WESTLAND PETREL

Photographed off Kaikoura, South Island, New Zealand, April, 2019

(*  1254)                  WESTLAND PETREL                 Procellaria westlandica

NEW ZEALAND             109

Uncommon endemic. About 4000 pairs breed only in the forested coastal foothills of the Paparoa Range between Barrytown and Punakaiki, West Coast, South Island. In breeding season seen mainly off east coast, Cook Strait and West Coast but ranges west to Australia; migrates to central or eastern South Pacific.

BLACK STILT

Photographed on Lake Tekapo, South Island, New Zealand, April, 2019

1288                BLACK STILT              Himantopus novaezelandiae  

NEW ZEALAND              108

Also known by Maori name Kaki. Breeds on riverbeds, lake margins and ponds of Mackenzie Basin, inland South Canterbury. After breeding, most of the c 70 adult birds move to river deltas of major lakes in the Mackenzie Basin, and some to estuaries of eastern South Island and western North Island.

AUSTRALIAN CRESTED GREBE

Photographed at Kellands Ponds, South Island, New Zealand, April, 2019

(*  466)                AUSTRALIAN CRESTED GREBE                 Podiceps cristus 

NEW ZEALAND             107

Also known by Maori name Puteketeke. About 600 birds found on open lakes of inland South Island. Usually in pairs but gather on some Canterbury lakes in winter. Rare vagrant to North Island.

ROCK WREN

Photographed near Homer’s Tunnel, South Island, New Zealand, April, 2019

1287                 ROCK WREN                    Xenicus gilviventris 

NEW ZEALAND                    106 

Uncommon endemic; Found in Alpine regions of South Island only, among rock falls, screes and subalpine scrub.

TOKOEKA

Photographed on Stewart Island, New Zealand, April, 2019

1286                TOKOEKA                 Apteryx australis           

NEW ZEALAND                       105

Found in native forest, scrub, tussock land. Most common on Stewart Island and in west Fiordland.

YELLOWHEAD

Photographed on Ulver Island, New Zealand, April, 2019

1285               YELLOWHEAD                    Mohoua ochrocephala  

NEW ZEALAND                         104

Known by Maori name Mohua. Found in tall native forest, especially red beech of southern South Island.

RIFLEMAN

Photographed on Ulver Island, New Zealand, April, 2019

1284                RIFLEMAN                   Acanthisitta chloris 

NEW ZEALAND                       103

Known by Maori name Titipounamu. Found in native forest and scrub; favours beech and taw forest. In South Island also exotic forest, gores and willows.

SOUTH ISLAND SADDLEBACK

Photographed on Ulver Island, New Zealand, April, 2019

1283                SOUTH ISLAND SADDLEBACK                  Philesturnus carunculatus 

NEW ZEALAND                   102

Also known as Jackbird and by Maori name Tieke. Found in forest and scrub several pest-free off-shore islands and Orokonui Ecosanctuary, Dunedin.

CAPE PETREL

Photographed off Stewart Island, April, 2019

(*   789)               CAPE PETREL               Daption capense

NEW ZEALAND              101

Also known as Cape Pigeon, Pintado Petrel, Cape Fulmar. Only member of genus Caption. Common seabird, estimated 2 million population. Two subspecies: D. Capense capense breeds on circumpolar subantarctic islands; D. Capense austral breeds on New Zealand’s subantarctic islands.

SOUTHERN ROYAL ALBATROSS

Photographed off Stewart Island, April, 2019

(*1232)                 SOUTHERN ROYAL ALBATROSS                 Diamedea epomophora

NEW ZEALAND               100

Also known by Maori name Toroa. Breeds on Campbells and Auckland Island. Ranges widely through circumpolar oceans; most commonly seen in NZ in winter.

FOVEAUX SHAG

Photographed off Stewart Island, April, 2019

1282                FOVEAUX SHAG                Leucococarbo stewarti

NEW ZEALAND              99

Together with the Otago shag were formerly known as Stewart Island Shag, and in its dark phase as the Bronze Shag. Split after 2016. Endemic to Stewart Island, and Foreaux Strait. Dimorphic with two plumages. Less then 2,500 Foveaux Shags remaining.

COMMON DIVING PETREL

Photographed on the crossing from Bluff, South Island New Zealand to Stewart Island, New Zealand, April, 2019

(*1236)                       COMMON DIVING PETREL                   Pelecanoides urinatrix

NEW ZEALAND                 98

Known by Maori name Kuaka. Breeds circumpolar subantartic. Main NZ sites off eastern North Island, Cook and Foveaux Straits, Chatham Islands, The Snares, Antipodes and Auckland Islands.