Page 28 - The Villager September 2021

Birding

North Eastern Bay, Tiri Tiri

exception to the right. drive, for a recce of the departure at the shop was our first target bird
The weather eventually became point for the following morning’s trip acquaintance, in the form of a handful
intolerable, so we called it a day and to the island of Tiri Tiri Matangi. We of the extremely rare Takahe foraging
checked into the Miranda Holiday Park spent the night on the beach in Orewa about. This fairly large Gallinule family
for our overnight stay. This motor park Motor Park. species was, until 1948, thought to be
provided excellent facilities, including Probably the best day of the entire extinct until a certain Dr G B Orbell
a natural thermal pool (38°C). During trip, from a birding perspective, saw rediscovered a small population
supper, it poured with rain. us depart from Gulf Harbour mid- high up in the Murchison Mountains
The next morning, while Des and morning in fair weather for Tiri Tiri overlooking the western shores of Lake
his wife, Kirsty, set off on a short Matangi. This predator-free island has Te Anau in Fiordland. A substantial
run, Maureen and I luxuriated in the for many years provided a safe haven portion of this remote population of
warmth of the mineral pool before and suitable habitat for a continuous Takahe was captured by the DOC and
setting out into a day of overcast skies and ever-increasing population of released on Tiri Tiri as part of a very
and icy wind. Almost immediately, I endemic NZ bird species that are successful breeding programme.
was rewarded with great sightings of endangered on the mainland and, Next on our growing list of
the shorebird, Sharp-tailed Sandpiper, indeed, some of which were moving endemics was the earlier-mentioned
four of which were located at the Stilt perilously close to almost-certain Kokako seen on Ridge Road. Then,
ponds close to the Shorebird Centre. extinction. on the Kawarau Track, we discovered
Later in the morning, on our way to Our landing half-an-hour later a Stitchbird (Honeyeater) feeder that
Auckland, the capital, we made a was followed by a trek along the had attracted three or four males
slight detour to Island Block Road at Wattle Track up to the visitors centre accompanied by a couple of females
the Meremere Power Station site south and lighthouse, where we received as well as numerous Bellbirds. The
of Mercer and were elated to enjoy directions to the bunkhouse, our Stitchbird is effectively extinct
fabulous sightings of the uncommon overnight accommodation that would on the mainland except for a tiny
and difficult-to-find Australasian be spent with several researchers. breeding population, which has been
Bittern. After a short briefing, we established on Mokoia Island in Lake
We then travelled beyond Auckland commenced our birding at noon. A Rotorua.
further north to Gulf Harbour, an hour’s tame avian reception committee seen A nocturnal Morepork (an owl)

26 • Issue 9 2021 • The Villager