Page 28 - Waterfall Issue 6 2021

Waterfall birding

Des and kirsty, energetic as ever, Just outside the town in gale-force
decided on a walk down the river and winds we came up behind Des and
discovered a breeding Wrybill. This kirsty on their bikes leaning into the
small Plover is considered to be unique cross-wind at an unbelievable angle
in the world of birds for having the end to remain in their saddles. Perhaps
segment of its bill distinctly curved, understandably, no resistance was
without exception, towards the right, given when we loaded their bikes
a feature that has evolved to assist the onto the back of the camper van
bird in its search for food amongst the and proceeded en route to our
numerous rocks and pebbles in the next beautifully located overnight
habitat it frequents. They also came destination, the Glendhu Bay Motor
across numerous Double-banded Park on the shores of Lake Wanaka.
Plovers (Dotterels) but no Stilt.
During an early morning jog into
Returning to Twizel, we stopped at Wanaka town via a hill that overlooked Morepork (AR)
the outlet of Lake Alexandrina into the town, Des and kirsty spotted a
Lake Tekapo to identify three pairs of pair of introduced Californian Quails.
NZ Shoveler and six Grey Teal when Next on our agenda was a drive to
kirsty suddenly spotted a Black Stilt Haast Village on the West Coast via
foraging along the shoreline. The Makarora and the Aspiring National
bird’s legs were banded (green left Park. Fabulous indigenous forest
and yellow right) and its plumage was encountered virtually all the
was pitch black without a trace way via Haast Pass to the Village,
of white indicating a pure-bred yielding my only lifer of the day, a
specimen uncontaminated by the perched and very elusive NZ Falcon.
closely related Pied Stilt who regularly A Morepork (Owl) called all night
hybridise with their black cousin. at our Motor Park in the Village.

The scenery here was fantastic! The next day saw us travelling up the Double-banded Plover (AR)
Lake Pukaki was the most West Coast in the best weather of the
incredible turquoise blue colour. trip thus far, with a short detour to small numbers offshore before flying
Set against a backdrop of snow- take in views of the impressive Fox in to their breeding burrows in the
clad mountains, it was an absolutely Glacier. We then had lunch at Lake Paparoa forests that overlook the sea.
stunning sight. We spent the Mahinapua. Although sunny, it was
night in the Twizel Motor Park. very cold, unseasonal snow having After dinner, we departed as planned
fallen overnight on the mountains for Bullock Creek Road on a quest
Despite yet another day of mist and providing a continuous postcard- for the Great-spotted kiwi. Parking
rain, Des and kirsty decided to cycle spectacle for our journey north to at the farm gate entrance, which is
to Mount Cook, the highest peak Greymouth and then Moana for our the start of the Inland Park Track, we
(3 754m) in NZ, whilst Maureen and I overnight stop at the Lake Brunner walked into a promising-looking area
revisited the Cass River for a second Motor Park. A late evening walk along intently listening for the tell-tale call
viewing of the Stilt before also setting the Arnold River in search of Great of the kiwis. We heard two or three
off for Mount Cook, which we had Spotted kiwis was unsuccessful. very close-by calls from the forest,
visited some 20 years previously. but the fact that the area is part of
The next day was another fine day the Paparoa limestone syncline with
Well did we recall the keas, a large weather-wise, with an early bike ride numerous sink-holes, pot-holes and
alpine parrot that indulged in noisy for Des and kirsty to Punakaiki while other submergences, made it unwise
antics, alighting on the roof peaks of Maureen and I visited the Bullock to venture off the track in the dark
our hotel, the Hermitage, then sliding Creek Road as a recce for yet another to search for the birds. I therefore
down the roof slope to the end, before kiwi-spotting excursion that evening. decided to accept the call as a perfectly
launching into joyous flight screaming legitimate justification for marking off
kee-aaa, kee-aaa, kee-aaa. The We re-united with Des and kirsty at the species on my life list as a ‘heard
Hermitage was unrecognisable, having noon and spent the afternoon visiting only’ record. Numerous calls of the
been completely rebuilt, and Mount the geologically interesting wonder of Morepork broke the silence particularly
Cook itself, shrouded in cloud and mist, Pancake Rocks. That evening, we drove on our return to the main road and one
was barely visible so we did not linger to Razorback Ridge to watch for the flashed across in front of our camper
and about-turned back to Twizel. Westland Petrels that congregate in van, providing just the briefest of views.

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26 Waterfall Issue 6 2021