9001 BIRDS

Saturday, July 1, 2017

AUSTRALIAN SHOVELER

Photographed at Matata, New Zealand, June 2017

(* 265) AUSTRALIAN SHOVELER Anas rhynchotis

NEW ZEALAND 66

Found mainly in shallow lowland wetlands and muddy estuaries. 49 cm. Common native found across all of New Zealand.

Photographed at Hawkes Bay, New Zealand, June 2017

AUSTRALIAN COOT

Photographed at Matata, New Zealand, June 2017

(* 82) AUSTRALIAN COOT Fulica atra

NEW ZEALAND 65

Known in Australia as Eurasian Coot. Found in small freshwater lakes and shallow bays of larger lakes. 38 cm. A locally common native over North Island, except the northern part, and found in the eastern half of the South Island.

BANDED DOTTEREL

Photographed at Maketu, New Zealand, June 2017

(* 432) BANDED DOTTEREL Charadrius bicinctus

NEW ZEALAND 62

Breeds on sandy beaches, shellbacks and especially braided riverbeds; after breeding forms flocks at estuaries, lake margins and sometimes short grassland. 20 cm. Although described as endemic over much of New Zealand large number migrate to Australia, where it is known as Double-banded Plover.

DUNNOCK

Photographed at Mount Mamganui, New Zealand, June 2017

1206 DUNNOCK Prunella modularis

NEW ZEALAND 63

Found in forest, scrubland, farmland with hedges, orchards, parks and gardens. 14 cm. Common European introduction found throughout New Zealand.

LITTLE BLACK SHAG

Photographed at Mount Mamganui, New Zealand, June 2017

(* 164) LITTLE BLACK SHAG Phalacrocorax sulcirostris

NEW ZEALAND 62

Also known as Little Black Cormorant. 61 cm. Found in lakes, estuaries and harbours. Common on North Island but rare in South Island.

REEF HERON

Photographed at Mount Mamganui, New Zealand, June 2017

(* 289) REEF HERON (dark morph) Egretta sacra

NEW ZEALAND 61

Uncommon native; c. 500 birds found in mangrove filled inlets, rocky shores, wave platforms and sometimes intertidal mudflats; commonest in North Island, numbers decreasing southwards. 66 cm.

CHAFFINCH

Photographed near Bay of Plenty, New Zealand, June 2017

(* 267) CHAFFINCH Fringilla coelebs

NEW ZEALAND 60

Found in native and exotic forest, scrub, farmland, tussock land, parks and gardens. 15 cm. Abundant European introduction found across most of New Zealand.

Photographed at Mount Mamganui, New Zealand, June 2017

Photographed at Castlepoint, New Zealand, June 2017

NEW ZEALAND SCAUP

Photographed near Bay of Plenty, New Zealand, June 2017

1205 NEW ZEALAND SCAUP Aythya novaeseelandiae

NEW ZEALAND 59

Found in large deep freshwater lakes, including hydro lakes; also coastal dune lakes. 40 cm. Locally common endemic throughout most of New Zealand except south of North Island.

CANADA GOOSE

Photographed at Tauranga, New Zealand, June 2017

(* 308) CANADA GOOSE Branta canadensis

NEW ZEALAND 58

Found in high-country pastures, freshwater lakes and margins, and coastal lagoons. 83 cm. Common North American introduction found throughout the country.

BARBARY DOVE

Photographed North Island, New Zealand, June 2017

(* 531) BARBARY DOVE Streptopelia risoria

NEW ZEALAND 57

African introduction now found in parks, gardens and orchards in Bay of Islands, Whangarei, Auckland, Waikato, Hawkes Bay and coastal Horowhenua. 28 cm.

WILD TURKEY

Photographed on North Island, New Zealand, June 2017

1204 WILD TURKEY Meleagris gallopavo

NEW ZEALAND 56

Found in farmland, especially where good cover. Male 120 cm, female 90 cm. A North America introduction which is now common across North Island and the north of South Island.

WRYBILL

Photographed at Miranda, June 2017

1203 WRYBILL Anarhynchus frontalis

NEW ZEALAND 55

Feeds on wet mudflats. 20 cm. Breeds on shingle riverbeds of Canterbury and Otago; almost all of the c. 5300 birds migrate to spend Jan-Aug at estuaries of North Island.

WHITE HERON

Photographed at Miranda, June 2017

(* 241) WHITE HERON Ardea modesta

NEW ZEALAND 54

Known in Australia as Great Egret. Found in freshwater wetlands and estuaries, occasionally wet pastures. 92 cm. Very rare native in New Zealand, about 50 pairs breeding at Okarito and the disperse throughout mainland.