Page 29 - Waterfall Issue 6 2021

Pancake Rocks (RS) Salvin’s Mollymawk (RS)

Gibson’s Wandering Albatross (RS) Dusky and Common Dolphins (RS)
Possums were very common with a of sea-bird, including one Southern produced large numbers of Fluttering
number of youngsters seen clinging Royal, four Gibson’s Wandering Shearwaters, Spotted and Pied Shags,
onto the backs of their mothers. Albatrosses, as well as five Salvins as well as a pod of Dusky Dolphins,
and two or three White-capped (Shy) before we reached White Rocks where
Moving on further north to Westport, Mollymawks. Numerous Dusky and small numbers of stationary-standing
then east and south to Reefton a single Common Dolphin came in king Shags provided excellent views.
before crossing the mountains via very close to our boat and the use of
Lewis Pass, we travelled through chum thrown out by Gary into the On the return trip, we stopped
beautiful countryside of snow-covered sea to entice other sea birds closer briefly on the predator-free Motuara
mountains, clear mountain streams for a feed, succeeded in drawing Island for a very productive walk,
and native forests all the way to the large numbers of Snares (race of which yielded close-up sightings
Pass. Thereafter we encountered Cape) Petrel alongside our boat, of South Island Robin and South
farmland virtually all the way to providing exceptional photographic Island Saddleback as well as one
the East Coast in glorious weather, opportunities. In the afternoon, after or two nesting Little Penguins.
incorrectly forecast by the weather our thoroughly enjoyable three-hour
fundis to have been raining and pelagic cruise, we departed from It was time for us to board,
windy. Rafts of thousands of Fluttering kaikoura for a short drive north to together with our camper van, the
Shearwaters out at sea were spotted Picton on Queen Charlotte Sound. Interislander ferry for a crossing of
during our drive along the coast to the Cook Strait to Wellington on the
our kaikoura overnight destination. The following day, the weather had North Island, thereby ending what
dawned overcast and drizzling but had been truly an experience of a
Our early morning pelagic without wind, permitting us to join lifetime to the most scenic of islands,
birdwatching trip under the auspices the Dolphin Watch birdwatching meeting some of the friendliest
of Ocean Wings and leader Gary cruise in Queen Charlotte Sound all and most hospitable of people.
was conducted from kaikoura in the way north to White Rocks, home
perfect weather, a fabulous sunny, of the endangered and extremely rare Look out for our final leg (Part 3) of our
windless day. We recorded 19 species king Shag. The journey up the Sound NZ Birding Trip in the July edition.

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