Dec 14
We indeed departed the Chathams on time with a 2-day supply of passengers. It was a good flight over to Wellington, and routine on to Auckland. I had an 8-hour layover at the airport in Auckland, but read some good books, sitting outside in balmy weather on a nice bit of lawn most of the time. The plane finally departed for LA and the flight was bumpy but otherwise uneventful. The flight to Denver was routine, but the 9.30 pm flight to Omaha was delayed until 11.30 pm due to weather conditions in Chicago (plane was from Chicago via Minneapolis!) Finally arrived at Omaha at 1.30 am where my patient wife was waiting. Arrived home at 2.45 am to end a great trip. Now to deal with jetlag and work!


Annotated Trip List

Codes refer to difficulty of finding, with 1 easiest and 5 most difficult.
Codes in bold indicate endemic species.
When subspecies listed, code follows species name and total counted follows each subspecies name.
Format is: Name (Latin and English), code, total counted, comments.

Apteryx mantelli North Island Brown Kiwi 3, 4;
1 seen, 3 heard Trounson Kauri Park.
A. australis Southern Brown Kiwi (Southern Tokoeka) 2, 6;
3 seen, 3 heard Ocean Beach, Stewart I (Bravo Nature Tours, Phillip Smith).
A. owenii Little Spotted Kiwi 2, 6;
heard only; wind made birds hard to find at close range.
A. haastii Great Spotted Kiwi 4, 2;
heard only at Bridal Veil Track, Arthur's Pass.

Anser anser Feral (Graylag) Goose 1, 164;
widespread
Branta canadensis Canada Goose 1, 145;
all South I.
Cygnus olor Mute Swan 2, 4;
Virginia L, Wanganui.
C. atratus Black Swan 1, 410;
widespread; additional 3000 Chatham I.
Tadorna variegata Paradise Shelduck 1, 351;
widespread
Hymenolaimus malacorhynchus Blue Duck 3, 5;
Ads with 3 young Meyer's Bridge on Manganuioteao R.
Anas platyrhynchos Mallard 1, 1+;
Phenotypic Mallards scarce.
A. superciliosa Pacific Black Duck 1, 1+;
Phenotypic Pacific Black Ducks scarce.
A. rhynchotis Australasian Shoveler 1, 10;
widespread but inconspicuous
A. chlorotis Brown Teal 3, 35;
30 at Teal Bay loafing spot; 5 on Tiri
A. gracilis Grey Teal 1, 85;
widespread
Aythya novaeseelandiae New Zealand Scaup 1, 1180;
widespread; incl 400 Bromley Oxidation Ponds, 500 Twizel area

Callipepla californica California Quail 2, 12;
widespread
Meleagris gallopavo Wild Turkey 2, 59;
most North I.
Alectoris chukar Chukar 3, 5;
south slope Mt St John
Coturnix ypsilophora Brown Quail 2, 20;
Tiri only
Gallus gallus Red Jungle-Fowl 2, 20;
NZ listers count population near Warkworth
Phasianus colchicus Common (Ring-necked) Pheasant 2, 11;
widespread
Pavo cristatus Indian Peafowl 2, 7;
north of Wanganui

Eudyptes pachyrhynchus Fiordland Penguin 3, 6;
Milford Sound
Megadyptes antipodes Yellow-eyed Penguin 2, 6;
2 Bench I off Oban, 4 at Taiaroa Heads, (Nature's Wonders)
Eudyptula minor Little Penguin 1, 66;
widespread

Diomedea chionoptera Wandering Albatross 1,
D. c. antipodensis (Antipodean) 1;
Kaikoura; ID by Gary Melville
D. c. gibsoni (Gibson's) 30;
Kaikoura
D. epomophora Royal Albatross 1,
D. e. epomophora (Southern) 5;
2 Kaikoura, 3 Stewart I
D. e. sanfordi (Northern) 22; 2 Kaikoura, 20 Taiaroa Heads; also 5 Chatham Is.
Thalassarche cauta Shy Albatross 1;
T. c. steadi (White-capped) 23;
3 Kaikoura, 20 Stewart I; also 1 Chatham Is.
T. salvini Salvin's Albatross 1, 26;
15 Kaikoura, 9 Cook St, 2 Stewart I.
T. eremita Chatham Albatross 1, 200;
Pyramid, Chatham Is.
T. chlororhynchos Yellow-nosed Albatross 4;
T. c. carteri (Indian) 1;
Pyramid, Chatham Is. With Chatham Albatrosses.
T. nov. sp Pacific (Northern Buller's) Albatross 1, 3;
Chatham Is; hard to find in fog.

