Page updated: 8th Feb 2013

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Trip Reports for a selection of trips are shown below.

JANUARY
27/1/13 - ULVA ISLAND - Lovely views of mohua, grey warbler, fantail, tomit, red-crowned parakeet, rifleman, robin, kaka, weka with chicks, healthy looking wood pigeon, spotted shag, litte shag, little blue penguin, black-backed gull, red-billed gull, morepork asleep on his roost, brown creeper. Saddlebacks were heard but not seen.

25/1/13 - ULVA ISLAND - Saddleback, robin, rifleman, kaka (a number of times), red-crowned and yellow-crowned parakeet, weka, wood pigeon, tui, bellbird, tomtit, grey warbler, brown creeper, variable oystercatcher, Stewart Island shag, spotted shag, pied shag, blue penguin, red-billed gull, white fronted tern.

23/1/13 - ULVA ISLAND - Highlight was the male kiwi seen at about 9.30 am. Also, saddleback, robin, mohua, rifleman, kaka, red-crowned parakeet, weka, pigeon, tui, bellbird, tomtit, fantail, grey warbler, brown creeper, spotted shag, pied shag, blue penguin, black-back gull, white fronted tern.

21/1/13 - ULVA ISLAND - Comical views of kaka mating, with male falling off several times. Good views of other birds including: saddleback, robin, mohua, rifleman, red-crowned parakeet, weka, tui, bellbird, tomtit, brown creeper, white capped mollymawk.

8-9/1/13 - KIWI JOURNEY - Splendid view for approx. 45 minutes of a adult male kiwi, seen in broad daylight along the track. Foraging happily on the track. Also: robins, tui, bellbird, brown creeper, NZ pipit, fernbird, starling, red-crowned parakeet.

10/1/13 - ULVA ISLAND - A day with several views of key species including: saddleback, robin, mohua, rifleman, kaka, red-crowned parakeet, yellow-crowned parakeet, wood pigeon, tui, bellbird, tomtit, fantail, grey warbler, brown creeper, morepork, variable oystercatcher, spotted shag, pied shag, blue penguin.

DECEMBER
The busy season is upon us and it has been hard finding time to keep the trip reports upto date. However, a few more update are shown below:
27/12/12 - ULVA ISLAND - a fun afternoon birds included: saddleback, robin, yellowhead, rifleman, kaka, red and yellow-crowned parakeet, weka, wood pigeon, tui, bellbird, brown creeper, variable oystercatcher.

24/12/12 - ULVA ISLAND - saddleback, robin, yellowhead, rifleman, kaka, red and yellow-crowned parakeet, weka, wood pigeon, tui, bellbird, brown creeper, variable oystercatcher, spotted shag, blue penguin, white-fronted tern.

19/12/12 - ULVA ISLAND - saddleback, robin, rifleman, kaka, red and yellow-crowned parakeet, wood pigeon, tui, bellbird, fantail, grey warbler, brown creeper, variably oystercatcher, white-capped mollymawk.

15/12/12 - ULVA ISLAND - saddleback, robin, yellowhead, rifleman, kaka, red and yellow-crowned parakeet, weka with chicks, wood pigeon, tui, bellbird, fantail, grey warbler, brown creeper, variable oyster catcher, spotted shag.

13-14/12/12 - KIWI JOURNEY - Along with a kiwi during the morning in good light, we saw a variety of birds including great sightings of red-crowned parakeet, robin, NZ pipit, tui, bellbird, fernbird.

6/12/12 - ULVA ISLAND - a full day with some great bird photo opportunities with rifleman coming to and from their nesting areas, weka and weka chicks, kaka foraging and the ever friendly robins. We also so: brown creepers, yellowheads, yellow-crowned and red-crowned parakeet, blue penguin, pied shag, spotted shag, variable oystercatchers, grey warblers, tomtit, bellbird, tui.

1/12/12 - ULVA ISLAND - as it happended, not a day to be on Ulva Island, the wind predictions did not materialise, instead, it rained non-stop. We worked hard, and were rewarded with excellent views of mohua (yellowhead), red-crowned parakeet, weka, robin, saddleback, tomtit, tui, bellbird, variable oystercatchers, spotted shag.

