Turangi Area

A pair of New Zealand Scaup.

Quite a long drive this morning from Whitianga to Turangi. our first stop was a small wetland by the roadside which produced amazing views of New Zealand Scaup.

Pureora Forest Park: a large tract of indigenous forest

 amid farmland.

Guardian of the forest.

We stopped at a couple of places in the Pureora Forest Park, amid towering indigenous trees. We did a couple of short walks & it was great to be in the dark, wet lichen covered forest.

New Zealand Kaka

Yellow crowned Parakeet

New Zealand Pigeon

One of the best pigeons around.

Long - tailed Cuckoo

North Island Robin

New Zealand Fantail

Whitehead

Best birds were: New Zealand Pigeon; New Zealand Kaka; Yellow-crowned Parakeet; Long-tailed Cuckoo; Grey Warbler; New Zealand Bellbird; Tui; Whitehead; New Zealand Fantail; New Zealand Tomtit & Silvereye.

The river at Turangi.

The fantastic Blue Duck

We then carried on to Turangi & birded the beautiful river there, right in the town. Almost immediately we found a pair of Blue Duck feeding in the fast flowing river. We all enjoyed prolonged & reasonable close views of this enigmatic species. 

Dusk looking over the lake.

Plenty of thermal activity is in this area.

The habitat for the Bittern: three were booming!

We then visited a wetland area looking for Australasian Bittern. Heard at least three birds booming but no sightings. Had a great Chinese meal in a local restaurant.