Garrodia nereis Grey-backed Storm-Petrel 3, 2;
One well-seen by Ross and Mark off Chathams, disappeared into fog.
Pelagodroma marina White-faced Storm-Petrel 2, 70;
50 Hauraki Gulf, 20 Whitianga. Also 30 Chathams Is, most after dark with spotlight.
Pealeornis maoriana New Zealand Storm-Petrel 3, 1;
Hauraki Gulf at 4pm!

Macronectes giganteus Antarctic (Southern) Giant-Petrel 2, 2;
Chatham Is only.
M. halli Hall's (Northern) Giant-Petrel 1, 19;
assumed this sp; 1 off Whitianga with red-tipped bill
Daption capense Cape Petrel 1;
D. c. australe 43;
All seen were this subspecies; also Chatham Is est 15.

Ardenna (Puffinus) bulleri Buller's Shearwater 1, 33;
Only 1 Hauraki Gulf; 30 Whitianga, 1 Kaikoura.
A. carneipes Flesh-footed Shearwater 1, 500;
most Hauraki Gulf and Whitianga, but one Queen Charlotte Sound with Fluttering Shearwaters.
A. griseus Sooty Shearwater 1, 520;
500 off Stewart I. Also Chatham Is, est 75
A. tenuirostris Short-tailed Shearwater 3, 18;
most 15 Hauraki Gulf, 1 Whitianga, 2 Kaikoura.
Puffinus gavia Fluttering Shearwater 1, 3050;
abundant Hauraki Gulf, Whitianga, Queen Charlotte Sound.
P. huttoni Hutton's Shearwater 1, 60;
surprisingly few Kaikoura.
P. assimilis Little Shearwater 2, 24;
20 Hauraki Gulf, 4 Whitianga

Procellaria aequinoctialis White-chinned Petrel 2, 5;
Kaikoura
P. parkinsoni Black (Parkinson's) Petrel 2, 24;
20 Hauraki Gulf, 4 Whitianga
P. westlandica Westland Petrel 1, 50;
Kaikoura

Pachyptila vittata Broad-billed Prion 3, 2;
Chatham Is only.
P. turtur Fairy Prion 2, 1100;
1000+ Cook St; also Hauraki Gulf, Whitianga, and 20 Stewart I.

Pterodroma inexpectata Mottled Petrel 3, 2;
Off Stewart I near Bench I.
P. cookii Cook's Petrel 1, 300;
Hauraki Gulf
P. pycrofti Pycroft's Petrel 1, 30;
Whitianga; appeared darker and longer-tailed than Cook's seen in Hauraki Gulf.
P. macroptera Great-winged (Grey-faced) Petrel 2, 11;
Hauraki Gulf, Whitianga, Kaikoura.

Pelecanoides urinatrix Common Diving-Petrel 1, 235;
Hauraki Gulf, Whitianga, Kaikoura, 20 at Chathams.

Morus serrator Australasian Gannet 1, 2000;
Muriwai and Mokohinau colonies; widespread North I, 10 Kaikoura, one off Stewart I.

Phalacrocorax melanoleucos Little Pied Cormorant 1, 223;
widespread
P. varius Pied Cormorant 1, 152;
widespread
P. sulcirostris Little Black Cormorant 1, 48;
North I only.
P. carbo Great Cormorant 1, 32;
Also Chatham I, est 40
Leucosticte carunculatus Rough-faced Shag 2, 25;
New colony on Sisters Is off Arapawa I, Queen Charlotte Sound.
L. chalconotus Stewart Shag 1, 500;
100 Taiaroa Heads, 400 Whero Rock near Oban.
L. onslowi Chatham Shag 1, 30;
Matarakau, Chatham I.
Stictocarbo punctatus Spotted Shag 1, 87;
None seen North I.
S. featherstoni Pitt Island Shag 1, 33;
30 on Chatham Is; only 3 on Chatham I.

Tachybaptus novaehollandiae Australasian Grebe 3, 3;
pair with chick Ormiston Rd pond near Waipu
Poliocephalus rufopectus New Zealand Grebe (Dabchick) 1, 10;
North I only.
Podiceps cristatus Great Crested Grebe 2, 12;
Lake Pearson, Lake McGregor, one at Queenstown.