NOVEMBER
30/11/12 - ULVA ISLAND - Birding on has generally been poor on Ulva Island, due to spring weather, drop in bird numbers from aerial poisoning to remove rates last year and breeding well underway with the birds. However, we managed to find our key birds including: saddleback, robin, rifleman, kaka, red-crowned and yellow-crowned parakeet, weka, tui, bellbird, tomtit, grey warbler with fledglings, brown creeper with flegdlings, variable oyster catcher, Stewart Island shag, blue penguin.

23/11/12 - STEWART ISLAND - not a guided trip, but worth the mention. A lovely full view of a shining cuckcoo singing outside our office in the pittosporum tree at 7.00 in the morning. After calling, flew away and didn't see it for the rest of the morning.

23/11/12 - ULVA ISLAND - A delightful trip with highlights being two morepork quietly sitting in a tree close to the track, two blue penguins swimming onto the shore and two rifleman within a metre of us feeding along the trunk of a tree. Other birds seen included red-crowned parakeet, saddleback, tomit, bellbird, tui, kaka, wood pigeon. Mohua a bit elusive today...

12-13/11/12 - KIWI JOURNEY - A surising sighting of a female kiwi foraging with a male kiwi in good light. The next day a female kiwi seen in full light. Other birds included: brown creeper, Stewart Island robin, NZ pipit, fernbird, tomtit, bellbird, red-crowned parakeet, variable oystercatchers, pied shag, skylark, chaffinch, redpoll, black swan, Australasian harrier,

11/11/12 - ULVA ISLAND - Superb view so two yellow-crowned parakeets with a red-crowned parakeet, saddleback, robin, yellowhead, rifleman, weka, NZ wood pigeon, bellbird, tomtit, brown creeper, variable oystercatcher, spotted shag, blue penguin.

6/11/12 - ULVA ISLAND - Rifleman, kaka, red-crowned parakeet, robin, tui, bellbird, tomtit, brown creeper, blue penguin, white-fronted tern. Saddleback, weka, yellowhead and grey warbler heard.

OCTOBER
20/10/12 - ULVA ISLAND - A settled afternoon, cool and damp. Superb views of red-crowned parakeet, yellowhead and an adult saddleback bathing in a creek. A male and female weka also seen (one introduced in April 2012). Other species included brown creeper flocks, wood pigeon, bellbird, tui, fantail and the ever friendly robins.

13 to 14/10/12 - KIWI JOURNEY - Terrific view of female kiwi, foraging and feeding in broad daylight, viewed for over 30 minutes. Another female kiwi seen in good evening light. Several fernbirds and robins, bellbird, tui and red-crowned parakeet. Skua on Mason Bay beach.

4/10/12 - ULVA ISLAND - Stormy and wet days before and after, but a pleasant and dry afternoon to birdwatch on Ulva Island on the day of our trip. Had great views of all the key birds and about four mixed feeding flocks that provided fantastic views of yellowheads, yellow-crowned parakeets and brown creeper. Weka are still sparse and we saw one banded weka that had been released in April 2012. Nice view of adult and two juvenile saddlebacks in different areas of the Island.

WINTER 2012 (JUNE / JULY / AUGUST) - Compared to previous winters, we felt that the birds were fewer in number as a direct result of the rat invasion of July 2010 and subsequent poison drop in August and September 2011. However, most of the birds species are being seen, but weka and saddleback are in extremely low numbers. A small introduction of 14 weka in April 2012 was aimed at boosting the population.

APRIL
4/4/12 - ULVA ISLAND - Sunny day, with no wind. Birds sighted included: saddleback, robin, yellowhead, red-crowned parakeet, wood pigeon, bellbird, tomtit, brown creeper, morepork, blue penguin, white-fronted tern, plus others.

1/4/12 - ULVA ISLAND - A patchy day, but all key birds sighted, including: saddleback, robin, yellowhead, rifleman, kaka, red-crowned parakeet, wood pigeon, fantail, grey warbler, bellbird, morepork, pied shag, blue penguin, white fronted terns, variable oystercatcher.

