Lifers...UK ticks...county ticks...patch ticks, the day had everything anyone could wish for!
Keith has annotated the pics to portray the flavour of the excitement of the day....
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| Takahe + chick at Picnic site 1
One of the rarest birds in the world, this species featured on the
Brooke Bond tea cards 'Wildlife in Danger' series back in the early
sixties. These are re-established birds, originally on Tiritiri Matangi Island near
Auckland, NZ. They look like something from a bygone age
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| Wandering Albatross off the Dam An amazing ten foot wingspan They look dopey but are surprisingly aggressive when feeding. |
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| Salvin's Albatross also off the dam part of the recently spit Shy Albatross group |
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| Northern Giant Petrel off Nunnery Pt Cute or what? |
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| Beach Stone Curlew at Herons Green One of the birds of the day - looked about twice the size of our bird A real stunner. |
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| Pacific Gull at Herriott's Pool
Makes Great Black-back look a bit of a wimp.
Wouldn't like to get into a fight with one
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| Powerful Owl at Moreton About the size of an Eagle Owl, Jammed into a pair |
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| Superb Lyrebird woodland at back of Nunnery Pt Kept bumping into these - in fact I nearly ran one over on the track Bit like a Pheasant at a fancy dress party. |
Very many thanks Keith, much appreciated. That should keep the records committee busy for a while.
Any resemblance to the Australian birds he saw on an earlier trip are purely coincidental.
