BANDED RAIL

Photographed at Shakespeare Regional Park, Auckland, New Zealand, May 2019

(* 171)                     BANDED RAIL                     Gallirallus philippensis   

NEW ZEALAND               126

Uncommon native. Known by Maori name Moho pereru, and in Australia as Buff-banded Rail. Found in salt marshes, mangroves and less commonly in freshwater swamps; also on some off-shore islands.

AUSTRALIAN BARN OWL

Photographed near Kaitaia, North Island, New Zealand, May 2019

(*  194)                   BARN OWL                   Tyto alba

NEW ZEALAND                 125

Very rare native. Found almost worldwide in open country; vagrant to New Zealand until they bred successfully near Kaitaia since 2007.

NOTE: horrible photographs but recognisable and a family group of three were seen and heard very clearly.

LAUGHING KOOKABURRA

hotographed on West Waiwera Road, North Island, New Zealand, April 2019

(*.    14)                   LAUGHING KOOKABURRA                   Dacelo novaeguineae

NEW ZEALAND               124

Rare Australian introduction. Found inn lightly forested open country, mainly from Orewa and Kaukapakapato Wangarei, especially south of Wellsford.

RUDDY TURNSTONE

Photographed at Waipu Cove, North Island, New Zealand, April, 2019

(*   404)                  RUDDY TURNSTONE                  Arenaria interpres

NEW ZEALAND                123

Common Arctic migrant. Breeds in the high Arctic; migrates to tropical and temperate coasts of both hemispheres. Third most common Arctic wader to visit NZ; about 1000-2000 visit each year and favour wave platforms, coastal lagoons and some estuaries, especially Parengarenga, kaipara, Farewell Spit, Motueka, Lake Grassmere, Kaikoura Peninsula, Awarua Bay and Te Whanga Lagoon (Chathams).

AUSTRALASIAN LITTLE GREBE

Photographed at Lake Owhareiti, Pakaraka, North Island, New Zealand, April, 2019

(*   30)                  AUSTRALASIAN LITTLE GREBE                     Tachybaptus novaehollandiae       

NEW ZEALAND               122

Found in lakes and ponds, particularly north of Auckland.

BROWN KIWI

Photographed near Marsden’s Cross, North Island, New Zealand, April, 2019

1291                BROWN KIWI                Apteryx mantelli

NEW ZEALAND                121

Uncommon endemic. Found in native forest, scrub, exotic forest(especially in Northland, northern Coromandel and eastern Bay of Plenty) and adjacent farmland. Strongholds in Northland, northern Coromandel, Te Urewera NP and inland Taranaki-Whanganui.

CURLEW SANDPIPER

Photographed at Miranda, North Island, New Zealand, April, 2019

(*   414)                   CURLEW SANDPIPER                    Calidris ferruginea  

NEW ZEALAND                    120

Uncommon Arctic migrant. Breeds in the Arctic Asia. Regular summer visitor to NZ, and some overwinter. Favours tidal flats, brackish pools and margins to coastal lakes, mainly at Firth of Thames, Lake Ellesmere and Awarua Bay.

PECTORAL SANDPIPER

Photographed at Miranda, North Island, New Zealand, April, 2019

(*  499)                       PECTORAL SANDPIPER               Caladris melanotos 

NEW ZEALAND                119

Rare Arctic migrant. Breeds in Arctic North America. Migrates to South America. A few reach NZ each summer, often with Sharp-tailed Sandpipers on open marsh-turf flats of coastal lakes, especially Lake Wairarapa and Ellesmere, or in low-growing salt marsh of estuaries.

SHARP-TAILED SANDPIPER

Photographed at Miranda, North Island, New Zealand, April, 2019

(*  255)                  SHARP-TAILED SANDPIPER                   Calidris acuminata

NEW ZEALAND                 118

Uncommon Arctic migrant. Breeds in Siberia, migrates tio Australasia. In New Zealand favours low-growing salt marsh of estuaries and open marsh-turf flats of coastal lakes, mainly at Kaimaumau, Firth of Thames, Ahuriri and Manawatu estuaries, Lake Wairarapa and Ellesmere, and Awarua Bay.