Platalea regia Royal Spoonbill 1, 18;
widespread
Egretta novaehollandiae White-faced Heron 1, 120;
widespread
E. sacra Pacific Reef-Egret 3, 4;
3 Whitianga, 1 Otago Harbor.
Botaurus poiciloptilus Australasian Bittern 3, 1;
Lake Kereta

Circus approximans Swamp Harrier 1, 157;
widespread
Falco novaezeelandiae New Zealand Falcon 3, 3;
one at Pureora, 2 at nest Eglinton Valley (Te Anau Downs Station)

Gallirallus australis Weka 1, 18;
Ship's Cove, Queen Charlotte Sound, and Ulva I.
G. philippensis Buff-banded Rail 3, 2;
Miranda (near Limeworks)
Porzana pusilla Baillon's (Marsh) Crake 3, 1;
Ruataniwha Wetland, Ohau Delta.
P. tabuensis Spotless Crake 3, 4;
Wharf Pond, Tiri; ads and 2 chicks
Porphyrio porphyrio Purple Swamphen 1, 200+;
widespread, incl 6 Chatham I.
P. hochstetteri South Island Takahe 1, 4;
Tiritiri Matangi I.
Fulica atra Common Coot 1, 24;
Rotorua, Whakamaru, L. Taupo (Waihi), Wanganui (Virginia L).

Haematopus finschi South Island Pied Oystercatcher 1, 510;
275 at Miranda
H. unicolor Variable Oystercatcher 1, 280;
widespread
H. chathamensis Chatham Oystercatcher 2, 6;
Chatham Is only.

Himantopus leucocephalus White-headed (Pied) Stilt 1, 150;
widespread
H. novaezelandiae Black Stilt 3, 24;
one flock, 5 ads and 21 immatures (marbled breasts) at north end of open water L Pukaki.

Pluvialis fulva Pacific Golden-Plover 2, 8;
Miranda and Manawatu Est.
Charadrius bicinctus Double-banded Plover 1, 40;
widespread Rangitikei River south.
C. (=Anarhynchus) frontalis Wrybill 1, 13;
12 at Miranda, one Manawatu Est.
C. obscurus Red-breasted (New Zealand) Plover 1, 8;
Waipu Estuary only.
Thinornis novaeseelandiae Shore Plover 2, 4;
Rangatira (Southeast) I only.
Elseyornis melanops Black-fronted Dotterel 2, 2;
Rangitikei River at Bulls.
Vanellus miles Masked Lapwing 1, 240;
widespread; also Chatham I, est 20

Limosa lapponica Bar-tailed Godwit 1, 1680;
widespread; 1500 at Miranda
Arenaria interpres Ruddy Turnstone 1, 9;
also 27 Chatham I.
Calidris canutus Red Knot 1, 540;
200 Mangere, 300 Miranda, 40 Manawatu Est.
C. melanotos Pectoral Sandpiper 3, 1;
Miranda
C. acuminata Sharp-tailed Sandpiper 2, 9;
Miranda

Catharacta antarctica Brown Skua 2, 3;
Stack near Oban; also Chatham Is, Star Keys.
Stercorarius parasiticus Parasitic Jaeger 2, 4;
two on Chatham I.
Larus dominicanus Kelp Gull 1, 300+;
widespread
L. scopulinus Red-billed Gull 1, 930+;
widespread
L. bulleri Black-billed Gull 1, 1930;
includes 60 Miranda, 2 Whitianga, 1700 Waiau River south of Te Anau.

Sterna caspia Caspian Tern 2, 19;
widespread
S. striata White-fronted Tern 1, 450;
widespread
S. albifrons Little Tern 3, 1;
Miranda (Taramaire)
S. nereis Fairy Tern 3, 6;
Waipu Est; careful count
S. albostriatus Black-fronted Tern 1, 30;
Hurunui River south.
Procelsterna cerulea Blue-Gray Noddy 4, 1;
Maori Rock, Mokohinau Is; about a month early.

