BIRDQUEST2004

We arrive late to Auckland, during rush hour traffic, unlike most of New Zealand, Auckland traffic is quite similar to what we’re use to in North America….driving on the left didn’t help either. We checked into the Crowne Plaza for our two night stay.  Nice central location for everyone.

Next morning I was up early and walked down to the wharf catching the boat to Tiri Tiri Metangi island and the ladies hung out in Auckland.

Auckland  Skyline

The waters going out to the Island were alive with birds…

Little Blue Penguin

Fluttering Shearwater

Australasian Gannet’s were very abundant

Not sure what type of Jellyfish these are but there were hundreds in the water.

We docked the boat and were given an orientation speech and off we went in search of birds……

Variable Oystercatcher greeted us on our arrival.

Saddleback

And there were plenty of trails crisscrossing the island

Blue paper fungus growing on tree

Wild Takahe can be found raoming, anywhere on the island

Tui Close Up, this was the most numerous bird

Spent a few minutes with this bird while it was feeding n grasses

Bellbird

Saddleback

Little Quail

Kiwi Tracks in Mud

North Island Robin

Whitehead

Whitehead

Sue had a good day visiting a museum and touring the city…

New Zealand was fun for us all, there’s something for everyone.

Ciao for now

 

 

We left Rotorua easily and headed back west to Waitamo.  There are sections of caves that you can visit here.  Sue and I chose the Glowworm Cave and Aranui Cave.  Zoe went to all three Gloworm, Aranui and Ruakuri Caves.

I really thought this would be a money grab but was I wrong, yes the price is a bit steep but the tours are awesome and like nothing we’ve seen before.

The glowworm caves are dark and photos isn’t allowed.  In the other cave I did my best but the images are fairly grainy due to high ISO.

Cave Wetas – only wildlife in the caves

Sue and I had a bit of time to kill while we waited for Zoe’s final cave  tour to end and we went to a nearby Kiwi House.

Pacific Black Duck (Grey Duck)

Blue Duck

Cape Barren Goose

Sacred Kingfisher

Spur-winged Plover

Banded Rail

New Zealand Shoveler

Grey Teal

Weka

Brown Kiwi at 1.6 million ISO, yup near total darkness and I still got an image

On the way to pick up Zoe I found a few more new birds for the trip.

Song Thrush

A Wild Sacred Kingfisher

Another great day had by all….

Ciao for now