BIRDS

Here you can see the birds I have photographed listed in alphabetical order as you scroll down the page.

I’ve included a few little stories along the way, so be sure to look out for links to other pages and galleries.

Happy viewing!

CLICK IMAGES TO VIEW GALLLERIES

(Some galleries are still on this main page as I’m in the process of changing things around)

ALBATROSS

TOROA

AUSTRALASIAN COOT

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BELLBIRD

KORIMAKO

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BITTERN - AUSTRALASIAN

The Australasian Bittern is one of the rarer birds of NewZealand, found in only a few locations around the country. They are getting so few in number, that they’re pretty much fit for the endagered list.

I first heard of the Bittern when working in Mahia in 2020. Before I left I made three trips to the wetland but saw nothing. A year later saw me there again. Every night after work and a couple free days bought nothing again.

Next were the shores of Lake Ellesmere. After a dozen trips into the wetlands I had still seen no Bittern.

Ohope was next. I spent most of my Easter break looking but still nothing.

Then I came to work in South Wairarapa.

So when I was checking out a reserve and came across a sign talking about the Bittern, my interest was peaked but my hopes were not fantastically high.

Of course, time after time I came up empty handed, until after about four months I met a very special lady who showed me a very special place. This was a step back in time and a glimpse of what the land once was. Our second outing bought me my first Bittern sighting - with a couple of photo’s to boot.

500 AUSTRALASIAN BITTERN - J.K. DONALD RESERVE - LAKE WAIRARAPA

502 AUSTRALASIAN BITTERN - J.K. DONALD RESERVE - LAKE WAIRARAPA

537 CABBAGE TREE - J.K. DONALD RESERVE - LAKE WAIRARAPA

MATUKU

BLACKBIRD

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BROWN BOOBY

CHICKEN

CRAKE - MARSH

KAREKE

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CRESTED GREBE

KAMANA

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CUCKOO - SHINING

PIPIWHARAUROA

DABCHICK

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WEWEIA

DOTTEREL - BANDED

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TURIWHATU

DOTTEREL - BLACK FRONTED

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TURIWHATU

DOTTEREL - NEWZEALAND

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TURIWHATU

DUCK

DUCK - AUSTRALASIAN SHOVELER

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DUCK - BLUE

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WHIO

DUCK - MALLARD

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DUCK - PARADISE

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DUCK - GREY TEAL

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TETE MOROITI

FALCON

KAREAREA

570 NEWZEALAND FALCON - GREYTOWN

LINKS

CLICK IMAGE

Whatching this absolute weapon of a creature hunting was one of the highlights of my stay in Southern Wairarapa. This little guy was so fast and agile, the poor wee Sparrows never stood a chance.

Click on either of these images or the link above to see the sequences of what happens after a Falcon catches his dinner.

A WORD OF WARNING: These images capture a Falcon munching on a cute little Sparrow and are quite GRAPHIC.

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552 NEWZEALAND FALCON EATING SPARROW - GREYTOWN

564 NEWZEALAND FALCON EATING SPARROW #2 - GREYTOWN

FANTAIL

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PIWAKAWAKA

FANTAIL - BLACK

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FANTAIL - CHATHAM ISLANDS

FINCH - CHAFFINCH

FINCH - GOLDFINCH

FINCH - GREENFINCH

GANNET

TAKAPU

GEESE

GODWIT

KUAKA

GREY WARBLER

RIRORIRO

GULL - BLACK BILLED

TARAPUKA

LINKS

GULL - DOMINICAN

KARORO

GULL - RED BILLED

TARAPUNGA

HAWK

KAHU

HERON - BLUE

HERON - WHITE

KOTUKU

OUR PIONEER HEROS

In the good ol’ days in the land of promise and fortune, the ladies of our pioneer heritage took a shine to the White Herons’ fairy-like breeding plumage - it made very nice additions to hats apparently.

So of course this made the feathers a valuable prise and, come spring time, made targets of these beautiful birds.

Since Whataroa is NewZealands only nesting ground, it was pretty easy for enterprising hunters to nearly wipe them right out. The numbers got down to as low as 40 birds before someone thought “Gees maybe we should stop killing these things”

Nowdays numbers are up around 400. With a bit of luck they might stick around for our kids to see.

Here’s hoping.

KAKA

KAKARIKI

LINKS

Able and Mable

Meet Able and Mable. They live at Pukaha National Wildlife Centre where from Able has just been released a day before this photo.

Being in a committed relationship, Able stayed close to Mable, never once straying from sight. What you see here is mable feeding Able through the cage with the food from her carers

The day after this shot was taken, Mable was released into the wild to be re-united with her love.