MARCH
21/3/12 - ULVA ISLAND - Despite a hot and settled afternoon, we managed to get good sightings of all our key birds: yellowhead, weka, rifleman, saddleback, brown creeper, robin, blue penguin, red-crowned parakeet, NZ wood pigeon, tui, bellbird. As for several weeks, yellowheads and brown creepers were in flocks of adults and juveniles.

3/3/12 - ULVA ISLAND - A slow morning followed by a busy afternoon of birding. About 7 saddlebacks, weka, large flock of yellowhead, lots of brown creepers, red and yellow-crowned parakeet, robins, kaka, Stewart Island shag, spotted shag, little black shag white throated phase, grey warbler, tomit, bellbirds.

1/3/12 - ULVA ISLAND - A fun morning with a great mixed flock of brown creeper, yellowhead, red and yellow-crowned parakeets. Several kaka, great views of rifleman, many robins and several other species.

FEBRUARY
Moulting Snares erect crested penguin seen in Halfmoon Bay, but since moved by the Department of Conservation. Long tailed cuckoo calling regularly and a family of weka living nearby our office. Morepork seen on many days on our Ulva Island trips. Some birds undergoing moult including kaka. Lots of wood pigeon in Oban.

23/2/12 - COASTAL HIGHLIGHTS - Our highlight being two Fiordland crested penguin sitting in front of their rock cave.

22/2/12 - ULVA ISLAND - All key species seen including a flock of about 20 yellowheads.

17/2/12 - PELAGIC BIRDING - Several species seen including: royal albatross, white-capped, Salvins and Bullers mollymawks, skua, giant petrel, sooty shearwater, blue and yellow-eyed penguin, giant petrel, Stewart Island shag, pied shag, spotted shag, white and black-fronted terns.

16-18/2/12 - KIWI, DUNES & BEACH - 8 kiwi sighted including daytime birds.

15/2/12 - ULVA ISLAND - All key species seen including fabulous view of yellowhead, saddleback, rifleman, brown creeper, red and yellow-crowned parakeet, kaka, wood pigeon and more. A very nervous solitary weka on one of the beaches.

10/2/12 - ULVA ISLAND - Busy birding day (along with flowering Easter Orchid): Saddleback family (adult and 2 juveniles), plenty of Stewart Island robin, yellowheads (adults and fledlings), stunning views of rifleman, red-crowned and yellow-crowned parakeet, brown creepers with fledglings, tomtit, 2 morepork, wook pigeon, bellbird, blue penguin, Stewart Island shag, pied shag, little black shag, spotted shag, white fronted terns and more...

6-7/2/12 - KIWI JOURNEY - Male kiwi seen at 7.20 in the morning in good light, lots of Stewart Island fernbirds, robins, brown creeper, bellbird, tomtit, New Zealand pipit, black swans, blue penguin, harrier, redpoll, kingfisher and more. Bottlenosed dolphins viewed in Paterson Inlet.

27/1/12 - We have had a busy month and have not had the opportunity to update our trip reports. On most of our trips to Ulva Island, we have seen:
yellowhead, robin, rifleman, saddleback, red and yellow-crowned parakeet, bellbird, tui, brown creeper, kaka, wood pigeon and more. We also so a large female kiwi on the 7/1/12 at 9.22 am in the morning. In recent weeks we have seen many young fledglings of all key species. In Oban Village, long tailed cuckoo have been heard on several occasions.

7-8/1/12 - KIWI JOURNEY - 4 kiwi sighted, other birds included: fernbirds, red-crowned parakeet, NZ pipit, brown creeper, Stewart Island robin.

1/1/12 - ULVA ISLAND - Nice views of yellowhead, red-crowned and yellow-crowned parakeet, robins, brown creeper and rifleman. A frenzy of kaka as seen a few days ago, calling loudly around us. Wood pigeon, tui, bellbird, variable oystercatchers with chicks. White-capped mollymawks in the Inlet and little blue penguin.

31/12/11 - ULVA ISLAND - a weka at Boulder Beach, several saddleback sightings (mainly of birds seen over the past two months), rifleman, yellowhead, kaka, red and yellow-crowned parakeet, wood pigeon, tui, bellbird, fantail, grey warbler, brown creeper, blue penguin, variable oystercatchers with chicks.