Columba livia Rock Pigeon 1, 135;
widespread
Streptopelia chinensis Spotted Dove 2, 8;
Puketutu I, Mangere.
Hemiphaga novaeseelandiae New Zealand Pigeon 1, 47;
widespread
H. chathamensis Chatham Island Pigeon 1, 8;
Awatotara, 2 at Rangaika

Cacatua galerita Sulphur-crested Cockatoo 2, 7;
Cascades Park.
Nestor notabilis Kea 1, 5;
Arthur's Pass, Homer Tunnel.
N. meridionalis Kaka 1, 53;
Pureora, Oban area.
Cyanoramphus novaezelandiae Red-crowned Parakeet 1, 51;
2 Mokohinau Is, 31 Tiritiri, 15 Ulva I, 3 Chathams (Awatotara, Rangaika).
C. auriceps Yellow-crowned Parakeet 2, 11;
6 Pureora, 4 Sylvan Lake Trail, 1 Ulva I.
C. forbesi Forbes's Parakeet 3, 4;
2 Little Mangere, 2 Big Mangere; all with extensive yellow fore-crowns.

Ninox novaeseelandiae Morepork 1, 13;
one well seen at Kauri Coast Holiday Park; rest heard only

Dacelo novaeguineae Laughing Kookaburra 4, 2;
Matakana Rd at Anderson Rd
Halcyon sanctus Sacred Kingfisher 1, 28;
most common northern North I.

Acanthisitta chloris Rifleman 1, 11;
Arthur's Pass Village, Sylvan Lake Trail.
Xenicus gilviventris New Zealand Rock Wren 3, 2;
Homer Tunnel; seen by all except WRS (!)

Notiomystis cincta Stitchbird (Hihi) 1, 14;
Tiritiri Matangi I.
Anthornis melanura New Zealand Bellbird 1, 63;
widespread
Prosthemadera novaeseelandiae Tui 1, 151;
widespread; including 6 on Pitt I.

Gerygone igata Grey Gerygone (Warbler) 1, 45;
widespread
G. albofrontata Chatham Islands Gerygone (Warbler) 1, 3;
2 Rangaika, 1 Pitt I.

Callaeas cinereus Kokako 2, 6;
5 Tiritiri, 1 Pureora.
Philesturnus carunculatus South Island Saddleback 3, 3;
2 on Motuara I, Queen Charlotte Sound, 1 on Ulva I seen by Stu.
P. rufusater North Island Saddleback 1, 35;
Tiritiri Matangi I.

Gymnorhina tibicen Australasian Magpie 1, 550;
widespread

Mohoua ochrocephala Mohua (Yellowhead) 3, 9;
2 Sylvan Lake Trail; 7 Ulva I.
M. albicilla Whitehead 1, 47;
45 Tiritiri, 2 Pureora.
M. novaeseelandiae Pipipi (Brown Creeper) 1, 22;
widespread South I.

Rhipidura fuliginosa New Zealand Fantail 1, 65;
widespread; 2 black on SI and 2 on Pitt I.

Petroica macrocephala New Zealand Tomtit 1, 21;
17 South I, 4 on Pitt I.
P. australis New Zealand Robin 1, 31;
Tiritiri, Otanewainuku, Pureora, widespread South I, Ulva I.
P. traversi Chatham Island Black Robin 4, 1;
Pitt I; territorial at Caravan Bush.

Hirundo neoxena Welcome Swallow 1, 250;
widespread

Alauda arvensis Sky Lark 1, 110;
widespread

Bowdleria punctata Fernbird 1, 3; 2 Waihi area Lake Taupo, 1 Sinclair Wetlands.

Zosterops lateralis Silver-eye 1, 69;
widespread

Acridotheres tristis Common Myna 1, 350+;
widespread North I; 2 at Blenheim.
Sturnus vulgaris Common (European) Starling 1, 300+;
widespread

Turdus merula Eurasian Blackbird 1, 300+;
widespread
T. philomelos Song Thrush 1, 50+;
widespread

Passer domesticus House Sparrow 1, 200+;
widespread

Prunella modularis Dunnock 1, 18;
Kaikoura south.

Anthus novaeseelandiae New Zealand Pipit 1, 20;
widespread incl Chathams.

Fringilla coelebs Chaffinch 1, 180+;
widespread
Carduelis chloris European Greenfinch 1, 47;
widespread
C. carduelis Eurasian Goldfinch 1, 80;
widespread
C. flammea Common Redpoll 1, 125;
widespread
Emberiza citrinella Yellowhammer 1, 79;
widespread
E. cirlus Cirl Bunting 3, 1;
Kaikoura Cemetery area; a singing bird only briefly seen by 2 observers.