Click this link to visit the Pukaha National Wildlife Centre website

KEA

KINGFISHER

KOTARE

KOKAKO

MAGPIE

OYSTERCATCHER - PIED

TOREA

OYSTERCATCHER - VARIABLE

TOREA PANGO

OYSTERCATCHER - WHITE

PEACOCK

PHEASANT

PIPIT

PIHOIHOI

PLOVER - SHORE

TUTURUATU

PLOVER - SPUR WINGED

PUKEKO

QUAIL

RIFLEMAN

ROYAL SPOONBILL

SCAUP

PAPANGO

SHAG - LITTLE SHAG

KAWAU

SHAG - AUSTRALIAN PIED CORMORANT

SHAG - SPOTTED

PAREKAREKA

SKYLARK

SPARROW

SPARROW - WHITE

STARLING

STILT - BLACK

KAKI

STILT - PIED

POAKA

My Stilt Shot

Driving through Auckland one day I passed a billboard with a photo of a ballerinas’ arms and feet (en point), crossed over each other creating a lattice like effect. Upon seeing this, what imediately came to mind were Stilts! They are always in pairs. If i could get one behind the other I could get the lattice shot like the ballerina!

Well easier said than done. There were quite a few “almosts” and a few that hit the mark, but with crappy backdrops or lousy lighting. Three years had passed as I took my new super-dooper 300-800mm f5.6 lens for its first outing. Plugging through an estuary just out of Tauranga, I spotted this pair of Pied Stilts - and finally got my shot.

And the magic didn’t stop there I also captured the rare '“Four Legged-Two Headed Stilt”, the even rarer “Headless Stilt” and witnessed the Stilts rigorous pilates exercise routine ( pictured in the gallery above )

It was as if they knew I was playing with my new toy. This double bonus day gave me my shot that was 3 years in the making.

Thanks Nature!

SWALLOW - WELCOME SWALLOW

SWAN - BLACK

SWAN - WHITE

OUT & ABOUT

When you look through a lens, the rest of the world just dissapears

TAKAHE

TERN - CASPIAN

TERN - FAIRY

TARA ITI

TERN - WHITE FRONTED

TARA

The Last Tern Of The Season

Just North of Tepuru, on the Coromandel Peninsular, I photographed a colony of White Fronted Terns for about a month. Unfortunately I missed the eggs hatching, but as a consolation I was present to witness their final departing moment.

The noise was incredible as the colony circled above, waiting to depart, there was obviously alot of organising going on. Some went ahead, some slipped in a bit of last minute fishing while others motivated the slow coaches.

At last they were ready and off they flew. But a few remained. With alot of squawking and wing flapping most of the stagglers were coaxed into flight, taking off after the flock. All except one stubborn little dude accompanied by some very frustrated adults. Eventually with the help of a fish bribe, the last Tern took to the sky and off they flew to their new home.

If you look closely you can see the relutant participant still has his fish.

THRUSH

LINKS

PIOPIO

TIT

KOMIROMIRO

TUI

TUI’S AND WAXEYES LOOOOVE NEW CHERRY BLOSSOMS !

I was driving through Mt Eden in Auckland when I passed a tree full of birds. I stopped and started madly snapping shots of Tuis and waxeyes having a royal feast of Cherry nectar. Unfortunately it was late afternoon on a cloudy day and the light was crap. Driving on I passed a street lined on both sides with Ornamental Cherry trees in full blossom. Yippie

5:30 the next morning I arrived back at the street and couldn’t believe my eyes (or ears). There must have been 500 Tuis, all on a sugar high, jumping from branch to branch faster than I could keep up. The noise was increadible! Beeing so hyped up, they were pretty difficult to photograph. After two hours of ducking, dodging, reaching and bending, to get clear shots through the branches, I was completely knackered. Got some ok shots though.

So a while later I was in Tasman, near Motueka, When I passed another Cherry tree in blossom - same deal, Tuis and Waxeyes. I went back 3 times to that tree. Unfortunately the weather wasn’t on my side but I managed to get a few good shots.

Hope you like them

WAXEYE

TAUHAU

CHERRY BLOSSOM - MAIN St DELI GREYTOWN

These little guys were loving the new cherry blossoms in the Main Street Deli’s courtyard in Greytown

WHITEHEAD

POPOKOTEA

WOOD PIDGEON

KERERU

WRYBILL

NGUTU PARE

YELLOWHAMMER

YELLOWHEAD

Here’s a few high-res pics for you to enjoy

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Animals