10 to 11/12/11 - KIWI JOURNEY - three kiwi sighted with some excellent views, one was viewed for 20 minutes.

8/12/11 - ULVA ISLAND - Variety of birds seen with some excellent views inlcuding: saddleback, robin, rifleman, red and yellow-crowned parakeet, weka, wood pigeon, tui, bellbird, tomtit, brown creeper, kaka.

1/12/11 - PELAGIC BIRDING - The weather was a bit too settled for the albatrosses, however,there were close views of shy mollymawks, giant northern petrel, superb views of Fiordland crested penguin at sea and on land, yellow-eyed and blue penguins also seen. Nice views of Stewart Island Shags (pied and bronze phases). New Zealand fur seals adults and pups put on a great, show due to the hot day.

28/11/11 - ULVA ISLAND - Amongst a variety of birds seen our highlight were the saddlebacks which we watch for almost 20 minutes - adults, juvenile and courtship behaviour.

27/11/11 - ULVA ISLAND - Saddleback, robin, yellowhead, rifleman, kaka, red-crowned parakeet, wood pigeon, tui, bellbird, tomtit, brown creeper and a sleepy morepork, brown creeper, variable oystercatcher. Travelling to / from Ulva Island, we also saw blue penguin and shy mollymawks. Weka were heard at Boulder Beach, but not seen.

23/11/11- ULVA ISLAND - The highlight of our trip was a female kiwi, which we were lucky to watch for 20 minutes (3 mtrs away) at mid-morning. Four saddleback were sighted on two occasions demontrating courtship behaviour. Some great views of red-crowned parakeets, brown creeper, kaka, robin. Several little blue penguins close up, pied shag and little shag, shy mollymawks. A weka was also heard, including yellowhead.

16/11/11 - ULVA ISLAND - yellowhead (mohua), robins, red-crowned parakeets, saddleback, kaka, brown creeper, wood pigeon, tomtit, grey warbler, tui, bellbird, blue penguin (in the water), pied shag and other species of birds seen.

9 to 10/11/11 - KIWI JOURNEY - Female kiwi seen early morning feeding in out in the open during daylight. Fernbirds were quiet. Red-crowned parakeets, brown creeper, NZ pipit, Stewart Island robin were amongst several birds seen.

30/10/11 - ULVA ISLAND - terrific views of all key species including yellowhead (mohua), red and yellow-crowned parakeet, saddleback, rifleman, kaka, brown creeper, robin, wood pigeon, tomtits, weka. A different trip from the day before. There is a very noticeable overall drop in populations of different species especially: saddleback, robin, weka, fantail etc.

26 to 27/10/11 - KIWI JOURNEY - beautiful male kiwi seen for half an hour in the afternoon, approached us within a metre whilst we stood quietly watching. Red-crowned parakeets, fernbirds, brown creepers, Stewart Island robin, NZ pipit were amongst several other birds seen.

19/10/11: ULVA ISLAND - Athough birds were singing throughout the forest, sightings were difficult for the first half of the tour, but picked up half way through. Several rifleman were seen, along with kaka, robin, red and yellow-crowned parakeet with some magnificent views of native wood pigeon. Majority of the birds are now nesting. A cold snap in the week would would have been felt by the birds.

8/10/11: ULVA ISLAND - Some superb sightings of yellowhead, red-crowned parakeet, saddleback, rifleman and kaka. Good sightings of all the other key birds including yellow-crowned parakeet. A nice morepork (owl) tucked up in a tree, fast asleep was a delight to see. Sadly no weka seen or heard.

16/9/11: ULVA ISLAND - All the key species were sighted including saddleback, yellowhead, rifleman, robin, red and yellow-crowned parakeet. Dead weka was seen on Sydney Cove (this had been seen a few days previously). Sections of the forest were quiet.

11/9/11: ULVA ISLAND - All the key species were sighted including saddleback, yellowhead, rifleman, robin, red and yellow-crowned parakeet. Weka were low in numbers. Parts of the forest were quiet.

General

Shining cuckcoo have arrived in Stewart Island, the first one was heard by us on the 13/10/11. Sooty shearwaters have arrived in their hundreds from the northern hemisphere.