Native Birds
Local Name (common name, Scientific name) -- date and location
Chatham Islands Shag (Leucocarbo onslowi) -- 24 August 2013, Taiaroa Head
Karoro (black-backed gull, Larus dominicanus) -- 21 January, New Brighton beach
Karuhiruhi (pied cormorant/shag, Phalacrocorax varius) -- 21 January, fishing off the New Brighton Pier
Kawau (black cormorant/shag, Phalacrocorax carbo) -- 5-6 February, Cruising the harbors of Picton and Wellington
Kea (Nestor notabilis) -- 10 February, Craigieburn Forest Park
Korimako (bellbird, Anthornis melanura) -- 9 February, Craigieburn Forest Park
Korora (little blue penguin, Eudyptula minor) -- 24 August 2013, Taiaroa Head
Matuku moana (reef heron, Egretta sacra sacra) -- 4 February, foraging along the Kaikoura shorelineKorora (little blue penguin, Eudyptula minor) -- 24 August 2013, Taiaroa Head
Pukeko (Porphyrio porphyrio) -- Robyn's favorite bird; I first "spotted" them decorating the house in drawings, as statues, and in home-knit form (and luckily stopped myself before saying, "Wow, did you get all these purple gallinule things in Florida?"). Now, I see the actual birds frequently on my bike ride into work.
Spur-winged plover (Vanellus miles) -- Self-introduced from Australia; loves to hang out in grassy areas so I see it daily in the fields between Halswell and Lincoln.
Torea (pied oystercatcher, Haematopus ostralegus finschi) -- 21 January, New Brighton beach
Toroa (royal albatross, Diomedea epomorphora) -- 24 August 2013, Taiaroa Head
Toreapango (variable oystercatcher, Haematopus unicolor) -- 4 February, Kaikoura. Why do they call this one "variable" when it's one color?
Tui (Prosthermadera novaeseelandiae) -- 5 February. Harassing a cat on Mt. Victoria, Wellington
Birds I was excited about at the time, but then discovered were nonnative evil pests
Australian Magpie (Cracticus tibicen) -- 25 January, between Halswell and Lincoln
