VARIABLE OYSTERCATCHER

Photographed at Shakespeare Regional Park, June 2017

1185                VARIABLE OYSTERCATCHER             Haematopus unicolor 

NEW ZEALAND                15

An uncommon endemic found around the coast of both Islands. 48 cm. Breeds on rocky and sandy coasts, occasionally on shores of coastal lakes; some birds gather in estuaries in autumn and winter.

NEW ZEALAND DOTTEREL

Photographed at Shakespear Nature Reserve, June 2017

1184               NEW ZELAND DOTTEREL             Charadrius obscurus

NEW ZEALAND               14

Locally common endemic; c. 2200 birds of northern subspecies are found around the coasts of the North Island; c. 250 birds of the southern subspecies found mainly on Stewart Island and Southland. 20 cm. Found on beaches, sand spits, estuaries and on Stewart Island breed on mountain tops.

PHEASANT

Photographed at Shakespeare Regional Park, June 2017

(*   264)               PHEASANT                Phasianus colchicus 

NEW ZEALAND             13                  

Also known as Ring-necked Pheasant. Introduced by Europeans, now common throughout much of New Zealand. Male 80 cm; female 60 cm. Found in open scrubland, vegetated sand dunes, riverbanks and agricultural land with plenty of cover.

PARADISE SHELDUCK

Photographed at Ambury, New Zealand, June 2017

(*  740)               PARADISE SHELDUCK             Tadorna variegata 

NEW ZEALAND             12

Endemic found across all of New Zealand. 63 cm. Found in farmland, lakes, ponds, high-country riverbeds.

Photographed at Shakespeare Nature Reserve

WHITE-FACED HERON

Photographed at Ambury, New Zealand, June 2017

(*   10)               WHITE-FACED HERON               Egretta novaehollandiae      

NEW ZEALAND              11

Abundant native right across New Zealand. 67 cm. Uses a wide variety if habitats from coastal estuaries and lagoons to rivers, lakes and farmland.

KINGFISHER

Photographed at Ambury, New Zealand, June 2017

(*   149)                  KINGFISHER                 Todiramphus sanctus 

NEW ZEALAND                   10

Also known as Sacred Kingfisher in Australia. An abundant native in New Zealand. 24 cm. Found in forests, river margins, farmland, lakes, estuaries and rocky coastlines; moves towards the coast in winter.

SPURWING PLOVER

Photographed at Ambury, New Zealand, June 2017

(*   17)                SPURWING PLOVER              Vanellus miles

NEW ZEALAND              9

In Australia known as Masked Lapwing. An abundant native across most of New Zealand. 38 cm. Colonised NZ from Australia in the 1930s and after a slow start spread after 1960 across most of country.

SWAN

Photographed at Ambury, New Zealand, June 2017

(*   38)              BLACK SWAN               Cynus atratus

NEW ZEALAND                     8

A common Australian introduction found throughout New Zealand. 120 cm. Found on lakes, estuaries, and parks; sometimes at sea or on pastures.

Photographed at Napier, New Zealand, June 2017

GOLDFINCH

Photographed at Ambury, New Zealand, June 2017

(*   152)                  GOLDFINCH               Carduelis carduelis

NEW ZEALAND                  7

European introduction now common across New Zealand; known also as European Goldfinch. 13 cm. Found in farmland, orchards, parks and gardens.

SILVEREYE

Photographed at Ambury, New Zealand, June 2017

(*    94)                     SILVEREYE                  Zosterops laterals

NEW ZEALAND              6

Abundant native across New Zealand. 12 cm. Found in forests, scrub, orchards, parks and gardens.

BLACKBIRD

Photographed at Ambury, New Zealand, June 2017

(*   104)            BLACKBIRD             Turdus merula 

NEW ZEALAND                 5

European introduction now abundant. 25 cm. Found in forest, scrub, farmland with scattered trees or hedges, orchards, parks and gardens.

SWAMP HARRIER

Photographed at Ambury, New Zealand, June 2017

(*    489)            SWAMP HARRIER           Circus approximans 

NEW ZEALAND               4

Also known as Australasian Harrier; regarded as abundant native in New Zealand. Found over farmland, tussock land, swamps and forest edges. Male 55 cm; female 60 cm. 

Photographed on North Island, June 2017

Photographed at Hawkes Bay, New Zealand, June 2017

RED-BILLED GULL

Photographed at Ambury, New Zealand, June 2017

 (* 110)          RED-BILLED GULL            Larus novaehollandiae 

NEW ZEALAND                   3

Known in Australia as Silver Gull. 37 cm. Breeds subantartica from Africa to Chathams; in NZ region, on coast from the Three Kings to Campbell Islands, inland colony at Rotorua; common in coastal waters, beaches and estuaries, only occasionally in flocks inland in wet paddocks, sports fields and lakes.

HOUSE SPARROW

Photographed at Ambury, New Zealand, June 2017

   (*   44)           HOUSE SPARROW           Passer domesticus 

NEW ZEALAND              2

Found in towns, arable farmland and farm shelter belts, orchards; sometimes edge of native forest well away from human habitat. Abundant European introduction to New Zealand.

AUSTRALASIAN SWAMPHEN (PUKEKO)

Photographed at Ambury, New Zealand, June 2017

 (*  83)              AUSTRALASIAN SWAMPHEN             Porphyrio melanotus

NEW ZEALAND                 1

Australasian Swamphen, species of the Purple Swamphen species, found in Australia and New Zealand; known in New Zealand by maori name Pukeko. Found in wetlands, estuaries, short damp pastures and parks. 51 cm.